440MTB

Howdy all, hope you're having a lekker Friday! Quick question for you guys: I bought my Giant Reign with a few bad dings on the rear rim & one or two less serious dings on the front rim (AM29 30mm I/D Aluminium rims), but I wasn't too phased by this as I have a set of Lyne AMP HD with Hi-Per Hubs which I'm running. I was wondering if you guys know if dinged rims can be repaired, if so, do you have details of the people who can do so (preferably in Cape Town area)? I'd like to get the rims fixed so I either have an extra set of wheels for building a hardtail or whatever, or get them in a better condition for when I sell the bike again one day. Thanks!

@Nestus - Sounds rough man! Sorry to hear, considering the costs of medical assistance of any sort these days, I can't even imagine what it must cost to go for physical therapy as well. Also, having a 4 year old daughter as well, this is exactly one of the things that has been eating away at my mental wellbeing as well... She wants to play, I literally can't do anything physical with her... couple this with the fact that we still had to go to the West Coast to visit my mother for her birthday (plans made LONG in advance, so couldn't bail - or at least, I felt "okay" enough to still drive through on the same day of my crash), I also didn't fully enjoy myself, we went to the beach the next day, and I couldn't even play with my daughter or even enjoy walking on the beach (the uneven terrain was agonizing). @lechatnoir - Thanks for the wishes, and definitely taking it easy and only getting back on the bike once I'm confident all is well, and even so, not sure if I'm just going to be able to jump back in to jumps and drop-offs, as I don't want to risk damaging anything again if not healed 100% - So will probably do some more mellow rides to ease back into it. @Super Sywurm - I hear you - my colleague also has this motto: "Ride to ride another day". @throttles - Sounds rough man - I suspect it's the same cartilage the doctor referred to with my injury as well, but just lower down where my elbow pressed against the lower ribs... but thankfully, I'm MUCH better and I don't think it was as bad as what yours was - but still in quite a bit of discomfort and pain, but I'll take it easy and will give it ample time to heal up before I risk going crazy on the trails again, perhaps a nice Zone 1/2 longer ride on smoother trails will do the trick... going to suck on a bigger enduro bike with burly tires, but alas, it is what it is, as I only have the one bike at the moment.

Greetings Hubbers! Trust you guys and gals are doing well... So on the 20th of Jan, after an awesome ride from home to Bloemendal, doing a few laps, clearing the bigger jumps (recently started progressing a fair bit with my jumps/gaps/drop-offs/etc)... I literally did the one thing we are never meant to do... the whole "just one last section/lap/etc"... and decided to hit up a few little double jumps and some berms literally on my way out of the trail on my way home (after seeing off a riding buddy at his car)... and then literally in the very last berm on my way out... I came into the corner (with a fair bit of speed after clearing a little double jump before it), and the next moment, I just lost the front (trails are extremely dry and loose, and I suspect my tyre pressure was too high too, as I tend to make my Assegai & DHR a bit firmer when I ride from home vs going there with my car)... I ended up SMASHING into the ground with my left arm tucked into my side, in turn smashing my elbow into my rib cage... wind knocked clean out of me, me getting up sounding a Northwestern Manatee giving birth... I also felt a pop/click sensation in my chest, and suspected I popped a rib or two (thankfully on first post-crash check it wasn't a shoulder or collar bone as I have a roasty on my shoulder too from impacting the gravel). So after checking my bike, then myself, 🤣 dusting myself off, wiping some blood off my arm and leg, etc, I decided to ride it off (still had around 15km to get home from the trails on an Enduro/All Mountain bike), but around the time I reached the corridor exit close to the Protea hotel, the pain in my left side was basically unbearable, so I called in a favour with my buddy who I rode with. Long story short: After a whole mission with getting my bike home, etc, I ended up going to the Emergency Room at my local Mediclinic for Xrays/to get everything checked out... Xrays came up clear of any fractures, but the Doctor said he suspects I might've broken the cartilage on the rib cage as well as tore/seriously injured the muscles around the ribs (which won't show up on Xrays). They gave me a prescription for some strong pain & anti-inflammatory meds. So it's been a rough week and a half, with pain and discomfort, but what has been worse for me is the mental challenge... I often find myself thinking this was such bland/stupid crash, and I ended up in ER, what where to happen if I come off doing some of the bigger jumps/pallet drop-offs/higher speed corners that we frequently do on the trails... is it worth the risk, etc? Bearing in mind I'm 38 now, so not a youngster anymore, and I have a wife and kid who are dependent on me, etc. I actually contemplated selling my Enduro bike and getting a trail hard tail, focusing on fitness rather than "shredding the gnar"/doing bigger jumps/gaps/dropoffs or whatever you want to call the dragon I was constantly chasing the last year or so... but then I also thought, this is out of 8000km+ of riding, the first time I've actually "seriously" gotten hurt, and I wasn't doing something where I rode outside of my "skill/comfort/ability" zone. So on to my question to you guys, what have you experienced, and how has it impacted your mental state, and did you give up or just get back on and continue where you left off, etc? Cheers!

I was thinking the same thing... to transport 22 crated bikes ain't no small task...

@candyfloss - My 2c to take into consideration: Think about the riding style & type of trails you want to ride or what interests you... I've been riding for 2 years, and I'm on my 5th bike now... I started with a hardtail XC style cheap bike to get back into it, then I got my first dual sus XC bike, then I upgraded to a carbon dual sus XC bike... I then started getting into doing jumps and wanted to start doing more "gnarly" stuff like all the cool okes do. 😛 So I ended up switching to a cheaper short travel trail bike (140mm front/120mm rear), and rode that bike for close to a year, progressing more, and eventually ended up with a 160mm/146mm Enduro/All mountain bike. Also start with a proper set of flat pedals & shoes, learn the basics & proper techniques, then switch to clipless if you feel like doing so. So TL;DR version: Think of the style of trails/riding you'd like to do, if you're interested in doing jumps and rock gardens, get the right bike from the beginning, something with a slacker head angle, more travel front and rear, etc... and in all fairness, a trail (even my Reign) climbs fine if you're not a KOM chasing XCO super athlete. 🤣 Most important thing to remember is to have fun! Happy biking! 😎

I've purchased from Bike Addict quite a few times... and it's been okay (just okay). I had to follow up by phone everytime to get the final invoice amount, they'd often leave stuff I ordered off the order if out of stock, without explaining anything, they just leave it off. I've also had parts rock up in dribs and drabs, but overall if you're patient, and don't mind following up with them via phone calls, they're okay.

Thanks man! I wish I could, but contrary to the perception, I actually do work for a living here in Slaapstad. 🤣 This week especially as it our "work from the office" rotation week... which I have dubbed... PURGATORY WEEK.

Hahahaha. I think I need to do this going forward too, seems like quite a few folks take offence to anything, and everything, even when said in jest/with a sarcastic undertone. 🤣 All good man! All the best, I trust you'll get sorted out before you can say "Slaapstad"! 😜

All good... But for the sake of curiosity (lets call it an attempt to understand the psychology behind people on the internet)... do you realize your response was perceived as rude/uncalled for/passive aggressive towards someone who clearly said something light heartedly? You must be fun in peak traffic when behind the wheel? 🙂

Not really phased or "uncaged" (not even sure what you mean here)... but you seem like you've got a big wooden spoon in hand, or hide behind your keyboard to be a douche towards people you don't even know? I also stated "apologies if your response was meant "tongue-in-cheek"/in jest... but instead of clarifying, you antagonize with nonsensical comebacks which don't even makes sense to be honest.

Apologies if your response was meant "tongue-in-cheek" or in jest... but I see this as a prime example of how the anonymity of sitting behind your keyboard, makes you respond with unwarranted malice/aggression/in a brash manner, towards people you don't know... do you speak to everyone this way my guy? Doesn't take much to see that Morné's comment was made light heartedly. A little respect can go a long way in life. 😄

Heeeeeeey bru, howzit?!?! (Cape Town surfer/stoner voice). Don't be jelly man... here in Cape Town we get money for barely working, beautiful beaches, scenery, mountains to plow down on our MTBs... also, you can grow dagga year-round... so what if the supplier is closed for a few hours a day bro? Sit back, relax and enjoy the view... (oh wait you only have a heap of toxic mine waste as the closest thing to mountains up in Jozie). 🤣🤣🤣 P.S. The Gallows are beckoning, pitch forks are getting sharpened, and torches are getting lit... So herewith the obligatory: "JUST KIDDING!" 🏳️ That said, I'm sure there is logic behind this, perhaps they are understaffed, and the break over lunch time (like we all are required to take by law), is a welcome pause... You can imagine with how busy the main distributor of SRAM must be in SA at times... I've had good luck with reaching out to companies via mail or their Instagram pages in the past, have you explored these alternative avenues of making contact with them too?

Howdy people of the palace! Been a while since posting here, but I saw a certain pre-shredded 2020 Giant Reign 29 2 here on C.U.D. central and decided to grab it. I also got a super nice Lyrik Ultimate from @MORNE for an absolutely ludicrous price, which I couldn't resist, and kept my Lyne AMP HD wheelset with Hi-Per hubs, and thus far I'm loving the bike! First ride on the new bike I did the first pallet drop on Free Ride on Conties, also did the river gap at Banhoek over the festive season, and the bike just eats up the rock gardens on Black Rhino, etc. Overall, super stoked with the bike! I stripped down the entire rear of the bike last weekend and checked/serviced the pivots & bearings that needed attention, but to my surprise 90% of the bearings seem brand new, crankset, headset and shock (and the orignal Yari fork) were all serviced not too long ago, so the bike runs well. Anyhow, enough blabbering, a pic of the bike in its current form (I'm planning on removing the frame protection, touching up some chips/scuffs/scrapes, and wrapping the frame in clear frame protection:

Should've put on my flame-retardant suite it seems... 😅 @Jewbacca This is my opinion, made reference to how I perceived the article/writer thereof. Who cares? I know of a good couple of woman who ride alone, hundreds of kms per month. Granted they ride MTB, but still, it doesn't automatically mean that because you're a woman you're completely vulnerable and it's guaranteed something will happen, do I want my wife to go run (she doesn't ride) alone, definitely, absolutely 100% not, so I'm not saying everyone/anyone should do this, I'm just pointing out my observations based on my personal experience here. Also, what I meant is anyone who is brave enough to venture on the internet is going to get subjected to abuse... Is it okay to do so? No, can we stop it by complaining about it? Fundamentally, humanity is in a bad state, so the answer is no. Everyone is right, your opinion is trash, bash your keyboard and hurt someone with your words is the order of the day... does that mean I condone it? No. But writing an "open letter" to strava pointing out something like this, when their app has privacy controls is a bit strange to me. As for the pro-noun comment, I personally don't care for the counter arguments or life stories (to each his/her/their own), it was made in reference (in jest) to the stereotype that came across in her writings, again, how I perceived the writer as I read through this whingey article, has nothing to do with anything else really, merely what came to mind reading it, as the popular standard narrative is exactly this among most of the internet dwellers. That said, people can identify as whaterver they please, I don't have to submit or accept their views on life... does that mean I hate them or think they are lesser human beings, certainly not.

Roadie problems.... 😜 Before I get dragged to the gallows with the sound of a mob of cleats hitting the cobbles... herewith the obligatory "No offence/just kidding" 😅 In all honesty though, this seems to me like it was written by someone who doesn't have enough real world problems... too worried about their pronouns and having a safe space in life, taking a jab at a tool (which you don't have to use if you don't like it), when the people you ride with/riding culture is the issue. The fact that she just has to throw out the "I've been one of the 73% of woman who have experienced violence on the internet" line, paints a terrible picture of her persona... Build a bridge and get over it... if you don't like the way things are, set your profile to private, and ride for your own progress tracking, and if everyone you ride with are KOM-chasing elitists, find other people to ride or ride solo (if safe to do so)...

Hahahaha. Indeed - I've got my eye on a few options, but if it doesn't work out, I'll keep my trusty steed a tad longer, as it isn't really necessary to get something else, but we all know the compulsive upgrade disorder (CUD) bug is real. Hahahaha! Indeed... the "WANT" factor is real... every single day... *sigh* Yes! Maak 'n plan! 😎

Howzit! I've bought from them a couple of times... From larger orders to small single items, and the service has been good. The last order, I paid for a riding shirt, which showed in stock, but then they came back to me stating it's out of stock, I can pick something else (but there was nothing in my size or for the same amount of money), so I complained that they need to refund me, and sort out their online stock reflecting incorrectly. Long story short, they actually sourced the shirt I ordered from another physical store of theirs, and shipped it out to me (it took a bit longer, but I still ended up getting the shirt). I'm definitely going to buy from them again, they have some pretty legit specials from time to time. Hope this helps! Cheers

Liewe koeie........... Those pictures... if that is the sellers version of "Used - Good" imagine what "poor" would be... Looks like they used some 80grit sandpaper for dust wipers inside that fork... Then also to respond by giving you a 1-star rating, which looks like garbage written by a 6 year old... wow... just wow... the oke also spells/types like the items he sells... BROKEN... Used good = Used good... not thrown down a cliff and dragged by donkey for 3km before being used as some form of farming utensil by an indigenous tribe for at least 4 years.

Thanks for the feedback! Appreciated.

Hi there all! I noticed, from around Sunday, whenever I try and filter anything (For example: Under Dual Sus MTBs, I select Frame Size: Large, Wheel Size 29", Riding Style: Trail/Enduro"), it doesn't work. It shows all frame sizes, wheel sizes, etc. I've tried different browsers, and computers, and I'm experiencing the same thing. Not sure if anyone else is having this issue? Cheers!

Go look at a 2016 Stumpjumper and a 2023 Stumpy, tell me again the frame makes no difference... geometry and design is completely different... most bikes go through geometry changes to keep with trends, as bikes become slacker, and longer (referring to trail/enduro bikes here). Another expample, some older bikes would come with 2x or 3x, and have some dedicated tab welded to the frame for the front derailleur, where the newer models wich are 1x won't have said dedicated mount (older silverbacks as an example). Also, like people mentioned... frame fatigue is a thing... maybe if you just ride melow trails/gravel roads or are a roadie, not as much of a concern, but if you ride mostly black and red trails with a trail/enduro bike, that frame takes a beating on stuff like Jonkershoek, etc, and may have issues if really abused. Pyga even offer a respray and frame reconditioning (baking at specific temp) to combat said issue. Also, if wheels haven't been replaced/upgraded, you may sit with issues with bikes running cup & cone bearings where the races are worn, and you'll need to replace the hubs, and rebuild the wheels, etc. vs newer models possibly coming with better wheels running sealed cartridge bearings, etc. Lots of factors which could be affected by year model in my opinion... The topic also isn't about price or specs, it's about the year model, none of my bikes I've had over the last 2 years had the stock/original parts, but it was still important to know the overall year model. Cheers!

Next time you crash... don't mind the FiveTen footprint on your back... I don't know where that came from... 🤣🤣😁

Thankfully there are two guys standing there... hahahaha

COTIC & BANSHEE elitist agent!! Here I am with my cheapie "mass produced" bike... 🤣💩

@MORNE Away with thee and your COTIC elitism... 😛🤣 Jokes aside, I get what you're saying... same with PYGA... Hyrax is Hyrax. 😉