JBK

Do The Munga in reverse...

Yea but someone else mentioned doing it for points... Lots of people have the misconception that you have to do this test in order to register for endurance profile...

You don't need to do this test in order to register as a endurance / high performance profile.

What's the point in doing this test ?

www.northernfarm.org.za/

Try looking on their website.

"Free beer" was only one year and not for the last few years... So don't do it for this...

I'm loving this thread... I'm still riding 2x10 (11-36) with 24/38 at the front on both my bike and my wife's. I still believe this to the best option out there - quite a statement that, I know.! 2x11 offers nothing extra and just adds weight - there's a hefty increase in mass from a 11-36 to a 11-42 / 11-46 cassette. 2x11 bikes increase the small ring from 24 to either 26 or 28 (more added weight), simply 'because you can' because of the larger sprockets at the back so you just land up with hefty duplication of gear ratios that are almost identical. 1x11 IMO was a complete waste of time and I cringe when I see new bikes in the shop coming with this gearing - today, these are generally middle range bikes and the poor guy/gal is going to be seriously unhappy very soon and have to change. They come with tiny front chain rings so you have no top-end at all. It was a marketing gimmick for bike manufacturers to offer 'less for more'. Almost everyone I know on this gearing is/was unhappy, even my mates who are really strong as they take on tougher challenges and need more range. Almost everyone I know who bought new top end bikes 2 years ago with 1x11 XTR have changed either to 2x11 or 1x12 beacuse 1x11 just didn't "cover all bases". 1x12 finally bridged the gap on gear ratio range from 2x10, however, only with the 10-50 cassette - be careful of NX as this is only 11-50 which might sound like nothing but you lose massive top-end. With 34/10 your ratio is 3.4 but with 34/11 it is 3.09 - so you lose a massive 10%. On my 2x10 I have a range of 3.46 down to 0.67, almost identical to a 1x12 setup (10-50) with 34 front which will give you 3.4 down to 0.68 obviously with larger jumps between ratios. However, I still have slightly more on the top side. I have mates on 1x12 10-50 now wanting to change their front from 34 to 36 to get more on the top side but on tougher races they'll have to change back to the 34 or suffer. Furthermore, the prices of SRAM 1x12 is simply obscene - I mean talk about "milking a market"..! I can buy 6 brand new 10 SPD XT 11-36 cassettes for the same price as ONE XO1 10-50 cassette - and that's XO, not even the XX1 as I'm comparing XT not XTR. Even better, there are so many people falling for the very successful marketing of 1x12 and selling off their "brand new and never used" spares that I can buy new 11-36 cassettes for less than half the price online (so 12 new cassettes for the price of 1 XO1 12spd) I hear the argument that its "nice to have 1x" and the ridiculous statement that "1x gives me a nice clean cockpit" (I mean really..!!! This is a MTB ffs) but in the last few weeks I've demo'd a bike with 1x and going back to my 2x does not feel archaic, instead it feels just as natural. My 2c worth...

What about R140k for a bike that costs R40k...

I doubt it... How many of his 'costs' are once-off costs that were paid off years ago or are fully sponsored... Costs linked to inflation are fuel and food, the latter I believe is sponsored... Tents and bridge, etc were paid off ages ago... I doubt he pays the casual labour 10% each year, maybe 5%... I'm not dissing the event or the organisers, but agree that ALL multi day stage race have lost the plot on pricing... Sadly they all compare themselves to, without doubt, the premier 2 events (Sani2C & W2W) and believe they can price accordingly...

Just after you puke... Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

LOL... For Sure... http://www.signaturepilates.co.za Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I had the same - told him the advertised price was actually USD and not ZAR so price was actually US$10K and not ZAR10K - he was happy with that and made 'payment' to my PAYPAL account with user name "ekisadoos"... Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Works wonders but you should chat with a pilates instructor for tips and tricks and what not-to-do in order to avoid injury. I can highly recommend my wife's studio in JHB (Bryanston) as she specialises in cycling and running athletes. Keep at it with the ITB - you'll get there and then it's far less painful after each exercise.

I personally only use squirt and have done so for about 8-10 years now but i agree, it's not great in wet / muddy conditions. Best to keep a small 'Squirt' with you on your ride and re apply. Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

Hi - the one bottleneck was to cross the wooden bridge in order to get to the start of the race - the other bottleneck in the race was to cross the river where it was very steep up the opposite embankment - about 5km into the 15km race. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

So at the last minute, literally 7:30am on Sun morning my son (4 & 1/2) and i decided to enter the 15km race with him on his half wheeler. We packed, drove, arrived, unpacked, kitted up and arrived at registration at 8:55 (man it takes long to get him kitted up) to be told that we were too late to register. However, all the ladies with BIG smiles told us to ride anyway but that we wouldn't be timed. Not aiming for a podium anyway, this suited us perfectly. In many years I have done many races and I really must commend the organisers on a really fun event with a very decent route. Of course the bottle neck to cross the bridge was a nuisance and the race slightly delayed but all the RED-shirt helpers were so full of smiles and happy to help, both before and after the race. My little boy had such a ball that he was already asking me on Monday when the next race is happening. He got his own medal, orange water bottle and a sucker and had the best morning ever. Very few races are so chilled and orientated around kids and families. I really wish there were more like this on the calendar - in fact, you guys should put this on once a quarter and not once a year. Just one comment though - the water stop on the 15km race could've been better suited to all the kids - biscuits, sweets, chips, boiled potatoes.... Thanks guys... Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Anybody still there..! Still in Plett/knysna area..? Doing any rides other than Harkerville / Petrus se Brand..? Keen to hook up.?

Hey.. Last year there were morning outrides every day from Kevin Evans' bike shop on the main road through town.. Lots more interesting rides on the mtb though..

I know the Plett / Knysna area very well. Been going there on hol for the past 31 yrs.! and been riding mtb there for the past 5 or 6 yrs. Some comments : You absolutely HAVE to do Harkerville Red Route - but be careful. If it is moist (or wet) the roots become slippery and dangerous. There are always a couple of broken bones every December on this route.! Obey STOP or SLOW signs on the trail - they're not joking. Park at Garden of Eden and enter Harkerville on other side of the main road. Buy permit at Garden of Eden and get a map or you'll get lost.. Petrus se brand is awesome. Towards the end there is about 2km of the most awesome downhill single track you have ever ridden - you'll think you're Greg M.! But be careful not to miss the turn-off for this. The normal route is to get dropped off at the forestry station at the top and ride down to the exit at Garden of Eden. This is a pain as you need a very patient friend to drop you and wait at the bottom. In this direction the route is mainly downhill with 2 large climbs and about 23Km. We park at Garden of Eden and ride up and and then back down - def the way to go if you've got it in your legs. PS: don't ride up the single track that I just mentioned - go up on the road by-pass. Buy permit at Garden of Eden and get a map or you'll get lost.. Homtini trail is awesome - just outside knysna towards george, but way up in the mountains with amazing views. Not very long - i think under 20Km with one massive hill climb which is very steep with loose rocks. It is rideable though. If you're coming from out of town, I would recommend focusing on only these 3 and in this order of priority.. Enjoy.. Maybe we'll see you on the trails.. Ride safe.. J