RobynE

Sip of water/electrolytes every ten minutes. Your butt is going to hurt. Get all the saddle time you can, beforehand. You can be in peak fitness but if your butt isn’t bike fit, you’re going to suffer. Chammy cream. Lots of. Worst case scenario ask the medics for Vaseline at the water points. When you get tired try not to shift too much in the saddle. Worse chafing. Sit and pedal. Don’t race, just ride. There’s no shame in taking breaks along the way. Walk around during breaks - get the blood moving. Some things I learnt doing my first 94.7 last year and I made it through unscathed and within the time on a hardtail MTB being pretty unfit.

I haven’t had any issues with e-bikes. I am more likely to have issues with someone in batch D trying for a new PB (or to finish 50th out of 300) in a 20 or 25km “Fun” MTB event (like Jackal Dash) while pushing my kid off the trail into trees, rocks and bushes on switchbacks as he mutters “passing right” like a robot. Bro, enter the 40/60/70 and pass right there to your heart’s content. If you’re entering a race with 8-10 year olds, have some patience, pass safely and give the kids a chance to enjoy their rides. Otherwise I guess you’re just someone who hoots at Learner drivers. You were also one, once. Smh.

For sale, not on sale.

Willing seller, willing buyer and all that. Happens with everything in life. If I know I have something and it’s worth x, I stick to my guns. If I feel I’m pushing the envelope a bit, I’ll allow negotiation. What they do with it afterwards is their business. If they lie about it afterwards - tough one. But, not my circus anymore. I am selling my daughter’s bike (2022 TR Calypso Junior) and have been lowballed extensively because the bike is “only worth” (retail less depreciation). Except I know that it’s running really good upgraded components that are light years away from stock form (Rockshox SiD WC fork, GX 1x10, DT Swiss wheels and hubs etc), and at 2k less than current new retail on the same bike in stock form, plus all original parts included, I’m sticking to my guns. The right buyer will come along.

Ryder makes things called Gear Straps. You get 2 in a pack - a longer one and a shorter one. They are rubberised on the back. They are tough as nails, absolutely do not shift and you can tension them properly. You can attach anything you like with them. I use them to anchor my bike to the carrier on bumpy roads and also for putting stuff on the bike when I take it on holiday (swimming towels, shopping, etc). They may just sound like “straps” but they are unique in their design and work like a bomb. I’ve had mine for 3 years and they mostly live on my Jimny’s ladder in all weather. No perishing, no fraying. Just there when I need them.

@ChrisF that is a very nice looking bike

I put a set on a bike just before I sold it to one of my staff. A year later and he’s still riding the bejaysus out of that bike on the same set of tyres which I think are probably made up of more sealant than rubber at this stage. I reckon they’re excellent for the money.

Will do - at a glance it’s really well-made and solid. Definitely doesn’t feel like something that cost R91.00

Bought a hydration pack and 1.5L bladder (R280 altogether) as well as a phone holder (R70), a bib (R500), cycling shorts (R160) as well as an XS jumpsuit (R320) for my kiddo, and some other bits and bobs such as full face snorkel masks. I am WELL impressed with the quality of all the items - the bib/shorts/jumpsuit honestly need to be seen/worn to be believed and the masks are identical to the one I paid R1000 for, but were R280 each. Order date 1 February, took delivery today the 10th.

That Mount Grace climb is awful 😂 Only done it once and felt death was imminent at the time.

Circling back to this. Headshot mentioned that lycra is useless at protection - this is true. For me the bib stops the pad bunching or hooking over my saddle - long story short I don’t chafe as easily and don’t get that oh-oh moment on a technical descent where I’m hooked onto my bike throwing my balance completely off. I’ve tried so many different types of shorts (the ones within my budget) and so far I haven’t had luck. My Enjoy bib works like a charm. Re-reading your post I am thinking that you are asking, does it matter if the pads are visible? I still don’t think that it matters as long as you feel more comfortable and safe as you hit the trails. I suppose the pads might get damaged if they’re not covered by something, which could be a costly exercise. I’m certainly not going to be judging someone with visible guards out on the trail. That seems very high school-ish. My judgement out on the trails is for people who disregard safety in one way or another, whether their own or the safety of others through reckless/bullish riding or wearing the minimum amount of clothes or an ill-fitting “token” helmet in an attempt to look cool and laissez-faire.

That is so cool!

This is a thread for folks whose bikes aren’t the latest/most modern/bling/expensive, but who love their bikes and wouldn’t change them. I’ll go first. Mine is a circa 2014 Giant XTC Advanced SL with American Classic rims and hubs, Magura MT4 brakes, Rockshox SiD World Cup fork, Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain. And to add some pizazz, I use a Cane Creek Thudbuster seatpost 😂 and a cheapo spiderweb saddle off Temu. It’s fast, light, easy to ride and inspires massive confidence. It’s also super reliable. I bought it from Robert Whitehead in 2023 and it doesn’t matter what bikes I see at races or on the trails - I just LOVE my bike and wouldn’t swap it for anything. I’ve done plenty of events on it including 94.7, Magalies Monster, Trailseeker, and loads of trails and coffee rides.

I say who cares. If it makes you feel more secure and comfortable and increases your confidence I reckon you can wear and do whatever you like.

I personally love my Magura MT4 - I think they’re an older version but the stoppage is on point and I’ve not had to do any adjustments or work on them since I bought the bike in 2023. My bike is pretty light (Giant XTC carbon) and I weigh *cough* 80ish. I do mostly red route type stuff with the occasional route oopsie when I end up on black and I’m neither fast nor slow 😊