RobynE 🚵‍♀️

I did the HM last year and the HM Short this year with my daughter. I find most of the Cradle venues to be pretty tricky, mostly because of the terrain. Last year it was 36 degrees, I died a million deaths. But I did find that in my event this year the rider etiquette was really lacking. Lots of close passes and people being impatient at bottle necks - even on the HM Short which has a lot of kids in it. I didn’t do Jackal Dash this year because of the same sort of etiquette on it last year (I was riding the 25km with my kid and some of the riders were awful) but hadn’t experienced this level of dangerous riding at Trailseeker last year where we did all the inland events. So I was kind of taken aback this year. A guy tried to overtake my kid on the crest of a rock on a left bend - he could see her, knew she was there, still bumped her hard, and carried on without so much as an oops or sorry. A little kid went down when an adult rider hit his wheel. NB: this is all on the 20km. I think the trails are very well planned, but the pace is a little hectic for some people and if you aren’t aiming for podium and spending the race out at the front, it’s decent manners to be lekker and ride safely and let everyone enjoy their day - not just you. To me Trailseeker is an unparalleled event when it comes to just about everything about it, and I will continue to do the events - I just hope that riders can think about being less d**slik when all that’s in it for them is a Strava segment PB. Thanks to the kind and patient people out there - there are plenty of lekker people, too.

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/790078/scott-scale-970-sram-1-x-12-rockshox https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/795264/momsen-soft-al-alloy-dual-mtb-m Any of the above will feel worlds apart from the one you have. I had the same one, briefly. Unfortunately it’s a very k*k bike.

Some options with decent components from BH Marketplace but don’t know what size you’ll need https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/796592/merida-big-nine-800 https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/646365/silverback-stride-expert-m-2022-12spd-judy https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/791155/scott-scale-950

Height? Type of riding you do? Location?

But then I think I must hang around for some Am Classics!

Not something being thrown away as such but I’m looking for a set of 27.5” boost wheels, to replace the Sunringle Duroc 30 on my kid’s bike. Thru-axle. Something fairly tough as she does meet rocks/stumps sideways sometimes 😊 Current rims seem to be rotting for want of a better word - rear wheel valve is pulling through the rim.

Speaking of pumps this is very handy and the battery lasts really well. Not nearly as noisy as other small compressors I’ve had and you can preset to whatever you need and leave it to do its thing. Lumeo pump

Enjoying riding around at Mabalingwe while making sure I stay faaaaar away from the ellies and buffalo.

I’d say the gearing is probably your biggest obstacle. Microshift 2 x 8 isn’t a whole lot of fun if you don’t get the shifting right front and back. The bike itself shouldn’t weigh a ton. The gearing coupled with probably not sitting exactly where you should is going to throw everything out. What groupset did the Silverback have? 1 chainring or 2? I’d suggest starting with a bike fit. It’s turned my bikes from bikes I sort of like to bikes I LOVE. I remember once riding to my bike shop feeling completely unfit and useless, struggling on every hill, and on the way home after my fit it felt like I was riding an e-bike LOL. Might be a bit far for you but Mitch at Mellow Velo near Fourways is great. They can also give the bike a once-over for you to check that there isn’t something fundamentally wrong like a worn rear hub/bearings for example. The bearings and hubs on entry-level bikes wear out remarkably quickly.

Only thing that works in all climates and doesn’t make me look like a spotty teenager a few days later is Eucerin Sensitive Protect 50+. I use very little of it and it lasts a good while.

Just my local (Northern Farm) - but if not for my bike I wouldn’t have been pedalling 30something kms at Northern Farm today and would probably have been mindlessly lying on the couch.

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.