Danger Dassie

I blame the long Vid .... ????

Ja and I can see his reasoning, but then that would only really apply if there was another Alpecin/Fenix rider under consideration.

@Patchelicious could probably answer.

A few mates and other fans have expressed the same. Some have even said he should be barred from entering future events, which is just plain stupid. I'm not on board with this. MvdP stated before and during the event that his focus is the Olympics and in an Olympic year he isn't the only rider needing to make this choice. The two events are so close to one another riders are pushed into making a choice, it isn't their fault or disrespectful. MvdP also needs to fulfil sponsor obligations to be at the Tour, if he didn't race as he did and take yellow, then people would be accusing him of being disrespectful by not making an effort. But no he, Merlier and his Alpecin/Fenix team raced well and animated the event, wore le Tour yellow, honoured his Pou Pou. That's a whole ton of respect and honour to both the team sponsors and le Tour (ASO) All while still balancing his personal ambitions. Sometimes the sport also needs to respect the athlete.

When wheels were 26' and sox were 0.26'

I remember the interview, there was a broader context and not quite irony. Especially going by the responses at the time. It was in Ride Mag when Hunter won an award as SA Cyclist of the year after winning a stage of the Tour de France. There was controversy because Greg Minnaar had been overlooked for the award and he'd won DH World Champs the same year. Many felt he should have received the recognition. The editor of Ride at the time was one of those who broached the topic, so the interview between him and Hunter was pretty tense. In one part Hunter takes him on and essentially challenges Minnaar to a bike off.

On the Sling route... you betcha!

Very generalised but for most of the typical riding around definitely. I've a Cotic X which is a CX bike that I've been using for gravel, road etc ... before gravel bikes were becoming more mainstream. Also on hand is a Cannondale Topstone, both bikes have their own character but I'm constantly loving how versatile they can be. NF black, van Gaalen River Trail/Concrete Road/Greek Church/River Trail and routes at Buffelsdrift have been ridden. Loads of fun. For me a decent gravel bike is fun and stimulating on otherwise unchallenging trails/routes for the MTB. It makes you pay more attention and apply the fundamentals like choosing a line etc .... this translates to MTB when taking it out on a proper ride. Plus is saves on wear/maintenance for the MTB. Coincidentally Sling was on my radar for a while, a colleague of mine actually pipped me to the post with a profile on you guys. Lovely to see more local craftsmanship out there, wishing you guys the best!

If budget is no consideration for one thing, sure.

I wrapped myself in bubble wrap once... or twice. But I digress ...

Yeah the timing! Sarrou slipped out at the rocks earlier.

One build I wouldn't mind doing ito both aesthetics and function. Trek Checkpoint with an 80mm Rock Shox RS1 up front, either with a remote lockout or the Brain model. SRAM AXS, CSiXX wheelset with DT Swiss hubs/Spokes, 42c Pirelli tyres, Bontrager carbon stem, bars, seatpost and cages, chameleon coloured seat from Selle San Marco and chameleon bartape from Supercaz.

Speculative; But I don't think she was in Europe for this round? Given the expense in travel and associated costs etc, not being on a factory team support setup, closeness to games and the potential for injury. It's very likely the option chosen is to stay at home and focus on prep ahead of the games. Any racing at this point wouldn't really add that much on balance.

Think it was more his rear wheel slipping out in the closing metres.

Some people make display pieces, reputable shops cut/crush the frame, some folk rebuild "good as new raced once" for sale....

Your face is an ista ....

Pretty much spot on for what you require, the next closest I've seen is from Avalanche for a fair bit less. However the frameset is pretty pedestrian compared to the Marvel in the long run IMO.

"Nic Dlamini, pelted by rain and backlit by the headlights of his Qhubeka-NextHash team car, crossed the final finish line of his first Tour de France. He rolled across the wide yellow strips where, 90 minutes before, Ben O’Connor had raised his hands, and on toward a waiting soigneur. He came to a stop. The finish line gantry was coming down. His head dropped. He would have known for hours. Time-cut math is blunt and unforgiving. It sends riders into team cars, bodies trampled by futility, happy to simply end the suffering, crank the heat, slip out of wet lycra and into the tracksuit they’ll wear to fly home. Dlamini did none of those things." https://cyclingtips.com/2021/07/for-nic-dlamini-getting-off-wasnt-an-option/?fbclid=IwAR1Q5uncQa_aT0enQpr_ZQklu1nOPbFRhgSj82DUHaC7-GViC7ZRwG2s9wI “... the important thing was to ride to the finish regardless... ”

It was, when the models were the alloy 110 29r and 1130/40 650b bikes. If you look at a Pyga now they by default have two mounts and proper suspension. And fun all day, every day

They do, Pyga for one. Merida for another ????

Heheh .... No doubt, Gauteng doesn't have impressive mountain ranges but also don't underestimate the terrain in the Highveld. Additionally Gauteng has access to a variety of terrain and mountainous regions that see regular travel and use. Magaliesburg, Soutpansberg, Drakensberg, Mpumalanga, NorthWest, Lesotho etc .. I'll wager that many a Gautenger has spent time across plenty trail in the WC and loved every moment of it. Capeys should maybe get out a bit more and experience other provinces outside of the proverbial bubble. They should come and spend a day at van Gaalen, Cradle outwards, Buffelsdrift or heck even Thaba during summer with one bottle and see how that goes. Anyway, pissing contests aside. Very much personal preference, newer hydration options like Camelbak's chase vest and some of the trail running vests make riding with a bag a lot easier. But having the ability to ride with two bottle mounts in a frame does accommodate most rides with the least fuss. Anywhere in the world.

From what you've described it sounds like a really good hardtail should be a consideration, or a lighter gravel bike with enough clearance for MTB tyres.

Shutup and fight me ...

Difficult to tell with you Cav ... ????

Not sure if you're being snipey here? Simply providing an observation, it isn't a slag off and doesn't detract from the passion or their commitment. And yes I do know thanks.