Danger Dassie

Hence "oil/loctite" ... but yes, have had wheels done using either linseed oil or a light strength loctite (220 or something along those lines) Some builders apparently even crimp the nipples ever so slightly. The basic premise though is, a properly built and tensioned wheelset trumps just about any notion of of brands and materials thrown around.

Which is why any wheelbuilder worth their salt uses an oil/loctite on the spoke threads before building up a wheel. Even wheels with brass nipples are rendered *** useless if they're built by gorilla paws ....

Good answer and largely true, neatly sidestepped the question though.

I don't either, nothing wrong with paying for an unused box that's sourced specifically for the purpose, well worth a platry R100 rand. The boxing companys themselves don't provide that specific box either. There's a difference between providing a new unused box and giving away one that's been used though. Anyway, we're going off topic ...

Doesn't surprise me, there was so much snotty bitching about paying R100 to package a couple of k worth of bike. How dare they.

Sometimes a bike shop will still have a used cardboard box in good condition, alternatively you can buy a new cardboard bike box for about R100. Far as I know, Cyclelab have these available.

Geax + Stans rims, if you get them on you'll need a pair side cutters to them off.

Argh... probably in PMB for the World Cup then.

I know Hunter Cycling has a Team Sky Kask helmet

Hope this helps. http://www.treadmtb.co.za/destination-elevation-elation-drakensberg/#respond

Yup, there's a guy in Jhb who brings them in. Riaan 082 490 5714, top guy and a total pleasure to deal with.

It's The Daily Mail, nuff zed.

Very much a personal thing, but I do like the Gripshifts, as funds become available it's a definate change on my bike! Trigger shifters, I prefer the action of Shimano. You can use thumb/forefinger or just thumbs for shifting. http://www.treadmtb.co.za/sram-10-speed-grip-shift/ .

Pic of the helmet? Can't say I've had an issue with a peak. They either bend or pop off from an impact. Difficult to say that the cause is from the peak here, as you say, he loosened the strap. Would bet that even if the peak caused the helmet to move back, the helmet still saved the day. Not a happy looking chappy, hope the doc gives a clean bill there. That bump is going to smart!

http://cotic.co.za/x.htm http://surlybikes.co...kes/cross_check http://allcitycycles.../macho_man_disc

Consider a CX bike, methinks you'll thoroughly enjoy it.

Come on, those are nonsensical statements. Marathon and stage events are as much mountain biking as anything else. They just present a different challenge, and over some incredibly tough terrain not just dirt roads. But this is half the problem, manne trying to proclaim what 'mountain biking' actually is. Technically the sport started with the Repack, which was downhill on a dirt road, but yes the sport evolved into a number of different disciplines and tech. It's all MTB and you have a smile on your face and dirt on the tyres, then that's 'real'

Pretty much what Dracs has posted already, combined perhaps a bit with more and more people including top level execs taking up riding. The sport has a following and no doubt the numbers reflect that, although some sponsors have opted for the safer bet of sponsoring events as opposed to athletes. Scott have reportedly made provision for a 6 figure salary for Nino to keep him on their XCO team. Personally I'm ok with riders earning a decent salary, it's not a long term job by any stretch and they still ear far far less than other sporting codes, even at the top international level. Especially when you start looking at rugby or soccer.

As far as our riders "sucking" they're far off it, no they aren't contending the podiums but slowly the field is gaining more depth and the standard is rising. Overseas riders by no means have it easy when they come here to race. But SA has had it's share of relatively good performances against some of the best in the world. We need to consistently keep up with this and develop more development of riders. Not wait until we see a Junior who might do well at senior level. That kind of thing needs to be nurtured, but that seems to be a work ethic that's difficult for the average sporting fan to understand. It seems here though, we have a sink or swim attitude towards our athletes and if they don't podium. Then they're condemned and called sucky, but a Saffa finishing 20th ahead of a Euro or US rider with vastly more international experience is doing damned well. We're up there, but we're not quite cracking the core group of nations that are consistently at the very top, they do so because they have the right structures in place. We need those riders to set a consistent foundation, so that the up and coming riders can have at least a half decent race field as a springboard. Look at teams like ASG, Kargo etc .... They're doing a lot for the sport, but it needs the formal structure and support as well.

Nigel, every word of that should be carved into stone!

Had more info been forthcoming.

Rudi, the Wordl Cup DHI/XCO circuit is the most watched and supported discipline of mountain biking, by millions across the world and the enthusiasm of the support has been compared to F1/SBK supporters. These figures are available from the organisers. It's also a far more spectator and logistically friendly sport than XCM. The analogy of TdF doesn't apply, it's one of those sports followed by non-cyclists as well. It's like the Dakar. But this isn't about XCO vs XCM etc ... It's the place of a proper XCO/DHI series, to which mountain biking, in this country especially. Very much owes it's roots and plays a pivotal role in the sport. The role of this series is viable, but bogged down in administrative problems, it was an extremely healthy series about 5 years ago when Advendurance were involved and had a national sponsorship from MTN. Then administrative politics ballsed it up. It's sponsorship value needs to be sold on the dynamic nature of the events. Atmosphere, socialising, the spectator and social nature of the short format racing etc. The value for sponsors, for everyone, is there. 2013 provided an exceptional platform for this, it's upto the governing bodies and event organisers to pick up the ball and run with it. Politics it seems though, is getting in the way. African Champs this weekend, what media releases etc have gone out? It's an insult to the memory of our athletes and their dedication.

Partisan preferences ... not all that different to tribalism.

Hope/ZTR combo, hands down!

For seating the bead Slime also works, those bottles with the lumo green liquid. Snip the top off the nozzle and then run a thin line around the tyre bead and doesn't react with the Stans/Joes etc .... I use OKO sealent, pretty cheap and it's so thick it can be used sparingly.