mr HED

guys thanks for all the input! clearly not a black/white issue (no reference to FHM models here!). what it does say is that the benefits are not dramatic but when building a new machine for heavy use they should be done.

thanks! was battling to see if this adaptor was for the classic mtb wheelset, by the way, how are the wheels? great price on buycycle, i heard some people complain about hub servicing etc but they got 4,5 out of 5 on bikeradar

covie, using it for epic next year. thats the main aim

i currently have a steel 29er with xt 2012 and fox fork (qr). so wanted to move all of this onto me new bike and to build up the steel bike as SS. if i want to go 15mm i need to buy new fork and keep the old one on my SS. (although i prefer to go rigid fork for front on my ss). can you convert your rear AM classic to 12mm rear?

no matter where i look the santa cruz tallboy carbon is calling me! its light enough for the climbs and soft enough for consecutive days of riding. what worries me about santa cruz is the 2 year frame warranty - how can the 'best bike in the world' have such a crap guarantee. other makers are at least 5 years

using it for epic and other stage races.

thats why i am going for a full sus! stiffe everything and then open up the shocks! we must be mad!

thanks guys, some valuable input. building up a bike so want to do it right! i also presume that the weight on the non moving components is not that crucial, also the weight is concentrated in centre of wheel where in theory it matters less. what you want is reliability, the moving parts need to be top notch, wheels, hubs, cranks etc. many wheels pride themselves on low weight but i think you need to assess where the weight is on the wheel, if the rim is heavy and you saved on spokes and hub then i dont think you are getting the benefit that a light rim and better (although slightly heavier) hub provides.

thanks johan, luckily my thule is a wheel clamp one and bike work stand clamps the frame!

anyone switched from QR to 15mm on a 29er? is there a noticeable difference? starting to build up my "2013 epic" bike. have a 29er qr fork not sure if its worth upgrading to 15mm axle

guys i have one and dig it! nothing like kicking dirt into the faces of all the carbon full suss guys with my retro bike. seriously it rides really well and handles like a dream. a full report after sani2c!

Lets face it. They sell better overseas than in sa. Sa brands have to prove themselves overseas before sa buyers accept them. This has happened not only with bike makers but also with musicians, film makers etc. A company is not one persone. So just because the originator and a few key people are from sa it does not make it a saffa company. Good luck to them in whatever they put on the marketing slogans, quality will always come through. Look at morewood, cube, commencal, niner, rocky mountain. All these were small companies from all across the globe who through good product rose to prominence. Simply said a bad product from usa is still a bad product.

I love this tour. Roads are great. Scenery fantastic. Mtn team support the race well and usn hand out supplements. What more could you want.

**** guys, there are trails opening on our doorstep, we all spend huge amounts of money on bikes, kit, supplements and beer yet we complain about a R40 fee, route details etc! go spend R40 and just ride it, whats the worst that will happen, you hate it and go home..so you have lost out on 1 small take away meal..big deal. lets focus on the positives, finally the east has a park to ride in any time of day, even if its 5k long ill ride it till i am blue in the b... see u all there

santa cruz must be the most consistently top rated bike in europe and usa, so you cannot go wrong.

a bakkie came the wrong way on a 1 way street and hit my brother head on, i cant believe what damage a car can do to a person's head, face and body. get over it, your car can be repaired. how was the cyclist? i bet his recovery will be a lot longer than your car's panelbeating.

i have a giant anthem x1 26er already! maybe its time to dust off the webs..

loving this!!!! will definitely be there!

agreed! its all in the legs and mind, the equipment helps but is not the end all and be all.

what bike is it that bring so much promised joy?

thats exactly my main question with the budget constraints, buying a Spez 29 epic sworks will be the answer, but i have to eat to train . will 35k buy you a good enough full suss 29er for 17 000m of climbing?

i have a 26er giant anthem x1 and a ritchey p29er hardtail. have to say the big wheels are nice but the giant does fly down the hills with the extra padding,

thanks thats really helpful, may i ask was it an alloy or carbon full suss bike ?

i am 1m87cm. usually a large bud. why you selling a tallboy?

hi guys managed to get an entry to epic 2013. aiming to be a mid-pack finisher (please lord). R35 000 budget, do i go for low weight and go 29 Hard tail or comfort and a 29er full suss??? R40k for hardtail would give me a power machine, R35k for full suss would be an ok machine has as anyone done it on both?