white tiger

Hi guys. I've got a six month old carbon hardtail 29'er. To keep emotions and personal preference out of the equation, let us not mention the brand. I love the bike and the ride. I do however have a problem/question regarding the paintwork on the bike. If you look at the attached photo you will see the damage on the bottom of the frame - it is from normal usage - I've never fallen with the bike. My local bike shop where I got the bike tells me it's normal on a carbon frame - according to them the paint on a carbon bike is more "sensitive" and prone to chips and damage than alluminium bikes! Is this true? Do I have a valid complaint if I'm unhappy with the paintwork? Please, I would like to hear you comments.

Thanks guys. With all your help/advise and my friendly LBS I'm sorted!!! See you at to Hell and Back.

Hi My Polar needs a new battery! I'm doing the to Hell and Back race in three weeks time and would like to have it fixed by then to use during the race. What is the quickest/easiest way to replace the battery. I know I can take it to the shop where I got it from to send it away, but I am worried that it will not be done in time before the race. Any advice??

Just let the Jones's win and don't try and keep up with them. That will save you a truck load full of money!!!

Hi ! One of the best organized races I have done in a long time. Will certainly be back next year !!! As for the entry fee - It was fairly high, but it did not bother me because everything was running like a well oiled machine

MORE THAN JUST A FACELIFT

Best bang for buck bike by far, I agree.

Don't fotget to have a look at Silverback. Very nice speced bikes for the price!! I use to have one - never gave any problems!!

Don't fotget to have a look at Silverback. Very nice speced bikes for the price!! I use to have one - never gave any problems!!

I'm not IT expert, but I would like to think with all the technology available they can come up with a better system. I tried for an hour an a half before I could register. Now I'm on the waiting list!!! The whole experience makes me feel like rather doing another race !!!

Unless you are a bike snob, buy the Silverback. I had one for 3 years, never gave me any problems !!!!

I currently looking at buying a new bike, so I find all the opinions and info very interesting, but after reading it all I feel like " 'n verkleurmannetjie op 'n smartieboks" I am leaning towards 29" at this stage!

I do not own a Assos, but I have 5 different shorts in my drawer. Off the five, the Anatomic is the cheapest, and my favourite !!

At the moment - 104 kg But I am working on bringing it down, hopefully to about 92 kg.

I do between 140 - 200 km a week. 30% tar, 65% gravel, 5% single track. When I participate in races I usually do the longer distances; 40 - 60 Km I also do the odd endurance race like Karoo2Coast etc. Stumpjumper Comp 29er Price R20,600.00 Frame material M5 Alloy 29er Fork Rock Shox Reba RLT 29 Wheelset DT Swiss X450SL 29 Components Sram X9/X7 Merida NINETY SIX 3000-D Price R22,999.00 Frame material HFS PROLITE ALLOY Fork MAGURA DURIN REMOTE L/OUT 100MM Suspension DT SWISS M210 Components SHIMANO 10-SPEED/XT/MAGURA DURIN/FSA/DT SWISS XR445 Bulls Bikes Model Black adder 2 Price R26,295.00 Frame material Carbon fibre (tube to tube) Fork Rock shox sid race, 100 mm, pushloc Wheelset Dt swiss xr-400 disc/ schwalbe tyres Components Shimano deore xt/fsa I can get a six month old Black adder for R 15 000 from my LBS

Hi My budget is about R 22 500. How do I decide? Do I buy a full suspention aluminium bike, a hardtail carbon bike or an fairly decent aluminium 29'er. I'm thinking along the lines of Merida Ninty-Six 3000D, Specialized Stumpjumper 29'er - I think you get the picture. Silverback aslo offer a few very good possibilities!! Between the three type of bikes what would you go for??

I love the sport and it will be very sad if criminals spoil it for us!!! (We also had a hijacking in Paarl about two weeks ago, happend in a neighbourhood)

Hi Thanks for the nice report! But after reading this and some of the other posts on 29'ers I'm even more confused. In the meantime I'll enjoy my old bike and it gives me more time to save for a new one!!!

It's also my first 'stage race/ride' Looking forward to it and meeting a few fellow riders!

My previous bike was a Silverback. It never gave any problems!!!! I loved that bike. Switched to Merida. Since then my maintenance bill have sky rocketed!!! Go with Silverback!!!

It is always good te hear reports about great service!!! This country can use/need more of it.