Madala

Any update on this?

Hi. I used one of these SPOT Gen 3 trackers on a Beit Bridge to Cape Augulhas Ride earlier this year. As I was travelling alone and mostly on roads/tracks with little or no traffic I felt it was worth having for the peace of mind. It worked flawlessly and is a very rugged device. Battery life is exceptional so it becomes a "carry and forget" device. I also used a cell based tracking app on my phone but coverage is a very real problem. We have a very false sense of the coverage as most of the major towns and freeways are covered but you will be amazed at how quickly you get out of coverage if you travel off the major routes. With the SPOT tracker if you can see the sky you will have coverage. If you are wanting to be sure of getting help if you need it then there is only one choice.

Are the XL carbon frames still guaranteed to break at the bottom of the seat tube?

For Shimano about 20 000km, 2yrs or the first wash with a high pressure hose. Whichever comes first! The reason that the left side bearing fails first is that the right side bearing is protected to some extent by the chain-rings and does not get a direct hit from the pressure washing.

Am I missing something? Seems to me that even if you did manage to nominate someone for one of these board positions it would then be up to the board to actually decide on the successful candidate. Just seems to be a very closed shop if "the board" did not want any new blood.

Hi Found a water-bottle type spares/toolkit on the Dagga-Pad trail out van Gaalens way on Sat morning. PM me some identifying features if you think it is yours.

No brainer - Fox - durability and serviceability.

Do what is right. Go tubeless!

Not going to debate this one but willing to offer 1000000 to 1 odds that the world won't end 21st May of this year. Any takers? Settlement date is 22 May 2011 Should score at least R1 ;-) or is there some other "reason" to hide behind?

Hi Other threads seem to indicate that the world is ending quite soon so think the day licence route will give the best long term return.

From the Sapim Web Site:- A survey of frequent incidents recorded by our laboratory research team and race mechanics. When do spokes or other wheel components break? Spokes in a correctly built wheel only break as a result of normal metal fatigue after years of intensive use. * At the end of its life, the material has lost its original cohesion and elasticity. * If material is forced while lacing the hub, the spokes can be pulled over causing material weakness. The original bend angle of 95° should remain intact. * Most wheel or spoke breakages occur as a result of insufficient and/or irregular spoke tension. * A spoke breaks when metal fatigue passes a critical point. Good assembly can increase the resistance to breakage. The art of wheel building is to create an equal increase in the tension of all the spokes individually and at the same time to make sure that the rim stays round and true. When a wheel is built, bring the spokes to a final equal tension. A perfect wheel does not run out of true when it is used; instead it actually helps to prevent metal fatigue in spokes, rim and hub. * Weight is a factor: 90 kg (200 lbs) on loosely tensioned wheels will always cause them to ovalise. Constant flex within the wheel will cause premature fatigue, especially in spokes. In other words: the wheel should retain its original shape as much as possible. Where and when does a spoke break? Normally just before the bend (this is fairly standard after many years use) * The rim has been damaged - even the smallest dent can be the cause; * The use of non-compatible components; Irregular tension on the spokes; * A gap exists in the spoke-nipple alignment; * Is it possible to replace 1 or 2 spokes or do you have to replace all the spokes and re-spoke the wheel? If you do not re-spoke the wheel, the replaced spokes will have to be very tightly tensioned if the wheel is to be round and true. Do not forget when the first spoke breaks, all the other spokes suddenly have a different tension pattern! Also the rim structure goes out of line. If you only replace 1 or 2 spokes, you can expect these or the spokes next to them to break again. It is best to re-spoke the entire wheel and to replace the hub just in case the hub holes are damaged. It is possible to re-use the hub by mounting the spokes in the opposite direction (i.e. not in the direction of the ovalisation of the hub holes). The spoke head breaks off (this is unusual) * Bad positioning of the head in the hub (e.g. a slant position puts all the pressure on one side of the bottom of the spoke head. As a result the head snaps off, the so-called "bottle cap effect"). * The hub flange is too thick and is not suited to the length of the spoke bend (i.e. all the pressure is on the head, which will be excessively stressed and rip off). * If the wrong cross pattern is chosen, e.g. cross 4 on large flange hubs, the spoke bend can rub against the adjacent spoke head. This should be avoided. The spoke thread breaks in the nipple * This often occurs as a result of nipple/rim and spoke mis-alignment. * If spokes are used which are too long, new threads in the nipple will be made. Under heavy pressure the spoke threads will be stressed too greatly. * Spokes which are too short may also break at the spoke thread. When the thinner middle section breaks (on single or double butted spokes) * Any object striking a moving wheel causes damage (sometimes only visible with a magnifying glass or microscope). * Top quality manufacture will safeguard against damage. Lower standard processes will produce an inferior quality. SAPIM draws wire in such way that no change in molecular material structure occurs. The spoke does not twist much when it is built into a wheel. * Aerodynamic, elliptical spokes, such as the SAPIM CX-Ray spoke, are best fitted with a special CX-Ray key. This will prevent the spokes from twisting during lacing and centring.

Did the 80km (actually 85km) Mabalingwe Lion Man race on the weekend and loved it! Second part was a lot harder than the first part! My only comment to the organisers would be that it would be nice to have a Grand Master age category in the long race. While I do accept that there are not many competitors it would be fine to have a clause in the rules that said "if there are less than X competitors in any category then the prize money would fall away". That would be perfectly acceptable but it would be nice to be classified in the correct age category. There was a Grand Master category for the short race but not for the long one. By having the category it would encourage more Grand Masters to do the long race. Even the oldies get a bit competitive at times . Just my 2c worth.

As you cell phone will probably go along with your bike take a look at this:- http://periodic.phonelocator.mobi/ It is a free service and looks ideal. Will ry it out and report back.

Hi Have to agree. Bought an XTR middle chainring and XTR disk brake pads from my LBS (R903.95 and R199.00 incl VAT) this week for less than the advertised price on CRC (R929.29 and 179.47 but excl VAT and clearing charges) or (R1059.39 and R199.15 incl VAT). Both these are consumable items so good to see. In addition I get a "loyalty" discount at the LBS which made it even more attractive. The message is clear - support your LBS and importer when you are given a fair deal - hopefully the entire playing field will be leveled. I do not believe that the LBS has been the source of the problem but rather the importer or possibly the manufacturer having different "export prices" for different countries. Just good to see that the free market system is working and clearly the importer/manufacturer is seeing that it is now a globally competitive market. Great! Watched day 1 of Joberg2c today. We are very privileged to have events of this calibre! Simply awesome organsation! Well done guys - we are very proud of you.

Interesting weight info from the Shimano Site:- For XTR:- Model Number CN-7701 Series XTR Chain Type Super Narrow HG Cassette Compatibility 9-speed Pin Link Plate zinc-alloy plated Roller Link Plate zinc-alloy plated Average Weight 304g (116 links) FOR SLX as no chain is listed for XT:- Model Number CN-HG73 Series DEORE LX Chain Type Super Narrow HG Cassette Compatibility 9-speed Pin Link Plate gray Roller Link Plate gray Average Weight 304g (116 links) Seems the big difference is the colour!

Hi I have had bubbles form with Continental, Maxxis Crossmark, and Specialized "The Captain" and "Fast Trak" tyres and all with a variety of sealants (Eclipse, Stans, Slime and Oko). I do not think that the type of sealant plays a major part in this. All tyres have pinhole leaks even when new and my view is that these then seal at the outermost layer. Especially when using latex based sealants. This causes an internal pressure between the casing of the tyre and the tread layer. With the repeated flexing of the tyre this slowly grows into the dreaded bubble. My solution is to inspect the tyres on a regular basis and at the first sign of a blister forming I take a syringe needle and push it into the bubble at a very shallow angle so as not to penetrate the inner layers of the tyre. The bubble disappears immediately and does not seem to reform. Presumably the sealant now seals the inner layers of the tyre. I have now done this on several tyres and even those that formed bubbles while still very new have lasted until they are truly worn out without any problems. On some of them I may have deflated 20 or 30 small bubbles and the little "wet patches" show this. Use it or lose it but it has definately saved me a lot of money. Cheers.

Hi The most amazing thing is that we put up with this cr@p. Take a unit to Avnic and explain that it keeps switching off while riding and you will get an unusually blank stare. They will then tell you that you are the very first and only person that has ever experienced this problem. They even manage to look genuinely perplexed that something like this could happen. A google search for "edge 305 shutdown" does of course reveal a slightly different picture and you will get 452000 hits! For those battling with the maths 452000 is quite a lot bigger than 1. Sad to break the news but you are not that special and here are others (lots of them) that have experienced the same latent defect. As Avnic do seem to monitor this forum perhaps they can stand up an explain the real truth!! Garmin have a serious problem and denying it just aggravates the situation!! The only bright light on the horizon is that there are competitors entering the market. Garmin's arrogant stance will be their downfall. Bring it on!!

Simple. It didn't. Like everything else about this event apart from the entry fee it was "low budget". Timing seemed to be done by calling out numbers as you crossed the line. No results 24hrs later.

Hi The R25 charge has been in place for a couple of months now. My feeling is that we (the mountain biking community) really need to support this initiative as the trails that exist and the new ones that are being added are some of the best riding available. It you have not ridden the river trail then make a date to get the best value for R25 that you can hope for. The new "concrete strip" trail to the south is also superb. The more support we give the more the trails will improve. Sound good to me. Enjoy!

Always had outstanding service from Polar. Think your complaint should be against Speed Services and not Polar.

Hi Dave did organise an event through Golden Gate a few years back. Might have been called the Golden Gate Getaway - can't remember all the details but think it started in Bethlehem and went through Fouriesburg and Clarens to the overnight in Golden Gate. Then on to another overnight at Rugged Glen campsite near Royal Natal at the bottom of Oliviershoek Pass. Then on to Winterton. Think it finished there. Great event but very cold when I did it. If you want another great ride try the "Grape Escape" just before the Argus. Wine farm to wine farm with some good wine tasting along the way. Think this is being run every second year now. See www.funafrica.co.za

What is ROAG? As I see it ROAG is everything that CSA and all their affiliates should be but have failed dismally to deliver. No wonder there are some people up in arms about it. Their little ivory towers are being exposed to scrutiny and are crumbling rapidly! ROAG has managed to create a mountain bike seeding system that is working and ROAG did all the work to capture past results and come up with seedings. All you had to do was enter your details once. Pay nothing and it all worked. From announcement of the system to seedings for the first race was only a few months. For the last 5 years CSA have been threatening that if you don't have a licence you won't be seeded. Sad reality is that they have not managed to develop a seeding system to enforce this "threat". At some of the races the "top fifty" riders are asked to come to the front of the start chute - not sure how that is decided but fortunately mountain bikers are generally well behaved and it sort of works for the top contenders I suppose. I have finished in the top 3 in my age category for the past two years but choose to start mid field. ROAG are now issuing free permanent number boards to be used for events that they administer and I believe that they will be issuing a timing chip to be used at all the events that they administer. The on-line entry system is up and running properly. Unlike the CSA licencing system which they have been "fine tuning" for the last year or more. I am in no way associated with ROAG but as a montain biker they have delivered far more to me in the past few months than CSA have done in the past 15 years! The big bonus is that it has not cost me one cent. As I see it ROAG are setting the benchmark in terms of what can and should be delivered in terms of administration services. The sad thing is that CSA have had a golden opportunity to build themselves a strong revenue stream by developing a system that delivers and they have been too arrogant or useless to grab the opportunity. I think a newsletter that I received recently highlights the problem. CSA or CGC were heaping praise on themselves for the "success" of the licencing system. As of the end of March they claimed to have issued about 9000 licences. That is a dismal failure as early in March the Argus had 35000 entries and all of those were supposed to have some sort of licence. As I see it ROAG is the admin equivalent of Sani2c organisation. They just do it right! I assume that their revenue stream comes from the fees that they charge to the organisers for their on-line entry system, seeding, timing and results services. This ultimately comes out of the entry fees but no one minds paying for a service that works. Well done and keep up the good work. Madala2009-04-23 06:47:27

Hi I just received the latest Newsletter from Sani2C and am pleased to see that at last something is being done about seeding for mountain bike events (and a whole lot more). Take a look at the ROAG website. www.roag.co.za ROAG stands for Race Organisers Admin Group and they have taken the initiative and set up what appears to be an independant group to take care of race admin covering entries/results/seeding etc. Great news and something that has been sorely lacking for a long time. In my view this is exactly what CSA should have been providing since the imposition of their chaotic "Licensing System" four or five years ago. You can also join the "ROAG club" for free and will then be eligible to apply for a license through them. Each year CSA have told us that if we do not have a license then you will not be seeded. Truth is I have had a license every year since the start and have yet to see an event seeded by CSA or inded any sort of seeding index system in place. Lots of promises but zero action. Well done to the driving force behind this initiative and lets just hope that the "authorities" don't find a way to kill it. Cheers

Hi Ladismith Country House is on the route and about 7km from Ladismith. Outstanding food etc. but I see that it has got a bit on the expensive side since I stayed there for the race just after the current owners had taken it over. www.lcountryhouse.co.za otherwise look at www.route62.co.za Enjoy.

Ride it often in the early mornings and late afternoons and don't feel nervous. In fact this morning I was thinking how busy it is getting in the mornings. Probably saw another 30 or 40 mtb people out there between Paulshof and Emarrentia. What I do find a bit surprising is the number of women that walk dogs/walk/run on the spruit on their own. Early this year often rode it in the dark starting at 04:45 from Jan Smuts up to Emmarentia roots and back. Sometimes had to wake the guard at the Delta green gate to get that opened and sometimes had to wait for the Botanical gardens gate to be opened but otherwise no problem. There was an incident between Jan Smuts and Republic road about 6 months ago where a Camelbak was stolen (mid morning on a Sunday!!) and I think there was another incident in Melville Koppies. Overall I would say that it is safer than driving on the N1 or passing through O R Tambo. Just a few years ago there was a real risk that it would become a "no go" zone but thanks to a few people putting in a real effort it has been saved. Thanks you scruffy mutts!!! Always remember that the more we (mountain bikers) use it the safer it will be. So get out there and enjoy!! Some rain would be nice too.