TheV

Your bike needs one of these, and then only would it be perfect: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/54964.jpg

Where did that come from? Involve his mom in this, really? ... didn't see that one coming... bwhahahahah thats just wrong.

Strange none of them made fun of any MTB SS'ers.... maybe because they have no sense of humor?

"I usually ride this on my FS"

Do you agree then????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW7xzBC-qa0 Lol@"this fork is so dialed".... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPHSj18DvU4 Lol@"my wife's gonna kill me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eSj640K2xM Lol@"twinzies"

Agreed- but you should not discount the fact that some people are immune to the good advice of others... they were just born that way... However, it doesn't stop there, sadly some people are even allergic to opinions which are not 100% their own.

Hi BigBen, Couple of quick comments on your post:- So I guess you are referring to Sag? I say this because you mention you "noticed" other riders running their forks "soft"... A "stiffer" spring (more air, or higher spring rate) will produce less sag, while a softer setting I will produce more sag. Increasing sag typically produces a more comfortable ride and the suspension responds better to small bumps. Decreased sag typically makes the bike more firm and can improve your acceleration. Too much sag will make the shock bottom out too easily. For the type of XC rides you are talking about, technically you would set up your forks according to your weight to have 15-20% sag. So if you want faster acceleration, or doing a longer ride over the weekend, I would say run at the lower 15%, when you get to stumble around rietvlei, on the normal XC route go for a 18-20% setting.. I personally run about in the middle of 20% and 25% (22.5) on Rietvlei when I run the blue routes and hit the rock garden, then you need it.... I also run my damping setting (rebound) pretty slow (about 50% setting) on Rietvlei - because you dont want to be bouncing around the place... I dont usually mess around much with my sag often, i play around a lot initially when i get a new bike/forks, and after that I usually just adjust my rebound/damping settings for each trail, and i keep a note of how many clicks i go from low and keep it in my car... Like the cap says above, it's a very personal setting, and it's affected by your style, balance and riding style, aggression, your bike, your tires, pressures, etc etc... Also, worth a mention, most forks take about 40 hours riding to run in, so you will have plenty time to play and adjust before you get it perfect for you..

You NEVA take things personal on thehub :whistling: ? you do a great job of it....

Core, core, core... if you can manage to get into the gym 2-3x per week... Also, Thaba trails have all the hills you ever need, and what's good about it is it up, down, up, down.... so you dont have to turn around... course is just that way... And nothing beats a training camp at Mankele... you'll kuk when your'e there, but when you come back your FLY up your normal routes.. (Personally, what also works for me is playing little mind games on myself... and ill break the hill down into short sections, just the next bend, the next tree, the next rock... and i keep on telling myself all hills/mountains do END eventually).... Good luck with them HILLS!!

... this is a public internet forum... I wasn't aware you have been burdened with the task of being thehub's moral compass... "I looked at your posts, some seriously deeply rooted issues with your posts" I suppose what you are meaning to say is that you have some serious issues with my posts? I don't have any deeply rooted issues, thank you for caring though. Also, you mention my post(s) seem "pompous", to you maybe, but that's just your opinion... not fact necessarily Lastly, I come to thehub to voice my opinion, perspective, views, experience, whatever... and, although I admit that I do often take the opportunity to operate outside my usual boundaries, because it allows me to say the snarky things i dont necessarily have the guts to say in the faces of my close friends, family, peers, etc... etc.. I'd rather dump my pent-up opinions on highly strung okes on the internet... because it's so much fun to see you squirm! Ps, you're not very good at this kind of thing are you, used to getting your way? If you don't like my, or my opinions or post then stop stalking me dude... because if you dont, and you keep on wanting to reply to my posts, what do you expect me to do? i'm going to keep having you for breakfast...

Freak out much? You might need to see someone about that temper, and maybe even discuss your SS issues with them too...

Gotcha!! maybe I was just going to "dangle" some bait, waiting for you to pitch up and take it... Some people are so highly strung... I was just having a go at the OP, all in good spirit, i took a couple of wide swings with all the points to see which sticks... Let me tell you it's not all that easy for people with small kids to get out the house, papa's is one of the cool places for parents to chill out, if the OP didn't like it then he should go somewhere else, if he has been there SO many times he should know that... maybe you should go for a bite, looks like you need some relaxing time? Dont mean to mess with your mojo or voodoo.... bike friendly restaurants all have racks close by, if there is none, then chances are they dont cater for cyclist... you cant expect every oke to balance his bike by his tableside, thats just unreasonable, what's next, does he want a bikewash to replace the kiddies castle?

Ja- like people who, on their first post: 1. Drop the price tag of their Bike? 2. Pshhh&Moan about service In the second post: 1. He states I know the feeling, the one in Fourways is also great for kids. I am sure anyone can see they are more family/kids orientated as opposed to "Cyclist" focussed. I think the OP had an attitude with the waiter, and the manager, prob swore at them.... and now he's all hurt.. so much so he goes through the registration process on thehub to make his first ever post...

1. Was it a 29er, because maybe the kids thought you looked like a clown arriving a clown bike? 2. If it is a singlespeed, then you should like be all chilled and like bro - relax duuuude.....kids are our future... 3. If your a roadie, then your a **** and we cannot blame the restaurant for giving you kuk. 4. What did you expect from silverlakes, the attitudes in that part of the world is shocking... dont complain, if you mix yourself with those people then you deserve their kuk. 5. This is your first post, you tell us "cyclists" to be aware, did you just start cycling, seriously, you come to register at thehub and make this your first post. 6. Don't stress to much about this, if you dont like the place or the service dont go there... how, much did you spend, did you drop a grand or two? do you think your R200 bill is worth them having to handle your freaking out and acting like a retard on their property, admission is reserved. it's not your right to be there. 7. All my bikes cost more than R30k, and i have about 5, one of these cost about R55k... what does that have to do with your rant??? Just relax dude, I bet you were in a KUK mood before you even got there, and you were just waiting for a fight... "real silverlakes/pta/"boertjie" attitude you have...

Your heart-rate doesn't tell no lies... if you train with a HR monitor, which everyone should be doing (or atleast the people who has the ash/guts to do the epic) you will notice immediately when somethings wrong...

i' should probably just shut up, but I cant help myself... But i'm just going to dangle my opinion out there anyway... maybe Nigel is being "too technical" when sharing his thoughts with us... especially for us amateurs who have not been riding thaba since 12 years ago.... I really hope that 12 years from now i would be able to ride the XCO course, because you can like to ride @ 87km/h as a pro but battle dropping a log... it's hard to contradict yourself.... Anyways, i LOVE your work Nigeee'boy, i freaken went BOS while watching the DH and the XCO on TV - it was absolutely superb.... cant wait for next year, im certain it's going to be awesome...

Sorry Garfield, the first fact is that there is a difference in Margin and Mark-up, and you are confused. Mark-up is a % of your cost price, very few companies will survive a "mark-up" of 7-15%, i dont know where you get that from but it's a ridiculous statement to make. In that case shareholders might as well leave their money in the bank for interest. Margin is a % of your actual selling price, and in most cases, especially SA companies, we have gross "margins" exceeding 30% unless you are in hectic FMCG space, etc. Let me assure you, ASG makes ALOT more than 7-15%, and rightfully so, they have to do that to show reasonable returns, and allow for the type of brand and infrastructure investment they have to make to stay at the pinnacle of their game... Please also understand, my comment wasn't made against them, I think they are one of the best in the cycling industry... My frustration would have been with an employee who would have realized they made a mistake, and then try to "fool" a customer or their own management by coming up with a way to sweep it under the carpet... this happens all the time... It's very rare for senior management or shareholders to pull the tricks i was worried about here... it's mostly individuals who would like to save their own tjops and hide mistakes... In any case, i said sorry already, this is just a public internet forum, and i'm sure you can understand that? it comes with our times, and your comments to "censor" or rubbish my opinion is close to government wanting to control the press and media, it wont ever happen, this is the INTERNET my tjommie.. At the same time, I am sure people who frequent these forums, and are in the target market for ASG products will understand that they have to make up their own mind, because whatever i say here is my freedom of opinion, it's not fact. use it, dont use it, agree with it, or dont, but please dont tell me to keep my opinion to myself....

ok... i feel like the village idiot, that is really a small mistake, I take back all my KuK comments. In my mind I was under the impression the colours were wrong, spelling mistakes, etc etc... Sorry ASG... (PS, i dont have anything against them, no connection to them or their industry, just someone with an over-active opinion on everything, especially bad service or people taking chances).... Good luck with you race, that is some really nice-super-awesome-cool kit!!!

nigelhicks - thank you for your in-depth and valuable contribution to this thread, and of course all the other things we could thank you for ( ) You said exactly what many of us tried to say, but in a very reasonable, logical, practical and eloquent manner...

The big deal is that if you buy custom kit you should get what you ordered. It is not a case of buying a mass-produced piece of general clothing that might have a misaligned stich or small hole or something... We are talking custom design... here's another example for you... If you go for a TATTOO and they spell your g/f's name wrong, are you going to be chuffed if they offer you a 50% discount? No - you would freak the hell out, you wont go onto a forum and tell people you just got the the best service/deal of your LIFE???? Anywaz, im done with this thread.. i think i made my point..

visit www.thesportsbasement.co.za or goto their shop... they have some really nice Specialized or Trek's in that segment... Plus they are lekker okes, and will sort you out... Most LBS will offer you a decent Merida in that segment too... also a decent option... However, if you buy a Spez or a Trek at least or hopefully he wont suffer from UPGRADE syndrome as quickly as one does when this sport gets you...

when i read my post now, i can appreciate your reply... i can be a tosser... However, the core message of what i am trying to express is still the same... courses have to get more technical, with time human/rider evolution and technical advances will force us to have more exciting XCO courses... If not, our sport will end up like boxing.... then it will die out, and in 30 years from now some clever oke will come and create a new crazy XCO series with hectic courses, blood and guts... just like the MMA/Cage Fighting thing has exploded at the moment....

Not looking for an argument.... I have not seen the XCO course in real life, I did watch the race and has seen 100's of pictures... in my mind, maybe it's because of my own pains when riding Thaba. Have you been to Thaba lately on the full loop taking technical options, and I'm just asking for your opinion not chirping?

"rescused" is that like a new word.... I like it... almost like they have been rescued+excused.... like they were Reborn....