grb285

Craig, thanks for taking the time to pen such a vivid description of your ordeal. I'm glad you ventured into the cerebral side of it too, since I think the loss of property is nothing compared to the emotional stress and trauma, which you clearly have a bit of. Nobody can say for sure what they'd do in such situations. I feel for your buddy who on one hand should have stayed with you, but on the other hand had so much fear and basic survival comes into play. Some good points. Always keep a R200 note in your riding shorts. I have one that stays in the one pocket. Agreed that it could save the day. Also, be careful of pepper spray. The wind can cause it to backfire on you. I ride those hills with one on my chest clip. Thankfully I've never had to use it. I've thought about switching it out for a tazer, but honestly I don't think this approach will work out. Give give the fools your bike. Mine's insured and I'll have a new bike within 2 days. A bit dramatic don't you think mate? Should we ride with a shovel strapped to the back so we can bury any bodies as well? I don't take kindly to the idea of people riding around with their guns. Firstly, someone will get hurt, secondly, if they get the upper hand and steal the gun then what? Violence creates violence. Just give them your cash-phone-bike and get the hell out of there. I have a phone for riding that is old, has only emergency numbers and they can have it. There IS a lot of sh*t around TM and surrounds, but that's no reason not to ride there. It's OUR bloody hill and I'll not stay off it. These crime up at Rhodes are done by squatters living up in the Rasta cave (the big cave around the blockhouse area). I've reported this to the cops time and again. I've seen the crooks hanging up there scoping people on the trails. I've sat above this area on the way to Devil's Peak and seen it all. I blame this *** government for all of this though. We're just easy targets, on 40 bikes, with iPhones in our bags. Maybe when they create those 5 million jobs these guys will move into investment banking or engineering?

I think our trails down here will win that one on any day, and to show how hardcore we are we do them 'creamless' Hahahahaha classic. Seriously though Eldron, you don't have to wait 'til next year to come down and ride the lovely trails here. Jump on a plane and come enjoy. Some of the best riding in SA here in the Cape.

Thanks Pain or Shine. It's a massive privilege to have these trails available. My only constructive comment to all of this is that perhaps there needs to be a way/place for riders to submit new trail ideas. I agree that it's unacceptable for people to cut their own trails. It goes against managing things properly, and lets face it, building a decent, sustainable trail takes serious effort and knowledge. Could there not be a phase of education at Tokai? Perhaps a little A6 flyer handed out over 2 weekends with the rules, contact numbers, who to email with new trail ideas, the park's ethics, maybe a little map on the back. This way it'd stay in the packs, and be a reminder to people. The entrance from Silvermine is a tricky one. Does the Wild Card not cover this too? A lot of riders want easy access to the top trails and the linkup is handy.

Sure thing, bring it on. I'm a trail runner and ride a lot of trails as well, so it'd be pretty hard for me to puke a lung. I might puke when I see the lameness of some of your 'trails' that side, but sure thing. In all my years of MTB I've not needed to cream up Prepare to do some DH with us this side for next year then. You're even welcome to use one of my bikes. Just be sure not to get any of that 'room' on my seat eh. Side splitting stuff indeed. Omega, good wager that. I think if he accepts he'll have to put his bike in. When you win it'd be rad to try send some of those jumps at Paarl on a carbon roadbike.

haha, sorry guys I'm just having one of those crazy days. No offence, I'm just taking the piss. It's just that thought of a grown man creaming his ass really makes the hairs on my neck stand up. When I have a son, I'll know he's also a downhiller because he will reject having his bum creamed. He'll take his nappy rash like a bloody man. I think it was Nigel who said something about 3 inches in the wrong place. That's how I feel as well. A tyre that rolls over roots better isnt going to help with DH. Rather a fork that sucks 3 inches more up. Or rather jump the roots, slam 8 inches of travel through the rock garden, and when you fall, you can actually get up without crying. No girl wants to see a guy in a bib, all bloodied up, crying, with half an ice cream tub on his head, only to get a frikken cream stain on her seat when she drives you down to the emergency unit. Regarding 29er DH bikes, I just don't see it happening overnight. I love my 26 inch bike. It's perfect to me. The only improvement I'd make to any of this is the rider

THE EPIC!! bwhahahahahahaaaa, this day just keeps getting better and better. I heard they sea freighted in extra barrels of bum cream for that one. We're talking DH here. NOT the Epic. Mr.G, you know what downhill is right? 'cos Pastrana's into MX. DH clothing isnt MX clothing. It's purpose made. Like I said earlier, it will be the best day to see the lycra boys all creamed up at the top of the downhill. I'd bet by the time the first guy falls and rips his bib, smashes his face into a tree and grazes his capped knees off, the rest of the clan will sneak off down the fire road whistling that 'big boys DO cry' tune.

I know, hahaha, I actually snorted coffe through my nose as I read that! LOL. So to-the-point.

That's my pleasure! Where WE normally stay, and with our big group plus the bikes we like to hire etc, it's prudent to book well in advance. Also, when 10 guys from all parts of the globe need to meet in 1 place for 2 weeks, it helps to book in advance. Also, flights are cheaper booked in advance.

SSSSSHHHHHHH! Don't tell them dude. Next thing we'll have to share our mountains with the bum cream brigade

There's no debate. RAW beats Jpeg every time, Mercs have class, inboard gets more chicks, barefoot is for men and PLEASE...Canon FTW! Agreed with you there Nigel. If the 29er was the DH rig to ride, they'd have been all over the WC circuits by now. What a prospect for bike designers, to have a new product to force on consumers. Thanks for the travelling advice there Mint. I guess when all 10 of us rock up there and there's no space left at the lodge we can just drop your name and they'll open up a new wing for us eh?!

It's cool 'bud', I get the jest. My post was a joke too. I'm not being serious when I expect a XC boy to understand the concept of going fast down technical terrain. It's a cheque he'd never ever coax his ass to cash. None of us wear body armour and fullface helmets because we want to. It's because we need to. No pads and a little XC aero pisspot will end in a bloody mess. I wipe out at least twice every time I ride. I get up, dust myself off, and carry on. I wouldn't be able to stand up without protection. Cant we just all get along without the need to have some XC vs DH debate. Seriously I could care less. This is about 29er DH bikes, which I've said I think there's a need for, especially with the taller guys. Will they replace the 26" bike. I doubt it. Will the next DH WC be won on a 29er? I doubt that too. Ask Greg what he thinks. I'd be keen to hear his answer.

Sounds like you need a day of DH riding so you can show all of us what wise guy you are.

haha, you must be a real Chuck Norris then having only discovered riser bars a couple weeks back! I see it this way: girls like real men who do big jumps, ride fast lines and wear baggy shorts. They like big bikes too. We use the armour so we can protect our faces so when we get home from riding, we can perform properly When you lycra boys pull off your bum cream covered ball crushers, the girls are really impressed with what they see I'm sure!

Glenn Harrison rode a rigid single speed 29er on the last Freedom Challenge. I think it's crazy and admirable. (btw he had a carbon fork) I find that the more I ride a 6,5" inch rig, the sloppier my line choice becomes. Rigid riding is where most of us started, and I agree, it's all about decent line choice, using your arms and legs to smooth it out. On my rig now, I just look at a rock garden and go as the crow flies!

It explains the outrage when we wanted to make the DH runs at Tokai uni-directional. Overseas we wouldnt have even had that argument. It's huge there. We're off to Whister next year and we're booking basically a year in advance so we can get a spot.

Thanks for insulting my intelligence. No, you're not a cycling specialist, that's why you can shamelessly say that one day we might even adapt our courses for the 29er! That's going to be a big laugh at the trailbuilding sessions. Ya, let's make wider switchbacks with bigger rock gardens (cos y'all know how amazing them 29ers roll over anything). The downhill market is massive dude. If you understand business so well then why make a baseless statement that lacks any knowledge or research? In your ace knowledge of business and marketing, maybe you can confirm the reason they're bringing out all these updated 2012 26" forks these days is because the warehouses are full of old stock?

POST OF THE WEEK!

Sentences that begin with "I don't know" followed by a statement usually end up like this. Just so you know, the market is massive. It might not be so huge here due to the amount of roadies buying up the last lycra stocks, but in the US & EU AM/DH/FR are massive industries. Just take a look at how fast the technology is advancing, how huge the World Cup has become, how many bike parks are around etc. I don't think so. If 29ers are the next best thing, surely they can make the courses more technical what with all of the 'advantages' of having slightly bigger wheels. So you go from knowing nothing, to saying "Pity some of us are too rigid to move eith the times. Change is inevitable. Get used to it". Strange posting to say the least. Personally I think we will see the 29er DH bike at some point. I've got a buddy who is 6 foot 3, rides an XL frame DH rig and I've always thought he'd be better on a 29er. I'm shorter, and for me 26 inch wheels are perfect. I've ridden 29ers a bunch before and while I like the feel for XC I don't like it when pointed down a hill.

Hey guys, directions to the track?

That's interesting to hear. I've been looking at running in Five Fingers too. Do you run trails in them? I see they have just come out with a version that has more tread.

I'm a huge New Balance fan. Their concept stores have trained staff who film your stride on a treadmill, and by stop framing the footage it's easy to see if you pronate or not.

That's quite a stack of spacers you have on your headset there. How about a different angle stem and cut the steerer tube down a couple inches? Is the air horn for commuting? I hope you don't use that out on the trails.

something like this maybe? Might be able to mod this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34886

Your running around basic questions is the problem here. I didn't accuse you of anything. Nor was I aggressive or abusive. Your friend having a go at me to defend you is a little lame. But hey, if you feel you were so justified to do what you did then you live with it. I smell a rat though. Somewhere, along the line, private meeting minutes were made public. Regardless of the legalities in place, the ethics of this should be questioned. Truth be told, if I were you I'd also need to go to the pub Does this affect my riding though? Nope. I buy from CRC.

If you have the link, please post it. Do you say which shop you downloaded the document from?