Swift01

Enetred the SS cat. Go large or go home... Will be my 2nd race on the SS bike. First will be 3 towers although that should be nice and chilled with the GF. 3 days of hill training before VG. I still have 2 cans of spike from a previous Nissan race, I think I should pack them.......

No No we go in the GF's cabbie so she drives and we check stock levels of the cooler box. They should make a strava route from full level to empty level of the cooler box rather.

@rouxtjie We are always in the Shiiiiaaaaaaat it's just the depth that various. My GF has offered to even drive us 2 back on the Sat after the race cause she knows we will be too drunk to drive Man I must have loads of swambo credits if she is willing to do that.... Her GF contract has been extended another year

eish I can't make it. well I could make Friday night and do the race Sat but would have to leave by 2pm to be back in JHB on Sat evening. That is just NOT how to do it as I have the feeling the party on the Sat night is going to rock big time.

So just entered the 70km Nissan VG race in the SS section. First race on the SS (after 3 towers). So who else is in So is everyone racing it or we going to make a big SS bunch and ride together?

1990 model that beats my 1999 Gary fisher. Love the old classics although it has to be said the gemoetry of the frames may not be the best. My Gary Fisher he got it 100% for climbing hills with his genius geometry but due to the short rear stays and very long top tube it's a dog show in the single track. And man don't give it an S bend in the single track. Took them long enough to solve the problem with genius geometry 2. Still love the bike

Next batch of beer "European Lager" should get brewed next week. Takes 4 weeks then i will bring some around to rouxtjie's house for us to test out

Ha ha only thing i do well is brew beer and drink it. I could be president for that.

All depends on the amount of beers you have. I could have gone 32x16 at thaba. Even though it is a 26inch I doubt the difference when going up a hill in 29er or 26er is as much as changing from 32x18 vs 32x16 respectively, the difference comes on the flats, the 26er will need the 16 to keep up with the 29er woth an 18. Just enjoy the vide and beer. remember at the SSWC you get 1st, 2nd and 3rd place everyone else after that comes 4th so no worries.

@Slick did grant at least have a beer in hand?

Don't worry after a few beers before the race coupled the hang over from the previous night and a few more beers during the race you could ride any gear you want, they will all feel like 54x11 or you will be leopard crawling anyway if you hang at the beer stop long enough rouxtjie is correct 32x18 Grant was talking of his 29er bike. Did the SS champs at Thaba and it was more than good enough a gear.

Ha ha I also squish the tires for a guage, but i found in the very cold mornings I would get it quite wrong. fingers were too cold and the tire felt hard enough. Must get a proper guage one day.

I don't think it is about rules and cyclist being allowed to use up the whole road. I think they should out of their own safety ride to the side because we know what attitude a lot of motorist have towards cyclist as in what @mvrooyen was saying. There is a lot of road rage in this country sadly so why put yourself in more danger.

Guy in the middle looks like his saddle may be too high with his hip dropping like that or were th red shoes just too heavy for him

Not just the cyclist, again this morning I had to move into the next lane as a stream of runners running 3 a breast running towards me in my lane. They don't even acknowledge seeing me by moving over or attempting to move over or even say thank you for not mowing them down like skittles. I could get at least 10 of them in 20m. Pity I don't have a bull bar. Must order one. I commute to work on the bike quite often so I know what the roads can be like, so if I get the chance I ride off the road or right on the edge of it. I also put reflecting tape on my bike (oh no may ruin the look of the bike) to make myself as visible as possible. Those "Pro wanna be" roadies to me are just taking chances with their own lives. This is not to say i don't make mistakes while commuting, but at least I try to be safe and pre empt the drivers. Drivers don't watch as much as they should (texting, taking photo's, picking their nose)........ Yes I am also guilty of texting and driving like most of us. Aaaaah got it off my chest now people can just be stooooooopid at times.

Mmmmm one with no back light as well.........

Hee Hee not your style. Couldn't resist the green nipples arrived for the new wheels. As they say for SS pimp it

Got my old Gary Fisher Paragon (1999 model) up and running for SS. All ready for 3 towers in Oct. Hope to get the new wheels before then

Also most MTB frames you can't fit the Road bike cracks on as the chainrings are too large and hit the rear stays and they bulge out to fit the wide MTB tires. Sell it and get a proper road bike.

Your biggest problem will be brake pads. Just be careful. For example, I had a set of XTR rotors brand new and the GF had a bike with deore brakes (could even have been lower). I put the XTR rotors on and there was no braking power. Turns out the XTR had to use a certain type of brake pad. I think it was resin.

Spoke to Grant U while in an LBS a little while back and he said pretty much the same as for the SS champs at Thaba this year. 32x18 was his thoughts

And here is proof that Rouxtjie actually rode the new SS this weekend. Still smiling at the top of the strips

Wish I had a photo of the bike he borrowed. Silverback Reno that has been around the block alot with non existent V-brakes. Borrowed gloves, helmet bike and shoes and off he went. Every stop he was having to put the seat back up again but never complained once. Rode like a machine

Wish I could make it but off to Dullstroom this weekend. Was a close one, nearly got it right, but the GF and I had already booked 3 towers race and can't afford to do both in one month. Damn that bank manager The great thing is the GF no longer says NO when I tell her we should build her an SS bike. The next SS champs she already said she will come along and tape up her gears

yeah but them legs and lungs are still out on the trail about halfway up the strips Was a good fun ride on Sat with loads of banter. Still John that was out from Canada. Respect to him how he can handle a bike even if he managed to crash big one. His commitment was amazing. Launched the bike, traveled 10m on the front wheel trying to recover it until the bar end hit a bush.... Still maintains if it was not for the bush he would have gotten it right.... He reckons VG rocks.