nickelass

I think with more people riding trail / enduro we will see more riders with more protection, and full face helmets. I have a normal xc helmet for the way up. and have become used to carrying a kabuto full face for the way down and will not risk jumping unless I am wearing it. I did buy the kabuto, as it is fairly light, and I carry it on my back for the way up. Once you get used to doing this it feels the normal thing to do. I have noticed that on the enduro scene very few people wear full face, more likely they do not own them.

My riding used to be more xc style, I had the fitness but not much skills on the dh /enduro abilities. Now I find I need to go back to the distance riding ,as I have focused so much on the enduro and need to ride harder to get fitness up. Nice to mix the rides up,different goals. Even better if you can be good in both ,though.

4 years later and the five tens still going strong ! the soles have some wear , and the uppers are still fine, well worth the money.

Straight out speed downhill on dirt road scares me, too many unknown factors, such as loose gravel on corners, potholes, etc. I was on a group ride 3 weeks ago and I was always the last on the downhill dirt roads. My feeling was more that I was not prepared to take the risk. However I know that if we had been riding technical track , I am far more prepared to take some risks. What did help me was riding the same track again to increase confidence. Likewise back to a section/ jump/drop where you have crashed, not always easy to do this.

There is a fair amount of wildlife left at Giba. One of the attractions of riding there is the sightings of the animals. Will be a pity if this is not prevented.

When you reach the point that some of the downhills have drop offs and sections where you have to get your weight right back,( most likey your seatpost will be to high ,and in the way) so you are more comfortable with stopping and dropping your seatpost first. Most likey this is trail bike / enduro riders situations. XC riding does not really need a dropper, though that does not stop you. Depends on the trail.

Also got the giant, it is my first, and had the idea that maybe if it was not so good I would upgrade later. Over a year now, and the only minor hassle I had was to replace the seat allen bolt. I am really pleased with it.

I think I have seen the ad you are referring to, I would consider it a good buy. I ride 26 ers still, and don't think I am really worried about tyres , will just buy on line anyway.

2 26 ers, anthem and morewood, have to bust what I have , and then more likely 27,5

Built several wheels with old spokes ,new hub, other rims. Best to get new nipples, thou. Have to be certain the spokes are the right length. I did find it harder to true the wheel, and have read its not advisable to rebuild wheels with old spokes.

I have built total of 9 wheels so far, mainly because of swopping hubs and rims on my bikes , and a couple of things I have observed. I take way to long! I could never do this for a living . To me the vertical trueing is harder than the lateral trueing. Back wheels are much harder. I did stress relieving (maybe not good enough) but I do a couple of rides on my finished product, then true again, as the tension released, the wheel can go out. Its great to ride on your own built wheels !

I have long since given up on getting a couple of crush washers, my quick fix (now seems to be permanent) has to loosen the nut/bolt and just wind plumbers tape ,many times around the nut/bolt gap,even on both sides of the crush washer, then tighten up, this has worked for me.

I ride almost every day, and will not go more than 3 months without doing a lower leg service on my lyric fork.Once I left it to 4months and found my fork was dry and a little dirt had made its way in past the seals. I have learnt to do it myself, as I would be reluctant to pay R800, every 3 months.I have been using the same seals for two years though.

Its always easier and more profitable for a shop to sell a customer a new bike that fix an old one. As lbs go Leighs do seem to be well managed and organised.

just come back from a ride on my 26 anthem, yesterday was on my 26 morewood ( with a bit of jumping for fun) ride what you like . Me I am happy with what I have.

Have you been riding the Pleney line ? maybe its to wet? Thanks for the vids, hopefully the weather improves, thou it does not look that the track is very muddy, on Les Gets.

Well done to the organisers of this event. I think G2G had a lot to do with the planning and building of the trail, and it was top class. At the end I was undecieded about which stage was the best, as all were so good ! This is the third year of this event,and each year it gets better,having 5 stages was a winner.

On 2 occasions I have briefly tried out my brothers 29 er, since I mainly ride a 160mm enduro/freeride bike, or a 26 er anthem, I did notice its more stable, and must be faster. I am not to fussed about my time in races , so not in a rush to justify why I need one. Need to break the anthem, to give me a reason! Leaning more towards a 650b .

so used to a backpack, dont even go out the carpark without it.

Its a good frame, and a good fork.The anthem is a bike which is well known,as they are a good design. Have a 2008 anthem which I am very happy with.

In your picture it looks as though you are missing the inside sleeve/bush that should be pressed into the shock. These are what I have replaced before when I have had play.

I was at Karkloof today "the bat out of hell' remindered me of Morzine, so far its the closest comparison to the runs there I have yet found here.

Its about a 1hour,20mins up the Pleney "Hill" then on the top you can head over to the Chavannes run and drop down to Les Gets ,and back to Morzine,. A good early morning ride if you want more enduro riding. The up hill is steep and you most likely will end up walking some sections though.

distance made up by laps , becomes boring.