[SUIKERBOS SBR current state]

[Convert vintage rim into a single speed]

1 minute ago, DJR said:

Another possibility is to get a half-link chain. It works just like a regular chain, but can be lengthened or shortened by half a link in stead of a whole link, meaning you are more likely to get just the right length. Sometimes used by BMXers. 

Good thinking Batman! They also pretty strong 💪 

[Convert vintage rim into a single speed]

4 hours ago, Stretched@Birth said:

No personal experience with it, but this looks like a good option to avoid the tensioner:

https://www.rapide.co.za/product/rapide-eccentrick-bb/

As far as the gearing goes, if it is a screw on cluster on your vintage hub, then the spacer kits and gears are not going to work.  You may find that a BMX screw on gear will work, I'm not sure about spacing though, the critical thing with SS conversions is getting the chain line and tension right.

 

If I had the bucks I'd certainly get one, or 2 of those👍

 

Would make my life easier, as you say chainline also crucial!

[Convert vintage rim into a single speed]

1 hour ago, MORNE said:

Ive not had much luck with finding the ‘magic gears’😝 agree that a tensioner will look wrong on that bike.

I have a specific dislike of tensioners .... They always look zeff to me 😎

Having said that I have sometimes spent days, literally, to find a specific 'magic gear' with the correct ratio for the application be it road or MTB ... And even then if it's ridden a lot it'll eat chains

But if the aesthetics of the bike is important it is well worth it ☺️

[SUIKERBOS SBR current state]

Saw this on FB earlier for what it's worth?

[947 Ride Joburg]

Oops wrong thread ... sorry

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

3 minutes ago, Frosty said:

Took me a while to figure out you were referring to this (I have zero interest in the Proteas):

Like you neither do I but I do read the 'news' every so often .. I assume my wife and I are part of the 10 people who were in bed Sunday night at 9 as well 😜

[2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup]

2 hours ago, Hairy said:

So what was the 2023 season like ... did I miss anything monumental.

Besides that CX whippersnapper 'Pook Pieterse' beating the established ladies .... Nah not really

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

I'm aware that the colour may be a bit sensitive to some sports fans after yesterday ... sorrie ne

It was Steely Dan's turn though and I'm happy to report that I was able to keep up with one of those yellow tuk-tuks with the 4 wheels on a climb 😎

[Anything from Cool Heat]

On 9/28/2023 at 11:48 AM, Headshot said:

I think mine is safe - its been abused for ten years

'Depends on your legs' as I was bluntly told by a 'mate' 😲

 

Apparently mine are in no danger 😞

[Why Motorcycles and Mountain Bikes Cost the Same]

9 minutes ago, Hairy said:

What does a high end MTB tyre look like these days ... R1200.00 for a Maxxis, more if you roll on a Schwalbe?

Cost to fit a tyre with sealant, rim tape and valve R300.00

So R1500.00 for a skinny tyre fitted

Should I compare this to my motorbike, that uses a wider tyre than most, and is rated for a heavier motorcycle (All cost increasing factors) with a high end in the rage Pirelli fitted with valve, balancing, etc = R3500.00

Other motorcycle setups can be a good bit cheaper where both tyres can be replaced as a combo price around the 3.8K mark.

 

Reminds me the time a few years ago my wife accompanied me to get a road bike tyre at a local bike shop ....

Shop assistant - "that'll be 780"

My wife - "stuff that I just replaced a tyre on my f#£%ing car and it cost less than that!" (My wife doesn't swear as a rule)

I did get some discount!

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

A quick spin to make sure all is good again .... yes it certainly was!

Great to have my son join on what he affectionately calls his 'NOTARELLO' ... Will organise the necessary vinyl to be cut this week 😎

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

Sometimes it's just a good idea to call time on a ride ... nothing bad, nothing wrong, not even that far from home!

Called the team car, not often I do that 😎

Tough conditions and a decision made this week, meaning not many calories in 😊

[Di2 charger not supplied with second hand bike purchase]

10 minutes ago, Jbr said:

mmmeh... I removed XTR to put GX AXS on my MTB, then moved it over to my gravel bike and put XTR back to my MTB, and it is an absolute pleasure to ride the XTR too. It really depends how well the thing is setup, both a great. Just the argument of saying that electronic is **** because you have to charge it is stupid, because you have to charge it every million years (yet okay some people seem to still forget to do so), but once you snap a cable in your mechanical groupset you are even more ****** having to ride on your 11T cog the whole way home, and that has happend to me probably  as many times as running out of battery on an electronic groupset (which is maybe a couple of times) 

True ... I have a 'few' bikes and only 2 of them have Di2, both road bikes

It's not like the rest are crap to be honest they all work, for me personally I just like the clean look and of course that servo sound 🥸

[Di2 charger not supplied with second hand bike purchase]

All y'all luddites with your 'go back to cable' jibes .... Skud maar net jy kop 😝

 

IMHO once you've ridden road electronic you'd be doff too think cable is better ... That cool look, crispy shifting, the sound of that servo 😎

[Di2 charger not supplied with second hand bike purchase]

To my mind essentially the bike is useless without the charger so not supplying one is something that should be mentioned!

[The PRO Gravel Thread]

1 hour ago, MongooseMan said:

Staying in US for last few lifetime Grand Prix races, I assume

I read something like that on social media somewhere and then a comment about the course not really being 'worthy' of world champs but I'll reserve my comment on that.

Everyone races the same course .... maar nou ja

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

On the tar bits you can think things through, on the dirt sections you can forget about things for a short while 😎

[The great Chain Cassette Gears thread]

13 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Haven't got round to it yet. Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

If you weren't so far away ... I have a 10sp (non clutch though) you're welcome to

[The "I need something you might throw away" thread]

3 hours ago, Arrie said:

@NotSoBigBen are you willing to sell 1 of those units

I may but not yet, I have this idea I'm busy with to use 2*18650's and 1 of the 'control units' in a 3D printed 'container' for want of a better word

Busy with the design, hope to print a prototype in the coming days

I'll keep y'all updated

[The "I need something you might throw away" thread]

1 hour ago, Arrie said:

This is how it looks opened

 

 

I need some of those batteries, I have 2 units that have stuffed batteries sadly

[Show us your local legends / koms]

6 minutes ago, Frosty said:

There were a few ding-dong, or tit-for-tat, fights between a few people on a few KOMs. The 🏆 changed hands on a weekly basis.

One of my best efforts (still a top-10) is a segment we ride often, but my best time came when riding home from a race. Nothing much can beat taking the KOM with 150km in the legs, and plenty kJ burnt.

'ding dong' flip .... so I took that legend back yesterday but he promptly took it back this morning.

Fortunately though I stopped to take a pic, as I do, and saw the notification ... What else to do but go straight there and take it back 😁 , he was not amused

Let's see what happens tomorrow 😎

 

All good natured though and as I said it helps with the motivation

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

Nowhere exciting but riding consistently so very happy 😊 

 

Normally no riding on Mondays but .... me and the big guy who does my frame painting have this good natured 'feud' about some arbitrary local legends and other stuff in Strava (I know, I know)

The sod stole my local legend on this segment this past weekend so I had to go and get it back immediately  😤 

I must be honest that despite what people may think things like Vitality points and these type of challenges certainly have kept me motivated during some tough times 😄

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

You may be able to go faster by car but not necessarily further .... despite what many may think 😎

 

[Custom set up.]