Alouette3

Also remember to keep your eyes up ahead on the trail and not on your front wheel. Sounds silly at times... but it will changing your riding. I often struggle with a root section or something, then say to my self look up and I make it no problem. Called Target Fixation.

Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice... Learn all my basics there, each ride you will find yourself walking a little less until one day it all falls together, and as has been said, do it up and down, you will learn a lot about handling and tech stuff on the way up. But most important make sure you keep enjoying yourself

Any news for us Deon... I'm itching

http://www.mbaction.com/Main/News/Bike-Test-The-Cannondale-F4-3605.aspx

Hard tail is a good thing to learn your basic mtb'ing skills, so you don't end up lazy and making the suspension do the work for you! Eventually you will want a dual sus though. Never discount a 26er, bought a second hand 26 dual sus end of last year to replace my Merida hard tail 26 and it was the best money I've spent in a long time, and there a lot of good second hand deals. 29er is brilliant for XC and distance, while 26 tends to be a bit more snappy for better single track and AM riding. Maybe give both a try. But to start out with you will be perfectly fine with that Cannondale.

Go with the clutch... you won't regret it. Shifting is a bit more stiff but not that hard that it will impair your shifting

I when from SPD's to flats 6 months ago, not because SPD's gave issues but because I felt I was developing a poor technique i.e pulling my bike over a small jump with the pedals rather then learning to load the shocks properly. I hated the first couple rides on flats as my feet tended to float of the pedals but after 3-4 rides that went away. My riding has only improved and so has my confidence on sum stuff. Give flats a go and make up your own mind. I'm not even using 5-10's as they just too expensive, my NB skate type shoes work fine for now. Oh and those "bear traps" don't count a flats!

Take the sim out, turn it on and call the last dialled number... or look for mom or dad in the contact list. Found one a couple weeks ago and returned to the owner this way.

Rode with MirageF1 the other day, Mamba hadn't been touched yet, but going up Boomslang was a mess, couldn't even walk most of it! On the other hand that bit of rain really helped putting some grip back into Vasbyt, as the summer has really turned it into a dusty trail. Give us all a good heads up with the rebuilds, I've noted the build day on 2 Feb, going to try my best to pull through!

Saw the 2 Ibis riding Tokai yesterday, the curves on those things are amazing!

Thanks to all who organised a safe mass ride in CT this evening

Use a screw driver to tighten the thumb nuts, does a much better job, just a but of an irritation.

...it just jumped in front of me...

Definitively going to be there next time. Next date set for 27 Jan I see... so where is the Hubbers corner going to be this time?

Silver Merida with Neon yellow flames, probably next to the Bart Simpson t-shirt ;p

Not today, but this week. My new ride took me up Vlakkenberg then down Tokai Bridal path below!

I'll have a look through what I've got and post some of the better ones. Haven't got all that many unfortunately, first time taking cycling pics.

Was a good day of spectating yesterday. Here is a pic from the quarry jump.

Had a beautiful Puffy stretched out on the gravel road at Tokai couple weeks back, luckily we missed him, seeing he was half the length of the road!

Tokai is my home track but dying to try Jonkershoek, only heard good things. I guess like Tokai it helps having someone that knows the best trails?

Where are the good trails in the Hex River / De Doorns and I guess Worcester area? Going up this weekend and I have heard there are some great rides around.

Unfortunately there is not much ride able in the way of good off road, there are a couple of us from the Bay. I tend to ride Tokai, fairly close by and with an activity card it's affordable and the trails awesome.

Thanks guys. I removed the cir-clip and found that its not a seal but only a steal washer that keeps the rod in place and it was flared. I just removed the washer and hammered it flat on a piece of granite, replaced it and not it holds better than before!

Hi all Went ploughing with my bike down Tokai yesterday and in the process managed to pull the lever and ball link of my Tekro Auriga Pro's out of the piston socket. There seems to be a rubber type seal, with a Cir-Clip that holds the piston rod ball linkage on the piston, which has stretched and there is now play in the lever after I popped the ball back in. Any idea where I could get one of these seals, or has any one got one? (Pic of the part thanks to google. think its the comp version though)