PaulTeague

I don't wanna bring down the good vibes guys...race route was great....awesome scenery and variety. Was my first one, but i do need to say i was a little disappointed by the lack of organisation at the start/end regarding the starting pens and medals. Is it usually like that?...just seems cycling is getting less popular for sponsors if you compare it for example to the spar ladies race...what do you guys think?

In my opinion.... I think the bottom line is that with mountain biking you are gonna fall....its just a matter of time....and with cleats you and the bike usually just end up in some sort of tangled mess together. And the safety....hmmm....speed (and riding style/recklessness) kinda determines that one. Like the saying....no pain, no gain.

Wise words. Yep...if you ride on rusted spokes (or even cleaned rusted spokes)...its just a matter of time before your plough into the tamac (or need a fresh chamois )...almost happened to my bro on a Argus...happened a couple kms after he finished...hahaha...big skrik! Also risk doing irreparable damage to your rims....HKGK...passop boetie!

Shame....poor bugger....suppose we all learn one way or another

Weapons of mass destruction inflation....mmmm...seems to me that the big lbs's like solomons and cajees will ever truly 'value' any of their customers (ive purchased from both, so not choening their products/service)...regardless of prices etc...I often find the best lbs's are the smaller or struggling ones simply because they value their business....or maybe my pockets are just not deep enough

Most jobs you can service with minimal effort(/beer) but some jobs are probably best left with people who know how to do it....like suspension, wheelbuilding, brake bleeding. The cost of the kits and tools specific to these jobs is only warranted if you 1) have a bottomless bank account 2) are intending to pursue doing it as a form of work. Also, when you screw up those fiddley/expensive bits....replacing them will eat a hole in your wallet, and doing the walk of shame through the LBS doors is not cool. My suggestion...rather take it to somebody you can trust for piece of mind and just pay the piper. I can vouch for any work from KDT. If you are in category 1...you can buy me a set of tools too if you're feeling very generous

wow, these look really neat.

To Obviously the timing company is a business and needs to make a little money, but I found this to be the most ridiculous thing ever. Hidden costs....uhmm I don't support unethical business practices....so +1 for the boycott...Racetec ftw! As for needing different chips for the different timing companies....that's a con in itself. Racetec were obviously able to accommodate the Winningtime chips when they took them over (and I'm still using my retro yellow ankle chip)...if only all the races were timed by the same company...ai ai

Is it just my imagination or have the Gauteng cyclists started greeting each other less and less? And Capetonians....whats up with the no waving?....seems like Zille has a no-waving policy in place??? I always make a point to wave When the gesture is blatantly ignored...a couple of mumbled words follow to be totally honest And the roadies seem less polite overall (not to hate on them, as I am part of both crowds)

Richards Bay is approx. 50-60(?)kms from Vidal. There's schweeeet MTB routes through the cane fields, banana plantations, timber plantations, and natural forests (with no entrance fees!)....you definitely won't be disappointed. But sounds like taking your bike is kinda forcing the riding a bit....rather make a dedicated cycling trip another time. Agree with Ed-Zulu and Johan about the crime....rabid-killer-dog may be useful to take along, or entertaining at least. Even in RBay, its not wise to cycle alone, especially since you aren't familiar with the area.

I am more of the reader-type Not swinging at all LBS's, just the ones I've had enough experience with to share on the forum about. And people have very different experiences of the LBS's, totally probable that my poor experiences were abnormal. This wasn't meant to come across as swinging at anyone...sorry for any misinterpretations.

For those in Gauteng (Pretoria), this is my experience.... (Apologies if this may appear biased, but its 100% factual) Cyclelab (Centurion): +Competitively priced -Poor feedback and advice..."con-artists-deluxe" (only try to sell new parts) -Also extremely slow on the services (approx. 2weeks for a minor service) -Work quoted was not actually done (I threw in a part to test them...if they did what they quoted, the parts should've been replaced, and they were still on the bike when I received it) Hatfield Cycles: -Poor workmanship -Poor selection of parts +Competitive pricing on (some) items -Slow service delivery -Work quoted was not actually done (same situation as above) +Good advice, not just there to make a quick buck Cyclelab (Lyn Brdge): -Showed absolutely no interest, so I took my business elsewhere Bruce Reyneke: -Poor customer service and attitudes of (some) staff. So, again, I took my business elsewhere FritzPienaar: -Well, they're closed now....comments are irrelevant KDT Cycle Services: +Fully customizable service +Custom alterations to bike +Friendly service and advice +Competitively priced +Work quoted was actually done +1-2 days to do a large amount of work (more than the average service would include) So its a no-brainer where I will take my MTB to be serviced from now on.

Hopefully this will clarify some confusion on GMO's.... The short story....there's nothing wrong with GMO's... "GMO", just like many other examples (e.g. non-pasture dairy production), has just got a bad case of a media-given stigma. Let's face it, most things we use/consume are GMO's, including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc. Yes, brewing yeasts are included here too. Even the "greenies" will find themselves in a difficult position as, although the products are genetically modified, the genetic modifications enable a higher and more efficient production (by e.g. plant resistance to diseases)...meaning less expensive products and less pollution. The typical nostalgic picture people have of farming is a backward mentality, and going that way won't be able to sustain the global population. Those who are GMO opposed...get educated!

Does anyone know where I can get my hands on one of these ice-cream bikes???....a group of us would like to convert one of these into a cooler-box-carrying-racer....and light it up with enough lights that it could be seen from space....can anyone help me on this? ...otherwise the next idea we were looking at is a trolley-conversion-racer...just worried about how to stop it....any ideas and suggestions fellow hubbers?

Guys and girls, logistics....there isn't any race without logistical problems....as with wipeouts...its part of the sport. It seems like the guys from CPT and JHB (incl. myself) like complaining about this more than others...fact is...we're spoiled with the races like the 94.7 and Argus. Take home message: lets get off our arses and onto the saddles, less the whining.

"Space chickens"...sounds like fowl play

Howzit guys, I am a keen road and mtb cyclist and have two bikes. Servicing (and repairing) both bikes at shops every year is putting a little strain on my wallet. Also, at reputable shops, sometimes I find that the bikes haven't been properly serviced...the bike has been washed, and thats all, and I basically end up do the service over myself. I have got a book which has a step-by-step servicing guide, which is quite good. I would just like to ask a few questions... 1) All the little bits that often need to be replaced during a service...(e.g. aluminium ends for the gear cables, bearings etc)...where do you guys buy all those little things? 2) Servicing shocks...I've got an entry level rockshox dart 2...Is the servicing of shocks still considered a specialist job? I've got my hands on the manual and watched plenty youtube vids...and...apart from being a moerse shlep...it doesn't seem too difficult?? Again...re parts for the shock...where can one buy all the seals/gaskets etc..? 3) Finally, what greases should I use for the different bearings, and where would I be able to buy the greases. The bike shops seem to only sell tiny 100-200ml type containers for about R150...and...well...for grease...thats INSANE! Is car bearing grease ok for the hubs...? Thanks for all the help guys!

Yeh, pretty bumbed on with the expo and the goodie bag...

Brakes are for sissies!

I'm using a giant road bike...and am very pleased with the quality...so you must just be seriously unlucky, sorry about ur bike.

Brilliant!

Looks like packing up the bike after the ride was easy...no bike carrier hassels, but carrying all the pieces, big schlep.

Well this post just helps advertising for the guy...I wonder how many other 29er w@nkers are gonna start riding that route now...probably arrange a group uhmm ride.

Guys...the real solution is to get manufacturers to drop their bike prices...that way the bastards will stop the hijackings... I'm busy building a prototype of a bike equipped with voice activated sawnoff shotguns...anybody want to test ride it through the townships?

I thought all capetonians were w@nkers?? HAHA...just kidding guys...