Mr SingleTrack

there is a Spez concept store @ Melrose Arch

i get just over 4 hours every time

Agreed, SBR made the race! A change in route that I would have welcomed is if they removed the dirt road from the race!

dude dis op Swartkoppies net buite Alberton. en dis awesome, vir seker een van die lekkerste plekke in JHB om te ry!

I am starting to regret my Knysna golf trip for this comming weekend... damn you all for planning to going to rietvlei without me...

I am not to sure if this works equally well for the guys behind you in races

agreed. It took me about 2 or 3 rides on my 29er to get used to the different geomitry (when I went from 26").

now there is a totally legit reason to ride with one of those big-ass frame pompe! Think I am buying one today!

try them for youself! I test rode a Spec Epic and did not like the feeling at all. Yes it is a fast bike but it is not comfortable at all (for me) when it comes to the rough stuff

completely depends on the type of terrain that you are planning to ride. for most of the stage races in SA 100mm travel is sufficient, but there is nothing wrong with going 120mm if you please. More than 120mm will cost you to much time on stage races IMO

I ride a ST 29er as it suits my riding style and the events that I do (and don't let anyone tell you 29ers are only for district roads, I ride at places like Kings Kloof without any hassles). that being said, I agree with Karma, test them and see what you like...

remember to replace the helmet. they are only good for one crash

I say go for a ST, you'll welcome the comfort at stage races

a few years back I did just that, I jumped from the 30km races to a 60km (Vori-berg) race. lol, I think the last 10 km of that race took me more than an hour. Needless to say, even though i physically finished the race, I had a ugly DNQ next to my name on the results sheet However, I just stuck to it and nowadays my legs only feel warmed up after 50km

it is a short section though

marked with green on the map

my "tan" is at least 2 shades darker, and that through all the sunscreen that i applied. we are going to fry this summer!

if you have to lift with your knees I think your bike might be a tad on the heavy side Then again, I dont have a gnarly DH/Trail bike like Sir Patches that might way slighly less than my XC tank

unfortunately no fast technical downhills It is a good place to train for distance but it is not really technical (accept for the sandy patch next to the river, 1 tree root sections and the new rock garden which would only account for less than 1% of the route). That being said, it's a nice place to ride and works well for group rides

you get to use this method if you don't like your bike!

yup, I am glad the sand is back. in a couple of weeks there should be enough sand so that most people will not be able to ride through. that is when the real fun starts :-)

I enjoy the new rock garden. 100% ride-able and it will get easier and easier as it gets ridden out, but at least it is a nice change to the route

here we go. sorry for the delay. This is the map for route 3 at NF. there is 1 short section that we skipped which I marked with a red star on the map. The full loop should be 48km (the provided one is just over 46km). Please PM me your email address if you want the .GPX file. I can’t upload it (file type restricted)

I am sitting this one out :-( I am playing golf in Knysna this weekend Ps- I'll upload the NF ride tomorrow morning, sorry for the delay