Clinton1

The question was asked above and the person who has used the services stated they paid around R70. Is the duties argument used by SA retailers to get the business? What is the chance of them charging you if one item arrives via post?

Really?!? Wow! So around R500 for Specialized kit and then R70 duty! Sounds good. Or does it? What price would you pay here? And would I look like an idiot riding specialized kit on my Silverback Phoenix? haha

Ha ha, win win all all fronts!

...and not be able to eat properly for the next few weeks!

Oooh! I just think I might pass most of those tests with this baby! http://www.mognettibike.it/images/Ebay/Blak%20red%20silver%20titanium_600.jpg

Fully agree and have argued this before on here! "Buy a R200 helmet for a R200 head" is a brilliant salesman speech... I've posted a link to this research elsewhere but I'll do it again: http://www.helmets.org/testbycost.htm I am literally upgrading my helmet based on the air flow argument. Mine is boiling. I could spend R600 on a normal priced "decent" helmet or R1000 for a bargain RP Sterling. I'm leaning towards the latter.

And? Were there any duties or issues with ordering?

Good advice. I found that in my driveway expedition. Unclip prior to coming to a stop. Prepare for what is coming. I suppose the one risk area is where I would normally stick a foot down but now can't...

Several trips up and down the long driveway and about 6 unclips on each trip safely negotiated.... rode through the front door and almost wiped out as my pedal hit a kids toy and as I lost balance my foot did not go down as it should! Let's get out there and see what happens when that happens on the trails

Nah man! Heading to Giba to take on the Blue trail..... ha ha, just kidding, I'm eyeing out the grass field next door as we speak. Will be heading out there as soon as the cleats and pedals are in position.

I suppose I am lucky (or is that unlucky) in that I really have nothing to compare them to. I'm hoping they will be better than my Salomon takkies...

Thanks man. Definitely! $25,000 which is the going rate for the life of a 40 year old apparently! Now to work out how to put it all together! ha ha. How do I decide which position to tighten the cleats in and more importantly whether to out them in the front or rear holes provided?

Well.... two less things to decide on! Thanks and I'll be sure to come back here and moan at you all if I end up regretting this

If you were in Durbs I'd drive around and have a look for sure Don't doubt I'd probably upgrade but at that price worth the experiment

I tend to not take note of usernames when arguing so I carry no chips on my shoulder. Besides I also like to leave past disagreements in the threads in which they belonged I fully understand the "roasting dish". I had to (better now in winter) take my helmet off every so often to "get some air". This is the main reason for looking to upgrade. Yes, safety is a great by product but vents are what attracted me. Yeah, the Shimanos have definitely appealed to me the most and at around R400 they will definitely not break the bank. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Shoes are definitely the toughest part. Most of the bargains are online but they really need to be tried on as you say. And even the until you get out onto those wet rocks you really do not know what to expect.

Been covered already

Yip, that has been my exact argument. If this "stimulant" can slip through the net in the Bok training camp then it is clear that this chap would have had little chance.

Different "councils" all together surely, so not sure there is any precedent set by that.

+R125 delivery. You see these are the things that go through my overly analytical head. It's not easy in here! ha ha. So I would be saving R250 by getting Olympic and not Specialized Comp. Again, not saying you are wrong but thinking out loud

I think you might be a little biased here! ha ha When we talk Durban we are obviously referring to KZN but even "just outside" Durban you have Giba Gorge and Karkloof and the like with climbing. Then we also tend to include the old Transkei (even though it is no longer "ours") and the Berg area. I'm sure most would suggest CT as the one stop destination in SA but I personally prefer to encourage visitors to experience Africa. In my opinion this is better done in KZN.

As far as I know this is the norm here. Thought it was elsewhere too. Often arrive at Giba and someone is looking at the map and ask them if they want to join our ride. Seems the normal thing to do

New Olympics at around R600 or Specialized Comp "used once" at R1000 though. That is my dilemma. I was only thinking M530s do to the larger "platform" for when I do hop on in takkies or shoeless.

Yip, I had been eyeing out that Actyum but unfortunately there are only larges and at 58cm I'd be better off with a S/M. Also the Sterling is at a great price too as a result of an auction on here. I hear you regarding the price of the bike and fully agree but that was mentioned to provide some perspective to the "accessory" purchases. I could get my GF a new (very) entry level bike for that price.... So far we seem to be leaning towards just doing it....

To tell you thre truth it's not the safety aspect of the helmet that is making me look at another but the ventilations. My current helmet is damn hot in summer. Not an issue now but we are headed back to summer. I'm sure I could get a decent ventilated one for R600 but I bid on the RP Sterling auction so I can get that for R1k as opposed to the usual R1.6k

That has always been my view but if I am going to go the "clipless" route then I need shoes and pedals.... so I can either go the cheapy route, get decent ones (which cost half my bikes value) or just stick with my takkies....