Clinton1

When I was 7 and got a bike for Christmas we adjusted the saddle before I rode it. I think there is a difference between this and a professional fit... or at least I'd hope so considering they charge!

For most bikes you should be able to find measurements if you look around. I bought a Silverback Phoenix and an internet search brought up this diagram showing all the dimensions which tie into your measurements. You csn then see which frame size is your best bet. Please note that note all larges are the same size. Mine was a 19", I've seen some that are 20". EDIT: Actually no, your measurements do not tie in there at all! No idea what virtual top tube is but it is smaller than a small in the diagram above. This calculator is far simpler : http://www.ebicycles.com/bicycle-tools/frame-sizer/mountain-bike And shows a 19.5" as the best fit for you but you can consider anything from 18.5" to 20"

I think the biggest issue here is posting this sort of thing on a forum where most regard themselves as an experts. As a beginner myself, I am more than willing to listen to what is being said in that article. I have had all and sundry offering me advice on how to improve my riding and what I need to do to get better. This advice is well appreciated but the reality of it is that the most important way to improve my riding is to get fit and ride more! A 4mm seat adjustment or a 100g saving on a new saddle will no doubt benefit someone who has reached the pinnacle of their fitness and mastered all the skills but for me, and most newbies, there is a lot more that can be done first to make improvements. As mentioned in the article suppleness and fitness are far more important facets. Another thread says you cannot buy skills. I fully agree, as did most. Yet here, when this same bit of advice is presented in another manner, it causes a small uproar.... By the way, I never did get a fitment done as I was advised to do. I did a bit of reading online, asked around, made some adjustments myself and will continue to do so as my fitness and skills improve. Sure things may be a few mm out as it currently stands but do you honestly reckon that is going to make too much difference to my riding?

I really have no idea what you are referring to but the publicised inflation numbers provide plenty detail on how the numbers are made up. These are split into different products and even different regions. There are also numbers publicised for rural areas. http://www.statssa.gov.za/PublicationsHTML/P0141November2011/html/P0141November2011.html I am fully aware of a group of people who will dispute publicised stats.

Really?! I'm 1.88m and I am on the cusp of large and XL. but the more accurate measure is your inner leg length, which is what I used. If you want a website to help you, give this one a try : http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO&INTRO_LINK=NOREDIR

Now maybe I misread the first post but I'm very interested in how overtaking on the left is a "mistake"? It seems like it was a deliberate move on the driver's behalf? For those who know the area, was this a two lane road or did he overtake in the yellow?

Ha ha, no comment!

6 inches?!? For a woman? Damn... that is big!

When you say this do you mean out the seat on loose gravel? I ask as I have found the Small Block 8 has plenty grip if I keep the weight on it. My only problem with these tyres, and it's obvious as they are not made for conditions, but in thick mud they tend to not clear.

At risk of going horribly off topic, how do those two numbers demonstrate power? At 6'2" and 77kg I must also be a pro! ha ha

Oops only realised now I wasted my time as you have bought a new bike! ha ha. Enjoy! Hopefully someone else benefits from this advice I personally would also definitely go the mountain bike route. Far less limitations on where you can ride even if it is the odd pavement hopping while road riding. As regards bike choice, I too had the same budget range and was looking at the Titans and the Silverbacks. I ended up comparing the components offered as most in that price range had similar aluminium alloy frames. I was almost decided on the Titan when a sale of 2011 Silverbacks was advertised on here. At the end of every year bike shops have a clear out of current stock as the next years stock comes in. I ended up with a new Silverback Phoenix 2011 for R4500 about a month ago. It was still selling in some shops for R6500 and I had been offered a second hand one for R4000, so it was a bargain. You don't mention the year of release of the Stride in question but my Phoenix, to allow you to get an idea of whether yours is value for money, has Deore components (shifters, front derailleur), SLX shadow rear derailleur, Shimano hydraulic disk brakes and Suntour Raidon Airfork. You might be too late trying to find 2011 stock clearance sales now as I'm sure most shops would have cleared their stock by now. As regards sizing, I'm sure the real experts on here will have differing opinions, but I am 1.85m and 77kg and found that, based on most online measurements, I was on the cusp of a large and an XL. I jumped on a few and felt more comfortable on a large. Of course it is not just about your height but inner leg length, arm reach etc etc. I chose to go large but this was slightly influenced by the fact that the one on offer on special was a large Hope this helps a little. Oh, and I tried the second hand route but it is so much easier finding a new bike in the size you want and not have to worry about inheriting issues! Who really knows how much of a beating those components have taken? You also find a good looking second hand bike but then realise it is a small, or medium. Or you see a great large, go through the whole process of ensuring it is in good condition, make arrangements to pay the next day and then get a message that a family member has decided to take the bike (yes that happened to me, thankfully in hindsight). Wasted time... With a new bike you eliminate the whole checking out condition part of the process.

Unfortunately the topic did degenerate into a "CT is so wonderful and the rest of SA sucks" fairly quick. And I tend to take offence to this fairly quickly too, so I must apologise for adding fuel. I'll reiterate again what I said earlier as I truly believe it : "All parts of South Africa have their own unique attributes which is what makes this country awesome". Just wish some Capetonians would take their blinkers off and accept this...

I am fully aware of that. Maybe you should take note of the post I was responding to...

Was just reading up about Buds on the Bay and they had a prawn bunny on their menu... made my mouth water! It's the same chaps who run Prawn Shak so it must be delicious. For me there is one other very important aspect too. I surf. Give me a day at backline in baggies over a day in a 7mm full suit, with hoodie and booties, any day of the week.

Ha ha, there we go, you see, same story! Unfortunately as a tourist in CT it is unlikely that I ever ventured into the worst areas, unlike you who was reminiscing and deliberately sought out these areas, but I would wager a bet that there are areas of CT that are degraded and run down.... if not then CT should be a global example of how a city should operate because, as pointed out, urban decay is part and parcel of a city's development.

Interestingly I have not seen one picture of Cape Town city in this thread... in fact most images seem to have been taken well out of the city. I'm sorry but I don't buy into this pessimism. I hear it about the country as a whole ALL the time. People just regurgitate what they hear around them. They also have short memories and cannot actually remember what things used to be like but only remember good things. All cities have urban decay, it is part of the process of city growth. Certain areas decay while others thrive. Are you honestly going to tell me that the beach front is worse than it was a few years ago? I have spent the last 25 years of my life down there, from my days surfing during school days, to now with my family and I can categorically state that it is better now. Unless of course you feel the fact that black people are now allowed on the beach makes it worse.... and we can choose other areas if you wish. We used to hang out at the Rift, St George's street. It is hardly a great area now but I can tell you straight out that it was not a great area in the 90's either, in fact I'd say it was worse!

Unless he cheated and drove out there....

Trouble is that I need to teach myself not to engage them. I usually take the bait hook line and sinker. I love a good argument but the trouble with these types is it is hardly ever a good argument...

From my unprofessional, but enthusiastic, photography perspective it looks like there has definitely been some post shoot editing done there or else the use of HDR.

Anyway, Rob has made his intentions on this forum apparent on most of the threads in which I have seen him interact so I personally am going to choose not to engage him. Seems the insults are not far off with this one. All parts of South Africa have their own unique attributes which is what makes this country awesome. Those who feel their little city is far superior to anywhere else probably also look in the mirror every morning and tell themselves how stunning they are...

Yip, as pointed out by someone else elsewhere you do seem to have a fair bit of frustration you need to get rid of but let me humour you anyway. Ah, yes, I know exactly the type then. You are very similar to those who make the choice to emigrate. They spend the rest of their days telling whomever will listen how awful SA is and how they made the best choice ever to move. Are they right? Nope, never, they are merely trying to convince themselves that they made the right choice. If they were to come back they would find everything wrong with this country. Why? Because it is what they want to find. Oh yeah, sorry my mistake, no one in CT thinks this. No one in CT refers to the mountain as theirs and celebrates CTs "victory" when mine dump in drag, sorry Table Mountain, gets voted as one of the new wonders of the world (based on votes on the internet no less), but they all celebrate South Africa's victory. They all feel African... they hardly ever refer to us and them... Would you like his number? You are free to have a chat to him if you so desire but again, no doubt, your few days spent here three weeks ago are the only criteria on which anyone should base their perceptions of Durban, as blinkered and self fulfilling as they are. Oh really?! Maybe you should read your own post or concentrate a little better next time you type and I clearly read this : Still, CT wins hands down in the socio-political, lifestyle and just about everything else departments. After kindly offering Durban winter but with the added input of it only being suitable for meth heads! The fact that one of the places I mentioned is actually an entire region obviously means little to you as you once again see/hear/smell what you choose to fulfil your needs. You also did not say it is far better riding in CT but rather referred to the riding in Durban, and elsewhere I assume, as "namby pamby groomed jeep track", so instead of challenging me perhaps you'd be so kind as to point out why you feel this way about riding in KZN? Back up your statements. Not as cold as I think?! Ha ha, that statement makes me assume you think I have never been to CT! It is in SA, mate, I don't need a passport or a visa to get there, I can go whenever I desire. But then I have seen the mountain and Robben island so no need to go back for a while. By the way, here are a few snaps of the "dump" from the last few months... I could add some of inland destinations like the midlands and the 'Berg but that would mean digging onto my external hard drive and it's really not worth the effort when you already know it is all a dump anyway.

Probably looking for their dropped tik? Or trying to lie flat to get out the howling wind?

Ha ha ha I like that one! Joburg has quite a few table mountains and you never here them going on about it all the time

So not even a tinge of bias in this post then?! When last were you in Durban? Although I'm almost certain you'll respond and tell me you were here a week ago in which case I'm going to request you take your CT tainted glasses off and actually look around. Durban is looking far better than I ever recall it. It seems you CT wanna be republic, DA brain washed folk seem to think you are the only place in SA worth a visit or improving. A mate who has been living in the UK for eight years has come back to Durban with his family and has been commenting on how much improvement he has noted, not just in infrastructure but people's attitudes. Proper mountain biking? What do you refer to Karkloof, the Midlands and the like as? As far as I understand it Pietermaritzburg is often referred to as the MTB capital of SA. Nope, no bias at all.... oh yeah, and you also have stunningly warm water in your ocean.

Drongo, reading through this you seem very defensive as regards someone criticising Holla. I personally appreciate King_Crispy sharing his experience here as I have considered riding at Holla and if I did I'd now know to be careful of missing signage. I also find the acceptance of the excuse that it is being done out of the goodness of Nic's heart to be unacceptable really (and this is not a criticism of Nic but more your acceptance of this reason). As far as I understand it this is a business. Yes, he may farm as his main occupation but Holla charges, and presumably makes money, from riders. The response was great but equally so King_Crispy's right to share his experiences with us is also appreciated. Having it on a public forum makes the owner accountable. My personal view is that GPS tracks of all trails should be made readily available to all riders on the website. Not sure if Holla does because as stated I have just thought about riding there and not got around to it.