Flea

I ride their on my own often, thought as you were amoungst the houses you were safe - presume that she was on the Jhb side of Summit? All the other issues were always on single track on the other side.

Interesting you went for a 23" - I am slightly taller and ride a 21", I just put on a longer stem... Did not get a chance to ride a 23" as they did not exist when I bought my 29er. I am happy with the 21" though. Is the 23" much longer in wheelbase?

If you have both, can you do the photo comaprison?

Look at one of the alternates if Spez is too mainstream - Ellsworth, Yeti etc are boutique bikes, but mainstream on the Epic....

Hi - agree with the previous comments. If you came top 50 in TB, then speed is not the issue - if you can stay on the bike you will finish - so check those knees etc. Mentally different to TB as you ride by yourself, generally against yourself, unless you are racing for a win (age group etc) I got a sidewall puncture and so a tube is good to take - would be really unlucky to have 2 so does not need to be slimed. If you did a top 50 TB then you should do about 16 hours for DD? Lot depends on how things go and the weather. Nutrition - get your vehicle to carry hot food - need the change. I had soup and coffee - Clicks sell instant heating cups of them, else take a thermos. The change is what you are after.... Dust is your biggest pain - last year there was a full field, so over 200 cars pass you - almost every stage. If I did it again I would look at skiing or moto-x goggles for the first 3 stages, after that there is not that much traffic - my eyes were red for days after. Train on an IDT, this will get you ready for the long sections of flat - constant peddaling. Maybe move your IDT into the garage and turn off the lights so simulate the hours spent on your own - paint a little red dot on the wall in fron of you and chase that for 3 hours

The full susses seem to be trailing the HT's in the 29ers - I have a FS, and have tested HT's. Yes the HT is smoother than a 26" HT, but the decision to go FS applies as it does on a 26". I like the fact that I do not have to use my legs as the suspension going down a hill and can pedal, and have more grip and control. The big thing is to find a reasonably prices FS, as many of the the manufacturers are only recently producing FS's - I am more than happy with my Ellsworth, but I have heard good things about the Spez Epic?

No thread would be complete without an Ellsworth?

Not the first jacking around the farm - I "used" to ride to the farm to get distance, now do not know? This is the second time I have seen a jacking on the road - thought I was safe staying there, now will have to maybe just stay at home on the IDT? Or drive to the farm and ride only inside - rather boring if you need to do 50km plus....

If you are staying at the resort, then you can ride the roads around the canyon - part of a game reserve, so check if you can ride first. Will be a good ride out of the canyon, and a fast finish....

You did not say if you are running a 29er....I do The Mountain King 2.2 looked too thin so put on the 2.4 for the Epic - went well - still going fine. Changed to a Race King 2.2 for the desert Dash (rolling resistance less), but got a sidewall puncture 15km into the race (keep in mind that the 29er's are not UST). Went back to the 2.4, but will change to the Mountain King 2.2 for the Joberg2C in case of mud - narrower tyre, more clearence the back I had a Race King 2.2 for the Epic last year - need to change now as the tread gone, and I picked up a puncture, so about a year's life. Looking for J2C to either try and fix the other 2.2 or look at a 2.0 spez. If you are looking at prices look at Bikebay - they looked cheap there... www.bikebay.co.za

Moved to 2.4 on the front - don't know if you can always fit a 2.4 on the back - I ride a 2.2 - depends on the frame? Suppose if you change your front tyre, you should re-measure to see your computer is right?

That site only has semi-custom. When I first got some clothes from Anatomic, I gave them the website and they designed off that - got the same theme etc. Also, they know what they can produce and have some experience in what works - eg don't go for white shorts if you mtb.... Have since done other clothes for sponsors, and if you let the marketing people close then you don't get practical - eg my last set had blue shorts - better to go for black in the middle, as it wears better. Also decide if you want to get full zip or just belly. They also do raincoats, arm-warmers etc, which I did not see on that site. They only charge a small premium to do this.

1800 hours - since when. I have done more than this, but that is since beginning of last year Seriously though - hoping last year carries me through. I also don't worry too much about distance, more time, as you can do lots of km on the road, vs technical rides

In my mind, the toolkit is a starter toolkit for people who have not read the Big Blue Book or been on one of JB's courses. I have one and they were open that some of the parts are not robust enough for everyday use by a mechanic, but at least I have a lot of tools that in an emergency I could get to work. My plan was to use this until I did a proper course and over time realise which tools I actually need

Wanted to do, but have a work function - let us know what the route is like. Will have to wait for Joberg2C to do......

Did Epic last year on a 29er - 180 up front, 160 rear. I am 100kg, and was happy. Used Mountain King 2.4 up front with Race King 2.2 on rear - no problems BTW changes the MK for a Race King 2.2 for the Desert Dash and immediately got a side wall puncture from a rock.... Would check the weather before going for the bigger tyres, as the 2.4 does not have too much clearance. For Joberg2C, I will be changing to MKing 2.2 (bought one then thought it too skinny, so immediately put the 2.4 on, so I have a brand new tyre to use...) Will try to fix the new RK to fit onto the back (try to fix the sidewall) as the existing is getting worn. If there is a proper UST, I would go for that. By the way, I had American Classic Rims, and the width of these would affect the tyre? Narrow rim, less sidewall exposed?

I had the same - ran my tyre too soft and hit a curb - lost tyre pressure. When trying to fix, the sides looked like cracking -probably just the paint, but enough to worry me. Unfortunately I only had 2 daays to fix, so had to go with a different rim as I could not get AC in time, so that meant a whole new set of spokes as the new rim thickness was less. Now I have to decide if I go back to AC? By the way this was on a 29er

did epic last year on the American Classic - did buckle the back the other day though - don't know the ztr

Speak to your LBS, if they are providing anyone. I used Fritz Pienaar, but Morningside, Cyclelab etc was also there. Keep in mind that they now wash your bike for you, and there are multiple service shops around - although I still used one last year, sothat I could focus on nutrition and not maintenance

Looking at a 29er bike review in one of the UK mags, they equate the 29er to a Turbo Diesel - slow out the blocks until the turbo kicks in, then it goes like the clappers with less input versus a petrol engine. So whilst some prefer petrol, and some diesel, each has their place, but the development of the diesel is now atracting more money, the engine is moving faster than the petrol - much like the 29er.....

Joburg Cycle Club does a Dam to Dam ride annually, so they have something - they do not normally disclose these, but aproach them

Less of a choice when I bought the Ellsworth - every manufacturer has one now, so you have more choices - look at the 2011 options - has GF kept up? Don't believe that the 29er FS is overkill - the HT works well on the district roads, but much of the "new" Epic is rougher with drops etc, and for that you need the FS. 2010 had the railway line and a 20er is better for that, but the FS 29er is the best. Was very happy with the 29er FS.

Just changed my front to Race King 2.2 (29er) from Mountain King, so will be Race King on both. By the way there is a good deal on Bikebay

Interesting that you are using Squirt as it did not get a good review from Tread in terms of long terms use, only usability - i.e., it will need to be re-applied often according to their info. This review is what prompted the question, as this was not something I had thought about before

Hi All I am doing the Desert Dash - so 340km of hot, dry, dusty etc. what lube would be best and how often would you apply. I meet up with my support vehicle every 70km, so I could apply then. I looked at the review in the last Tread magazine, and they talk about the distance each lube would be effective, which seem a bit short. Anyone got any experience?