Flea

Anyone used any of the US shops - maybe they are cheaper now?

Any idea of when they will be back in Jhb? I am looking for a new bike, so keen to test many. WEnt to last years, but only tested the 29er's as I was not then in the market. Maybe should shoot to Durbs for the weekend? Issue I suppose if Spez etc is not there, but then like Wallee, I will just chose another brand.

You get those PicknPay cloth bags for all the stops where you cannot get a vehicle. First time I did it, I packed them full, next time I took nothing (food wise). I kept a stash in my CamelBack of powders though. Last year they screwed up with the food at station 1 - do not expect this again, generally, you can get enough food and drink at all the stops to meet your needs - nice to take some emergency powder if there is an issue though. Last year when stop 1 had nothing, I just used an emergency shake, else the rest came from the event. If you are doing for fun, then plan to spend a long time in front of the fire "Op die Berg" drinking soup. In terms of food - from what I remember stop 1 - boerie rolls stop 2 - muffins stop 3 - braai stop 4 - soup stop 5 - potatoes +? stop 6 - hambugers So more than enough to meet your needs... So all you do then is plan your lights and batteries - if you are fast enough, you can keep them with your support, but best to put them on either before or on the big hill. If you are at the back - stop 3 is good. Just remember to find stop 3 as it is off the road......

Anyone had a claim from Miway - always worry when you swop that you are jumping from the pan into the fire. There is more to Insurance than just low prices - I like to get paid if I ever put in a claim

You are correct - people should not climb the fences. The entrance is right next to the road on which the riders are riding, and there is a bridge over the freeway. No reason to jump the fence. I know at some stage they left the gate at the back open, but that obviously is a risk, so go round through the entrance, turn left down the tar road. After the bridge, it becomes dirt and you are on the same road that takes you over the river and up the hill.

How do you work out tis physical size of the tyres - I would hate the 2.4's to touch the frame - is there a size chart sothat we can work it out? The largest I have run is 2.2

Sounds interesting - worried about joining a group riding 5-6 hours without Camelbacks..... Tried to see your route - can not see the red dots!

The Cane Creek ones are understated - if you want to really look the part get the big aluminium ones that make your bike look like a Texas Longhorn. I have them on and not only do they help me when climbing (you need the bar-ends as the riser bar does not give you leverage), but when I have to turn the bike over for maintenance, they protect the components on the bar from damage. So I say, you need them more on a riser bar than a flat bar

Have you checked the battery on the strap - I had this on a ride, put a new battery in (R15) and seems better. Polar in Mid-rand will also test your strap if you take it there, then if faulty they can trade-in your old strap

Hey Ratty Do you hang from a hook onto the wheel rim? Does this stress the wheel - esp if you bump the bike?

I read this about shocks, this must only be for the forks, as I see some of the rear shocks are configured "upside down"? How big an issue is the shock angle, and what are the tollerances (upside down, horizontal)? I am also looking for something - where is the best place to hand the MTB, the fork? Difficult to make the frame as there are different shapes

The "no towing" was in the earlier Epic's the pair were joined by a rope and the male pulled the femail - think it was a German pair. So no they are not pulled, but "hang-on"....

It is like comparing a diesel and a petrol motor - generally you would put the diesel on the heavier vehicle and a petrol in a lighter sportier number. Had this with a lighter training partner - he is always 20+ bpm higher than me.

Suppose the time penalty is to also stop the Dakar principle, where you have related teams who give up their bikes(or parts of it) for the leaders (Alfie started like this). This means that you can almost buy the win. Not something that we can afford in mtbing. I think that the penalty is fair - they are still in the race.

Bought a bike there when I started - they did not set-up nothing. If it was not such a good deal I would have walked out. Have since been there for smaller stuff, and after their discount, they get to what other bike shops sell at. I only go there now if on my way and I know what I want

This is a problem with riding in remote areas - neither party expects so see traffic on the road, so both can get caught out.

TT did you race the 29er on the Argus?

I wonder if they are going to cover this article on the next Supercycling? - Or maybe they have too much to cover what with the Argus etc?

SC - remember the One Day Sani has not single track at night, - all district road with some tar, plus you have full access to your support vehicle. So battery life is not important, neither do you need to make it look like daylight ahead. In fact going through the mist of the forrest, you probably don't want it too bright? I used similar to the Thug's layout, but used Cateye's. These easily lasted with sufficient glow. We had issues so had to use them later to complete the race, but you should be able to complete before dark.

Sorry as a MTBiker we do not have this problem, but now you have to go out and buy new kit to match the bike - too nice a bike to not have matching kit? Gloves, bottles shoes included? Is this a roadie thing that you have such themed bikes that you have to have everything matching.

how much training did you do? where diod you finish in the field?

this will be a good ride to prepare for the Non-stop - although in that you do easy riding at night. Will wait to use as a training ride for NS Sani

Maybe we should lend it TT to get a second (third) opinion - help us all?

Is it a race or a trail - what happens if you drop off the pace - you get lost?

Take the cardboard and clothes peg out from inside the spokes