Zook

I've definitely seen Cyclelab 5-abreast in the Cradle. I have a pic here but not sure how to upload it. Admittedly a couple years old now, but it wasn't an isolated incident.

That's his other book. Can't buy it retail.

For training theory I recommend a good book. I bought various but found the Lance Armstrong book invaluable: http://www.amazon.com/The-Lance-Armstrong-Performance-Program/dp/1579542700 Relatively easy read and gets into things like adaptation, heart-rate training and tapering without overwhelming you. Maybe others have newer, better ones. "Ride lots" also works, but the added structure helps keep you on track.

Ok, somewhat agreed - I'd definitely upgrade the wheels at some point. I suspect I'd lean towards "buy bike, ride, then upgrade when 'extra money' is at hand.'

What is this "extra money" of which you speak? I think they'll be about the same price. I can easily imagine a universe in which I'm wrong, though.

So, question: Wait for the Anthem X2 Advanced with lower-spec components but a stiffer ride and a bit lighter, or buy the X0 '12 with these components?: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-za/bikes/model/anthem.x.29er/10745/53399/ I'm leaning to the latter.

Yup, from: http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/article/giant-anthem-x-advanced-29er-introduced-33705/ "Giant will offer the new Anthem X Advanced 29er in three models along with a bare frameset, with availability starting in May in the US and Australia, and globally later in the summer. The top-end Anthem X Advanced 29er 0 will come with a SRAM XX group, a RockShox SID 29 RCT3 fork and SRAM Rise 60 carbon wheels for US$8,900 and a claimed weight of 9.98kg (22lb). The 29 1 switches to a SRAM X0/X9 drivetrain, Avid Elixir 9 brakes, a RockShox SID 29 RL and Giant house-brand aluminum wheels for $4,650 and a claimed weight of 11.34kg (25lb). The entry model 29 2 will come with a SRAM X5/X7 drivetrain, Avid Elixir 3 disc brakes, a RockShox Reba RL fork and Giant house-brand wheels for $3,300 and a claimed weight of 11.79kg (26lb)."

That looks absolutely awesome.

Love my XT's. Never had any issues and because they're properly tubeless they rarely lose air. No opinion on the Mavics though.

The blimp that floats it behind your bike is an extra R10 000.

Price is fine, focus on making the experience good. Northern Farm is about half the price but a bit of a mission to get to. Maybe have a yearly price or 20 ticket book to keep regulars happy. I reckon if you're nearby and safe, people will come.

Tough crowd.

I once had an un-named LBS stuff up so badly I nearly burst a spleen. Multiple contacts to follow up for a frame part, no result. I had to chase up the foreign suppliers, then their one branch that had the part, wonder when the local okes had received it or whether it was still overseas, only to find it was delivered months previously to one of the branches and they kinda put it in a shelf and forgot about it. And then act as if they're doing me a big favour. I stopped buying from them instantly, until shop management changed. New okes seem like a good bunch. Bike shop owners: consider the total CLV (customer lifetime value) of a purchaser rather than today's purchase. Also consider their ability to influence others - just yesterday I passed a good deal onto a hubber. R30k in the bag, no work for the shop except taking the order and selling him the bike. And I (almost) guarantee he'll check with them in future when buying new toys.

Damn, did a search and Google gave me that pic. I forgot there are some ardent supporters of hers here Ok, so she has a custom frame but her wheels are still 29". So the issue would be "could you get a frame that suited your wife?" Edit: Quick search produces this: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/pro-bike-emily-battys-trek-superfly-elite Which seems to indicate that it's just the small with some fiddling, no? Like "flip seatpost and change stem", not different frame geo or anything? Shout if you have better info.

Emily Batty seemed to do ok, she's 5 foot 2 and came 2nd in PMB: http://dfp2hfrf3mn0u.cloudfront.net/259/25977_1.jpg Article: http://bikehugger.com/post/view/emily-batty-is-a-big-wheeler I noticed she had an inverted stem, so it lowered the handlebars further. Your wife might or might not enjoy it, maybe just try it out. Or wait for the 650b wheels that are sure to be supported a lot more in a year or so.

Classic: "10. the shock isn't include.." http://dengfu.en.alibaba.com/product/504525786-212982906/29er_full_suspension_mtb_mountain_bike_carbon_frame_FM036.html?tracelog=cgsotherproduct1 The shock on everyone's face of me arriving on my "ni Chinee frame wi shock no include" would be priceless. Imagine the shock of this dude when he opened his hard drive to see why it wasn't storing much: http://www.geekosystem.com/chinese-infinite-hard-drive/

U.S. riders have been chattering about the Chinese blanks for a while, often people are very happy with them. My mates would rag me stukkend, though

Behold ratings. Other reviews generally agree, with some moaning about the long rear chainstays, or relatively arb wheels. But as a package, gimme. http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/29er-fullsuspension/giant/anthem-x-29er-0/prd_483668_7787crx.aspx http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/29er-fullsuspension/giant/anthem-x-29er-1/prd_458613_7787crx.aspx

Truly. I've been ignoring the Anthems partly because they really look arb, but every review I read says they're great. At a given price point I'd rather have a bike that looks a bit more pedestrian but rides well.

Sea Otter doesn't disappoint - new model from Giant. "Anthem X Advanced 29er" http://www.bikemag.c...-anthem-x-29er/ Mo pics and numbers: http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/article/giant-anthem-x-advanced-29er-introduced-33705/ You could probably lose more weight by using a smaller multitool, but the carbon'd be a stiffer ride. I'm more interested in whether they've fiddled with the frame, e.g. rear chainstays, which supposedly some think could do with shortening. And tubeless wheels instead of this tubeless-ready stuff.

I'd rather have the dumbasses riding mtb. Helps the sport, brings down the individual price of bikes and races.

For e.g. the Giant Anthem X2 29er, Olympic seems to come out ahead: http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/giant-anthem-x-2-29er R20599 http://www.olympiccycles.co.za/Product/Giant/Giant-Anthem-X2-29er.aspx R19800 I guess for a given part, check both.

Hairy - there'll be no win here. Just riding to enjoy it

And assume that it's not the primary use for the bike - lots of trail would be ridden! It's also more likely that I'll end up with a Spark or Anthem or maybe even the new Morewood 29er, but the mega travel of the SJ does intrigue me.

As a fairly extreme bike on the race-vs-trail continuum, the dual-susser SJ looks like it has far too much suspension to race. Is that true or do you just have to set it up properly? Does the Brain version of the suspension help? Just wondering.