Natural Defender

On the usual site, they are advertised with either Novatec or Shimano. Would you recommend a different hub?

Has anybody brought in carbon mtb wheels? What is the quality, rigidity and strength like. I would need 650b wheels

Looking really good

I looked at Stressed Eric. His build looked amazing

The postage is with EMS at USD95.00. It was the cheapest amongst the usual shoppers. This price varied up to USD185.00. The frame is 3K glossy, different to many other purchases on this forum. Also put in carbon seat post, saddle (because my mates don't have this) and stem and handle bar. I wanted an integrated handlebar, but Hongfu don't sell it. The price was R7400. Only the taxes to pay. I want to put single ring on the front, perhaps Sram XX1 orX01and pair it with perhaps X9 groupset if it is possible. My only worry is that they did not have BB30 available, so it is BSA threaded? The wheels are a choice of American Classic Race or ZTR Crest, which are pretty expensive, but looking around. A Rock Shox on the front, also looking about. Any idea of specials being offered. Nervously excited.

I have placed an order with Hongfu for a 27.5 model FM136. I hope I ordered it correctly? Now for the rest of the bike.

I know I have left it a long time. Spring is here, time to dust the winter "sorry for yourself" off and get riding again. This time last year I was riding in the Tour For Life, an event for the beneficiary of Doctors Without Borders. 8 days 1500km from Bardonnecchia in Italy to Valkenberg in Holland. It took in Alpe du Huez, Col de Madeleine, Col de la Croix de Fer and many more. The fittest I have been in years and now I am the fattest in years. It is time to "live a little" again.

I was treated by the St John's ambulance officials on duty after they were called by the organisers. I also sent them an email the evening after the accident in which I informed them I do not know who owns the horse and I was too injured to find out. I asked them to investigate and find the owners and if they did not come back to me that I would hold them responsible. I have also considered the small claims court. This does not seem like a huge issue to pursue. Their rules of the event state that if an owner is found to have his horse in that area he will be liable for a R500 fine.

Early July this year, I went to help my mate at the Fauresmith Horse Endurance Race in the town of Fauresmith, Free State. This a 3 day 200km event. At the end of the first day, when we got the horse fed, recovered and stabled, I went for a ride on my bike. The setting in this Karoo town is beautiful and the weather was very favourable. So I went out for an hour, returning just before dark. The way the area is set out, is the horses are stabled in an area which is fenced off and next to this is an area, also fenced off where the humans live. People bring caravans and erect tents on demarcated sites. ACCORDING TO THE RULES, NO HORSE MAY BE IN THE HUMAN LIVING AREA. I entered the human camp and was about 150m away from our caravan, when I saw a horse galloping at full speed along the graded road towards me. I tried to get out of the way of this obsessed beast, but was not able to do so. The horse collided with the rear end of the bike and sent me flying. The damage to the bike was a broken rear triangle of my Specialized Epic, 2007 model. The chain rings are bent and obviously the wheel is buckled. Out of interest, the tyre did not lose pressure. I sustained a severely bruised left quad, which has needed fluid being drained off it a number of times. My leg is still sore and has scar tissue damage. Need to have further physio carried out on it. I am not sure if the horse was injured. Too concerned for my own wellbeing. I left Fauresmith very early the next morning to return to Johannesburg for medical treatment. I don't know who owns the horse. I have sent letters to the organisers claiming compensation for the damages to the bike, but they say it has been referred to their lawyers, meaning I need to employ a lawyer to try get some money out of them. Hence my post in the classified section, where I am looking for a rear triangle for this bike. All I can say is that should the horse have made contact with me half a metre closer to the front wheel, I personally would have been struck. The outcome would have been extremely severe, broken bones at least. Thank goodness that did not happen.

Mr Booth has suggested BB30. Thanks

I am ordering a frame. 27.5 which bottom bracket do I need to tell them. BB30 or BSA. The plan is to put a Sram XX1 crank

I like them. Now do I go the whole way and get a carbon saddle?

Both been very good. Corbonal even sent a message again this morning to see if I had any further questions. I am nervous to do this.......but I will have a bike none of my mates have. Check out these bling handle bars http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-MTB-mountain-full-carbon-bicycle-Handlebar-carbon-Mountain-bike-carbon-620mm/231027115485?_trksid=p2047675.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D177%26meid%3D707491095453352883%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D310727198463%26

Please give your opinion on these 2 frames. I want to build a 27.5 mtb FM136 from Shenzhen Hongfu http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/1185145031/2013_High_Quality_frame_27_5er.html and the Venture from Corbonal http://www.carbonality.com/carbon-bike-frames-forks/mtb-hardtail-frames/venture-27-5er-1080g-only.html Thanks Anthony

I did a ride from Italy to Holland last year. I took my own bike. Was going to take a cardboard box, but Dunkeld Cycles kindly lent me a bike bag. Flew on Air France. The cost of the bike was R1700 each direction. It was expensive but worth it. Not difficult to put the bike together. You need to consider if you are moving around. Bike boxes take up big space. You are in unfamiliar territory. There are no bike shops in the Alps, so you need to be self sufficient. Ride the mountain passes. They are amazing. You will not experience anything like them in South Africa. The roads are full of people riding them all day long..........without helmets I must add....................crazy, as the decents are fast and can be very dangerous. Many cars give you space, but like here, I had a few narrow misses. Have a blast. Cheers

Voted to get her home

I sat on the edge of my seat during the Olympic cross country race yesterday. When Burry made contact with the leading group, I thought he was in with a chance to win. I am sorry he did not achieve his goal of a medal, but hats off to him, he battled all the way to the finish. Well done Burry, you did us proud. Cheers

I see there is a 200km Audax on 24 June. Anyone know where the ride is from? Cheers

So it is Saturday afternoon. The park is also closed. Does this place even exist or is it someones imagination? Grumpy that it was not open. I was not the only person in that frame of mind. There were numerous people wishing to ride.

I look at Audaxsa web site from time to time. There is very little info there. This 300km ride on Sunday, is it Jhb or Cape Town? No details on web?

The battery of my polar watch goes flat on a training ride yesterday. Call Polar this morning, the first time they can help is 8 May. This is shockingly poor service. Unless there is another place where I can change the battery on a 725 model it is no training recorded for almost 3 weeks. I have recorded every training session since October last year Where else can I take this watch for a battery? The arrogance of Polar is shocking. m2cw.

Who was taking the photos at the race and where can we view them.

I did and I like.

This looks like inspiation from SA Cup race in Durbanville??????

I will be racing it on the 4th so will meet you this Saturday to have a look. Cheers, Tony