Andre Maree

For everyday use I have switched over to the cheaper Jungle B-Fast. On weekends I still use FutureLife before rides, but only to add some variety from the B-Fast. I mix both with vanilla Evox Leanpro. Leanpro is great stuff and not too expensive when bought in the big tub. B-Fast/Leanpro @ work, FutureLife/Leanpro @ home.

Stans Arch Ex or American Classic wheels.

Which Monarch are you referring too? I would say only Monarch RT3 is a better shock than the RP23 but not by much.

Strap a tube and tyre lever to the seatpost with duck tape. Get a minimalistic camelback like a 2l one and only carry the multitool and some stick-on patches. For me the major benefit of a camelback is I am able to drink when I want, have you tried drinking from a bottle going downhill? If you need more than 2l then just add a bottle, but drink the bottle 1st, before the camelback, less chance of having a turd stuck to the bottle`s mouthpiece as you take a gulp, the camelback will keep cooler longer also. The rest like food, keys and armwarmers can go into shirt pockets.

Yes it can be bad on long steep climbs. Also blowing back hot air into the bladder just makes the water even warmer, and it ads air to the bladder.

I used to blow the water back into the bladder after every sip, but this was tough on nasty climbs where I was already out of breath. So I got a Lizardskin (from CWC) insulator and it is effective enough that it is now unnecessary to blow back the water. I would recommend the insulator, I think I actually climb a bit better now.

No thanks, I think I`ll stick to riding my 29 dually in the bergs. Dodging cars to get to school on a Bomber is just not as much fun as flying down the Jonkers singletracks.

Switched over from FurureLife to Jungle B-fast for everyday use. B-fast tastes better and is R22 for 450g vs R30 for 500g FurureLife.

Do the yellow loop also, Welvanpas is a great trail with super fun singletrack.

Maybe there is a shortage of bikes in Scottland?

If I were you I would replace that can with a Monarch RT3, that cheap can does not belong on your cool bike. The RT3 is the version where the lever has 3 positions. I just dont like doing climbs with a soft rear its an energy waster. I currently use a RP23 and it performs great but I dont like the fact that flicking the lever just does not make a big difference, and then also its a bit fiddely to change between the 3 propedal settings. The RT3 is less fiddely to change between settings while riding and the settings itself makes more sense than the RP23. Then the RT3 is a bit cheaper too.

1 Day of Epic is easier than 1 day of Comerades, but the Epic is much more fun than running in the road like a madman.

I think anything more than 100mm is overkill on a 29er unless you wanna do some real burly all mountain stuff, so the Anthem gets my vote, but get some Stans Crest wheels too, go for the x0 if you can afford it.

360Life failed because they did not have a 2nd team on the road, they should have known better. The Epic rules also suck why are you not allowed to replace the wheel or bike, but you are only allowed to take a wheel from another rider, it is a dumb rule.

Yep that is the Exo sidewall protected version and weighs in at 575g. I have been using the same tyre for 6 months and seems rock solid, its just very bad luck.

That looks like a Maxxis Ikon, I wonder if its the heavier Exo sidewall protected version...probably not.

Go to gym and do high reps weights for all mucles, arms, shoulders, core, and especially legs. Make sure your saddle is not too far back, check your position on the bike. Try to relax your upper body on the climb. See the climb as a challenge, do not fear it.

I am 1.75m tall and ride a Giant Anthem 29er medium, it is super fast and smooth and if you worry about downhills, this machine will make you feel like youre flying down rough downhills.

29er Dually wins, only disadvatages might be heavy wheels which can be upgraded, and some people find it more difficult to turn a 29er through a hairpin since it requires a bit more guts to almost fall into a hairpin and then correct it be turning the bike in under you.

It is a great route I'm looking forward to it and watching the end of the epic, its gonna be a great mtb day.

Thats 1 horrible bike

Merida without doubt

Now if scott can only put a decent rear sbock on their consumer bikes it will make the bike much better, and as for beating stander and saucerwind in the epic, not much hope of that but good luck to them it will make for some good racing

The type of riding also make a differene, as sauserwind said, the common consumer needs an endurance bike and not a xc race/sprinting machine, and for endurance riding the 29er works great even for smaller bikes.

Hey Hendrik jy moet darem ook aandui of jou gearing standaard mtb was, ek kan ook onthou die wen tyd was n vinnige 1 daai jaar.