Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

The welding of the bolts is a very important step - my bike was almost stolen when they twisted an epoxied rawl bolt out of the wall, to which my bikes were anchored with braided steel cabling. The housing stayed in place, but the bolts were removed by some massive force. So massive that it actually deformed the 12mm braided steel cabling to make it look like a kakked up phone cord. The same cable was later attacked with bolt cutters. No resistance...

bwahahahahaha!!!

Ride her hard, ride her long!

Yeha, that is a FLIPPIN nice bike.

ROFL @ "I own a kid with a..." Brilliant! And I know your slave is just itching to swing that monster!

I think the majority of ppl who do ghetto just cut a tjoop and don't worry about getting it to fit PERFECTLY to the rim. That creates not only a helluva eyesore with flappy bits of rubber hannging out, but additional potential for a burping tyre. Me - I take a BMX tube (20") and cut it in half, then cut to the exact width of the rim seat. It's effectively a STANS strip thingie, but much much cheaper, and with a normal Schraeder valve. Seals perfectly at the bead. Only trouble I've had with this approach is from the tire itself, and having a few microscopic holes in it. Granted, the tire is stuffed!

Ja dude, I added up all the weight on my old wheelset (DH rims) and it came to a MASSIVE 5.91kg! New build (with existing tires) is 4.46kg. With the Dampfs on, it'll be the same. Hans Dampf tjoopless is the same weight as my outgoing Wolverine.

I thought you hated the Hans?!

It's getting closer! And dude - those "black book" entries extend fo at least a year past birth!

And she's still a looker of note.

There's a reason the Scott scale was voted best hardtail of 2012 by the okes at MBR...

ouchie ouchie!

In, as always...

Awwwwww!!!

Oh - and as for the price thing, it's just that GIANT DS bikes are THAT much more of a value proposition than the competition. And they work. Wy do you think the Anthem is the most popular DS XC bike in the country? Cheap, well built and bombproof. Ditto for the trance, reign and so on.

I have the Reign X - it is aaaawesome. And as for the fit, it's an AM bike whereas the Trance is a trail / XC WEAPON. The Reign will be able to do all you can on the Trance, but will be a more relaxed style on the way up (not as racey) but will bliksem the trance on the way down. PorS has the Reign. New frame. He rides all over the place, and is faster than most XC monkeys on the way up. And WAAAAY faster on the way down.

RS 20mm TA ting is approx R 600. So not that surprizing. More reason to go RS over fox.

the only benefit that clipless pedals have over their flat cousins is that you're connected to the bike, and as such this has previously enabled you to have a more efficient pedalling style than if you were not clipped in. However, with the advent of newer, better designed pinned flat pedals (like the Nukeproof ...) and better adapted MTB specific flat shoes (5-10's) this advantage has been steadily worn down to the point that there is next to no advantage over the flats. Where flats come into their own is when you are starting out, and learning how to ride a bike properly. Cleats make us lazy. Why? when jumping, instead of pumping the bike (as should be done) to get air, you can simply pull up on the pedals and the bike will come up with you. This is wrong ito technique. Likewise bunnyhopping - cleats encourage the wrong technique If you're already more confident with flats, my recommendation would be to go for a good set of flat pedals (nukeproof proton or similar) and keep n using your solomons until you can afford a set of 5-10's. They really do make a huge diff ito comfort and grip. And to those saying htfu and stay with clip ins - that's not really constructive. May as well tell someone who is used to a manual transmission to htfu and stay with automatic.

do a search for the thread entitled SRAM XX1 - you'll find a lot of conversation around exactly what you're asking...

Sometimes, but then only certain sections - get off the bike, take bike off the trail and inspect. Not walking up and down all the time, or walking long sections at a time. Besides - that's still in order to ride it. In terms of building then riding, new trails are generally closed while building is going on, and then people walk all over them. Point is - walkers should stay on the trails dedicated to hiking. Not those few (now fewer) dedicated to MTB. If you want to walk a section of trail, to scope it out or something, then stay off the trail when riders approach and keep a look out AT ALL TIMES. I know Pain or Shine often works on the trails, and that necessitates walking on certain sections - in order to maintain them. But that shouldn't mean that they are opened to walkers. That would open up trails to a whole other user group, wholely changing the dynamic of the trail and how much punishment it gets.

Just noticed now, OM - that's a zero length DM stem! Mondraker taking their extended top tube principle to DH... You'll have AMAZING input on those bars, I reckon... SICK choice.

HAppened in Shelley Point.

It wasn't a hit n run. Taxi did stop on scene. Was probably checking his phone.

Riding w Cherise = even worse. Not cool. Not cool at all...

WTF!? Burry Stander - you yster... Sad sad day indeed. RIP AfricanMTBKid aka Dirty Hippo. Senseless. Just, senseless. His dad was riding with him at the time as well...