Max Headroom

Fantastic! Fantastic! New route! Guys did a lot to make it more rideable for the day with the wood chips on holes and wet spots. This is a proper mtb trail can't wait to go ride it again. Well done organizers and trailbuilders. Was ready to stop doing this ride annually because of the previous boring first half in the plots around town. Now it is a proper ride with great, mostly natural trail. I love Bottelary, wrlvanpas, hoogekraal etc. for the flowing trails, berms, switchbacks etc but non have natural raw element that this new trail around the dam has. Well done - loved every one of the 54 Km's.

Gravel section only about 800 meters and just like any other section of tar that's tricky, downhill or uneven road, you just let the bunch loosen up a bit and give everyone some space. Often do this section (on road bike) nothing to worry about

AGREE !! Bought some because of the price - Had a couple of flats (small holes) that just kept squirting juice until i plug them, or they take forever to seal so you run out of juice quickly. And even when it seals - it will later blow out again - and because it keeps squirting out, everything is covered in the stuff !!! and eventually the tyre is empty. As soon as you hit a harder bump, fly down rocky descent or increase tyre pressure - it starts to leak again. And I am talking about small holes where the reamer (plug is too big to fit) Crap Crap Crap - I need something dependable - and this stuff on its own is too runny with not enough filler/fiber bits. In my opinion (after using my 2 litres of the stuff) its crap on its own (now adding two-thirds stans and other fiber/particles just to use up the crap tyre-juice I still have..

aaargh ... tried to post snow pics but can't figure out how !

Was it 2009 we even had a bit of snow ?

Per PPA: "73 km – 38km will be tar and the rest will be jeep track – so around 50% tar. Very little sand 47 km – 50% will be tar and 50 % will be jeep track. Very little sand" 50% tar - they should be ashamed !

yup, must be laps - measured distance from farm house to far side of quarry is only 2km

From the map (on web) it looks like the most boring route around field after field, that I have ever seen

Yup, I have been making the same for some time, just as good as stans. 1 part latex (mould builder from hardware store - contains amonia) 2 parts water 2 parts anti freeze 1 spoon Mieliepap

this membership is best money spent in a long time ! That new piece of single trek (blue route ?) going uphill as a short cut on the red route is a fantastic build and rides like a dream ! Can't wait to see the next new track section now being developed ! Thanks Guys .... such great trails. I just wish you could find a way of building a route in and along the mountain for the red route return section (after the green route). After all the fun going out west, the trail back east to Radish is such an anticlimax ! Thanks for the constant work extending the trails !

Extra work for the calf muscle and achillies could also be due to your cleat being too close to the front toe end of your shoe. Check cleat position and move it back as far as your shoe allows. This will reduce the leverage which transfers to the calf and achillies. On most shoes, it will place the cleat in a better position related to your foot

Thanks for the detailed reply. Much appreciated.

Where is the Tap ?

On that same weekend (30 Aug) there is the Hopefield event near Darling ? eish

why do these people organise a mtb race - at 7am - at the time of year that it is still likely to be cold - and riders need to travel from CT Guaranteed to limit entries

Ha ha ha, nice try. Go check your mail and see for how long you kept me hanging on . Is that the best price, my mate will call you, blah blah blah. When a seller places an item at a bargain price, and gets 10 guys interested. The buyers better shape up re getting payment made. I told you that another buyer whom I though had lost interest , suddenly made payment to my bank account. It would have been too complicated to reverse the status. Next time you want an item get cracking on payment.

Tyre Plug is the best option

Coke, never snort coke light. (edit... oops sorry, wrong thread)

Interesting topic Been cycling too long and over the decades had enough breakdowns, to know things can go wrong. I carry tons of mtb **** on me in case of bad luck, and I have needed it at times. If you don't, and in my opinion looks like someone who should know better.......tsk..tsk...enjoy the walk I Always carry Bombs + Bomb adapter/valve Tyre gaiter 1 tyre lever Tube (ride tubeless - but bad side wall cut etc.- backup) Patches Plugs (and tool) Valve core spanner Spare tubeless valve Presta Schrader conversion adapter Pump Quick chain link Tool (with chain breaker) Derailleur hanger Smallish Leatherman Cable ties Money Cell phone ICE numbers (and on tours, I carry even more, example some Stan's) (even carry most of these essentials on road bike as well) All this, and then the water, GU, energy bar etc etc makes me heavier and slower. You want the benefit of no extra weight - then take the consequences. No, I am not racing to win (but neither are you) I am out there to ride hard, get fit and enjoy myself. When I am alone on my LSD ride - sure, I have done more single speed conversions for people with broken derailleurs than I can remember I have fixed punctures for too many people who don't have a pump, a tyre lever, or even know how to fix a puncture. I have fixed many broken chains for riders- and the chains were always disgusting black grease blobs I have straightened wheel, tightened spokes, re-set brake calipers for buckled wheels. I have cut wire bits out of farmer fences to secure or tie various parts back on - from hydraulic brake blocks with no retainer pin to suspension joint broken-bolt replacements. If you are female - I always stop. (except in a race if you pissed me off - Jacky Martin (sure not many here are old enough to remember her) once asked for my wheel cause she had a puncture - sorry Jacky, maybe if you behaved better in the bunch earlier) I once helped Ashley M-P and will stop in a second for Ariaan K. but those days are gone, I am so old, fat and far behind now, that I am lucky if I even see them at the end. If you are a youngster - I always stop (I mean like something under 15) Of course I am not aiming this at the OP, just saying if you are old enough to ride you should know that **** happens - and you can't always expect someone else to look after you - and be VERY grateful when they do. Example fixed a guys chain (a Langenhooven nogal) for him, and a week later he called me to come to the farm and collect a case of wine ! So, next time you breakdown - start thinking what (a case of beer perhaps) you are prepared to exchange for avoiding that long walk home.

edit .. no longer relevant

My clock info from yesterday (long route)

The Argus MTB always had my vote for the shi $#@est least imaginative route, going around field after field and around dam after dam just to make up distance. (The only upside was making it your last day of the Grape Escape) Can never understand that Murant not embarrassed by that route. But, this VAL DE VIE route, combined with the start times, in Paarl, in summer is in my opinion an epic fail and now top of my list for the k@kest route ever, with sand sand sand and no aah moments or views. Sure it's tough and we all enjoy that, but boy, this was so boring. Last time I will do this. The sales talk made me look forward to the route: what a disappointment ! We were constantly overtaking riders (actually walkers) bitching about too many un-ridable sections, then contious soft sand, followed by too much tar and pavement. It was obvious that a lot of work had gone into clearing parts of the route and making track, but oh boy, this was so misguided and uninspired ! The low entry numbers indicated the lack of thought, of rescheduling this to the Ezelfontein and DC weekend and starting at 8. (These event organisers have taken over from the 94.7 for being too lazy to get setup for earlier start times. Even the Argus road race, with the nightmare logistics can get ready to start in the dark) We were already sweating in the start chute! Full marks to the (too many?) water tabels with enthusiastic helpers and for the ice cold drinks, the sunscreen ladies for spraying everyone, and the great start venue. (we left after the finishing, but hear there were 3, three ! Lucky draw prizes he he he, so glad I never stay for those)

bwaaahahahahahahaaa

THE RANT What got me psst off..? Bought my second Scott MTB from Cycle Lab (first mistake) Tried to get minor part from them (second mistake) The long story; (1) Bought a Scott 29er MTB from Cycle lab. (R 43k. Other stores were selling at R41k but I had credit at CL) It was suppose to have a XT front derailleur - because I wanted the 2x10 crank changed for 3x10, the derailleur had to be change and they only had SLX in stock. No problem, probably little to no difference in performance, so will pick-up later. 1 week later - sorry no stock 2 weeks later - sorry no stock 1 month later - sorry no stock But, don't worry we will call you when we get it. 7 Months later .......nothing ! (2) Broke a spoke at Gravel Travel. C.Lab can't fix - no spokes in stock. Don't worry will call you; will take 2 days. 1 week later - I call them - sorry no stock - we will call you 2 weeks later (I call them.... 1 month later ( I call them ..... But hang on ...you sold me a R43k bike and you can't get me a R2 spoke ! ? (their attitude basically just "F^^&off and die" ) Tried the other shops,but I could not find the spokes anywhere. So, maybe the importer/agent is not doing his job ? (ever try to look them up ? or get helpful response when you phone them ?!) No, no, you are the public .. go talk to your LBS (sorry can't tell you which one likely to have parts ..you have to look them all up !!!) Tried CWC ...nope not interested, try someone else.(but that's ok, we all go to CWC for good prices, not service or maintenance) Enter Marks Cycle workshop - Hi, we checked, no supplies, but don't worry, bring in the wheel and we will have spokes made for you - Now that is a fantastic reply ! - Like always, they will make a plan to help. They have fixed so many technical things for me (like welding bits on a frame etc). I decide to check some more shops before I go this engineering route. Enter CycleFunatics - Hi, checked but sorry no stock - but we will call you back. Later in the day - Hi just to let you know, we are working on it - will call you again soon. Now that is quality service - 'keeping the customer informed' 2 Days later - ok we can help you. (wondered how they can help so quickly - they don't stock Scott - so for interest I checked with C.lab - stock arrived ?- nope) In short Cyclefunatics worked at finding a solution for the customer. THE RAVE A good cycle shop has three important contact points - a good Manager, good Staff and good Mechanics - and it looks like this shop has it all. Just hang around in this shop for a while and you see how the manager/owner directs, guides and helps his staff. Talk to a 'salesman' and immediately see how they genuinely want to help - not just sales crap bullsh*t talk like other lbs. Give these guys a try - fantastic staff, owner and service As for C.Lab - don't bother to go there - The sales staff are nice guys, but nice guys and an uninterested manager is not enough and do not deliver for me. Phew, started this thread thinking I will write two lines to get C.lab s*t service (and prices) of my chest - but now I just want to praise CycleFunatics.

Listen up CSA ! I am just a nobody who wants to ride his bicycle ! If my local club (or association) can arrange safe routes with water tables - or even better new exciting MTB routes with water table support, so I can go ride till I'm pooped - that is perfect, I pay my membership fees. Once a year world cycle fun ride around the cape - perfect So, NO - I don't want to pay licence fees to CSA ! NO, I don't want to contribute to their admin costs, salaries, or sponsoring anybody (no offence to the pros) I just want to sponsor myself, my local association which arranges events for me and my own life enjoyment - I just want to ride my bike without having to pay pay pay for things I don't benefit by. I have seen very little from the CSA that benefits me - ie. Road Safety ! I'm a selfish guy - live with it !