Matts 300

The circular road has a board indicating to cars that they have to go anti-clockwise around the dam. It's one of those blue board with the white arrows indicating which side to take. It's placed just as you come in by the gate. But for cyclist I did not know of any board or rule saying you have to go clock or anti-clockwise around the dam.

Did the 24, was a lekker race. That first climb hurt me, but from there on in it was very lekker! Did a 1:14, so was good.

COME ON BUYS!!!!!!!!! COME ON NINO!!!!!!!!!! I wonder how far buys is riding out of his skin?! He must be pushing at 200 maybe 300 %! Give them horns!

Km net nino! Buys!!!!!

Nino en buys trap trap trap!!!!!!!

What do you guys think of todays stage? Maybe a one for the more xc type riders to take the stage? I'm hoping for nino/buys or hermida/van houts to take another one!

Go nino,buys! And go hermida and rudi! Would be great to have a battle today between them!

Jis the story of Hermida is bad: Hermida goes into anaphylactic shock due to certain dried fruits allergy. Hermida has lived one of his worst days on the bike. He and his team mate van Houts were leaders of the Cape Epic and have had breakfast like a normal day. Still, some substance included in his breakfast has led him to forget about racing interests. José was aware of his intolerance to some dried fruits 4 years ago and since then he always pays a lot of attention to what he eats. "It has been a hard time. We were going in the lead group and I've begun to feel cold and I started sweating much more than normal. Then I saw that my heart rate was much higher than it should be and that something was wrong. We have stopped as I was feeling more sick as minutes went by. I ended up lying on the floor with cramps in both legs. I did not know how to stop that and even a helicopter from the organization has seen us and landed to see what was happening. I drank a lot and after 40 minutes waiting on the side of the road my body started going back to normal. After evaluating what options we had, we have decided to ride back to a medical assitance point to visit the doctors", says Hermida from the motorhome . His discomfort and the wheals that have appeared on his skin have eased a clear medical report: food poisoning. Seeing that the worst was over, José has asked the doctors not to supply any medicine not permitted by the UCI and thereby to be forced to leave the race. So tomorrow the team will continue competing. It is interesting to highlight the words he had for his teammate: "Rudi has invited me to abandon the race. We were leaders and, in a race of this level, it hurts not to defend your position. But he has seen it clear that the situation was very serious. What we lived today scared him. Once we have started to ride again, he has set the pace and has been talking to me the whole time, making jokes to ease the tension after the bad moments we have lived. He is number 1".

Feeling sorry for Ralf, second year in a row he misses out due to injury

Think Buys and Schurter will be my team I support for the win this year. Would be great to see a SA boy up on the winning podium!

Do you know the weight of the xt edition? Just wish it was easier to chose between the two. But if there is anyone else with some in site, please help!

....

Can't find it on the website, if I google it, it looks like 12.5 kg. Could that be? I just think the weight difference would not be that great, seeing as the xt parts would be lighter than the slx deore parts, and the fox shock would also be lighter than the manitou shock, so weight would be the same at the end?

Anyone......

Hi I'm looking to buy a new bike and have narrowed it down to two bikes: The merida big nine XT edition and the merida big nine 1000 light. The XT edition is 900 rand more, but has a better shock on. So the question from my side is: Would you buy the XT which is a bit heavier, but has better specs and shock, or the 1000, which has lower specs and shock, but has a lighter frame.The specs of the two bikes are below: Merida big nine XT edition: Specifications Size [15]-17-19-21-23" Frame Big Nine TFS-D Single Color1 black(silver/white) Fork 32 Float 29 CTD O/C- Evolution 100 Taper Derailleur Front Shimano Deore XT Derailleur Rear Shimano Deore XT Shifter Shimano Deore XT -3 / -10 Brake Lever attached Brake Shimano M505 180/180 mm Chainwheel Shimano Deore XT 42-32-24 Bbset attached Chain KMC X10 10s Hub Shimano XT Rim Big Nine Pro D Freewheel Shimano CS-HG62-10 11-36 Tire Maxxis Crossmark 29er 2.1 fold Handlebar Merida Pro OS Flat, 660 mm Handlebar Stem Merida Pro K OS, -17° Headset FSA BB-410 Seat Post Merida Pro K SB0, 27.2 mm Saddle Selle Italia X1 Pedal Shimano M505 Merida big nine 1000 light: COLORS silk black, grey, yellow FRAME SIZES 15"17"19"21"23" FRAME NAME Big.Nine Lite BC-D-Single R12 FORK Manitou Marvel Comp 29 TS Air 100 taper DERAILLEUR FRONT Shimano SLX HD triple DERAILLEUR REAR Shimano Deore XT Shadow SHIFTER FRONT Shimano SLX ispec SHIFTER REAR Shimano SLX ispec BRAKE LEVER attached BRAKE FRONT Shimano M615 180 mm Disc BRAKE REAR Shimano M615 160 mm Disc CHAINWHEEL Shimano M622 40-30-22 CHAINGUARD no BBSET attached CHAIN KMC X10 10s HUB FRONT attached HUB REAR 12 mm Thru axle RIM Mavic CrossRide Disc 29 FQR-R12 FREEWHEEL Shimano CS-HG-10 11-36 TIRES Maxxis CrossMark 29er 2.1 fold / Maxxis CrossMark 29er 2.1 fold HANDLEBAR STEM Merida Pro K OS -16°AD HANDLEBAR Merida Pro OS 680 Flat HEADSET Big Conoid A-Bearing SEAT POST Merida Pro H SB0 27.2 mm SADDLE ProLogo Kappa Evo PEDAL XC Alloy WEIGHT 11.90 kg

Ok, but is the merida 1000 a good buy? Has somebody maybe got one and can tell me how it rides?

Ok thanks will check with them!

Hallo I'm looking to buy a new bike. The one I have in mind is the merida big nine 1000 for around 15 000. Firstly I want to ask, is this a good buy for that money, or is there other brands in this price bracket to look at? Secondly, I've saved up the 15 000, but could always wait longer before I buy a bike. The question is therefore when do you decide to buy a bike or save further? Kind regards Gielie

Jip you say it right. In this bracket there aren't big differences between the different bikes. But jip I love that frame on the 1000! Now I just have to save the money or get a lone :-)

Hi a bit of a high jack, but a question in the same line. Would this bike be the best for 15000? If I'm correct the merida would be lighter than say the sola 1 from silverback? So then a better buy?

On the alloy xt edition maybe?

There is an adventure race on the farm this weekend. Think it's a spur adventure race so is going to be packed here again, but will let you know then we organise a ride. Just pack your climbing legs, this place is NOT flat.

I started working as production manager on the farm. Must say the riding on the farm is great. Love the fact that I have trails and mountains to ride on my doorstep :-). Thanks for the replies! Will take a saturday morning and go walk through all of them.

Hallo I started working on lourensford in desember and with all the festivities I haven't really had time to look around for a new and trusted LBS. I've driven by williams bike shop and velo cycles, but they both seem to be concept cycle shops. I'm more looking for a flandria cycles type shop. Any advise? Thanks in advance for the help.

There are two nice bikes in the classifieds at the moment. The gaint and the bulls bikes, maybe save a couple more randellas and buy something that would last.