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Baracuda

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  1. Apologies if there is already a forum on the subject and please refer me to it if there is, but: Does anyone know of a bike couriering service from Pretoria to Cape Town? Willing to get the bike boxed if that helps. I am based in CPT and buying a bike in PTA Many thanks.
  2. I am aware that this may sound outlandish at first, but I really think they should install sets of double speedbumps in this area, as well as on Chappies. I cycle these routes regularly, and the motorbikes, taxis, busses, Porsche group, and general sports car groups use these areas as though they were race tracks, which is dangerous to all, including themselves. I know of Porsche drivers and passengers killed on these routes. We have recently been doing a fair bit of work in the Port St Johns area in the Eastern Cape, where taxis, buses, and all ran riot, and people and livestock were regularly killed. They have installed double speed bumps every 500m down the twisty passes, even halfway around a corner. It is absolute pain, especially in terms of travel time, as your average speed drops massively. But all the taxis need to slow to walking pace to go over them, and barely get up to speed between them. They also have similar speed bumps in areas of Kenya to slow down large, fast, long-distance buses as they descend mountain passes or pass through villages, and it works. It is a drastic measure, but it does really slow down all the mad drivers.
  3. As mentioned, a very light Miltons soak for a short while. If it gets rid of the pong in babies nappies,....
  4. One could do Stellies, Greyton, Montagu, then up through the Anysberg Nature Reserve area and across to Prince Albert (staying north of the mountains, but south of the N1). https://makadasadventures.co.za/trails/ Then across to Klaarstroom, De Rust, Uniondale and down to Plett. Lekkerslaap has tons of inexpensive farm stays on the way.
  5. I had this issue and it makes an enormous difference.
  6. When I was doing reviews last year, the Merida was known for its high stack height.
  7. Yip, that feeling when the Merc dealer arrives in a Mahindra....
  8. Reading through this, one is unsure of the problem - are you running out of gears? i.e. is your lowest gear too hard on regional hills? Hard to advise without knowing where you stay, the hills and your weight. e.g. if you stay in Prince Albert and plan to ride up the Swartberg pass often, one would recommend mtb gearing or 105 compact with the largest cluster your rear derailleur can take.
  9. Following this. The pricing on the Epic 8 is nauseating . If one purchases the previous model, mid-range, and buys a 130mm fork and longer shock (waiting for specials), are you not as close as darnit to the Epic 8? There are dudes that have done this on reddit and they love it.
  10. Yip, I have mentioned it before on a thread, but there is an old guy in the Kalk Bay area that just has a square of 3M chevron tape (that you buy by the meter at Midas), on the back of his cycling shoes. You see him a mile off in the morning traffic due to the motion.
  11. Yip. SA mtb races with stages over 100km, but most competitors can't handle a 1m drop-off. It struck me the first time I rode overseas in New Zealand where the focus is on skills on single track, ramps etc. 12 year old girls with more bike handling skills than 90% of the guys that finish the Epic.
  12. love the South African approach to bikepacking, with your braai pack cable-tied onto your bike
  13. 76 is a great age to get a new gravel bike. Better gearing, more comfortable, better brakes, easier handling.... I just went from a 20-25 year old road bike to a Giant Revolt and the difference is incredible. Everything about it is better.
  14. Another vote for a Giant Revolt. I surveyed all options, test rode many, read many reports and reviews. 2x gearing, can still fit 53mm (2.1) tires, light and comfortable. It still surprises me how good it is when you are barrelling down Karoo roads. Ben Delaney tests dozens of different bikes and it is still one of his favorites.
  15. If you are going to go for the Gravelking and use it on tar, I would strongly recommend the slick or SS. The normal version with the little squares is terrible on tar. The slick is not that bad off-road, it is surprisingly good if it is not too technical. I started off with the Gravelking, but then changed to Schwalbe RS and it is an incredible improvement, but good luck trying to find the 50c in SA. The Schwalbe and perhaps the R that they have in 50c, is a much better quality tire. https://schwalbetyres.co.za/product-category/gravel/ Improvement not only in rolling resistance, but it seals quickly, easy to set up and all the rest.
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