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Baracuda

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Everything posted by Baracuda

  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.
  16. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. I did not know him well, but the joy created through his events will always be remembered. Dirtopia was and still is legendary.
  17. I have two that are brand new. Never opened. Will swop each one for a quart of Castle Lite.
  18. Although the old version of the G one rs did feel like you were going to puncture (although I never did), apparently the new pro version is a lot tougher. But pathfinders and thunderos also do well in reviews and are apparently a bit slower, but tougher.
  19. As mentioned, stock is an issue. This guy has great reviews of a range of tires and it seems like the Schwalbe Pro range is the puppies nuts, but good luck importing the 50mm. It can cost a fortune with courier fees and their additional import fees (over and above VAT) : Otherwise: https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/gravel-bike-tyres/816482/tufo-gravel-thundero-700x-48-new
  20. It is in the area directly up the hill from the Arboretum, reserved for hikers and horses :).
  21. Please ask "the botanists" to review the available peer-reviewed literature on the subject e.g. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19864052/ There is no evidence that mtb single track has higher impact than hiking trails, and it generally has far less impact than horse trails and jeep track. The impact of horse hooves breaking up soil and then the seeds introduced through their manure have far higher impact. Regarding jeep track, one can see the sheer impact of it after these rains. Very few of the mtb trails in Tokai have turned into erosion gullies or have been washed out during the recent storms.
  22. Baracuda

    Bikeinn

    Indeed, please be aware that UPS charges an additional R500 brokerage fee (over and above the import fee / VAT and their courier fee). It is really nuts. And I am not new to importing either. I have never had this sort of charge with DHL and Merlin Cycles.
  23. Which front chainrings do you have on the Revolt for the DC? Still the GRX?
  24. Another vote the for Giant Advanced. one of few bikes that has 2x gearing, can take 50mm 2.1inch tires, weighs under 8kgs, and costs less than 80k. After a few years on an alu gravel bike, the upgrade is amazing in every way. My sense is that many South African "mountain bikers" are better on a gravel bike. Like all of the above, I pull out the Pyga for the odd single track with old enduro mates, but otherwise, ride my gravel bike every second day.
  25. Really good advice above on nutrition and eating before. I have also found good advice from this channel. This Aussie lady is straight forward; With respect to sleep, pressure and the mental side; I have not worked it all out, but I did get some advice from a mate who was a chopper pilot in the military and they get taught to manage pressure in many ways, but useful in this context, by (i) being very well prepared and ready in terms of training, having all their kit ready and checked - be fully confident before you go to bed that everything is in place; (ii) putting matters into perspective. It is a bike ride with your mates that you doing for fun - we not jumping out of a plane behind enemy lines, no one is depending on us winning or finishing. Even if you sleep late and miss the whole event, you'll get teased at work on Monday, but no one really cares after that. Just chill, relax and enjoy for yourself.
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