Delilah

I did that and was surprised to see that CRC seems to be rather expensive when it comes to shocks. What a shock... ahem...sorry, couldnt resist.

@ cptmayhem: I hear you! In the end it might come down to availability. So far I've not seen any 2013 models locally. None of the 2012 Reba/Sid 29er models have 120mm travel. Oh and it will have to be a black one obviously.

Is it not seating or not inflating at all? If not taking air, that is because the tire has stretched with use and no longer sits tightly enough on the rim to create a seal. You could add extra layers of tape to get a tighter fit, but that also adds weight . Compressor ... EDIT: If inflating but not seating, decrease pressure and push/roll the tire "body" away from the side your are trying to seat. That pulls the bead upwards. Repeat for other side . Good luck.

LOL! I agree and own a Storm 1 too! Just saying there are a lot of buyers, especially the ones with pockets deep enough for XX, who look down their nose at Silverback. The best thing about the Storms was that not only were they good they were also really affordable. Not sure the Storm Race will be within reach for most. But lets see. Maybe the rrp will blow us away...

@ Tankman: Nope, unfortunately just Hope Pro 2 Evos laced to Light Bicycle 30mm 12k gloss rims, DT revos black and red nipps. The CKs are stunning though as are those builds. Very nice! Mine will have xt group and brakes and probably Easton EC 70 bars and seatpost with 70mm EA90 stem. ESI Chunky black. Nobby Nic Snakeskin. Oh and my fav saddle: Fizik Vesta Kium. Not decided on front sus, but leaning towards a black 120mm travel Rockshox Sid or Reba.

@ Berg Bok: Yep good move on the 1 but I think it was a bad idea to drop the more affordable 2. Also, will the Race model really sell? Silverback is still not seen as a premium brand and most people willing to pay for SRam XX will be spending their money on trendier brands. Not saying it makes sense, just saying how it is. I could be proven wrong if the price of the Race is fantastic...

I see the Storm 2 has been dropped from the 2013 lineup. The 1 is now just Storm and there is a higher spec'd model now called Storm Race. Seems silly.

I'll give it a shot. Anyone wanting to buy the Tallboy C, contact Rocky Ruan...

Oh, and just another little irk: literally 3 minutes after sending CWC the EFT I got a quote from Tool-up Cycles for R3649.00 less!

Well that explains it!

The frame is R25 999 on CWC website.

The blue is beautiful and I prefer gloss finish on carbon. The Storm is matt and it seems to attract every spec of dust within a 5km radius. However, I already have a good wheelset for the frame and the hubs are red so it will have to be the black/red one. Well then you've all convinced me. Time to pull the proverbial trigger. Please honour a moment of silence for my poor stressed bank manager

Okay its confession time - RedZone sent a concerned e-mail about potential problems with my bike setup. There aren't any. As I apologetically told him, it was just easier to use a generic excuse that to explain that I just don't like "real race geometry" because it feels like I'm riding with my nose on the front wheel. Sorry guys, but there it is - my guilty little secret. Excellent news! The Moab Pro is blindingly fast, but a real little devil to control going downhill especially in loose stuff

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Since getting the Storm, my poor little Moab has not seen much action. Thought I would ride both bikes depending on the terrain etc. I was wrong - it seems I prefer the clown wheels no matter how twisty the singletrack. Since the XT groupset and brakes on the Moab are practically new, I'll just use them in the new build. Question: Do I understand correctly that the Tallboy is a bit more "relaxed" in its geometry as opposed to a very race oriented bike? I would actually prefer that - us girls suffer, ermmmm, numbness if handlebars are much lower than seat. In that regard the Storm has been just right for me.

Hi guys Okay, so for months now I've been trying to buy a small Niner Jet 9 RDO frame. What a mission! Some contacts don't answer your PMs, most ignore your e-mails. Even the SA distro (Coolheat) cannot be bothered to answer my mails. When a retailer finally does want to help, they have to report that there are just a few large frames left and new stock won't come in for 3-4 months. Oh, and of course the new model RDO is quite a bit more expensive. Great Well, I am tired of waiting and sick of poor/no service! So, I contacted the ever reliable CWC and they can get me this: http://res.fortheriders.com/img/Bikes/XC%20&%20Trail/santa-cruz-tallboy-c-012-red-black-1-a.jpg Same price as the 2012 RDO. Yes, I do prefer the look of the RDO, but the Santa Cruz Tallboy C has a few advantages: standard bottom bracket, no direct mount front derailleur, easy to service (apparently). So, is this a worthy substitute or should I hold off until the new RDOs become available? Any owners who can comment on the bike? Thanks! D

Wow, what a weird-looking bike! Do people actually collect bikes just to have them? Because surely no potential buyer would want to ride that. Where would one keep/display this bike collection??

Okay, first off, I know almost nothing about road bikes. BUT I do know good service when I see it. Check out www.light-bicycle.com They sell mtb and road frames, rims, wheelsets, etc. Their service is stellar! E-mails are answered within 24 hours and the English is quite understandable! I came across them in an extremely long thread about chinese rims on MTBR forums. Yes, I've actually read all 94 (to date) pages. Those few who did have legitimate warranty claims merely had to e-mail a picture to get replacements!

Pity. Fizik Vesta is by far the best saddle I've owned. The Diva is okay, but the Vesta is awesome. EDIT: Let me explain why I say this. The Diva has a cutout that ends a long way before the nose of the saddle. The Vesta has a channel that runs the length of the saddle, including the nose. So, if you have a low, racing style, riding position the Vesta is better at alleviating pressure where it is most important. If you sit more upright it might not matter. Because the Vesta is so well-designed you fit it to the bike with the nose at a slight upwards tilt - this means you won't ever slide forward on the saddle. But yes, saddle preference is subjective so mileage may vary as they say

One more happy customer. Fast delivery, extremely helpful and friendly staff. Lizle and Hellene are gems! Thanks for the sunnies ASG!

Well, yes, you can use those to. Whilst they don't do anything to promote wound healing, they at least stop the dressings from sticking to the wound. For light scrapes the clear adhesive dressings Dick mentioned is great for keeping things clean and dry. For deep abrasions you need something to speed up healing. Don't let it dry out completely - it will then crack when you move. But you also don't want it wet and yucky. Hence a dressing that combines the clear waterproof type with something that absorbs the fluids secreted by the wound. Typically, these dressings contain a gel, alginate or polymer compound and is often infused with silver ions. http://www.roosin.com/uploadfile/201110261549170981.jpg http://www.roosin.com/images/DSC_0431.jpg The center part of the dressing is either a gel-like pad or a calcium-alginate weave pad. Use these on a deep abrasion and it will heal in just half the time it usually does

Suikerbos Nature Reserve near Parys has hiking trails suitable for MTB. Not very long but scenic. Www.suikerbos.co.za Also fun is the track that runs along the traintracks next to the N12. Kinda hard to explain how to get onto the trail if a person does not know the area...

+1 for Bactroban - good stuff. Also, if you lost a lot of skin and have oozing in those areas it will cause clothes to stick to those areas. Your bigger pharmacies stock a wide range of dessings. Find something non-stick that draws out moisture. These dressings are usually used on burns. Ask the pharmacist if you are unsure. These dressings will help the wounds heal in half the time.

If going for Silverback, see if you can't get a good deal on the Spectra 2: http://www.silverbac...CK/spectra3.htm It should be possible to find one for 8-8.5k. A friend of mine has the Spectra 1 and is very happy with the quality and ride. EDIT: Oh, and you really should ride all candidates on your shortlist before deciding. The better ride is the better buy

Do you want a 26" or 29"? Hardtail or dual suspension? EDIT: You should know that a DS is quite a bit more expensive than an HT and 29er is more expensive than a 26" at any given spec level. So, you will get the best spec'd bike for your money if buying a 26" hardtail. But, then again, specs are not the only consideration...

No Iranian ancestry, just Mossad training **kidding** You are right of course, about suitable punishment, but a girl can dream, right?