Tieffels

I mix it with an old washing detergent scoop (250ml i think..) in a 2:1 volume mix, i.e. Full cup malto, half cup fructose in 750ml bottle. I did a 5h ride on sat on just one bottle. I guess if you want to go all out you'll need a good kitchen scale and go for say 50-60g total mix per hour and set your drinking schedule accordingly..

Been riding on the infamous malto/fructose mix for well over an year now, incl Epic, TB, Attakwas etc. It was the first mix I ever used during proper hard long riding so initially I had nothing to compare it too, but never had a problem. The fear mongering from the 32GI crowd got me try it for a while. I found it to be useless, and I was seriously doubting my cycling abilities as a result. Switched back to Malto, BANG, no problems. I found a bulk supplier on thehub but cannot remember who.. Bugger.. I think I got 9kg of mix (malto + fructose) for less then R150.. Oh, Knersis can supply if you are in the Cape, I'm now in JHB, hence the new supplier..

If you're going any faster than that then you're not mountain biking, you're just off-roading it...

No PVR, so I'm out...

FREEDOM CHALLENGE TV DOCUMENTARY BROADCASTS THIS WEEK The 2010 Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa was an epic adventure for those who took it on. Snow, winter sunshine, staring down white rhino in the Karoo, a near collision with buffalo in the Baviaanskloof, single track, wagon routes, vast landscapes, South African hospitality from farmers and villagers, a new single speed record, a race to finish first, a race to just finish. Share in the experience. Watch the post race documentary on Supersport this evening and rebroadcasts throughout the week. 28-Mar-11 20:30 21:30 SS7N 28-Mar-11 20:30 21:30 SS7 29-Mar-11 10:30 11:30 SS6A 29-Mar-11 10:30 11:30 SS6 30-Mar-11 16:30 17:30 SS6 30-Mar-11 16:30 17:30 SS6A 31-Mar-11 17:00 18:00 SS6A 31-Mar-11 17:00 18:00 SS6 1-Apr-11 15:30 16:30 SS7 1-Apr-11 15:30 16:30 SS7N 2-Apr-11 10:30 11:30 SS7 2-Apr-11 10:30 11:30 SS7N 3-Apr-11 13:00 14:00 SS6 3-Apr-11 13:00 14:00 SS6A 3-Apr-11 21:00 22:00 SS1A 3-Apr-11 21:00 22:00 SS1

Ja, I looked at the Mountain king and the rate of seepage and decided it is a lost cause. Was a mission to seat it too, had to bomb it eventually.. Running it tubed for now, but have some OKO around, will try that too although I was not that impressed first time round.

I mounted the mountaing king with stans, was flat the next day due to seepage out the side walls. Did not repeat it a second time as you did, but what sealant you use?

Did the Epic on well used Anatomic and pretty new First Ascent shorts, no bibs, no problems, nothing. Milko balm and Fishum paste, quick shower after finish. One year after the Epic the First Accent ones are falling apart: the sponge inside the chamois keeps moving and getting bunched up during the wash. Also been getting chaffed badly from them on recent long 7-8h rides, however I'm not nearly as conditioned as during the Epic, but I'm still pretty sure these are now no longer suited to longer rides. So basically they are fine, but I did not get close to the expected life I'd hoped for. Just this week I got 3 sets of top end bibs from CRC for the FC (Giordana and Castelli I think, sorry about spelling), all well under R1k. Most reviewers of these said they are easily good as Assos at a fraction of the cost. There are PLENTY options out there before Assos, I personally think they are overpriced and the uninformed SA sheep minded consumer simply copies his mate, hence the massive market share..

Sort of, but you hve to share it with 1 x sore ass, 2 x dead legs and plenty carb-to-the-max farts.. Ask manbearpig about it..

At registration they'll have the big-ass maps and profiles for all the stages, and you'll have all the maps and profiles in the epic book thingy that the dish out everywhere. Last year we printed and laminated profiles for each day (sommer back to back so we only had 4 pieces of plastic). I found these extremely helpful, but I'm the type of guy who needs to know when it is all downhill to the end and when is Dr Evil still planning a surprise... They also do the race briefing every night after supper with full Google fly through of the route and Stacy (?, route director) talks you through it. Mostly lies "Some rolling hills..." = massive non-stop climbs.. "bit of sand" = take your beach bats and frisbee.. But it does prep you mentally and I always like to know where I am on the map so to speak.. I had a Garmin to keep track of the climbing, have never been one to track distance but knowing that half the climbing is done, then 75% etc. kept me going, and man do those meters pile on up on the big climbs. Good luck and very very jealous..

Jis, I've given that oke 10 bucks before, performing at that same spot in Dorp Street, now he's going to become famous!! He's got mad mad skills...

Awesome piece of road, but it lookes eerily similar to the first sharp right-hander as you go up Bothmaskop, provided all the trees have not yet been burnt/blown down..

Brown Cow!!!

Tried Squirt? Problem solved.. (Grabs riot shield...)

So no takers then?

Not as far as I know, Ti is still a bugger to work with, hence the exceptionally clean lines of Ti bikes. I see Lynskey have basically twisted a standard extrusion and threw their whole marketing dept behind it to spice things up, but that is about it in terms of having fancy tubes.

Would be keen on quite a bit of stuff, say R1k-R2k, but don't have a credit card so cannot do the transaction. But ja, would be very very keen..

A buddy of mine, after MUCH egging along, look a drop-off with his steel frame HT (Cove perhaps...?) in Eden on the DH course. He came pipe and his frame ended up looking EXACTLY as the OP pic: i.e. nice compression buckle in the dead same spot on the down tube where the disputed manufactured dent is. So ja, I'd say to put any from of stress riser in there is a massive oversight from Lightspeed and will lead to problems down the line, as reported by the OP with Marlin etc. So if Lightspeed throws out the impact card, do they talk about direct impact as in hitting a rock against the frame (which will be nigh impossible it that location on the frame, since for the life of me I cannot see a rock/tree getting in there past the fork and wheel and going that damage without leaving any evidence) or are they saying you handled it too rough and threw too much abuse at it, which you must have noticed? @Edman: Would like to hear how you would manufacture said tube from titanium? Serious question, no sarcasm.

Get a MTB?

And I'd feel like a propper **** trying it and coming off in the wrong, but hey, afterwards I'd know at least my slate is clean and I'm sure you'll get over it much quicker than an oke who lost his bike. Just saying..

Hannes Hannes Hannes.. All I can say is that if I had my bike stolen over the weekend from a race and come Monday someone posted on thehub they saw an oke that looked like 99.999% the likely culprit that stole it and did nothing I'd find you and give you a serious snotklap. I've had enough of this PC BS, if the oke looks suspicious, confront him. Be aggressive, assume guilt till proven innocent. Screw it, take the bike and tell him you're taking it to the police station and he can fetch it there upon proof of ownership. If he wants to pull a Julias and make you out to be a racist on the outside chance that he's innocent, I'd be happy to pay for your therapy to heal the emotional scars. Evil persists when good men do nothing.. It is easy to be brave behind the keyboard, but man I get angry at these posts, at least make an effort

Beast as in around 750g or something, beast as in forget about punctures.. But any tire that seals with a plug will be fine. Carry plenty plugs, and make sure you have plenty stans in before and after any bomb usage. You will get flats regardless of what tyres you're running. Unless you weigh 55kg and ride like a girl As with hiring a bike shop for service, not needed. The pragma bike wash is really top notch and Probike did FREE services last year. I dont know what the bike shops do after every stage except clean and lube and check one or two things. Being able to do this yourself is part of the minimum technical know-how required to take on the epic. The only thing you pay for is piece of mind, dont for one second think it is a must have..

Not riding again this year, but man I wish it was this time last year, by now you and your bike are one, you complete one another's sentences.. Kendra Navegral! It is a beast, but will get you to the end in one piece.

Bad luck perhaps.. I've done 2 orders with them, cheaper than CRC and got the package in 2 days.. Will most definitely make use of them again.

CRC vs Buycycle: NOTE: CRC prices do NOT include 14% VAT, just as is on the website. Ordered and paid late Friday afternoon, got everything before lunch this Tuesday. Granted, CRC is cheaper on specials, but the local okes have really upped their game and should seriously be looked at. I'm sure as their business increases so will their product range. Well done Buycycle for actually saving me money over CRC AND lots of time/hassle/worries (I got badly burnt before the Epic last year with CRC and stock issues). Conti Mountain King Tyre - R294, paid R204@ Buycycle http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=21537 SLX Crankset - R1257, paid R1292@ Buycycle http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28020 Park Tool BB tool - R176, paid R154@ Buycycle http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=4062 Oh, and I accidently ordered 2 BB tools, if you need one drop me a pm. R160.