beanz

My advice: Don't do it unless you are going to get significant savings (which sometimes you can, but this isn't it). I'm waiting for 2 packages that have been held up at the international mail center for 2 weeks. The postal service is a shocker. It is impossible to actually get through to anyone to speak to on the other side. So take "free" with a pinch of salt because I'd gladly throw a little money at the problem to get my stuff at this point. I know I'll eventually get it, but I'll probably have to make a trip to jet park. To save R500 on a dropper post. No ways! Anyway as Maxxis says you're going to have to pay 15% vat so you've got to factor that it. That will wipe out your R500 savings. Also a dropper post is something that can go wrong, and if you buy it from CRC, you're on your own. If you buy it from CWC and it's still under guarantee I'm sure they'll help you out.

I'll be in the area, a bit further down towards glenmore roughly the same dates. For mtb clearwater trails in port Edward are very nice if you're interested. For group rides, try duracycles in uvongo or concept cyclery in Shelley beach.

In and out of there in less than 10 mins at 6:30 tonight. Absolutely painless.

I'm looking to start a 650b enduro/AM bike build which is going to be 1x10. Probably just have to stand when climbing a little more often, which I'm happy to do. Can be a little challenging up loose slippery steep surfaces where it's easier to keep traction if you stay seated. I don't care about the lost gears on the top end. I've got a 29er which I'll use for the odd marathon or stage race - I'm going to leave that as 2x10 for now and maybe convert to 1x10 later. I like the simplicity of 1x10 and I'm sure I can get used to a few less gears. Single speed riders seem to do ok.

If you want to stick with gripshift, sounds like you need the Sram type 2 rear derailleur. http://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/products/sram-x9-type-2-10-speed-rear-derailleur Are you going 1x10 or 2x10? If it's 2x10 don't go doing what I did and get medium cage, but if you're doing 1x10 that's exactly what you want (or you can go short cage).

Hey thanks all - this is the impression I'm getting. Here everyone seems so wired into fox or rockshox that we don't even consider other alternatives.

Hey Brenton, what's the secret? Please share it with everyone.

Does anyone have any experience with X Fusion products? I'm looking for a fork for a 650b AM build and the X Fusion Sweep has caught my attention. It's the 650b variation of the Slant (26er) and Trace (29er) forks, both of which seem to get excellent reviews and great owner satisfaction. The biggest complaint about them is availability. The Sweep fared pretty well against the Pike, which seems the be the fork on everyone's most wanted list, in a head to head shootout: http://bikemagic.com...sion-sweep.html The biggest difference is the price really, and with the Pike retailing probably around R11-12k, if there's an option that's nearly as good but not much more than half the price it's worth a second look. It lacks compression adjustment, and only has rebound and lockout, but if you're pretty normally sized maybe the factory tune is good enough. They also do the Hilo seatpost. Any thoughts?

I'd say from the fairlands side of northcliff to the water tower via rockcliff drive.

Best option anywhere on Louis Botha

This is still up for grabs too.

If you want to get scientific about it, there's two main geometry numbers that you need to look at - reach and stack, the horizontal and vertical distance from the center of the BB to the middle of the top of the head tub respectively. Especially for a trail bike. It basically gives the best indication of how the fit will be out of the saddle. It's more important than the seat tub length or effective top tube length. For example if two bikes have the same reach but bike A has a longer top tube than bike B, it means in that the seat tube angle is slacker on bike A than bike B. You will probably need to move the saddle forward in bike A or back on bike B to get the right seated pedalling position. The problem is not all manufacturers publish reach and stack, but most do. Reach and stack gives you the best frame of reference (excuse the pun) for comparing bike sizes without sitting on the bike. Especially if you can can compare with what you currently ride. Then going for a fit might not be such a bad idea if you're not sure, because there's quite a few factors other than your height that determine the ideal frame size. Another thing to consider is stem length. You don't really want to be forced to make stem length adjustments to get the right fit - you'd rather get the right size frame for the stem length of your choice that will give you the desired handling characteristics. The current trend is towards shorter stems, for more direct steering and more downhill stability, which would mean a slightly longer frame, but the downside is a slightly longer wheelbase, which may reduce maneuverability. So you have to work out what type of ride you want and then work from there. Unless you're right in the middle, there's probably more than one size that will fit you. I'm 1.8m as well and also find myself generally in between medium and large.

It must have quite a slack seat tube angle. The Ibises seem to be about a size smaller than average, going according to the numbers that count the most (reach and stack) so the large Ibis is actually more like a medium.

How about Johnny green or blue for the noobs?

Pila is a must visit, small, resort above the town of Aosta. Although a busy ski resort during winter, it is very quiet during the summer. The area has a mixed history having formerly being part of France, with the locals speaking a dialect more similar to French than Italian. If you do not speak Italian, French is widely spoken and understood. The town is situated on the main through road up to the Mont Blanc and Petit Saint Bernard tunnels, which makes it ideal if you are planning to ride in other places, such as, Les Arcs, Verbier and Chamonix. Nearest airport: Turin & Geneva. What does Pila have to offer? Cross Country - Beginner & Intermediate Downhill - Beginner & Advanced Freeride - Beginner & Intermediate Cable Car - YES Gondola - Chairlift - YES Pila is a great example of a successful, interesting and challenging BikePark. The trails have mostly been built or cleared by hand and are natural technical singletracks. They are labelled as freeride runs, but really are more in a way of donwhill runs. The World Cup DH sees a little more built berms and jumps, but a healthy proportion of it remains technical wooded and a natural trail. Although it has been inexpensive to create, it has potential for further building and when combined with the long Pila to Aosta descent it makes a great riding destination. DOWNHILL With Pila hosting Sam Hill's return from injury at the 2005 World Cup - you can expect a quality track. It was designed and built by Italian Corrado Hern and is a good example of a fast technical track with fast lines through rocks and tight berms - an awesome track in all weather. Beginners to downhill riding will enjoy the track as most of the hard sections have easy lines around them and sections that are marked as black have red alternatives. Downhill riders are not restricted to the marked track as the Freeride trails are all really great Downhill runs. FREERIDE Freeride in Pila consists mainly of steady Downhill singletrack that has the odd drop thrown in along with some small jumps in the woods. All the trails are good fun and riders of all abilities can spend a few days riding here, mixing the Downhill and the Freeride trails. One of the highlights is the Pila - Aosta Freeride. There is an 11 km downhill singletrack which takes you back down to the bottom of the valley to the lift station in Aosta. Connecting the Downhill or one of the Freeride trails from the top lift with this trail can give you a Downhill run with a verticle descent of around 2300m! CROSS-COUNTRY Twelve Cross Country routes are waymarked, aimed more towards the beginner and all use the ski lift for the uphill part. More experienced cross country riders would be perfectly happy on the freeride marked trails.

And I thought it was just because you're a good oke

Hey OM, appreciate the effort, getting good deals, and passing on the savings - you could have pocketed the difference and probably nobody would have minded - big up to you. My vote is day trip to Pila. Looks like a nice place.

30kgs is pretty generous these days. That should be no problem, especially for the guys on trail/AM bikes. Are you allowed more than one checked in bag or does it all have to go in the box?

Sorry to hear this. Your name has been changed accordingly

Awesome stuff

Now there's a dose of reality I could have done without on a grey gloomy Monday.

Awesome stuff - rode it this afternoon. Thanks guys! :thumbup:

Nice try but how about dropping one of the climbs for another downhill section? I think that's the problem with VG as an enduro venue - it's hard to link up the existing nice downhill sections without doing 60 - 70 ks in total. It's probably all going to be decided by stage 1 and 4.

25 April - 3 May 2014

Ok, no takers - I've dropped it a K. If you're keen to do this event solo you can now do it for cheaper than last years price.