Doring

Changing to a more upright riding position i.e. more stack has been a revelation for me in terms of comfort. Not sure about gravel bikes, but larger mtb sizes usually have a disproportionate increase in stack compared to medium and small sizes. Now with a 60mm riser bar I finally have shed the back and neck pain on my size L mtb. I feel I can ride all day long. Easily getting hold of any riser bar above 40mm is another mission in itself locally.

If it's in regards to preferring higher stack - more comfort and stability. Don't race XC.

Thanks - I'll have a look as well

Are there any 50mm mtb riser bars available for sale in SA? The most rise I can find is the 38mm that Rapide sells. I have that already, but I think the sweet spot is a bit higher still. I've exhausted the rise I can get from extra spacers on the steerer tube. larger size bikes over the last few years seem to have a proportionate lack in stack height increase compared to the smaller sizes

A hardtail will never feel like a DS , but a lot can also be said about tyre pressure - I think too many people run their tyres rock hard when they start out and must think DS is the way to go. It's almost astonishing how much ride quality on a hardtail (or any bike) improves with softer (and sometimes slightly bigger) tyres

Does Summit Cycles still exist in Midrand? I see on Google maps they are listed as being permanently closed. Can anyone suggest a reputable bike shop/mechanic in Gauteng to help me build up a wheelset?

Also when suspension wasn't fully figured out yet. Though I do have a soft spot for the crazy things 1990's experimentation brought to the MTB world.

Is it at the point where the swingarm connects to the carrier or the bike itself? My swingarm clamps have worn away the bar on the bike carrier -causing a lot of lateral play/movement. The tightening knobs on the other end also love stripping their screws inside from constant tightening and loosening - bit it's easily remedied by just opening them and replacing the little hex nut inside with one from a hardware store. Go to Thule and they will want to sell you a whole new arm instead.

Often the process is as beautiful as the finished product 😍

I happened upon an old Bridgestone Bicycles catalogue from 1994 - it makes for some interesting reading, being the time capsule that it is, especially an article taking guess at what cycling in the future was going to be like. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1994/pages/66.htm https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1994/pages/67.htm Looking back at it today - their X0-3 had some very gravel-like DNA, and I would give what to have an MB-1 in my garage now . Too bad the plug was pulled on the brand's bicycle division soon after. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1994/pages/39.htm https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1994/pages/31.htm

Hobby Park trails are a jungle after all the rain this season

Has anyone seen the new SolarisMax or BFeMax out in the wild in SA? I know there used to be a lot of the previous gen models around due to someone bringing them in at that point I think. Looks like I'm going to have to think of doing the same for myself 😐

I was looking at that exact same item yesterday - and yes as luck would have it no stock. I'm sure if I order they can then order from the supplier but that may take ages.

I'm currently looking to buy a torque wrench that will cover the basics on a bike - i.e seatpost clamp, components and crankset. Most of what seems available would cover the 2-14n.m range, but that would be at the near limit of what my Shimano Hollowtech crankset requires. (12-15n.m). I'm assuming that will still be adequate? The other part would be as to what's available at present with stock of a lot of items fairly limited online. Are there any bike shops where one can buy a torque wrench in this range in the Jhb area? https://www.evobikes.co.za/product/workshop-tool-torque-wrench-2-14nm/ seems to be a reasonable option online?

Afrikaans or not, I'd be keen on a cycling magazine where it's about the ride first, gear and fitness second. BIKE magazine (incidentally now on indefinite hiatus, I see) always went along this grain and distinguished itself from the rest in this way.