Romulus

I have Magura MT2 brakes on my Cannondale Flash and I don't like them. The stopping power is terrible. Is there anything I can do to these brakes to make them stop better? If I purchase a brand new brake set which one would you recommend Formula R1R or Shimano XTR M9000? What is the weight difference between these two? If I'm going to spend money on a new brake set then I might as well buy the best ones. How's the SRAM Guide brake set? I suppose it makes sense to buy the lightest and best brakes.

I've heard that I should buy a bike with a frame size between 56cm and 58cm. Please advise. I'm 1,81cm tall.

So you'd go for the caad10 over the super six?

I'm new to mountain biking but when I get into something I go all the way. I ride 15 hours a week on average. I intend to use my current GT Zaskar for trail riding most of the time so yes I am buying this bike primarily for racing and will not be spending the rest of my time thrashing this bike on trails.

On the note of the Santa Cruz Tallboy. Is it more of a trail bike or XC or both? how does it fare on these different terrains.

I haven't seen one bad review on the Giant Anthem. Those that ride them love them. That tells you something. The Giant seems to be compared to lots of carbon bikes yet it is aluminium (I'm not talking about the carbon Anthem Advance that's very expensive). Can someone explain this to me please. And I read that it is on 500grams heavier than lots of carbon bikes yet far stronger. It seems to have a cult following.

Hi Jan, This Specialized Epic Comp Carbon looks awesome and is really appealing to me because I've always wanted a Spez but I assumed they would all be out of my price range. You've helped me in adding another bike for me to consider. So now, it's down to the Spez, Scott and Giant.

I am looking for a mountain bike to start XC racing (both one day and stage races) and to use for trail riding. However, the primary purpose for my purchase would be XC racing. I have negotiated a price of R35 500 for the Scott Spark 910 from a bike shop in Cape Town. I was told to look at the Giant Anthem X 0 as it is an apparently awesome bike despite being aluminium and marginally heavier than many carbon bikes. Are the any other bikes that you'd recommend or prefer to the Scott Spark in the R35 - R40K bracket. The specs of the Scott are as follows: Weight 11,3kg / 24,89lbs Frame SCOTT Spark 29 Carbon / IMP5 technology / HMF NET BB 92 / Alloy swingarm with 160PM U-Mono Link / Tapered Headtube IDS SL dropouts for 142 x 12mm BB height adj. / 100mm rear travel Fork FOX 32 Float 29 Factory CTD Air CTD damper with 3 modes 15mm QR axle / tapered steerer reb. Adj. / 100 mm travel Remote System SCOTT LTD suspension technology Lock - Traction (travel / geo adj) - Descend activate by Twinloc Remote Lever Lockout - 70 - 100mm Shock (Rear) SCOTT DT Nude2 / 3 modes Lockout-TC-D Ball joints / 165 x 38mm / reb. Adj. Headset Ritchey Pro Tapered 1.5" - 1 1/8" semi integr. OD 50/61mm / ID 44/55mm Derailleur (Rear) Shimano XT RD-M786 SGS Shadow PlusType / 20 Speed Derailleur (Front) Shimano XT FD-M785-E / DM Shifters Shimano XT SL-M780-I Rapidfire Plus / 2 way release Ispec clamp Brake Levers Shimano XT BL-M785 Disc Brakes Shimano XT BR-M785 Disc 180/F and 160/R mm SM-RT64 CL Rotor Crankset Shimano XT FC-M785 hollowtech 2 38Ax24A T BB-Set Shimano SM-BB71-41A / shell 41x89.5mm Handlebar Syncros FL1.5 Tbar Alloy 7050 D.B. / T shape Flat / 9° / 700mm Syncros Pro lockon grips H'stem Syncros FL1.5 7050 Alloy / oversize 31.8mm 1-1/8" / 6° angle Pedals nil Seatpost Syncros FL1.5 / 31.6mm Seat Syncros XR1.5 / Titanium rails Hub (Front) Syncros XR 2.0 29 CL / 15mm made by DT Swiss Hub (Rear) Syncros XR 2.0 29 CL / 12 x 142 / RWS made by DT Swiss Chain Shimano CN-HG74 Cassette Shimano XT CS-M771-10 11-36 T Spokes DT Swiss Super Comp Rims Syncros / DT Swiss XR 2.0 29 28H / Tubeless ready Tires Schwalbe Rocket Ron EVO 29 x 2.25 / 127EPI Kevlar Bead Tubeless ready / Pace star compound

I am of the opinion that it's better to buy a better specced hard tail for this amount of money than buying dual sus that's not as well specced. I'm considering the following: Cannondale Flash 3 Carbon 29er as I heard that these Cannondale's are as good as most dual suspension bikes. Cannondale: Flash Carbon 3 29er User's rating Bike Info Year: 2012 Category: MTB: Hardtail: MTB: Hardtail: Race Brand: Cannondale Model: Flash Carbon 3 29er Price: R30000 Frame Material: BallisTec Carbon, BB30 1.5 Si head tube, Flash 29'er, SPEED SAVE Fork: 90mm, Lefty 29'er PBR, OPI, Solo Air Wheelset: 29'er, 32 hole, SunRingle EQ25, w/eyelet, welded Components: SHIMANO XT Or the Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon Specialized: Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29 User's rating Bike Info Year: 2012 Category: MTB: Hardtail: MTB: Hardtail: Race Brand: Specialized Model: Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29 Price: R34465 Frame Material: 29 geometry, carbon PF30 BB, FACT 8m carbon, FACT IS construction, hollow carbon dropouts, replaceable alloy derailleur hanger, tapered HT Fork: 15.5: 80mm, air spring, Brain Fade and rebound adj., Custom RockShox SID 29 Brain, inertia valve damper, Others: 90mm travel, QR, tapered alloy steerer Wheelset: 24mm, 32h, alloy disc, Roval Control 29 Components: 10-speed, 34.9 clamp mount, high-clamp, mid cage. Front: SRAM X7, Rear: SRAM X0 Or Scott Spark Expert Or Scott Spark Pro Scott: Spark 29 Pro User's rating We’ve been waiting for this one – claimed frame weight (with shock) is under 1900g, which is light for any 100mm travel dual sus bike, let alone a 29er. It’s a tech-head’s dream – IDS-SL modular drop outs allow a 142mm axle, and an elliptical plate can fine-tine the ride by changing the head tube angle and the bottom bracket height. Then there’s Twinloc, controlling both front and rear suspension, letting you switch between 100mm/70mm and lockout travel modes from the bars. All this high-end tech apperas on the mid-range Pro version. Bike Info Year: 2012 Category: MTB (All): MTB: Full Suspension: MTB: Full Suspension: Race Brand: Scott Model: Spark 29 Pro Price: R37499.95 Frame Material: Carbon Main frame HMF NET Imp5 Technology / 6061 Alloy Swingarm Fork: Rock Shox SID 29 RLT3 Air 100mm Travel: DT Swiss Nude2-3modes Wheelset: DT Swiss XR29 Tubeless ready Components: Sram XO/ Sram X9/ Sram X9 30spd/ Sram GXP carbon crankset/ Avid Elixir 9RS disc brakes Website: www.probike.co.za ← METEORE ELITE 29RSuper Six Evo Team →

I'll be using this bike for trainig, trail riding on a daily basis. I want to purchase a better bike for racing but want to keep the GT as my daily bike. Is it worth upgrading and if yes, then what should I upgrade? The specs are as follows: 2012 Zaskar 9R Elite HT (29inch) Front Travel:100 millimeters Frame Material:Aluminum Gearing 2 x 10 Colors Black/Blue FRAMESET Frame Hydroformed Speed Metal™ Aluminum Frame (TT, ST, DT), Triple Triangle™ Frame Construction, Forged Bottom Bracket, Dropouts, and 1 1/8" Integrated Head Tube, w/ 29"-er Specific Geometry Frame Size Range SM (15"-17") MD (17"-19") LG (19"-21") XL (21"-23") Fork RockShox Recon Gold TK Solo Air w/100mm Travel QR, Adj. Rebound, Turn-Key Lockout Rear Shock N/A DRIVETRAIN Crankset SRAM S1000 2.2 39/26T Cassette Shimano CS-HG62-10, 11-36T, 10-Speed Rear Derailleur SRAM X9, Mid Cage Front Derailleur SRAM X7, 2x10 Shifters SRAM X7 Trigger Chain KMC X10, 10-Speed Pedals Shimano PD-M505 Clipless CHARTS AVERAGE MSRP 2012 GT Zaskar 9R Elite$1,760 All GT Mountain Bikes$1,799 All Hardtail Bikes$899 All Mountain Bikes$1,849 GT ZASKAR 9R ELITE DESCRIPTION General The GT Zaskar 9R Elite is a 29 inch Hardtail bike. It has 100 millimeters of front travel COMPONENTS Brakes Avid Elixir 3 Front Brake Avid Elixir 3, 160mm (F/R) Rear Brake Avid Elixir 3, 160mm (F/R) Brake Levers Avid Elixir 3 Handlebars ALL TERRA Flat Top

Please recommend some really good mechanics or service centers in Cape Town, preferably in the Southern Suburbs.

I have my eye on the Fondriest TF3 1.2 (2012 model). I've also seen the Cannondale Super Six 5. Is there perhaps anything in Scott that can compare. Whats the price of the cheapest Foil? The fondriest seems to have some really good reviews.

I would like to purchase a new computer and wanted opinions. The Mobii seems really good. Is it better than the rest I've listed in terms of functionality, after sales support and quality?

I'm a novice mountain biker and I'm looking for the contact details of a good coach in Cape Town, preferably in the Southern Suburbs. I just think that it may be good to have receive proper guidance while new to the sport. What I'm looking for is someone to help me with a structured training programme for my fitness on a mountain bike as well as technical skills such as single track, trail riding, drops, descents etc. The other option that I'm interested in is joining a club. Please let me know if anyone has derived benefit by joining a club and if so, please post some names of clubs. I've also heard that spending as much time in the saddle is all that is needed and coaches and clubs may not be as important. Please advise. Any advice and opinions will be appreciated. Cheers,

I'm looking for a 29er hard tail for R14 000 or under. I'm considering the following bikes and need your advice: 1. Silverback Vida 2 2. GT Zaskar 9er Elite 3. Momsen AL529 4. Scott Scale Elite 29er