Roneblack46

So a 43.67 race index gets a C and me with a 34.32 gets a D?????? Come on SA Seeding......

300m ascent per lap is HUGE..... 1200m in 28km. Going to be tough. One lap is equal to two and a half laps of ascent atThaba XCO track.

34 and some change seeding. Batch D. Is that about right? Hoping to get bumped up tomorrow when I collect my race pack.

Any idea when the results will be available?

Good for you. You will enjoy it. But you will need to practice. Places to go practice: Fountains, Modderfontein and Thaba Trails. These all have XCO specific tracks and is the perfect practice you need. There is a Gauteng Provincial Champs race on the 13th July ( venue still TBD but probably Thaba) Thereafter they will be holding informal racing (practice time) at Thaba on the weekends preceding the Masters WC. This was relayed to us at the start of this past weekends race at Thaba. The aim is to put in consistent laps all at about the same time. The start is fast so idea is to get away and then hang on. Easier said than done. If anybody wants to meet to train at any of these venues I suggest we set up an email list and start doing rides together. 1 - there is always somebody quicker than you so good practice to chase. 2 - good comradie. 3 - another excuse to go ride. My next 2 weekends are full (work calls) but from 2 July I will be out at these venues training.

I am also a recent convert to MSC. They assisted me on a last minute crankset replacement,which they did not have in stock, so ordered and fitted within 2 days. Been back with my training bike and very efficient and friendly service. I recommend them.... Keep it up guys.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion when it comes to firearm ownership, and that will dictate how they live their lives. Not everyone is comfortable in carrying a firearm, and if you aren't, best you stay away from one. People who own a firearm with little training or are not comfortable with guns, may be part of that 60% statistic. The point is we ride alone as a result of various circumstances, and we all have our means to feel safe while doing that. No matter what your "safe" tools are, you need to have a plan when something happens. What I mean is you need to think of all the various scenario's through, in your mind,and there have been many mentioned on the Hub. Not just thinking it through but how you will react and what action you will take. When it happens, it is to late to think of what to do. and this applies to all things that may happen in our day to day lives, hijacking, home robbery etc.

My riding partners. Just got back from the shooting range actually. All in working order.

You want to keep some distance between yourself and a would be bike jacker. Once he has you you need to get away. Pepper spray is good for neutralizing a threat from a distance and close quarters. Tazer only helpful in close quarters. If you get pepper spray, get 2. You need to use one as practice to see the effectiveness of the spray pattern and distance. No good trying to spray someone that's 5m away and the spray only is effective to 3m.

Ride alone with my partner, GLOCK 34, Monday to Friday - early morning (at sparrows fart) on pavements and pathways next to road-JHB North and Spruit. weekends - alone, group or friends - races, mtb trails in Gauteng. never feel threatened, just cautious.

Have had the 1200 light from extreme lights for 2 weeks now. Awesome light. More than you will need for early am rides.The securing Velcro for the battery pack did not last long. Solved the problem by putting the battery pack in a saddle bag. Actually easier that way and I have taped the power cord to my top tube. Good light for the price.

ATTENTION : see #16 Thank you.

SQUIRT... Lasted me many marathon races. You need to lube the night before, then again the morning. Lasts the full marathon. It looks dry, but it is there. Last marathon was at Clarens and no problems. If you really need to lube again carry a small eye drop bottle filled with Squirt to use at one of the water stations. Come to think of it, since using Squirt, I have had no chain suck issues as well. To clean, just taken cloth and clean green. Wipe the chain clean. Cassette - toothbrush and clean green. I have used R&R, Motorex, Purple Extreme before and spent a long time cleaning drivetrain components. With Squirt it is a 10 min job at most.

I think it would be a great idea. We need closer technical routes to JHB. Any possibility of a +- 5 km XCO track for the future? Dibs on first person to be on your list to ride this new course in, in your not to far in the future test rides.

Those who travel by air and have to take a 29er mtb along: What bike bag/ box do you use? I will be competing in the Eastern Cape in July at the XCO champs but have to be in Cape Town for work the week before. So need to fly JHB - CT - PE - JHB with my 29er. Any suggestions? I am looking at the bikesafe box as an option but do not want to buy one for just 1 trip. Anyone renting bikesafe boxes or have a bikesafe box I can rent for the week?

Buycycle.co.za XO - R1799 XX- R2742

I had XO gripshift on my 3x9 and now have the XO gripshifts in 2x10. The new generation gripshifts are very good. Crisp accurate shifting and you can go up and down the cassette in one motion. My 3x9 gripshift took a lot of punishment with no issues. As far as pricing goes check the various on line shops. I got a new 2012 XO gripshift for R1800. So shop around, you will find a set for a good price.

So be it. Thanks Wendell. Good for me. I entered on day 1 when entries opened. Now I have to figure a way to stay near the front.

I was told that when you are ready for your "flying lap", you inform the time keeper and they will time your lap. Will see how this works on Friday.

At this weekends SA Cup XCO at Thaba we are to do a "qualifying" lap at final practice to get our grid seeding. Maybe this goes for the Masters as well. Makes sense.

What are there steep hills on the spruit? I ride there everyday and have not come across them. There are sections on the Spruit with adequate visibility, then you can ride as fast as you want. When visibility decreases you have to adjust your speed and keep left to prevent any unnecessary near misses. SIMPLE.... It works for me. And I get to greet everyone and even help those who a have lost their way or broken down. I get my 40km in a day - some days quicker than others depending on time and traffic. But hey it is an awesome ride right on my door step. It could be worse...... I only ride and treat others as I would expect them to do to me.

I Check my pressures before every ride and use a foot pump if air needed. "touch wood" - never had a puncture yet that required a CO2 top up.

What I read in a bike magazine recently is that if the sealant has an ammonia base it can harden when using a CO2 cartridge. Seems you need to get a sealant that is not ammonia based. I believe Stan's is one that's compatible with CO2 cartridges. I have Stan's but have not yet used a CO2 cartridge. "touch wood" Hoping that it is so....

Try Sports Basement in Woodmead. Lots of stock for up to 40% off.

Now if it was a real bear everyone would have scattered and there would have been no problem seeing the moonwalking bear. A guy dressed in a bear outfit does not count.