LazyTrailRider

All these distance and elevation goals... I have a very specific focus on getting my Tokai snake trail segments down to: Mamba: 40s (currently 44s) Full snake trails: 2m45s (currently 2m53s)

Sorry to hear, that sucks! I’m full-on into oak green now 😉

A container full of bikes arrived beginning of last week (including my Stumpy EVO), what size are you?

Definitely. The Stumpy EVO is a very specific bike with a very specific purpose and is overkill for 90% of South African riding. It's meant to charge hard down what most people would regard as full-on downhill tracks, without being an absolute pig to pedal back up. If you're coming from a Merida 96, it will feel like a motorbike with how long and slack it is. I suspect for where you live and what you intend to do with it, an Epic EVO will be spot-on.

I burn extremely easily and always struggled until I started using this on my face and neck every single day, whether I’m riding or not: https://www.dischem.co.za/eucerin-hyaluron-filler-day-cream-spf30-50ml-718?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqvaNBhDLARIsAH1Pq51OWA1ZGh8ZK2B0lmKLIroGT8PRoxh754fHgYa1RmvrHlj9keT2n9kaAgBGEALw_wcB For the rest of the body, Cetaphil is fine.

They just do. Disliking this fact does not change it ????

…

Nope, 150mm, was not changed through this story.

The LBS is giving me a longer airspring as part of a new bike deal (who knows when the shipment will arrive), I’ll probably be in touch after they’ve swopped it, thanks Droo.

Thanks Bos, some good input! No new seals, and they didn’t touch the damper. Heinrich reckons it could be too much grease, but I don’t have the inclination to open it up. I’m waiting for a new bike and need to put in a 160mm airspring as part of the swop to the new chassis, so will leave it until then and ask Droo for help if it’s still sticky at that point. Perfectly rideable as is (many people probably wouldn’t even realise), but I know it’s not 100% so it keeps bothering me.

This isn’t the first suspect dry foam rings or seals from what I can tell, everything is freshly buttered. Already tried the upside down trick anyway, no difference. Going to take it to @droo soon, just curious if anyone else has experienced this… (Oh, and I agree with you on suspension work, I usually have the LBS do lowers services - they’re simple - and have Stoke do my annual full damper and air can services).

Suspension guru advice please: After a lower leg service by my LBS, my 2020 Rockshox Lyrik Ultimate with an estimated 30 hours on felt like it had a lot more stiction than I remember. I took it back immediately, the mech pulled it apart and checked everything again, then added some 0w-30 and butter to the airspring, thinking it could be that. Still felt the same to me, so I thought “maybe it just needs a ride”. Smashed it down a snake trails run in Tokai, which just confirmed that the buttery small bump sensitivity I had become used to is definitely missing. See the video below, trying to cycle it as slowly as possible with my normal 58psi. LSC and HSC fully open, rebound as usual somewhere in the middle. Is stiction like this purely down to bushings and seals, or could it be a damper issue? (The dodgy sounds are brake pad knock, nothing to do with the fork).

I had this conversation last weekend. If a nuclear event decimated a city, there would be only two things left: Cockroaches and mid-range Shimano pedals. I've used LX/DX/XT pedals since the late 1990s and have NEVER destroyed or manage to even remotely break a set. They're quite literally bombproof. That being said, I see a PD-M8120 set is around R2.4k these days ????

You'll be absolutely fine. In fact, you'll likely be quite a bit fitter than many people on the day (me included)...

@joshbikeIt sounds like this bike has given you many great memories! It’s always great to hear about bicycles adding joy to people’s lives ???? As has already been mentioned, it’s unfortunately not worth much. I’d reckon R3500-R4500. Good luck with the sale!

What do you think so far? I also bought one on Saturday because it just looks so good, raced the EWC Jonkers with it. It weighs 65g more than my Ambush and the fit is more "on top" (and slightly less snug), but it ended up more comfortable than I expected it to be. Super cool colour this, was going to get the black one but this is really eye-catching in the flesh!

This is exactly why I got one.

I have an unused 500ml tub of SRAM Butter if anyone wants to make me an offer… Edit: Sorry, scratch that, just realised I have another use for it.

Yup, and always mount the heaviest bike closest to vehicle. Being aware of the lever effect freaks me out when I transport both my wife's eBike and my trail bike together behind my Golf... But we've done dozens of trips (and probably more than a hundred with only my bike) and it's held up just fine.

Welcome to Cape Town! If you're looking for the best marked and safest trails and bearing La Parada in mind, Tokai is your best bet. Simply rock up at the picnic area parking area at Tokai, buy a day permit from the entrance hut, and head up the mountain. Tomorrow is going to be busy, you'll have no shortage of visitors to ask for directions. Ride up the main jeep track, if you're feeling super fit head all the way up to the mast (but don't that alone, it's the only "remote" part of Tokai) and then hit all the Snake Trails and Vasbyt on the way down. Enjoy!

Yes, it helps. My wife has for example been able to get around tight uphill switchbacks which previously just frustated her. Momentum is an important part of riding, and the extra boost makes a big difference to a novice.

Getting the correct pressure setup for your weight and riding style is one of *the* most important things to get right. There are many threads about this, but as a quick reference, with trail tyres (meaning, similar to what’s on the bike in question) at 2.4 rear and 2.5 front widths, my 67kg weight corners optimally running 18psi rear and 16psi front (1.2bar and 1.1bar). Way too many people run their tyres way too hard…

Oooo, this reminds me, my current ultimate dream bike carrier: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Review

No need to get nasty, the OP has been nothing but polite and simply asked for advice. Lance, going with a roof rack will likely be the only viable option. Justin, what if I told you I’d love an S5 but I’d have the same problem? Could I please also get the pretentious label assigned, pretty please?

There you go. Buy them because you like the bling, not because you think they’ll make you faster.