LazyTrailRider

The XX1 and X01 ones are larger diameter to operate correctly with the new-fangled direct-parallegramothingamajig...

With a Series 1, fuel will be the least of your worries... I'd be more concerned about the support crew and parts.

Between all of the above, I'd pick the Touareg or RR Sport (if I had the cash). I love Beemers, but I've just never liked any of their X-range to be honest... SRT? Fine if you're a rapper, otherwise no. Just no.

Yeah, pricing is sub-orbital on those puppies! Especially since I've officially decided I'm over paying interest on cars. Cap, just think how cool the M9 would look on the back of a new Range Rover Sport. I saw a guy driving a new black one the other day, with a black 2014 S-Works Epic on the back. Tough life. Sorry Omega, we're almost done hijacking...

.. Double-post ...

My 2 bikes are insured for theft from my house only, at the total price I paid for them (both are built up). My insurer has pictures and serial numbers included as part of the full inventory I update them on regularly. For R40k worth of bikes, I pay something like R45/month. I consider insurance prudent only for events completely outside of my control. Breaking a frame while riding doesn't fall in that category...

Haha, don't know about the intensity of the smoothness (you're being too kind, I'm going to blush! ), but the short summary - because the thread got lost - is that I had to borrow an auto-box car for 2 months after said incident.

Haha, do you want to bankrupt yourself? A Landy would be cheaper. Yep, that means what I intend it to mean... I'm thinking of getting something that's still a car, but with better ground clearance. Thinking of a Tiguan, actually. Relatively boring and not "hardcore" yes, but a bakkie is overkill for me.

Haha, after Omega's extremely personal insult the other day ("Real mountain bikers have trucks") and almost scraping my underbody at Tokai, I'm also scanning Autotrader at the moment...

Yeah, I know all about that...

Oooooo, it's "Enduro Specific"! This *has* to be good!

I have to admit, a Trabec would be pretty cool...

Thanks, it would however help to: Know which area See a photo so that members can help identify it via any unique characteristics Sorry to hear about this, damn criminals!

Have a look at the video...

Cool, glad you came right. To be honest though, I reckon hubs take more of a bashing with XCO-type riding (actually, even with marathons) than they do with enduro, so you'll be fine... The odd really hard smash is less of an issue than constant grinding through adverse conditions.

I get that these bikes are maintained well, the problem is more that in an event like this, you tend to just ride one regardless of whether your bike is destroying itself. You've paid, you're there, it's all about "commitment" and "perseverance", you can't let your team mate down, etc. Someone who is pedantic about his bike (me) would not in a million years go for a ride in conditions seen during the first few days of the Epic. It's just not worth that microscopic damage that the grinding paste these guys pushed on through does to their machines, in my opinion. I freely admit that I don't ride when it pours with rain or is exceptionally muddy. I have ridden through enough crap in my cycling life to know that it's not worth it. Maybe it's because I've rebuilt bikes many many times after rides like these, maybe it's because I feel that the hundreds of rides I still intend to do aren't going anywhere, and that intentionally #$ing up a pristine machine just because I don't want to wait until the weather's clear is just plain silly. Anyway, I don't form part of the Epic target market, so don't take me too seriously

Novatec hubs run 6 pawls, and even though engagement is at an average 15 degrees, they look, feel and run really well. Of course it's early days (about 250km on mine), but I'm pretty pedantic about stuff and I'm impressed at the moment. Way better than an Easton Haven setup, which I previously had. At less than half the price of a Pro 2 Evo, it's a no-brainer...

Guys, this post is from Dec 2012... While we're here though, anyone know whether it was ever recovered?

Niiiiiice!

A very valid point to counter mine.

Here you go: http://www.evobikes.co.za/components/hubs/novatec-d542-sb-hube-32h.html Novatec hubs sound *wicked*, look cool, come with adapters for almost any axle configuration and are bombproof.

I'd say go for it. The cool thing about the OneTen really is its split personality. I was very surprised by how well it behaves itself on smooth surfaces with lots of pedalling input (ie most of your typical marathon). I've owned many hardtails, and many duallies from XC up to full-on DH machines over the years. The one thing that's always bothered me about riding a duallie is the inevitable annoying bob and pedal feedback, and that accompanying feeling that your energy is going somewhere other than into propelling you forward. The very noticeable thing about the PYGA is that it doesn't feel like that, it feels efficient. Bear in mind also that the Monarch has two lockout/"pro-pedal-like" settings, so running it on the platform setting gives you even more efficiency when needed. Mind you, I fiddled with that initially but have actually just left it open as recommended because it's not really necessary.

Absolutely. I wouldn't feel great about winning if I knew my pic was not close to being the best (based on the criteria you've listed), but I have the most buddies and they all voted for me.

I've bought a pair or two from Olympic Cycles over the years, probably worth a shot trying them.

I still need to read that, thanks for the reminder...