gemmerbal

I stand corrected about the suspension travel 🙈 https://www.merida-bikes.com/en/bike/archive/1985/ninety-six-rc-xt

The longer wheelbase will be an advantage on longer rides such as Munga etc. Im 1,79 and i just did the munga on my large 96-4000. You can always go down to a shorter stem and/or bars with a slight rise as the stock merida comp bars are pretty flat. After munga ive started fiddling with my setup because of numb fingers. The 2022 96 hta is slightly more slack than the previous models and im pretty sure it has 120mm suspension travel, making it a bit more downhill friendly than my 2019 96. I wouldnt swop my bike for anything if im honest but i have to admit the tyre clearance at the back is a bit limiting as i cant go bigger than 2,25 when paired with my 25mm id rims. But as i said, lovely bike. Congrats on your purchase.

Official race time: 4d 20h 53m. Super chuffed but nursing a very tender bottom and some floppy fingers with no sensation. What a ride that was, as dark as yesterday was, today was the exact opposite!

lekker post, I will do a similar one when time permits. For me, Ouberg pass is where the only real life threatening obstacle is located. I did a Sutherland to Padstal recce there earlier this year and from what Alex has said last night, the pass is washing away rapidly and the chances are good that this MIGHT be the last Munga to go down Ouberg as the local municipality has stopped maintaining it. If what he is saying is true, going down that pass at night, tired and with an ever encroaching drop off on both sides in some places, is going to take some serious focus. Good luck and see you at the finish line!

In the last week we have had 2 anonymous donations: 1 of R5000 and another of R700, pushing us over the R25000 mark. If these were made by some of the good people on the Hub, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

In the last week we have had 2 anonymous donations: 1 of R5000 and another of R700, pushing us over the R25000 mark. If these were made by some of the good people on the Hub, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Yes it is as simple as that. If your freehub takes a 10spd cassette, it will almost certainly accept an 11 or even 12spd cassette, but you will be limited to an 11t smallest cog. 11spd Sunrace cassettes are cheap as chips comparatively speaking. As mentioned, you’d need a new cassette of choice, new chain and possibly a new chainring if the current ones don't suit your desired ratio setup and if it is too worn. Obviously a new shifter and derailleur too. You could consider just going 1x10 with a 11-46 cassette, you may need a derailleur extender. But you can then keep running your current shifter & derailleur - this might be your cheapest option, I have done this in the past and it worked fine with a 34 chainring.

Thanks @dave303e and I mean that sincerely, sounds like you know your stuff. Like I said, Munga is my Dakar, maybe in 7yrs time when I turn 50 I might be able to do the Real one.

Thanks @ChrisF, much appreciated. Agreed, Benkie and those guys are on the next level!

The point @SSCC is trying to make (I think) and thus the point I am agreeing with is that ±90% of the entrants are paying for the Munga experience, which is unique in its own way, just like the Epic/RAM/TD/SRM is unique in its own way at whatever their respective price points are. The topic of race entry fees has been exhausted on the other thread and it is unfortunate that this thread seems to be going in a similar direction in stead of discussing who's taking part, why are they taking part, what's their training been like, what are their target times, strategies, how much are they k@kking themselves in nervous anticipation etc etc etc. The fact that theres no international superstars in the field, well thats for the Munga organisers to solve. The remaining ±90% of which I am 1, dont care either way. There's ±1100km between me and success and that's all I care about. I can also point out that because I approached the organisers with my fundraising campaign with the SPCA, they offered me 25% discount on my entry fee which I am paying out of my own pocket. Even so, I saved up for 2 yrs to do this event. For me the Munga is the closest I will ever get to doing something like the Dakar which has been a lifelong ambition. You dont hear okes doing the Malle Moto complaining about the entry fees, they do it for the stories they can tell their buddies around a camp fire and for that prized medal at the end which they had to earn through blood, sweat and tears. Sure, on paper Munga might not be the "Toughest Race on Earth", but its going to be the toughest thing I've ever taken on. And I can live with that every day of the week and thrice on Sundays.

Couldn't agree more.

Thanks dude!

Benkie and Hansie is on the start list that was sent out. Agreed the entrance fee is steep, but this has been on my list for too long so now is the time. I just closed my eyes and clicked PAY NOW. Super excited though!

Lots of flatties on Bottelary Road from Hazendal onwards and then along the R304 towards Malmesbury. A fresh one almost daily… eeeeeeeeek!

I am doing my first one. Entry list was only confirmed on Friday last week. I started a separate thread a while ago in an effort to raise awareness of my fundraising effort with the SPCA. Book1.pdf

Absolutely correct, and he did himself extremely proud!

No? 🤣🤣🤣

Haha pitch report… 🤣 imagine looking for a grub screw in the sand to secure your wheel or otherwise you’re screwed! (Pun intended 😛)

I certainly don’t pass judgment with using the word cheating, so apologies for the poor choice of words. I think all will be revealed so let’s wait for that. Insane event though, my word. Props to each and every one of the participants, Im sitting here k_kking myself for my first Munga attempt and then you have okes doing 2740kms in 8 days! Through Namibia to boot, that is HARSH country!

I saw the post on FB on Saturday I think. Its hard to fathom but I think that considering they were mid-fielders, it might have been a case of needing either medical or other assistance as there clearly is no signal out in the sticks. It would make no sense to cheat when you are hundreds of kms behind the leaders. I don't know, guess we will find out in time. It’s certainly the first time I’ve seen guys cheat in this way in this type of event, maybe I’m wrong?

@Shebeen and @milky4130 if one considers all that Abdullah had to deal with, mechanicals and whatnot, it certainly was a great chase in the end. On Youtube they posted daily highlights (on Curve’s channel) and I think it was on day 6 where they asked Benkie: so whats the plan for today? He replied, time to seal the deal. Those words ultimately came back to bite him. He also referenced somewhere that he thought his tyre choice would give him the advantage in the sand, this may or may not have been true albeit that he lost the race on asphalt/hardpack coming into the final stretch. I was watching the dots on Friday late night and it was a rollercoaster!

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CkRx8hooqUX/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D&fbclid=IwAR2lL35PXmjeXqMldlVV3Bai3eh7DXCQZJOT3pknHIvb0ch_KNLgVfW26tc

Theres a good insta video on the FB dotwatchers group where he gave some insights. Im not on insta so i dont know how to share it, but basically Abdullah said that his partner informed him that he was within 20km or so of Benkie heading into the last stretch of +- 100kms or so. Thats when he thought to himself that he could make the catch, which he then did. He mentions chasing Benkie’s light and then making the catch and subsequent pass. As you said, he clearly had the legs.

Official classification at 17mins. Still amazing how it can be this close over this distance. i see some riders have been naughty: