Lone_Ranger

Think you just blew the budget with your edit. Tread magazine gave an indicative cost for the Pike at R12 500. :eek:

I did a Strava PR on the smoothed section, so I'm not arguing :clap: . Trimmed foliage + "smoother" rock garden = super fast

Just wanted to give kudos to the team who did some maintenance on Mamba, particularly the bush trimming and the addition of some rock at the now infamous rock garden / drop off. I only realised after I had a good (OK very good) run that the bush had been cleared. The slight flattening of the one drop, while making it slightly easier, is also a positive step. I know I'm going to get flamed for this (dumbing down of our trails, etc), but I don't think the intention of the trail builders was that Mamba would have hectic rock steps.

I think the idea of bypasses at sharp bends (mentioned earlier in this thread) is a good one. Making bypasses unidirectional will then reduce the risk of collision. There's really only about 3 spots on Vasbyt where I think this is really necessary. And as you say, it's only in the bottom section where the fynbos has gotten quite thick and tall.

You can get a 650B below 9.5kg for that price. The Scott Spark comes to mind, don't think the other top end bikes (Spez, Dale, Vipa) come in 650B. Yet!!!

Speaking for myself, I know I tend to slow down at that particular bend knowing the risk. I've almost taken one dude out there once. Might be worthwhile putting warning signs warning descending riders of climbers at the top as well. I'm actually very surprised that there aren't that many collisions up at Tokai. Perhaps people are generally more cautious than we think

While I broadly agree with the sentiment here, one problem you have is that many folk (myself included) like to tear down the section of Vasbyt as you pass the pallet and lower. High speed descending + riders ascending = a problem if you come around a blind corner. There's one RH corner just before the split in the trail which comes to mind. What I saw at Jonkers on Monday, was that the fast flowing sections are uni-directional (down obviously) and the rockier sections lower down are bi-directional. So the descending riders generally aren't carrying high speeds.

I like what you did there :clap:

I know the section. Fell there myself a few weeks back due to low pressure in front tire, burped the tire and there I went. Took me about four attempts before I could bring myself to ride it again. It's going to get worse when the rains come, so it might be worthwhile repairing before then. Hope your father in law gets better soon.

Entered the 65km. Is there a route profile somewhere? I like to know how badly I'm going to k@k in my pants.

Fox Flux is relatively cheap enduro / all mountain helmet option, and has some good reviews. www.bucycle.co.za had them for about R800 recently.

I think Philip Buys was sick, not Beukes.

See this site for full details on Nino's bikes: http://www.nsracing.ch/en/Bikes. He uses Dugast tubular tires, with a custom made tread.

I see James Reid came fourth in the U23 category, so definitely one to watch for the future. I know he is regularly competing on the circuit as well, hopefully he makes the jump from age category to Elites successfully. Is Rourke Kroeser (Apologies if spelling is incorrect) and his team of Saffers (Kargo something or other) not racing on the circuit this year? A few weeks back there was an article about them getting an Elite UCI team license.

Take the date with to PMB, and go out for romantic supper in the Midlands after. Win - win

WHAT!!!! Here I thought I get a 29er and I'll be challenging Nino and co...

Ridden with both Oakley and Rudy's. Found the Oakley's were good, but I couldn't get them to fit properly. Whereas the Rudy's are a lot more flexible in getting the arms and nose piece perfectly lined up. I think I have a funny shaped head, cos I struggle to get specs to fit comfortably. The Rudy's are by far the most comfy fitting specs or sunglasses which I've had. (I've worn specs for the best part of 20 years, so I've been through a few pairs of specs). I've got the Rydon's btw. One problem I have with the Rudy's is that they fog up if you're going slowly uphill. As soon as you get some airflow thro them they clear. Photochromatic is recommended for MTB. Mine just changes slightly, but it just takes the edge off harsh light. I had G30 lenses with Oakley, and found that for heavily shaded areas I had to take them off.

This is an interesting point, if the bike was named after the race, do the race organisers have the right to sue Spez? Assuming of course they registered an international trademark.

Hi guys. Earliest I could make it was 14:00 (Family time on Sat morning). Guy at the gate told me I just missed u guys ????. Will definitely try to make the next one. The divert rides brilliantly btw. Rode it on Sat and Sun. Super smooth????????????????

Apology accepted. Now don't do it again!!! Stopping a fight on a Friday, whatever were you thinking????

You can't stop now, I just put the popcorn in the microwave

Try using Google Chrome as a browser, it offered to translate the article. Lucky my Afrikaans is still ok.

Truly tragic, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family. But to blame the trail or the biking club is a bit OTT. My family knows the risks involved in MTB, as it is so easy to blame something out there when an accident occurs. Riders should take responsibility for their own well being by walking obstacles that are beyond their cability. I do this without feeling any less of a biker than anyone else,out there. If the bridge gave way as he rode over it that would be a different matter, but I doubt the trail,is as dangerous as this article makes it out to be.

Highlight for me has to be the couple of stage wins for Buys, and then the stage win for Beukes and Heyns. Here's hoping that Buys pairs with Nino again next year, podium maybe??? Let also hope he carries that form into the XCO season.

Based on that footage I think he deserved some sort of punishment, based purely on the fact that he used the shortcut to overtake a number of riders. If they condone this then it will be chaos on switchback sections of the trails. Whether it warrants an hour penalty is another story, as that totally killed their chance of being competitive.