@ndy

I rode a small part of the route (Ongegund, Schaapenberg trails) last friday after the adventure came through then again last night and it was a lot drier last night. But then it rained a bit. I heard from my LBS that it was still muddy on the Grabouw side yesterday. I'm thinking and hoping the conditions are a bit drier than last friday.

I was looking for XT pedals for my bike which I bought last year. CWC had the best price but were out of stock, there XTR pedals were only a little bit more expensive than XT at most other shops so I splashed out and bought some. I had the Cheap shimano ones on my last bike and these feel very different. I'm much more locked in and I have a much more direct feel to unclipping. There are no rubbery discs that distort with time and from what I have heard from others is they last very well. I haven't tried others so I cant compare but mine are great.

I have just been offered a place in the W2W and it has blown my budget somewhat. The 2 x 10 upgrade has to go on hold but i still need to replace my chain, cassette and chain rings. Seeing as I already have an XT M773 rear derailleur. Could i just buy the parts I need for 10 speed instead of 9 with the only addition a 10 speed rear shifter?

Thanks very much for all the advice and such a swift response.

I want to upgrade my bike from a 3 x 9 to 2 x 10. I'm thinking about getting a 38/24 crankset and an 11/36 cassette. I have been given a brand new M773 XT rear derailleur which was taken from a 3 x 10 chainset. Will this work? What front derailleur should I be considering? My current front derailleur is pulled from the top is this a tops wing? My bike is a Santa Cruz Highball. Can someone please help I'm quite confused with all the options available.

Yes, My time was 12 minutes quicker with my computer and i forgot to turn it off straight away. Great race though.

I have changed the pedals since this picture was taken.

Late Post! I have had my alluminium Highball since last november and I think its great. I switched from a scott Aspect 26 so it was a big step up but I felt more comfortable than on the other 29er's I tried. I bought it second hand from a a guy on the hub who built it while living in the US. I have read that the frames are a bit stiff and not idal for marathons and stage racing and because that is what I prefer I am wondering whether I should get a tallboy or something similar. The problem for me is that it is a custom purple factory spray job and very unique so I am going to have to justify having two bikes as I don't think I could sell it.

Any one keen to join me this afternoon?

This is a cool project. Maybe I can help with this one or any other budding frame builders. I work for a company building large products out of composite materials and we throw away enough carbon and polyurethane foam excluding resin to make several bikes a week. It is criminal how much we waste and I would rather see it go to a worthy cause like this one. We even pay to have it thrown away!! PM me if you are interested in and taking away some of our valuable rubbish.

Sea Bee. Did you get the 2013 Stumpjumper? I am looking at this bike and despite considering many other options I always come back to it as probably the best for me. I'm very impressed with the weight. My LBS says a medium comes in at under 11kg without pedals. Have you weighed yours? Are there any parts you might be upgrading?

I currently ride a very old Aspect 10 26' and I want to upgrade. I would only be looking at the Scale if i was to stick with scott. My bike is fine although i have little other riding experience for comparisons. Its just that i would prefer to be riding the top end hardtail from any brand. I may be a bit of a snob but I want to know i am on a decent race frame. Then if i want to upgrade at any time It makes more sense when the same frame is specced better with other models. I would feel a little silly putting great parts on my Aspect 10.

The results are now up on entrytime.

I only entered because I saw them putting the signs up the day before and seeing as Oak Valley is my favourite trail i though I'd give the 50km a go. That was my first race and i really enjoyed it. It was made quite amusing (for me and a few others) by the guy who waved everyone else past the right turn a few km's in. I think I led for the next few km's and it was only after 25km's that the inevitable happened and I got overtaken by the top guys. Every time I looked over my shoulder and saw nobody catching up my ego inflated that bit more and pacing myself kind of went out the window.

Im keen for this afternoon but I can only make it at 3. I can do a shorter ride next week in the evening starting about 5:45. That restricts me to only doing the Yellow before it gets dark.

I only chatted to the guy who was robbed for a bit but i think he said it was by the railway line on his way back to the farm side so i guess he was quite close to the village. I can be free most weeknights from about 5:30 so i had just started rushing round there before dark. I have friday afternoons off and weekends.

I met a guy at Schapenberg last friday who had been mugged of his Bike, phone and watch. He was riding alone and this has put me off riding there unaccompanied. I live a short ride from the trails and have been riding there friday afternoons weekends and some evenings. I have only been riding for a year but i have taken it pretty seriously and left my friends way behind so if i don't find some better riders to hit the more challenging routes with my riding is going to consist of social intermediate routes. i'm hoping someone out there also wants to ride with someone or knows of any groups / clubs that ride there and wouldn't mind an extra person.