Shangri la

If you in the area check out the Specalized shop in Balito or Hillcreast ( I think??)- I use their inserts and sorted out the knee pain I had.

Interesting looking at the difference in costs - must say I am getting to the stage where I feel some of these races are a rip off. Voting with my wallet.

Wil6 What did Old Johan sagest for Chris King hubs out of interest?? seeing as he is in freezing Scotland and can't speak for himself!! "Use any old grease you can buy at Midas. Bikes don't require special grease anywhere. The exception is Chris King hubs on the ring drive."

Thanks for the feedback guys

I have some Easton mountain bike wheels that need the bearings serviced. What is the general consensus on the correct grease to use??

Chloorkop to Midrand on Allendale is cool; Midrand to Chloorkop has 3 **** climbs

Some thoughts- 1) Be careful from the R21 to Bapsfontein, on the R25, as some trucks get rather close, but we do ride there from Benoni fairly often. 2) Take first road left after Bapsfontein M30 off the R25 into Pretoria. 3) Pass Moreleta Park then left onto M10; Left onto R50. This takes you back to Bapsfontein. 4) Right onto R25, the road you used to get to Bapsfontein, then home. 5) we do this from Benoni a few times a year. Good SPAR in Moreletta to refuel at. Good for an early Sunday morning - roads are quieter. NOT a short ride!!

OK Guys I know the JD Bug, what is; and where do you get the ybike??? also cost? Thanks

Their races are slick - BUT their web site sucks

You can't see what he bought as it as it is the black hole!!

If you pallet wrap the kids just leave a slot for air.

I see the Municipality has installed a new pipeline down Eastgate (South) the side of Linksfield ridge, about half way along the ridge. The interesting point being there is a 4x4 track running over the pipeline and it is steep!! Looks a good MTB tester!! Any thoughts?

Pusher, actually not.. The guys at the start this year and last year are from Cycle Labs Boksburg. Speaking to them they charged their normal price for spares and zip for labour. Had to pay their 4 techies double time as it was a Sunday. Not the sort of thing I would want to do.

Prepsol is a great product - I use it to clean the bikes all the time. Works very well on the chain and clusters. One advantage is that is it biodegradable so does not burn the grass like some of the other cleaners do. Also can get it from the factory in 25l drums, two or three streets south of the Carlton in Jhb at a very good price.

Guys, CWC is tempting me badly..... How good is R11000 odd for a full XX1 groupset??

Last year on the back of the Golf shirts we got were the words "Proper Mountain biking" This race IS proper mountain biking, Africa IS HOT and WINDY prepare properly. I find most MTB races around Gauteng, cant speak for the WC or Natal, are prepared for the "new" or "soft" MTB rider. I find them somewhat disappointing. I am 60 and had a ball this year, WILL be back next year. The harder, and the more I have to test myself the better I like it!!

I have always believed that people who can afford to enter races such as the B & B Decent are good people - how wrong am I. At the end of day three my partner and I racked our bikes on my bike trailer then went to the finish to wait for two friends before heading back to the big smoke. On returning to the trailer some low life scum-bag had stolen my 142 x 12 axel out of my Santa Cruze. We had locked the two bikes together, luckily, otherwise I guess the whole bike would be missing.

To answer your question on hanging the bike by the front wheel. Remember it handles the rough at speed with your weight on it, so even if your bike weight 15kg it will not be an issue.

TucknRoll, you did a different 70k at van Gaalen to me if that was flat - especially the downhill in the rocks and dust!!

I totally agree, these pigs are putting our access at risk.

I may be wrong but I see the France trip as a holiday, whilst the stage races are a mixture of testing your body's ability to operate at a high work load on repetitive days. Mix this with scenery you cannot see any other way. As well as the camaraderie of people who are experiencing it with you

I just checked out sheldonbrown site. He has a gear ratio calculator. A 34 will give me the same ratio I currently have 1,7 ( 36 x 28) and a big ratio of 7,3 just 0,3 less than I have!!

Thanks for the response Guys.

I am currently using a 2x10 and have been toying with the idea of changing to the SRAM 1x11 as the new XO1 is somewhat more within my price range! The question I have to you guys that have been riding the 1x11 is what size chain ring are you using? I ask this because the XX! spider allow a range of chain rings from a 36 all the way down to a 28. The XO1 has a different spider and the smallest that can be fitted is a 30. Is 30 small enough on a 29 for South Africa terrain?? The SRAM guys comment that we here do not need the 28, and in fact most people are using a 32 or 34. I am not a Pro so would appreciate feedback from "normal" guys!! .

Meentb, Come now! where from and HOW MUCH ! I NEED some of that