BuffsVintageBikes

Ah, that's a pity, that airport detour was actually quite nice but ja, I can understand the apprehension to sign your life away with a waiver. Yoh, I cursed you with the mielie field detour. I didn't mind the wet section, I had the skills for that but that dry, rutted field had my eyes bouncing in their sockets... not to mention what was happening in my bib shorts 🙄 I missed my MTB for those few minutes like you can't believe 😄 BTW... the flattened mielies weren't caused by us, it was the medic on the quad bike trying to get to the youngster that took flight over the A frame and needed attention 😲 Shame, hope he's ok, Francois was kind enough to stop and stay with him until he got attention 👏

Great event once again @NicholasH, congrats to you and the entire 99er Team 👏 I did the Trilogy once again with a few mates and thoroughly enjoyed it (as usual) 😊 I think it's got a perfect mix of tar, gravel, mtbing 🙌 That Bull standing at the one A frame was the only thing that rattled me the whole morning... Yoh, that was a solid piece of rump steak, I'm seriously glad he was so chilled 🙃 BTW, there's a Gravel road around the back of the Fisantekraal Airport so it can be avoided (well for the Trilogy riders anyway) 😊

I'm standing outside now, open up 😄

The SL2 is available I believe. Stock might just be an issue at the moment, the bikes are moving fast.

Thanks for the feedback @Kyle48, much appreciated 👍 I also had the 2018 version of the Anthem (in Alu) and really loved that bike. Unfortunately the frame eventually cracked and because I was the 2nd owner, couldn't claim a new one. Ended up replacing it with an Orbea Oiz but my heart belongs to Giant 😊

That Titan Volt seems like extremely good value for money compared to what else is available in that spec but I don't know enough about that ebike motor to throw that much money at it. I'll need to do some online research first.

@Mamil Too be honest, I’m stuck with that decision dilemma at the moment. Approaching 60 I know there’s an ebike in my future at some stage but I’m trying to convince myself that I’m not quite there yet and should still stick with analogy for another few years. But the reality is that I turn down some training MTB rides with younger, stronger friends like @leon_pro when I know there’s going to be 1000m plus of climbing just because I know it’s going to hurt. Which kinda sucks because I love technical riding and bombing descents. While I can still manage the ride because they’re prepared to wait, it means the rest of the day is then normally spent in the recovery position on the couch on a beer drip. So at the moment it’s a mind juggling act between the new Anthem and the new Orbea Rise ebike (my wife has last years version and they're really nice bikes). Logic tells me that if I’m going to spend that much money, then I should just get the ebike now instead of waiting but pride tells me that I mustn’t be a pussy and I should get the Anthem. Problem is it’ll lose 70% of it’s value in the next 5 years and I’ll still need an ebike. Hhmmmm... maybe I should just get a new road bike rather 😉😄

At the moment I'm parting with that annually, I'm now stressing there'll be nothing left for bikes if I don't act swiftly 😉

And would care to share some feedback on how they're finding the bike? I have an itch that's requiring a scratch 🙄

Good luck, hope your LBS get it sorted 👍

Just 2 things to check; That post clamp has two pieces that move against one another when tightening it. Make sure to add some grease between these 2 points of interference and make sure you push the clamp down all the way into the frame when tightening it. I also used a bit of carbon paste on mine on the inside of the frame. And don't rule out that the creaking might be on the saddle rails 😉

I'm surprised there's no feedback on this race yet. Yoh, that route was pretty gnarly. No big climbs but you sure know you did some climbing by the time you reached that finish line. The gravel roads chosen were simply outstanding, proving we do indeed have champagne gravel roads in SA. The slight headwind for the first 40km's wore me down but I missed it once we turned around to come back because the heat hit us like a freight train. Cons: No ice and coke left at the 60km water point by the time we got there and it was needed in that heat. Likewise at the 90km water point regarding ice. Water cans standing in direct sunlight at water points. Needed more roving marshals, possibly on motorbikes checking up on stragglers. Neutral zone behind a car should not exceed 25km/h to reduce dust and save cold legs 😉😄 Pros: Unique venue and good organizing. Marshals at all the road crossings. Great route and well marked. Water points well stocked with sugar treats and droewors snacks. Beer and boer roll at finish line went down like a homesick mole. Well done Archie and team, I hope this becomes a regular on the annual calendar 👍

News like this makes a person feel truly hopeless. You see the constant idiocy happening on our roads daily, while on the bicycle, motorbike or in the car and you feel helpless in how to find a solution. Rules and regulations are pointless without action and it's the apathy of action that's the reason for this repeated carnage. A failed state with so many other problems that ones like this seem insignificant to them. R.I.P. fellow riders and condolences to the loved ones left behind that have to pick up the pieces of broken lives 😢

Take it to Toni's Cycle Craft 082 577 4389

From my experience of riding adventure motorcycles around there, it normally has a great surface this time of the year. Judging by the profile there are no big climbs but the accumulative effort of those constant rollers will eventually turn the legs into jelly. Looks like it'll be a fast ride until 62kms and then the pain will start 😩

I believe the saying is... "Pride comes before a fall". He had choices, he chose the wrong one.

As mentioned above, unless it's high end Italian steel or at least Reynolds 531 tubing or above, then it's worth very little on the local market, which is currently very flat. If you're able to, donating it to a worthy cause will probably give you more joy than selling it for next to nothing, not to mention the joy it will give the recipient.

I wouldn't concern myself too much with regulations, it's not like anyone there is going to police it at all. Most ebikes don't have their max wattage displayed on the motor casing like a motor vehicle 👍

Yoh, that could have ended badly. Handlebars, stems and forks are the 3 things which I will not purchase from Temu. My teeth aren't the best but I still value their function.

Definitely worth more in parts

There's a group that leaves at the Bottelary & Brackenfell Boulevard intersection every Tues & Thurs evening at 5:30pm, just pull in there and join them. The ride gets spicy but they always regroup at the top of the drags or climbs. If you PM me your name and number then I can get you added to the whatsapp group 👍

Bleating over entry fees for races has been around for as long as I've been pedaling a bike. I myself have been found guilty of it and sat with egg on my face when the race I bleated about was exceptionally well presented with outstanding routes. I apologized afterwards. Unless you can present it for less and do a better job, then it's best just to keep quiet and vote with your feet and not attend the event. You will find out soon enough if it was the right decision because the event will either flourish or die a slow death. On a personal note, all the events I've done of Archies have been well presented and worthwhile attending. I've yet to finish one and think, "now that was a waste of money". He and his team go the extra mile and the routes are normally first class.

The best two painters in the WC are James and Jared and you'll pay a premium price through both of them because they are charging market related labour rates as they have premise & staff overheads to cover. Their work is of a high standard and they also paint for some of the brand names i.e. Cabal, Mercer etc. Your best bet would be to find a garage painter who doesn't have the high overheads to cover. I paint as well but only focus on vintage steel frames as I don't have the time or inclination to spend a full day sanding down a carbon frame for primer. It's a massively time consuming process and a dual suspension mtb is obviously worse than a road bike. People grossly underestimate the time it takes to strip, paint and rebuild a bike to a high quality. There's a number of labour intensive steps in that process. I know because I was one of those who only realized it once I started doing it myself. You can try Wayne Luyt, he might be able to assist. L8_bikes on Instagram

1. Read it again, I love the Industry 9's. 2. Taddy said we must ride Z2

Nee oh hell, it reminds me of these tappits that cruise around in their dropped Citi Golfs with loud pipes and the bass pumping thinking their car is fast because it makes a moerse racket 🙄😉