Brian Fantana

If mountain biking means more to you than riding a gravel road, I can highly recommend a ride at Jbay Bikepark. It is about 20-25km out of Jeffreys Bay on the R102, close to Thornhill. The trail is awesome, with very nice flowing singletrack. A few laps there will give you a proper workout.

MM is an awesome event. Going to try and get down there in 2014. The Monster is tough, but it's not nearly as tough as Attakwas.

This is the kind of guy who looks down upon dopers.

You have a few options: Hopewell, just out of town on Cape Road (R102) R30 gets you in and you can select trails from 5km long to 60km long. The routes are mostly singletrack, but not technical at all. If you are after amazing singletrack that flows and allow you to push your skills to the limits, Jbay bikepark is a great option. It is about 45km out of town on the R102. Also different routes to choose from. Another option is Norm-Hudlin, it is a short singletrack route with a few nice flowing sections. It is about 5km out of tow on Kragga Kamma road. There are many other trails, but they are not marked, which means you need a local showing you around. All the above trails have websites and facebook pages.

That really is a POS. It will give you a false sense of security which exactly what you don't want when you are speeding down a mountain. This is the only practicle solution: Get yourself a proper trail helmet, and a proper full face helmet, and an EVOC or Dakine hydration pack, that can carry a full face helmet:

-My 3rd Attakwas after missing out two years in a row. -Build a brand new pump track in the middle of our city -Ride the living daylights out of my 24" BMX on aforementioned Pump Track -Build some sweet singletrack in Longmore Forest -Organise the Eastern Cape's first open 1-day 4-stage Enduro ( it will take place in March) -Get more support for our Provincial XCO series

I am going to be in Canon Rocks from 27 December to 2 January. We usually meet at the Canon Rocks 4 way stop every morning at 06:00, and we ride 50-80km. Mostly gravel roads though. But it is great training for Attakwas or other marathons. The Boknes/Canon Rocks mountain bikers are awesome people. We usually go for two weeks, but things at work are a bit busy this year, so only five days this time around.

I have a set of these. They are awesome!! Great quality, as you would expect from a shimano pedal. The pins have spacers in when you get them, I removed them straight away, so the pins are at maximum length. I use them with Five Ten Freerider VXI shoes, which I believe plays a big role in my positive review of these pedals.

Why don't you contact the Volcan factory in Switzerland

They have now changed their name to ROK, which means that the Presso branded ones are old stock. On the manufacturer's website they show videos of how they make "espresso" with pre ground coffee, which leaves a lot to be desired if their R&D is at the same level of their taste. http://www.rokkitchentools.com/

At the top Fort in Longmore Forest. Scouting terrain for new single track that we want to build.

Linden cycles is definitely the thing I miss the most since leaving Joburg five years ago.

I am going to be in Napier from 18-24 February. I see it is about 2 hours from there to Rotorua. Seems like I should take the Shova with and ride the enduro event on the 22nd Feb.

I hear that Alban Lakata is targeting the Epic as his major goal next year. It could be interesting since Marathon World Champs and TransAlps used to be his major goals in previous years. They also had a bit of bad luck with his teammate colliding with that antelope this year.

I also know some trail builders who are like:

We have stayed at Maliba lodge last year. Very nice. I have heard a rumour that they are starting to build camping facilities as well. Might be worth enquiring about the progress. Lots of Lesotho info here: http://4x4community.co.za/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=173

Grant Usher did a 6:09 in 2011 on a single speed.

In my opinion a good time in this race is achieved by having something left in the tank for the last 60km, and actually to take it easier and conserve energy during the first 60km. You really need energy left in order to keep a rhythm on the undulations of the second half of the race. Sub 8 is very achievable without racing from the gun, but rather taking it easy from the start and finishing strong during the second half of the race. Having said that, whichever way you approach the ride, it remains an afkak session of note.

After skipping two years, I will be back in 2014. See you guys there.

Double post

I had it. I was diagnosed by an orthopaedic surgeon. It was caused by exercising too soon after an injury to my left knee, which led to my one leg becoming dominant and the other becoming weaker. I took a three month break from all sport during which I did a many knee and hip strengthening and alignment exercises which my physio gave me. I went to my physio for a check up every two weeks, and I did my exercises every day. After starting with training again, I quickly realised a big difference, and in about 6 weeks I was out on my MTB doing 80km+ outrides and doing 12-15km runs with my club. Before treatment I could only ride about 40km and run 3km before the pain halted me. Go see a specialist and get diagnosed correctly, and follow their advice from there.

If I recall correctly it is in the region of 1600-1800m total ascent. So over the 96km distance it is not that much climbing.