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Brian Fantana

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Everything posted by Brian Fantana

  1. Brian Fantana
    So yesterday I came home at about 7pm only to find a massive hole that was dug in our lawn. These two naughty buggers seemed very surprised when I confronted them about it:
  2. Brian Fantana
    Our wedding car:
  3. Brian Fantana
  4. Brian Fantana
    I am sure many here will disagree with me, but I am pretty sure that a late 80's early 90's VW Syncro, will rapidly increase in value, sooner than you think. These vehicles already have a cult following, and you can still pick good ones up for about R50k. http://www.syncrohospital.co.za/images/Gallery/gallery8.jpg http://www.syncrohospital.co.za/images/Gallery/gallery9.jpg http://www.syncrohospital.co.za/images/Gallery/gallery13.jpg
  5. Brian Fantana
    It is a RockShox RS1:
  6. Brian Fantana
    Their service is good, but their 5-10's are extremely expensive in my opinion. When I purchased my Freerider VXi's in 2013 from Mountain Mail Order, I paid R400 less than Diald's price at the time.
  7. Brian Fantana
    Poor Mark probably just got tired of the following type of conversation: Person: " So you're a cyclist?" Mark: " Yeah, I really enjoy it." Person: " Have you done the Argus?"
  8. Brian Fantana
    Are you a noob? We all know that the Argust is the hardest race in the world. You will sit on the podium in cycling-heaven if you have a sub 3 August under your belt.
  9. Brian Fantana
    With 140mm travel, big wheels and awesome geometry the ROS9 will also be great for SA Enduros.
  10. Brian Fantana
    Now this is a bike that I will ride laatdiekakspat:
  11. Brian Fantana
    Only if your shots are flowing too fast. If your shot flows too fast and you adjust to a finer grind and get a 25-35 second extraction time the espresso will probably taste better. If your shot already flows in the 25-35 second bracket and you go for a finer grind it might flow too slow and you will get over extraction which does not taste very good. Even if my espresso pull flows fast, I just stop the pull when it starts to blond and most of the time the result is still drinkable. If you leave past blonding you are brewing horse piss. Like I said, lots of variables and some variables are unique to certain machines. Learn your machine, only change one variable at a time and remember what works and what does not work.
  12. Brian Fantana
    Beans can be used for 12-14 days after roasting after which they go stale. During the two weeks after roast date you will find that your shots start flowing faster if you keep the grind size the same. For this reason I go a bit finer every two days in order to keep the flow constant. The ambient RH also has an influence on how fine you must grind. Espresso making has tonnes of variables, and you need to keep the variables you have control over as constant as possible. Only change one thing at a time, and make a mental note of the result of said change.
  13. Brian Fantana
    Great advice above. I use a small funnel to dose the tiny 44mm filter basket of the Caravel. I then give it a quick stir with a toothpick, level and then a lightish tamp (<10kg if I had to guess). Works great. I keep tamping force constant and adjust the grind finer as the beans age.
  14. Brian Fantana
    Wouter Strietman is a true craftsman, and it can be clearly seen in the design and manufacture of the Espresso Strietman ES3. He used the Arrarex Caravel as inspiration: http://strietman.net/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1240_DEF_VRM_WEB3.jpg http://strietman.net/wp-content/uploads/ES3_Espresso_Machine.jpg http://strietman.net/wp-content/uploads/ES3_Built_for_a_Lifetime.jpg http://strietman.net/wp-content/uploads/STRIETMAN-contact_web.jpg
  15. Brian Fantana
    I have a Kyocera grinder that is similar to the Porlex. I don't use it often because I really don't want to grind for longer than 30 seconds, and those small hand grinders take a few minutes to grind for one double. My two Spong and one Lovelock hand grinders give a better grind quality and they grind a double in less than 20 seconds. I use them most of the time, but I am looking at the Lido 2 as a potential travelling grinder.
  16. Brian Fantana
    The one on the left is OE Lido 2, LINK The one on the right is Made by Knock: Hausgrind, (their website is down atm): Alternative LINK , LINK2
  17. Brian Fantana
    I am deciding between these two hand grinders for use when travelling. Both will be in the region of 2900ZAR landed in SA. From reviews it looks that both do quite well for espresso grinding as well, and it takes about 20 seconds to grind 14g of beans, which is enough for a double. I like my Arrarex Caravel lever machine so much, that I consider getting a second one which will be kept in a foamed ammo box for travelling. So a smallish grinder should go well with it. http://www.home-barista.com/forums/userpix/10463__mg_9050.jpg
  18. Brian Fantana
    As nick said, the jumps are optional. My wife rode with me there last weekend and she had a blast and just want to go back. The trail café at GRTP is very nice and a good place to relax post ride. Harkerville and Petrus se Brand are nice trail options close Plett as well.
  19. Brian Fantana
    You must be a novice road tripper if you call the drive from Cape Town to Sedgefield a "long drive" There is also a short section of trail called Mad Cows which is really nice. The best option is to go for a weekend. Get to know the place the Saturday (ride each trail twice), and find your flow on the pump track. Then on Sunday morning you can hit each trail at speed because you know the trails well by then.
  20. Brian Fantana
    Your component selection sounds excellent. I will not change a single item in that list. Just make sure you use good quality spokes and brass nipples, as well as a good wheel builder. I have been using a Revelation fork with QR and 150mm travel for more than 4 years now without any problems. I ride trails with many technical features as well as XCO and XCM events. The revelation has great performance, light weight and maintenance is s breeze. It is a great move to build up a bike like this, light enough for XC yet burly and confidence inspiring for aggressive trail riding. I have been using one light trail bike for all my riding since the end of 2010.
  21. Brian Fantana
    Masterton's Blend 13/88:
  22. Brian Fantana
    Attakwas start on Saturday and Garden Route Trail Park on Sunday:
  23. Brian Fantana
    Hungry Monkey? Custom geometry or standard?
  24. Brian Fantana
    Have to agree. The main reason I enjoy the LCHF lifestyle so much is the very constant energy levels I have throughout the day. When I am busy with a task, I can concentrate on it, without getting senseless cravings. Also the fact that I can carry on with my work for 6 hours straight with only water on hand. When I do have a craving, I crave the real food I am allowed to eat. To me weight loss is a "by-product" of being healthy. Having said that, I am looking forward to a beer or two on Saturday after Attakwas.
  25. Brian Fantana
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