Nicko

Hi Brad Unfortunately probably only in Decemeber or january, otherwise I'm gonna be without a bike...

Yeah fork sounds like exactly what I want! It is second hand, but it's not too old so I'm sure it should be find. Yeah well I'll have to twist my bro's arm to hook me up with the crossmax, but he doesn't really ride anymore. As for wheelset, I'm sure if I'm patient (Frame will only arrive December), I'll find a great set here on the hub? Only thing is it's 142x12 at the rear, and will be 15mm through the front. So would ideally like to buy a wheelset that meets that, without having to buy new hubs and rebuild the wheels.

Alright so here's the plan... Lemme know what you guys think, and any advice or changes... Frame - 2013 Santa Cruz Blur LT 2.3 (R9400) Fork - 2012 Fox Float 150mm FIT RLC with Kashima (R3000) Wheelset - Could get a free set from my bro (Mavic crossmaxs), or Mavic CrossOne's (R2500) Groupset - Shimano SLX M670 2x10 (R5600) That puts me at around R20k, seems like a pretty good build? All the other bits and pieces I can mine of other bikes. And sometime when I got some cash I'll look at getting a dropper post. I did look at trying to find another 26er to mine the parts off, but I couldn't find anything with suitable parts for my build (particularly the fork), and I'm bit more hesitant about the condition of second hand drivetrains at the moment. One major thing I need some assistance on is a wheelset. Can you guys give me a couple examples of good AM wheelsets. The Mavic CrossOne's that I priced are quite new to mavic, they're rated on thier website as an AM wheelset and come in at 1885g. Cheers

Great idea, can't believe I never thought of it yet. I'll try pick up a well specced 26er for around 10k, and then just sell off the frame. :thumbup:

Yeah I've noticed that lately, I guess that means that prices are going to go up in a month or two locally when our stores start ordering new stock. Yeah spec wise I'd probably go for: I'd probably buy a full new SLX drivetrain, they're not too badly priced, and should be pretty durable. I'm very hesistant to buy drivetrain second hand, as I've just had to put a new crankset, cassette and chain on the specialized (I've only had it 4 months), and the brakes are giving me hassles. Wheels I'd definitely go second hand, 26er wheels are pretty cheap to pick up I think. Fork second hand Bars, stem, seatpost, pedals etc are not a concern. I should be able to kit out the bike pretty decently for around 10k-12k??

The frame is "on sale" and only for sale in the US or Canada, so shipping it here is not even an option!! I am looking local... I'm more than happy to buy something local, I'd love to support Morewood/PYGA if they're in my price range. However if you guys did look this bike got rated 5/5 on bikeradar on a long term test, and that was before the improvements and revisions to the frame. So I think probably ranks up there as one of the best. I've had a look around today at what's available locally, not an awful lot that I could find. Lots of oldish specialized stumpys, but I don't think they even compare to this frame from what I've read. Anyway if anyone does see something nice, would you please post a link in this thread, I would be most thankful!! What do you guys think in terms of building up the frame? I should be able to do a decent build for around 10-12k maybe? Using some new, some second hand parts?

Yeah this is a 140mm with headtube angle in that range, so should be good. Giba is pretty smooth, not much in the way of rock gardens etc so you don't really need much travel, I guess what would help me would more be improved geometry rather than suspension travel. Yeah I've still got a hell of lot to learn, but I would consider my bike skills pretty good. I finished top 30 in the enduro, and considering I was riding a 29er xc bike which is not conducive to the course, and I never pre-rode the course like the top guys, and I foolishly thought having rebound on fully fast would be a good idea (it was like a trampoline on my one run), I could have easily finished a lot higher. Not trying to be arrogant but I think my skills are decent.

Hi Guys So I only started riding in the beginning of the year, and have done quite a few xc races this year, they've been fun and great. Then I did the "Giba gravity enduro" which i loved 10 times more than any other race I did, and realised that enduro riding is what I wanna do. So currently I have a Specialized epic 29er, and its great and everything, but for trail riding I must be honest I don't find it very confidence inspiring. I dunno what it is, probably the head tube angle, but it feels twitchy in corners and it just doesn't feel quite right for riding at places like Giba Gorge etc. (even my cheap Titan Comp 29er felt better in this regard). Anyway so I'm in the market to sell that bike and get something better suited to trail/enduro riding. So can anyone advise me on what to get for around R20k??? I'll probably get around that for my Specialized. I've been looking this week at the the Santa Cruz Blur LT 2.3. I can get the frame brand new for 900$, and won't have to worry about import duties or VAT etc cause I have a friend coming over from the States soon who can bring it for me. Here some links on the spec of the frame, and reviews etc. http://www.bicycling...update?page=0,0 http://www.santacruz...feb10_LT2_O.pdf http://www.santacruz...s.co.uk/blurlt/ http://www.santacruz...urlt/blurlt.pdf http://www.bikeradar...e-only-09-36977 So here's my thinking it's a 26er, which means I should be able to pick up wheels and a fork for pretty cheap (in comparison to 650b or 29er). And should be able to complete the bike for around 20k hopefully. Is it worth it getting a 26er? I see all the new AM/Enduro bikes are going 650b/27.5 (whatever you wanna call it). Would love to get a Santa Cruz Heckler 27.5 full build, which is 3000$, a bit pricey though. Sorry bit of a long post, but I'm new to the enduro/am game and my knowledge is limited. Any advice/comments would be highly appreciated. Thanks Nick

Think it's just your PC.... Video ended for me just after his interview about the event in pmb this yr, with a clock countdown and then credits... PS - Congrats on your win last week!!

Jowetts was there... and in hindsight I would have gone to them. However, I was about to miss my race, so I didn't have time to get a second opinion. A secondly if you want question the truthfulness of this, phone mark at Good2go in pinetown, my bikes there now, ask him what link was put in the chain... No, I know the guy from KT Cycles, he's a genuine guy!!! Really looks out for the best interest of his customers.

I purchased a second hand bike. So this kind of adds to why I didn't know the exact condition of each of the components. The chain I snapped the day before the race only had 0.25% stretch, but I'm not sure how many chains the previous owner of the bike used on the cassette.

I agree with you. I've been trying to learn. However my 6 months of riding, doesn't quite equate to the experience of your 13 years. And secondly, I didn't have the tools to DIY. When you go to somebody who's only job is to know how to repair/fix bikes, you'd expect them to be of some help. Not trying to discredit your point, but unfortunately I'm not currently at that point where I know everything about bikes. Sometime you have to learn the hard way, like I did on the weekend

Yes guys the tdk cassette on my rear wheel had been played too many times.... Ok my cassette was obviously very worn (not stretched), and it was my mistake to put a new chain on it. Hey I only started riding this year, so I'm learning the hard way sometimes. First time I've ever had to change a chain, didn't know the state of the cassette... And yes they managed to get the 11 speed quick link to fit, with a lot of effort though. However the link doesn't work at all, it doesn't rotate at the pins where it's supposed to...

I hear what some of you guys are saying. Yes it is a sunday, he's probably paying his boys double time, and he's there to make a profit etc etc. I understand this. What really peeved me off, was that he didn't really seem to care about my problem, he only seemed to care about my R100. Secondly the link literally took less than 5mins, so I think R60 labour is steep, but whatever. Thirdly if he had fitted the correct link and it had worked, I wouldn't be complaining. But like I said he didn't even care enough to check he was putting the correct link. And lastly if he had listened to what I had said about the cassette possibly being stretched then maybe he could have just said "well then you're out of luck, sorry man". It irritates me that he didn't even appear to be too clued up on bikes. Well my advice to anyone would be to stay away from them at the KZN races... perhaps I just had a bad experience, but bad enough to never use them again.

Hey guys So I must get this off my chest, I'm a bit pissed off, and I hope in return this causes them loss of business. Unfortunately I'm not sure which branch of hattons cycles this was at the race, all I know is that the guy running the show was an Indian guy around 40. Maybe someone knows which branch he is from... So on saturday I broke my chain, but fortunately I had a spare new one, so I fitted it, and checked it out, and everything seemed fine. Anyway so I went to a the Illovo Eston race on sunday, and whilst riding to the start my chain started skipping badly... I wasn't sure why, I figured maybe the cassette was stretched and the new chain wasn't running properly or something. So I went to the Hattons stand, asked the guys for a bit of help... Told them what had happened and what I thought it was. We looked at the chain, and saw one link wasn't 100%. So the guy says we can just put a quick link in there, and he was certain it would fix the problem, although I was a bit hesitant. Anyway he says 100bucks to fit the quicklink (which was marked R40). I told him he's mad, and he basically gave me the "what other options you got" look. So I paid for it. Needless to say it didn't help at all. Furthermore I see that he put an 11speed quick-link on my 10 speed chain. I must say it was the most unhelpful service I've ever received. Am I being unreasonable here, or do I have reason to rant???.

Your body never produces any vitamins and minerals naturally? You have to consume them, either through food or supplements. Your body is dependant on those vitamins, but it always has been, starting to take a multivit just means you're actually starting to meet those needs (assuming you werent already getting those vitamins in). If I can weigh in... I have a pretty great diet (not to be arrogant). But I'm strict with my diet, it's well planned for all my nutritional needs etc etc. But I still take a multivit, because it is almost impossible to get all your required vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. Anyone who says otherwise, take a multivitamin bottle have a look at what it says on the side, i.e. all the vitamins and minerals.... Then post your daily diet, showing how you get all those vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat??? There may be a select few who acheive this, but I'd be surprised.

Already had a look there, only got the x10 sl chain, which is more expensive, still well priced though.... but not the chain I'm looking for.

Anybody got any experience with the YBN chains?

Ya they don't have the KMC x10 93 unfortunately... Yeah I may get G2G to order me one when I fit my new parts!

Hi Guys I've looked high and low, does nobody in south africa stock KMC chains? What chains do you guys buy (10 speed) and from where? Wanting to get KMC x10 93 chain... Thanks Nick

Thanks!

Sorry I'm resurrecting an old topic here! But if I understood you guys correctly, I could buy an XT crankset with BB and it would fit my frame fine? no conversions or anything needed? Finally about to replace the crankset

Thanks for all the info. It was my fault I never looked into pre-riding the course.... I think pre-ride is good yeah, definitely will improve safety, and obviously improves times. I'll definitely make sure I pre-ride for the next enduro event. Cheers

Damnit I'm away!!!!!!! Was really keen for this event after the Giba Enduro race!!! This is the only type of riding I want to do now, pity I just forked out for XC bike

I got some sick footage of the event. Stage 1 didn't come out too well, gopro was mounted a bit high unfortunately, otherwise would have been awesome!!! Stage 3 & 4 came out pretty good though!!! Will try post them sometime