patham

Came across this undated image taken at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo (Bulawayo memories website). Look at the chainring on the tri-dem!

One for the “bad” category today. Went for an early ride today in the local forest and was a sweeper for the trails, and did get the odd cobweb to the face. Stopped off at the end of the ride at the picnic area to munch my trail bar, and realised I had picked up a hitchhiker on my helmet. After dislodging her (pretty sure it’s a Golden Orb, just hasn’t eaten well, they normally have a tubby body) I checked to make sure it was alone. Found the hubby (males are much smaller spiders, no colouring) hiding in a vent. Evicted him as well. Noticing a dead juvenile red bellied black snake (pretty venomous) about 5 m away from the picnic table just after this made for the critter trifecta!

A mate has this Trek, maybe a year old, and I was surprised to learn he was thinking of selling it. I got the impression he is not convinced of long term durability, and wants to pass it on before he invests his own money in fixing it. I think he also realises he’s maybe underbiked himself. He took it over to South Island a few weeks ago to do the Trans NZ (he is an enduro-bro), and he said it was overly sketchy at times. So maybe he thinks he will be overly demanding of it. I looked at the Cannondale website after seeing your post. The Neo SL looks OK ( although I don’t trust flexstays), but their full size Morterra’s look butt-ugly with massive motor housings.

I still try and get a weekend ride in most weekends here in Brissie, but it helps that I live next to a trail head (probably hard XC, medium trail, easy enduro type levels). But on the e-bike thing, I reckon this year is the first time I have noted more e-bikes than normal ones on my trails, the tide has definitely turned. Thing I noted is that a few years back, good e-bikes were a huge premium to the manumatic ones. But now, conventional bikes have gotten so expensive, that the cost of the motor is actually not that much more of a step up.

Hi Wyatt Resurrecting this thread, having just bought a XT5, any suggestions on lenses? Mix of landscapes, cityscapes, natural sciences (my phrase for flowers, insects and other small creatures), with the odd game viewing. For now I just have the kit zoom (see sample pet pic). In particular, any views on the Tamron 17-70, my interest is piqued with its constant aperture throughout the zoom range?

Limpopo sunrise on a game viewing drive.

KZN sunrise.

Nice! I think Citizen and Seiko often get overlooked in the watch business, my eco drive has not left my wrist since buying it 12 years ago. If I ever feel the need to splash out on a pricey one I would be tempted to get a Grand Seiko, meant to be amazing quality but without paying the name brand premium. And I think you get the satisfaction of being in a limited club where few people know about craftsmanship you are actually wearing.

Took a break from the trails and went city-slicking for a change to spot the new Brisbane bridges. I think times are getting tough even in first world nations though. The cycle paths by the river are becoming a homeless shanty town in places - that just reminds me of the Spruit.

Yep, no daylight savings time in sunny Queensland. Because of cows (well the farmers actually, but they say it’s because of the cows. I think it’s just cos they like to be the first ones up and don’t want us plebs up at the same time. And no-one really knows why the middle (of the continent, but also no-where) wanted a shift of 30 minutes- that’s just silly.

Be like the USA and try to pass laws that make daylight saving time permanent, I.e. year around. Seems contradictory, but that’s the US of A for you. I also have Monday Binday, which I address by taking the bins out the night before. The recycling truck comes by at a respectable time, but it’s impossible to rise before the garbage truck.

Who would have guessed? Oh wait, I think we all did.

Congratulations and strap in to enjoy the ride. Hopefully she learns some better habits over the next 18 years, but with teenagers - no guarantees!

I can confirm. Son ate like a bird for the first 14 years. Over the last few months it’s supper, second supper, first snack, second snack… The calories are all getting converted into height, growing 1cm per month. As a result he has plotted his forecast growth so that his dream forever bike can be ordered so it arrives just in time for it to fit him. A Propain Tyee Al 6. Bye bye money indeed, but it’s the last bike we ever plan to buy him.

Yes, came across a post about Mark on my LinkedIn feed. He was a VoW DJ from a few years before I studied there. I think I have one of his compilation CD’s in my racks still. He had a good taste, and a calm yet engaging style that was pretty unique.

You too huh? But even more weird is the fact that the radio stations now play crap music by people I have never heard of- where has all the decent 80’s& 90’s stuff gone. That’s only like from 10-15 years ago…..tops!

Direct is the only way for sissy not-so-old timers like me. I will rather wait and earn more cash for the direct flights than save a few hundred and suffer extra hours. And those last few additional hours in the metal tube drag on forever….. However, there is an exception I will make for the ultra long-hauls, I for one will never fly on Project Sunrise! Way too long in that same seat…

Some good points made, we are just back from 3 weeks there. I will add: Loadshedding is indeed a pain. The upper middle-class to wealthy seem to tackle it by adding back up solar, battery and inverter solutions to their homes. I am very grateful that the relative we stayed at had just installed such a system, never even noticed the switchover. Funnily enough, even though traffic lights in Joburg are never on, or just flash, the quality of driving and navigating these hazards has improved over the years (lots of practice). I never felt there was an accident waiting to happen. Much better than Aus drivers at broken lights. Food- also thought was expensive, and did not consider the restaurant prices were discounted relative to the prices we pay in Aus. Might reflect the quality of places I go to though. Umhlanga may have been quiet but all the Vaalies were in Salt Rock. That was as busy as ever. G-wagons and even a Ferrari on Ocean Drive! Salt Rock is also on an essential service power grid so we had no power issues. Mask up for Covid at airports and flights- too true. One confirmed case in the family here as of this morning- let’s see who else will get it.

Ta. Saw my first C40 last week. Looks more attractive than the XC40, but possibly less U in the whole SUV equation with the coupe style roof line. The petrol XC40's here are retaining really high second hand values - so maybe its not too late to change. I now understand the smugness of some EV owners - when in good weather I just top up the electron tank from the sun - that's (near) priceless.

She is finally here (refer back a good few months in this thread). Now I just need to find a buyer for my second kidney so that I can get the towbar to put the bike rack on.

Moving back to Schwalbe after a stint with OEM Maxxis. The Magic Mary in 2.6 is probably way-overkill for both what I ride and how I ride it, but figured I would give the newish trail carcass build a try. Loctitie is for my son's bike - his jumps give it such a thrashing the bolts work loose pretty quick.

Yep, first few minutes are like learning to drive a manual all over again, with the car running on kangaroo juice. But it gets smoother with practice.

Only when I get it ! I agree the P8 is something else. On my testdrive there were the usual numpties (they are all over the world) who would not let me merge into the highway from the onramp, so I just put my footdown and scooted up to 100+ kays in what was left of the onramp merge, got ahead and left them all behind. And the best thing about it - the loudest noise during this manoeuvre was the air-con fan blowing air into the cabin.

XC40 recharge is available here (managed to get a testdrive) but at an even longer delivery period. The C40 I think can be pre-ordered, but who knows when it would arrive. In QLD, the labour govt has decreed that they won't help people to buy a Tesla, so incentives stop at about the MG electric level price tag, after that the buyers are on their own. The XC40 Recharge is a really great vehicle, and you will not be disappointed. But driving the Polestar felt like an event. As we already have a larger SUV, the sedan style is just right. As this is a mid-life crisis purchase, dual motor all the way ! In for a penny, in for a pound, full speed ahead and damn the fines. I have pointed out to the Minister of Finance that I saved about 5% by following the forums and ordering just before they closed out the MY22 order book and applied the MY23 price hike, but I don't think that line has been accepted. At least I have solar panels at home, so the electrons are cheap. I just need to run it for about 10 years for the spreadsheet to balance !

Very Nice Patches. I was doing some cross-shopping with the XC40 earlier this year, it's a great car but in the end went for the same vehicle, but just wearing a different skin (test drive image below). Although as delivery is only meant to be in September, I should maybe post in the "Boast about your latest future purchase here" thread. And the towbar for the bike rack is also ludicrously expensive, so still debating my options.