slabs

I have just gone through an expensive exercise in replacing my chain, rear cassette and two of the front chain rings. When doing so I heard it is a good idea to replace your chain every 1500 km, becuase then the cassette and rings will last longer. Cost then R300 to R400 in stead of over R2K! Anyone with comments or similar experience?slabs2009-05-22 00:01:24

I have heard that you can put tubeless MTB's on rims that have had tyres with inner tubes in the past. Have even heard that there are people that have done the Sani2C and Epic with this conversion. Anyone done it and what has the experience been. Do not want to buy tubeless plus new rims to fit them...

It is serious, but I am a great sceptic when it comes to spending fortunes on bikes. Even the Freedom can be broken down into 100km a day for a person not racing it, that is not too bad ... I'll have a look at the Scott. As mentioned am only doing it next year and thus would like to see the options. Big thing is the comfort and reliability of the bike as mentioned earlier.

One more thing, I am looking at doing some serious riding e.g. the Freedom Challenge in the next year. By what I am reading the bike seems that it will do the trick? Am really looking for good comfort with some good reliable parts...

Anyone have an opinion on this bike? See this link for specs - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/fuel_ex/fuelex65/ Think you can get them for around R20K

Another gripe is clothing....how can cycling pants with a little cloth in the middle cost over 500 bucks??? AND I am sure these are made in China! And do not tell me it is the technology of sweat free, breathing materials blah blah...

Thanks Spark. Looking at the TB website program and your comments I might be on track as am between 10 and 14hrs per week currently. At some time I will also need some serious hill training...

Thanks, how was the race and was it well organised? From a nutritional point of view did you have to take most of it yourself or were there well manned stops to refuel?

Anyone out there with a training program for an event like this? 230km's in a single go. I am really interested in seeing how the last 2-3 months of training would look like.