Chris NewbyFraser

If you ride fast and want to fall - ride a front Crossmark. Even on my full suss tandem, which barely leans when cornering tightly, the Crossmark likes to let go. I recently tried WTB Weirwolf on my Anthem 29'r front. Awesome! Tracks through thick sand and rock. Grips like hell. Slightly heavy tho'. Put a WTB Bronson on my tandem front today. Rode at Hobby Park after rain. What a tyre! It was like I was on rails, even through mud.

Nowhere yet but we just bought an MSC full suss tandem. Will start next Saturday

Campagnolo gear changers go "clunk". There is zero finesse. Odd for Italians. Ever noticed how the thumb changer lever chows thumbs on long rides and the nipple on top of the lever grips is so small it helps bugger all.................

My whinge is the sudden dropping of motorportt. Last year and previous years we had lots of top level international motorsport (I am not referring to the overpaid and mega-boring modelling procession that passes for F1). I was going to drop dstv after the TdF (got to support Qhubeka). Sadly the wife got hysterical about having no more swerial garbage so I have to keep wasting money on those rip-off artists. Maybe I should just get a divorce and live with my bikes!

What those those back markers, who get time barred because they helped push out stranded Landy's from mud patches? Will they have time credited back to them?

I still ride the 2014 model with some upgrades to sharpen it. Managed a podium on this weekends Fast One (in the 40km granddad's category so this is no big deal). I ascribe this largely to the suspension which was ideal for some of the rougher sections of the route, as well as the roller coaster sections which saw shorter travel riders having to stand. The bike was noticeably faster on these sections than my previous Anthem was. Used 'Spez' 2Bliss Ground Control tyre on the front and Mavic Roam on the rear. The Spez is really special and at R470 it is a good price. Weekend warriors no longer need to buy a 4" racing frame - the Trance does it all!

Ridden 2014 Trance 2 since July. I found the size a bit on the big side so bought one size down. Deore brakes were useless, changed to XT. Changed wheelset to Mavic to lighten up and dumped puncture happy Racing Ralphs.. Seat post is a good weight but the handlebars and short stem are heavy(60mm SL stem feels heavier then the 90mm non-SL item). Bike handles far better then my previous 29'r Anthem. Experimented with increasing stem from 60mm to 90mm but this slowed handling too much and made manualing harder. Stiction on the Float CTD Evolution fork appears greater than on the Anthem, needing lubing after washing (stronger seals used maybe?). Changed the 38 outer chainring to a 36, with much improved gearing. GREAT BIKE!

Ever thought of the Specialized Ground Control 2.3? Tremendous grip, excellent rolling too. Pretty good at clearing mud. I used the Mountain Kings - fantastic ride and grip but punctured easily. The Kenda Nevegal won the Mountain Bike Action tyre shootout for 5 years in a row as the best all round mtb tyre. Seriously puncture resistant. As a trail tyre, I would rate this the best option. I rode the Epic with this on the front and out-cornered many a rider with absolute comfort. Also used them on my Ventana tandem and had excellent service. Use Crossmark on the front if you enjoy front wheel washouts.

The Cape Epic is so very same old,same old and is likely to become boring and result in less repeat riders as the years roll by, over the same routes. Time for Epic to start travelling, for the Epic Journey to hit the trails. Depart from Lourensford, say goodbye and start travelling up the coast to Durbs and then on to the Mpumalanga region. Make this a multi-year year Journey, ending in Cape Town for the 20th anniversary.