Mountain Bru

Pieter bro you're a machine. Did your sprint finish for the last 18k's get you a podium spot?

+3

I hear you man. I'd rather burn matches in the last 20km than the first 20. I'm not really worried about my race time though. It's more a question of trying to guess mid-race what time I'll get back to Pretoria on Saturday.

To do a sub 5, at what kinda time should you summit the monster assuming you still have enough gas in the tank to keep a similar pace?

I'm not convinced that all the rules of the roads even apply to cyclists. Can someone please post a link to a site that states the cycling applicable road rules.

6 with mountain bike bars.

Are there specific road rules for cyclists? Clearly all the rules that apply to motorists aren't applicable to cyclists. I tend to ride my bike more like I'm a pedestrian than like I'm a car, so I stop and check for cars at red lights or stop streets, but if I can cross safely I don't always wait for the light to chenge

6 weekends to go. Where's the best place to train apart from Van Gaalens? How many laps of groenkloof equal one marathon?

My XT brakes are almost silent. My avids were noisy. Therefore Shimano > Avid......

Thanks man. I guess I'll have to just wait and see if mine bomb out too then

I got myself a set of XTs (M785) recently so I'm a bit concerned now that they're not going to be as "fit and forget" as I want them to be. Just out of interest, are you sure you bled them correctly? I'm no expert, but I've heard that they require one-directional bleeding and doing it the wrong way can cause issues with seals in the reservoir.

The local kids will probably ask you to give your bike to them as you ride past. That's about as close to being bike jacked as you'll get. I wouldn't recommend riding around alone though. Some of the roads and trails are properly gnarly, and if you're out in the mountains somewhere and bail it could be a while before anyone finds you.

Here's a photo of the trading post camp site in Ramabanta to wet your appetite... I'd also recommend making sure your brakes work well. You're gonna need them. And making sure your granny gear is working well. You're gonna need that too.

Lesotho is epic. My best advice is DO IT!! Was there in December last year for a few days and stayed in Roma for 2 nights and then Ramabanta for 3 night at the trading posts. You can check them out here : http://www.tradingpost.co.za/ If I remember correctly, it was R80 per person per night. The trading post in Roma has electricity, but the one in Ramabanta only has a generator which they run from 5 to 10 every night. Both are accessible with a normal car on tar roads, which is a winner seen as a lot of the roads in Lesotho are pretty messed up and require a backie / 4x4 / mountain bike to travel on. When do you want to go?

What a coincidence. That's how I got mine too.

I only found ice at 1 water point. Tea temperature USN isn't as wonderful as it sounds. I still really enjoyed the race though.

I'm super stoked to try this Kyalami thing now. My commute home goes near the race track. Thanks

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help.

Is there a road trail around cradle of human kind or just the "mountain bike" track? Are there any other places where you can stay on the tar and still do a 40km loop without traffic? These guys are scared of just riding on the shoulder of the road.

Can someone give me some advice... Some guys from work decided that doing the 94.7 is a good idea and want me take them on some training rides, and they've decided SBR is a good idea cos they won't have to contend with cars. I'm skeptical though. These guys aren't really what you would call "natural athletes" and don't really ride much, or at all, and don't exactly have great bikes. (1 guy has a super old school 1989 "mountain bike" with slicks, and the other guy has a very entry level mountain bike). So is it a good idea to take them to SBR? Bearing in mind that the furthest that either of them has ridden ever is maybe 20km, and SBR is a 58km loop with some serious climbs and no cell phone reception. I feel like maybe I'm being overly cautious, but I don't want to be responsible for a noob flying off a mountain. Can anyone suggest any other noob-friendly places where these guys can train in the JHB or Pretoria area without having to contend with traffic?

Are certain brakes more prone to glazing? I have elixir 3's which I now realize are glazed like doughnut, but I've been considering replacing them. Will XTs last longer before needing TLC, or is brake glazing just part of the game? I've heard a lot of people mention that shimano brakes are basically fit and forget, so I'm leaning towards believing that a new set of XTs will require much less TLC than avids. Is that right? Or am I just needlessly avid bashing?

I too will be watching this thread closely.... How many days til Friday?

The only thing I consistently watch is Die Nathaniel Tafel. Best cooking show ever!

Oh my word I joined this club and it has changed my life I used to be a lost and lonely cyclist without a cause. Since joining the club, my life now has direction and meaning. I now have one goal..... To beat RexFuzzle PS- This group is legit.

I'll bet all these uni-cycle tools can't bunny hop properly cos they have the wrong pedals. They probably all pronk like noobs.