ichnusa

lots of ignorance in this thread... Forks definitely need to be serviced... probably not as regularly as 50 or 100 hrs, but they need to be serviced. The problem with not servicing the fork or shock for so long is that it only gets done when there is a problem - ie the oil is all dirty and acting like a grinding paste rather than a lubricant. Fork stanchions get worn, dampners blow etc. This is obviously fixable, but it costs a lot more than replacing the oil and seals. I suppose its like saying your car doesn't need to be serviced - it still goes well after so many years. But it will eventually need an engine reconditioning if you dont simply replace the filters and oil occasionally... Jeff Minnaar is great - most of the local and some DBN shops send their suspension work to him

i like it....

eagerly awaiting the results...

Try this: take a 29er with QR, stand in front of bike facing it, hold front wheel between legs and lightly twist/turn on handlebar and see how much flex in fork by watching distance between tire and lower legs of fork. Now do the same with 29er with 15mm... Ideally it should be done with the same wheelset. The difference is massive and worth spending money on... Maybe the bikeshop can make you a deal by taking the new reba and putting a fox on for a reduced price before you leave the shopfloor.

I have never seen such a bunch of whining, bitching, moaning, gossiping girls in one space before... are you all having your monthly hormones at the same time? WTF... ! Maybe she stopped en route to have a biscuit and tea, maybe she had a mechanical, maybe she wanted a slow ride or maybe thats just her best time. So what? Let her be. She knows what Ironman is all about and she is giving it a go. If she finishes in 16hrs59: well done! There'll be a next time if she doesn't finish. Its not the end of the bloody world and actually has nothing to do with anybody but herself. Good luck Liezl!

Ritalin has worked wonders for my twitchyness...

I think MJ is onto something here... I support one shop, buying spares from them. If they dont have it or cant find it, i'll tell them that i'll source it elsewhere - they understand. Furthermore, i do all the servicing myself - apart form rebuilding wheels and shocks/forks. I have a personal relationship with the owners and staff. When things go wrong (and they do) i only have myself to blame and i make sure not to make the mistake again. I HATE poor service... from the pikkie in the front of the shop to the wrench at the back (with respect!). The owner of the shop should know first... if no luck, go public...

I agree... at 110kg (not much more than me!) you (read we) need to use proper UST or tubeless tyres... these weight weenie small block 8s converted to tubeless simply do not last. sooner rather than later you will split the sidewall and wish for more weighty protection...

wear the baggy shorts with a comfortable liner and nice bright top. then break away at smitswinkel and see the amazement on their faces!

but what if she's really pretty?

it is never worth as much in cash as it cost you in upgrades etc... and furthermore, its never worth as much in cash as its worth to you as a spare bike or even a gift to a friend to get them started on the cycling thing. selling it in parts makes sense, until you are left with the frame or some other part you couldn't sell, and still short of cash...

now thats what i'm talking about!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/tech-feature-hetfairwheel-podium-bicycle-gallery-opens

i'll be riding... as far as possible from all the mayhem... in the mountains... maybe Grabouw or Jonkershoek

take it back to where you bought it from and tell them to sort it out...

do you have haemorrhoids or an haemarthrosis?

i would say just leave it... wider is better... certainly more fashionable!

go for the scott if you willing to spend half your time waiting for them to repair the shock... i love my santa cruz bikes...

amazing country and ride. makes our singletrack look like tarred roads - some very technical stuff, but amazing. also very friendly people - prob meet some ex-pats. take some extra time to make the trip around the world worth while. BC bike race next for me...

and used Chappies chewing gum? the type you pull from under a desk...

thats special...

its a cave... a man's cave... a place where he hangs out, sometimes with his buddies, to just spend some time with things he loves...

any pimping is too much!

take a sjambok...

where are the baggy shorts?