Pappa Bear

OK - so I just subscribed to TREAD for a year....... NEVER saw it before..... Hope the mag is so good that it was sold out before I got to the store the last couple of months

Hey, Any idea why we don't have a proper MTB mag (a local mag)? Yes RIDE and Bicycling and the othe rone is fine....... but it takes me 30min. and then I am throught the mag (yes I have a short attention span). But I look at mags from the UK (MBR, etc.) and envy them.... why can they publlish 3 or 4 mags in the UK totally dedicated to MTB while in SA we can't put out the same "quality" of mag? Whe have the skills, the sunshine and I am sure the market is there? Will it not be nice to see nice adverts from Cajees, Bruce, Fritz etc. in the mag? Local rides covered in 3 or 4 pages, detailed maps etc? Was wondering about this for sometime now........

That is like crocs for a MTB

Think about riding a 4x4 down a trail with NO suspension but a comfy seat....... or a 4x4 with suspension and a less comfy seat......

........just keep in mind that full suspension bikes aren't made that way soley for comfart..... I think the main idea was to keep your wheels stuck to the ground.... Susspension will eat rocks and roots.......not sure if a suspension seat post will do the same..... also keep rebound and compresion inmind All that said - I am sure that a susspension seat post has it place and intended use.

I carry a Medi Kit in my CamelBak....... Used it about 3 times for fellow MTBers that couldn't keep the rubber side down.... Till now I was lucky :-)

Hi Mr. CycleArt, Can you paint MTB rims? Any thoughts on this. Thanks!

Hi, Used them about 4 or 5 times...... ALWAYS got my stuff when prommissed. I also go for the UPS option - that way I can track and be sure I get it.. If I order on a Monday the stuff arrive in RSA on the thursday but then UPS RSA only dliver on th monday / thuesday. Use them........ you wont regret it.

Hi Hubers, Wonder if anybody ccan help me with the following: I want to convert my bike to a thru-axle at the back - currently have a standard quick release setup.... 1) I know that I will need a thru axle hub at the back....does it need to be 9mm or 10mm - What is the standard size for a MTB at the back......? 2) Is there any difference between the dropouts / frames that can accept a thru axle and a standard quick release frame? 3) Where can I get an aftermarket axle (9mm or 10mm)? I guess CRC... Thanx

Well if they are loosing out to CRC....they will have to improve more! Fact: When ordering from CRC - I get my stuff when prommised, it is cheaper, I can see what they have in stock, can compare alternatives, all the tech info is available........ Owning a LBS in RSA will never be a highly profatble business...... Not always their fault as the local suppliers screws them - and I think the overs seas suppliers screw the RSA suppliers..... So I'll stick to overseas shops (CRC) that gets screwed the least.......

Yip.......... bought a Crankbrothers Joplin adustable seatpost from CRC them for R2100.00, in the LBS it goes for R3700.00. Same with a gobi saddle - got one for R670.00 in LBS R1700.00 LBS's is loosing out because the are pricing themselfs outa the market!!!! Maybe the LBS' need to negotiate better with their suppliers? Sorry LBS' I dont feel sorry for you....... you need to be more clever, more customer driven and give us better service!!!!!

Thanx! Seems thats indeed the correct way - will do it tonight (+ take the sag into account)!

How do I determine the correct chain lenght for a full suspension MTB? I saw an article that says the correct lenght is if you take the chain around the biggest cog at the fron and back plus 2 links....... Now my question is what about the lenght that is taken up by the jockey? Surely the above method is not right? I take the chain around the big cog front and back through the jockey and make sure the jockey is in its extreme "stretched position"...... Any advice from the Hubbers out there?

Thanks! I will lodge a omplaint or two there....... Cheers!

Lets ask the Hub's "Powers that be" to open an official NAME and SHAME forum...... we can all complain there - they can moderate it and make sure we don't bash the retailers to much...... retailers can go and have a look at the forum and place their official response / reason..... Now I guess some IT dude sitting behind a M03r of a bigg screen is monitoring this...... Maybe if I use some swear word they will look at this mail...F$@^$#ed! M0er Bl!ksem!!!! Porn xxx ........... oops I can click on contact us at the top.......

Oom Big H: jissie PM my dan vertel ek jou alles wat in Egoli gaan gebeur- julle is mos twee weke agter of is dit nou anders om Sallie weettie ek service my fiets in daai tyd of lees op oor hoe die goetters inmekaar steek om nie sodoende 'n poepol te maak van myself soos Pappa Beer nie. PB gaan kyk bietjie mooi weer na hoe disk brake mount adaptors werk en jy verstaan hoekom ek so se!!!!!! If you spend every night working on your bike.........you are doing something wrong Oom........ Hoe werk calipar adapet brackets?

DAMMMM!!!!!! Had another bad experience yesterday....... Now this is an typical example of INCOMPETENCE: I have asked this bike shop to replace the spring in my MZ Downhill Fork with a stronger one..... easy huh? Now this is what they did: THe opened my fork left the same springs, inserted a section of another stiffer spring at the top / bottom..... Now this sounds OK...... but this is the result: My 200mm travel is now restricted to 160mm since the stronger piece of spring will not compress, MZ will not cover any warranty issues on the fork since it was modified....NOT the standard parts and procedure used to increase the spring stiffness.... So this is what I did - I gave the tech a mouth full and asked him if they will buy me a new fork since MZ will not cover any warranty issues if any thing happens to the fork..... AND told him to phone the MZ supplier in RSA, get the right part and install it......I had to give him the part no. since he was clueless.....HUming and AHAHing...... The manager of the shop is back on Monday - so I will take it up with him as well..... The main problem for me is: 1. Loosing my warranty if I were to used their modifications in my fork 2. Decreasing the travel of my 200mm fork to 160mm - THIS JUST SHOWS THAT THEY DO NOT GRASP THE SITUATION / MECHANICS...... 3. Doing fork mods (shortcuts) and not following the manufactures guidelines..... OK that was a mouthfull...CHEERS!

MUST JUST MENTION THAT Fritz Pienaar in Irene is NOT the shop that gave me the bad service....... FPI is excellent!

Hmmmmm........ Makes sense. Here is a good shop: Fritz Pienaar in Irene - Technical competand, Friendly, Fair Bad service..... Here is an example.... Did an upgrade on my bike - got juicy 7 brakes, 200mm front, 185mm back. The guy promissed me that his BEST tech will work on my bike...... When I inspected the bike he used the wrong caliper adapter brackets..... Shimano on Avid brakes..... it LOOKS fine but on closer inspection it shows that only 2/3s of the pad grips the rotor.... He also used a front 200mm bracket on the back of the bike to "make" it fit - did not get the correct bracket......... Result - Bought new brake pads and the correct adapters and did the job myself..... Bad service - Taking your bike in for a service and getting it back with under performing brakes (discs) due to an idiot cleaning the rotors with a greassy rag...... Scratches on your fork? Cracked fork due to over tightend bolts? That IMHO is bad service....... O yeah and if you walk in to the shop , they see you don't great you..... have to wait for ever to be helped and then you KNOW the guy is clueless...... These days I prefer to order from CRC and do my own stuff......

Howdy..... I think we should start to name and Shame Cycle shops that give bad service..... Some of my frustrations: 1. Not friendly 2. Not helpfull 3. Not caring stock 4. Technical incompetand 5. Customer service, huh can you eat it? Shurely we the cyclist should receive better service - we keep them in business!!!

.......same goes for the idiots who 3 weeks ago raced through a bunch of zebras at Groenkloof!!!! I wished that a wildebees stuck a horn or two through his left leg - bike and then the right leg :-( :-(

Hi, Some pics of my Reign that was done by Cycle Art....

This came to R1800..... But what is not shown on the pic is the fabilous work that went in to the decals two at the front (white, tribal dragon that I downloaded from a tattoo webpage) and one at the back. The same dragon is at the back of the seatstayin black....... I will post some beter pics that do their work justice :-) Cheers.

Hi, Here is my Giant Reign....... I hated the army green and black that it came with...... ended up at Cycle Art - they are the best and their work is outstanding. Will get a beter picture and post it....... PB