Jewbacca

Those are exactly what got me tinkering Bike packing and Adventure Racing are done at a far more sedate speed than a MTB race, so I thought something that was less bouncy and secures a bit better was first prize.

So, something I've been playing with is a Bar Bag that holds a bladder. Straps onto the bars very snugly and the hose thing with mouth piece is accessible. So water in the bladder and some juice in the bottles.

Just an FYI, Shebeen is an electrical Engineer with an MBA in renewable energy. You're engaging with the perfect guy although he can be a little painful sometimes 😜

OK cool, that's a fair bit of dolla. My BMX doesn't need much checking over mechanically, but a pre race ride is always good. Last time I was in Willowmore was almost exactly 10 years ago on RASA! Let me have a chat to the wife and see what the plans look like in August. She is taking 3 weeks leave so it might be perfect. I will be in touch.

It's a pity it's so far away.... I don't think I can make a 'quick trip' to GR plus that ride in less than 4 days. Meh.... This looks properly rad.

I live in Cape Town and have never done this. How much would the whole shebang cost if you didn't find anyone in Jozi and I met you there? I have been through the Baviaans in various other events and situations. I am over 40 and 'relatively' fit. Done a few pretty long events so I'm sure I will manage. It looks pretty cool

https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/470998/lobster-trawler-seized-6-suspects-arrested-in-anti-poaching-operation https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/seas-under-siege-police-confiscate-440-000-abalone-poached-in-overberg-in-the-past-five-years-20220706 https://www.getaway.co.za/environment/abalone-and-lobster-poachers-arrested-in-cape-town/ There are many many others They even caught and convicted people harvesting flowers and fynbos illegally. I'm not really open for work at 21:30 at night, I'm not sure too many people are, but one article mentions 500 odd marine poachers caught and convicted in the last 4 years. I'd say that is a great result for a completely useless, defunct group who does nothing. I'd go further to say that it is a fantastic outcome DESPITE the fact that they are mismanaged, under funded, under staffed and answerable to a branch of the government in Pretoria that is absolutely the problem. Anyway, I will continue to believe that mountain biking is not an important part of the overall mandate. As an avid trail runner, dog walker/runner, toddler and old person accompanier AND avid bike rider, I believe a large part of the greenbelts/mountain were better before bikes were allowed there. Peace and love to you all on this winter Solstice

Dunno... I've been running on Table Mountain for decades and I continually see rangers. Either in bakkies or patrolling the common access/egress points. @Headshot I'm not batting for anyone. I just don't think that they care about MTB mountain users as much as MTB mountain users think they should. I don't think WE (I include myself) are a particularly important part of the bigger picture. I'm ok with that

I'm loath to start pointing all the fingers at all the things. In reality, the important parts of TMNP/SANparks are done fairly well in the cape. They preserve nature/plants, they maintain the hiking trails, they patrol and monitor activity in the fragile areas. They catch a heap of poachers every year, they have really made some places brilliant to visit. I hate to say it, but MTB is not particularly high up on their list of priorities. Could they improve their government run financials? Of course. We sit here in our castles throwing the baby out with the bathwater because they don't seem to care much for a hand full of 5%ers people who often struggle to follow the rules in place anyway. As someone who uses the mountain and the sea/coastline almost daily for a number of activities, I can appreciate the effort and resources being used correctly to assist in completing the important parts of maintaining a nature reserve. I do believe that MTB is a bit like hand soap in the bathrooms of the airport. It exists, people use it and some people will be really upset if it isnt there, but it isnt that important in the overall efficiency of the airports main criteria

Check it with another tool? If no wear on that one you can eliminate the tool, then keep doing what you're doing and enjoy.

The swell is rolling in hard. I think Monday is going to wreck the Atlantic Sea Board Dungeons will be breaking and it will be HUGE No curry or wine or fire sounds more attractive than the 50 year storm. The Bodhizafa is going to be there..... Via con dios

The mountain is flooded. More VERY heavy rain predicted for Friday night/Saturday. If you ride this weekend you will only ruin your bike and the trails and it will likely not be fun. You will leave deep tire marks in every berm, slip on every rock and just make a mess of everything. Do the responsible thing, go surfing

Is one of the issues not the fact that the card has multiple uses? I mean, climbers, dog walkers, paragliders all apply for the same card. TMNP grants permission to Takai MTB to use that section of the land FOR MTB, but nowhere does it say 'we are going all in for MTB' They maintain most of the walking paths brilliantly, they catch poachers often, they do a fantastic job preserving and rehabilitating parts of the mountain DESPITE people not following/obeying the No Entry signs etc I'm not happy that it's a pay twice system, but in reality, the MTB/cycling part of the contract as well as the actual Cyclists part is a headache for them. If they then said 'OK, we will sell a MTB only' card, would they then use that money to maintain the trails/roads to and from the Block house AND Tokai and other state owned trail land? The Glen? Or would they need to separate Tokai? Then you would still need another permit to ride to Block House etc Looking at it as an overall, my takeaway (aside from the mismanagement and fund appropriation in HQ) is priority of what a National Park actually is. It isn't a MTB park, but it has one in it which they allow.

I agree. But ou wa pad and the road/loop around the dam is 'ok' I'd not ride Tokai, the roads are rubbish. Although the mast climb is always a good way to end a ride if you're training for Swartberg or Gallows

Greenbelts, ou wapad and silvermine loop, the up/down path on Constantia Nek and then probably some 'sneakies' that link tar sections like the Ruyteplaat byway and a few other little gravel or park bits that happen to be part of a larger tar/mixed terrain loop

I see the codeine was changed in 2019 to incorporate a codeine/morphine ratio legality. People definitely have small vials of coke/speed on expedition races and long through the night stuff. Loads of ultra runners have been bust with a little bit of snifty in the past

I have had my bags searched at AR world champs pre race checking for Codeine pain pills and handing out a list of common medicine on the banned list. So they do cover that. Backmarkers in a massive race though? I've seen it all. As someone who does not like pain meds at all, I get weirded out by the reliance some people have on weed/myprodol do just get out the house

I say to a LOT of people who don't believe me, if you've chucked down Myprodol and competed in a sanctioned event, you've opened the door to being caught using a banned substance. Dudes also smash little nose sniftys at ultra trails and AR. Sllep monsters? nah..... just some gurning

Don't the club captains have to verify the QF times and races submitted? Phuma as a club should be looked at, as well as investigations into 2 Oceans etc... It's not difficult to qualify for Oceans/Comrades. If you can't qualify legally you likely won't finish either. Humans..... The LCD in all things rubbish

Now now kids. Remember this is an open forum and squabbling in public makes everyone else feel awkward. To solve the exhaust debate, everyone should have big chrome sidestacks. We could all then drive around looking like we are driving in optimus prime tooting horns at everyone safely knowing our cars were spewing exhaust junk up into the air far away from our precious bikes that we transport to ride. Transporting transport. I love the irony.

Best brakes I ever had were a set of Shimano XT levers with a set of older gen MT4 calipers. They had fantastic modulation and were super easy to work on. The original levers were terrible though, so I hope they have sorted that out. The reach adjustment broke just looking at it and the bleed port screws were made of cheese. One huge positive was the ability to set them up on either side of the bars without re bleeding. The levers flip flop so if you're left handed, ride Moto or are just weird and have your brakes on the wrong side, you still just bolt them on as they were never upside down.

#influencer

This is the most 'Internet' thread I've seen in ages. OP asks if they are scammers, everyone says no, he gets a resolution within 2 days and then everyone begins to argue semantics as the OP refuses to back down about anything. There is/was no point to this other than people needing to argue about something. I WILL weigh in because my toddler refuses to reason with me and I'm frustrated so will take it out here.... Isn't that what forums are for? OP, you over reacted. Admit it publicly, you did after all make this public initially and things have been resolved brilliantly. Your stance on this is that of a toddler.

You guys focussing on race results live under a rock. I know PLENTY of less than bog average 'athletes' who have a wicked social media presence, tell a good story and LOOK good at sucking who are 'sponsored' by companies. Up your socials and just send the links to the companies. You probably won't get sponsored but at least you will have wasted thousands of man hours creating content of your or your mates' butts, doing wicked jumps getting 3 feet of air on your sledgehammer and grown your 'brand' into something sellable. Everyone knows the only way to ACTUALLY get sponsored is to make VHS sponsor me videos and drop them off or mail them to the company HQ. I remember doing that as a kid your age for skateboarding. All jokes aside, unless you will add massive brand value as a 15 year old with huge promise, there will be a struggle to get any sort of foothold You will likely need to win races, have wicked socials, a podcast AND make sponsor me VHS tapes. Good luck! There were two dudes who used to be on here who managed to get a certain level of 'sponsorship' for riding bikes without being particularly excellent. Maybe best to chat to AAron Borrill or Martin Zietsman?