T_Boss

Some pictures from our wild ride this past weekend

Have also used sludge in a pinch before, but I find it doesn’t really work well in terms of sealing the tire to the rim, so can be an issue especially in sandy conditions and running lower pressures. Enduro seal works a treat, and probably the only product I would rate anywhere near Stans (Stan’s will in my mind however always remain the king of sealants)

I have a separate thread on this, here, https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/185545-wild-ride-during-lockdown/?view=getnewpost&fromsearch=1 But in essence, you are volunteering to provide relief services to the reserve. Conservation work is deemed an essential service. Using a bike to do fence patrols instead of a land cruiser is just a personal preference. The reserve can accommodate you as an essential services provider/staff. For all technical reasons, you will be working, not participating in group sports activities. I know it’s a lot to wrap your head around, but we have gotten legal advice on this, and it is above board.

If you looking at doing some proper training outdoors, this might just be of interest to li. We have 3 spots left for next weekend, and although it only mentions a JHB departure, we are also doing a shuttle from Durban. Hi Kobus. I’m sure lockdown must be getting you down too right now. I have found a gap to go do a bit of proper mountain biking in KZN next weekend. Thought you might be interested. We still have place for 2 or maybe 3 riders http://adventurelogistics.co.za/zululand-wild-ride/ It is all 100% above board.

So this is definately going ahead. We still have a few spots open. There will be a shuttle from JHB and one from Durban. If you keen to join us, get in touch ASAP. I think we still have 3 spots spare. http://adventurelogistics.co.za/zululand-wild-ride/

In my opinion, best bet would be to keep the tires they have on, but do a ghetto tubeless conversion. All you need is tubeless valves and a roll of gorilla tape. You won’t regret it. That said, my experience with schwalbe tires has never been good. They seem to puncture very easily.

Travelling with a trailer full of bikes will already draw some attention, I’m not going to risk carting booze in the boot as well........but a plan may be made that a few beers find their way into the fridge at the lodge....

Well, we are going to try and pull this off next weekend. So far it looks promising. I have also been in contact with a medical supplies company that can provide test kits at a reasonable cost, and we are considering making use of them to be extra safe.

Without giving out too many details here initially I would like to hear from the community what your feeling would be about joining a multi day MTB trip, doing small (no more than 6) guided group rides in a secure large game reserve. (The rides are guided because there are elephant rhino and buffalo on the reserve) The trip would be 3 or 4 days long. You will be accommodated in a lodge on the reserve, and catering would be included. It’s about a 4.5 hour drive from JHB. Transport would be provided, with all relevant permits etc in place, and will be compliant with all the lockdown regulations. Officially you will be volunteering your time to support the.conservation initiatives on the reserve. So some of the riding will be along the boundary fences, as fence patrols, looking for damage or breakages to report to the the maintenance teams. There will be ample time for other just for fun riding on the property too, and there will be oppertunity for walks/game drives etc, Although it is a very vague interpretation of the regulations, everything is 100% legal and allowable during lockdown. However, here is where the question comes in, even with it being legal, would you be willing to participate in something like this. 1. You will be travelling in a group (albeit a small one) 2. You will be travelling across provincial boundaries. Interested to hear if there would be interest in this. And before I get flamed here, let me state: yes, this is taking advantage of a loophole in the regulations, but, there will be time spent doing fence line patrols, by bike. With the reserve operating on skeleton staff as well, this is something they do need help with. The money spent on the accommodation and the meals will also go a long way towards keeping the salaries of the staff paid and the doors open for after this lockdown is over. So there is real value being added through this “volunteering” Based on the feeling of other members here, we will decide if we will give ahead with his, and can provide more details tomorrow

We have been approved as an essential service provider and can offer transport across provincial boundaries, while fully complying with the lockdown regulations. We are taking advantage of the 7 day window that people can travel across provincial borders to get back home or to work. Tomorrow morning I will be shuttling some people from Pretoria back to Durban, but we have an empty car coming back. If anyone needs I ride from Durban back to JHB/Pretoria tomorrow Afternoon, please be in touch I would love to help.

In the process of working out how we will be doing business going forward after lockdown. In the past all our trips and events were fully pre-paid, but we will now be wanting to take only small deposits to secure bookings, and then have the balance paid in full on arrival if the event goes ahead as planned. I need to have ways for people to do this easily, from various locations across the country. snapscan seems a viable option, but not sure how popular it still is.

Sports equipment is definately not an essential service, so I am pretty sure you have been scammed. Was payment done via EFT? If so the bank can provide some recourse if you report it as a fraudulent transaction.

I was obviously not paying attention properly on my last pre lockdown bike shop hop...... I was certain most of the gravel bikes I saw had SLX groupsets, but googling now, I see, like jewbacca has mentioned most of them that run shimano are on 105 with 46 or larger cranksets

Thanks, to be fair I haven’t actually looked closely enough at the hearing, but the couple of bikes i have looked at online, all had SLX cranksets. I haven’t seen an SLX 2x crank with bigger than 34t before, but maybe I’m wrong. I like the idea of a 50/32 or something similar up front. Will just have to make sure whatever frame I choose in the end will clear a 50t chainring without hassles at the chain stays.

I beg to differ. I am sure a few new SOPs will be put in place, but pretty much as soon as governments reopen their airspace to passenger flights, the airlines that manage to survive the lockdowns will be operating at close to capacity almost instantly.

So I am a mountain biker at heart, but the idea of gravel bikes for commenting and country roads riding is starting to make more and more sense. I would never replace a mountain bike with a gravel bike, but I think it’s a nice in between option as an extra bike. If we manage to recover from the financial disaster that has been caused by the outbreak, I would consider adding one to the stable. I have a question about gearing. Most gravel bikes seem to come out running MTB type group sets, (SLX or XT), and gearing the same as a mountain bike. Why is this? The biggest issue I have with using the mountain bike for reasonable easy backroads riding and tar, is that the gearing offered by modern mountain bike groupsets, even with a 34t chainring and 10t cassette, is inadequate and sees you spinning out on flat fast sections. The kind of riding I would do on a gravel bike would also never need the low end gearing offered by a 50t rear. So my question is, is roadbike gearing not more suited to gravel bikes? My other option instead of buying a “gravel” bike would be to build up my dads old Marin Ti mtb frame, as a gravel bike, and then I would have more suitable gearing anyway, but I will be limited on fork options.......

Yep. It was the race that he then crashed in and sustained the burns to his face and lungs

Lots of moaning about RRP etc etc and sales not really being sales..... it’s marketing guys, and it’s how it works. What ever happened to the buyer beware concept...... If you aren’t willing to do your homework and know your pricing, then you are exactly the kind of person the marketing managers at XYZ company are targeting all their efforts at. Know your pricing. and if it’s a good deal on the sale and you need/want the item buy it. If not, buy it elsewhere. That said, I have enough disdain for the local cycling industry, and their collusion and pricefixing and exclusive distribution channels and all that nonsense. I gladly wait a little longer (or more often than not, don’t) and order my things from overseas, and even with the shocking exchange rate, and paying express courrier fees, and import taxes and and and, spend less than local distributors can do. So as far as I am concerned, they can shove their warranty issues and what not, I will carry hex risk and import direct. I feel sorry for the Good guys running bike shops that are stuck with having to use the local distributors who just want to price gauge and shaft everyone in the process

This looks decent, but the price seems almost too good to be true https://www.manicaa.com/froggyr-btc05-child-kids-bike-trailer-jogger-bicycle-valencia-b00l53n0dk.html?sfdr_ptcid=31333_617_516107072&sfdr_hash=0ebb1d4c51010af3a8e7562c0d46e6cd&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmpb0BRCBARIsAG7y4zaE0qpvCF98i8R28Ql04OIujPkDBAAc1u8LxxFTcFxM2jtN-k0d9_IaAt7nEALw_wcB

My Daughter is now 16 months old, and I really want to get her a trailer for her 2nd Birthday, so that I can comfortably and safely take her around town and on mild dirt roads etc behind the bike. I have limited experience (actually no experience) with trailers. Also not really sure of any shops that actually have physical units in stock to take a look at. From looking online, the one thing I notice is that the prices vary significantly, ranging anywhere from R2500.00 to R18k+ The Thule units look amazing, but obviously, as with all things Thule, they are right at the top of the price spectrum. I loved the Singletrailer that Danny Mac used on his Danny Daycare video, until I looked them up and saw they sell for 1650Euro, before shipping and taxes....... So would appreciate some inputs from guys with first hand experience. 1. What brand have you got, and would you recommend it. 2. What type of mounting is best? I see it’s either seatpost mounted or rear axle mounted. a. Will seatpost mounts be compatible with a dropper post ? b. Do the rear axle mounts work on through axle setups? Most of the videos I have seen used quick realease skewers. 3. Not planning any more kids, but would you recommend a 2 seater? Could be useful for friends, or to load up some groceries. Looking forward to feedback

That’s why I avoid shaving like the plague, and when I do need to shave, I let a Pakistani professional do it for me. But when it comes to bikes, that’s exactly how that should handle

Giving this a last shot. Any chance of a lift from Hermanus to the airport tomorrow morning?

Much folks do. It’s a really awesome places I was planning to move to the overberg myself, but the fallout of this has pretty much hampered that plan. You will be hard pressed to find better mtbing straight from your house than in Stanford. On a different note, I could still do with a lift in the morning if there is one going. I have a plan b in place, but first prize would be a lift going from Stanford or Hermanus. Happy to cover fuel, or buy coffees at perigrine. Or both

Okay. Scratch that. I have a lift

Anyone heading from Stanford/Hermanus to Cape Town tomorrow morning? I need a lift to the airport if possible. Would like to avoid a one way rental if possible. I need to be at the airport by 11:00AM