Muggins

I am speechless after watching that. That is someone you look up to. I wanted to say respect but I am not sure it does him enough justice.

The only way to solve this is with the help of the community members in the squatter camp. I would not count on any long term help from the police. They, the community, dish out street justice and bypass the police. Nothing will drive the fear home more than 50 + people beating the **** out of you. I have even seen them beat a guy once that when they started he was fully clothed and when they were done all he had on was his underpants. The idea of rewards as an incentive is also good. Knowing these buggers they will probably have a network going where they pinch bikes and then give the same bikes back for the reward.

There was a 3rd guy that left 10 minutes ahead of us on the same trail and the owner also mentioned to me an hour ago that the guy also had issues with the mud. So lesson learned when it rains stay at home with the wife and score points.

Well if I didn't know what sticky mud was this morning I sure as hell do now. When I tell you the bike weighed 40 kg that is not joking.

I went and did my first ride today in the rain. It all started off well until we hit the first section of single track and then it went pear shaped very quickly. The mud was just sticking to my Crossmark tyres and building up and packing onto the bike front and back. It got to the point where one could not ride anymore. I swear my bike weighed 40 kg by the end and that's starting off from just over 12.3 kg. Is the mud collecting on the tyres normal for the Crossmarks or was it just the type of mud. The other rider with me had Schwalbe Blackjacks and his were not nearly as bad with the mud collecting on them. One could still see his tread. Mine you could see nothing just mud and thick. We stopped 10 km's into it figuring we were just going to do major damage.

Tyrone has been in touch with me. Thanks

Went for a ride this morning and my bike got packed with mud. Stupid conditions to ride in. Whilst cleaning, my front left rocshox black and white sticker came off. Any idea where one could get replacement stickers from?

That would have left me cold. That is angels looking out for you. When it's not your time it's not your time.

Go onto their website hakahanatrails.co.za You don't need to ride laps. Their website shows the different routes along with each routes distance and elevation. The routes also link into one another if one wants. Their is also a satellite photo showing the different routes.

We will be there first thing Sunday morning. I see they say rain expected, that could make things interesting.

Where is a good trail to go ride say during the week around JHB and surrounding areas. I mean today my staff are working so I have a couple of hours to kill. A lot of the trails are weekend only.

I was at Garmin JHB 3 weeks back and clearly remember the receptionist saying to someone on the phone that Garmin had closed down their Capetown and Durban branches. Is it possible that you have the procedure wrong? Not that I am the brightest with these things.

I bought one of these Topeak gauges. Fits both Presta and Schrader valves. Indicates pressure in bar and psi.

If you want to get hill training in go ride at Hakahana on a weekend. Do the 40km.

I enjoyed it. I only did the 20 km and that went well. So for the next race I have entered for the 40 km.

I am basically new to the mtb scene and have only been riding for the past 6 weeks. I bought myself a mtb to ride to gym on a weekend as something different. Then more by accident I went and did a trail with someone on the first week I had the bike. Now I am hooked and can't get enough. The Nissan Trailseeker Hakahana race was my first. I have entered for Down and Dirty. I was wondering with respect to new Mtb's. Some of them can cost the earth. Do people pay cash for these bikes or finance them? Is it even possible to finance a bicycle. I mean when I bought my bike I thought ok sorted. Then I had to buy the other stuff like helmets, shoes etc and that can quickly add up. What I have learnt from my first 6 weeks. Go tubeless, did that after the 2nd week. Mountain biking can eat your money, but it has become a way of life. My wife does not share my enthusiasm for the mountain biking scene. In fact if she ever got hold of my bank statement and saw what I have spent on bikes and accessories over the past 6 weeks she would climb the walls. My 31 month old son would love that because the last time she said that he came to call me and said dad come look mom is going to climb the walls. My wife often says I wish I was a mountain bike because I would then get some attention. So I said to her are you a soft or hard tail and what sort of components do you have. I stopped shortly after that because I was getting funny looks. My only regret in life is that I never got into this 15 years ago.

I have entered for the 40km.

Well we went out this morning Started off with my riding partner taking his bike out his bakkie to discover he had a flat. He could only have gotten that from Hakahana yesterday. So we set off on the awesome beginner route from above seeing as it was our first ride at van gaalens. I am running tubeless so I had no problems. My friend was running tubes and he was getting punctures front and back. 20 odd km's into it we had to pull out due to the punctures. Lesson learnt. Go tubeless or carry lots of tubes. First impressions of the first 20 km's. Seems to flow faster than other places I have ridden. One has to keep your wits about you on some of those dirt roads, there is some pretty thick sand on some of them. Saw my back side well and properly with my front wheel going out from under me. I can see how one can get properly lost here If you don't know it. I will be back for more.

Yes the route we did was well marked. The owner Johan was there so he will explain what was open and what is not. We only did the blue route because of the bigger ride at van gaalens on Sunday.

Went out to Hakahana this morning since they are officially open to the public. We rode the blue route, a nice 19 odd km's. Just a casual ride. Tomorrow is our first attempt at Van Gaalens and then I reckon next week back to Hakahana to do some serious climbing. There were refreshments, snacks and food as well as friendly staff. It was just as hot as riding there last week with the Nissan Trailseeker.

Thanks I have down loaded both of the above courses. We will decide on Sunday morning which course to do. Lets see what cruelty you have in store for us on the above courses. If I have not reported back on Sunday afternoon then we are lost out there.

I want to go out to ride at van Gaalens for the first time this Sunday. I have heard a number of good things about it. What is a good route to follow in the 30 to 40 km region. Is there somewhere I can download a route onto my garmin edge 800? Thanks

That's normally my move.

I'll definitely be riding there from next weekend. Enjoyed the trails. On the bikes being pinched. We spoke about that exact thing when we got there yesterday morning. I still commented I wonder how many bikes will get taken today. I tell you, you have to be on your toes. That would have gotten my back right out of place.

The routes had to be altered at the last minute due to land owners pulling out at the last second and not allowing the trails to cross their land.