dirtypot

Still up and working

I've flown overseas many times with my bikes, but I always check the sporting goods allowance for the various airlines before booking tickets. If you look around a bit you'll usually find one where its either free (additional to your normal luggage allowance too in some cases) or cheap to add on the extra item. Make sure its all sorted out in advance though and you're not paying a per kilogram penalty at the check-in counter! If you're only using a normal cardboard bike box then make sure you use a lot of additional packing material. I've seen my bike in its Evoc bag being severely mistreated by airline staff twice in the past, and that's just because it caught my eye as I was passing...

I like the average temperature How big is your matchbox?

It's a mix of everything. I trail run and hike as well as cycling (road and MTB). Occasionally a swim too.

This is my third year of completing the 365 challenge, but its by far my worst year yet. Motivation was low and I was super lazy so every number on this summary is lower than previous years by a long way. This year will be better! Four days down, three hundred and sixty one to go...

Imagine how good it would be on a bike that could go around corners...

I've been using this for a few months now and have been quite impressed. For chains its not as effective as solvent based degreaser, but it more than makes up for that by being water based so your hands don't feel all icky after using it, plus the stones under where I wash bikes which have always been black from the greasy chains and solvent degreaser have actually started to change colour back to their normal state without me doing anything to them. The Blixem is just dribbling onto them and making them cleaner. Same for the chain cleaner - it started to look newer the more I used it. But best of all, at Midas there was a Blixem sales guy and he gave me five extra normal sized bottles of the other products in the range for free when I bought a 5 litre degreaser. Bargain! It also gets the wife stamp of approval for cleaning around the house.

I used it to buy a bike from the other side of the country. It adds not just a layer, but a whole blanket of security to the deal. There's literally no risk and no downside (especially as a buyer). It also shows you that the seller is genuine. Highly recommended.

You just need a round two prong plug thing. You can get these at any shop - PnP, Checkers, Clicks, Builders, Takealot, etc. They're very common.

Nice to see that you've still got this bike. Enjoy the ride

CBR 400?

@Spokey, keep those pics and write ups coming! I really enjoy them. Your pictures are amazing and I love reading about the day to day stuff too.

It'll fit. The Suito originally came with an 11sp cassette fitted onto it.

I got an ArmourRide kit with decals but fitted it myself. They had a video on it, but its pretty straightforward. The first piece I got on about 98% correctly (there was a minor learning curve) but each piece after that was 100%. I'm happy with the result, and it made my plain bike look a little different.

Half of the adventure is breaking down in the middle of nowhere and trying to figure out how to sort it out

All the way to Windhoek, for example

I've used RidewithGPS loads. Many times in areas that I'd never been to and even in different countries where the only roads I could see were on google maps satellite view but not actually on the map. So there was uncertainty when heading out, but it's yet to let me down. Even in times where I've gone off route, I've been guided back. I find it very easy to use, but I'm pretty good with maps and visualising, so plotting a route for me is just marking down on a screen what I do in my head anyway. I also like making routes just to check on their elevation and distances if its an area I'm not familiar with.

I've got the Elite Direto and it's also not given me a single moment of problems in all the time I've had it. I checked up last week and I've put just under 1000 hours on it so its hardly new anymore - I'm still impressed by it.

Around a corner, definitely! ????

I built up my Cotic a few months ago. It was a slow process while I assembled bits and pieces. The final build ended up getting an Ohlins RXF 36 fork (overkill, but awesome), Industry9 Torch hubs with Nextie carbon rims, KS Ether 35mm carbon bar, TRP G-spec Quadium 4 pot brakes, XO cranks and an eagle drive train. Total build came in at 11.6kg which I thought was pretty good considering the frame and fork. The bike is just so much fun to ride! Its way more forgiving and compliant than I was expecting it to be. I've had a few hardtails in my time, but never a steel one and I understand now why people love their steel bikes. Plus, with that beast of a fork I feel like I can just charge at and over anything in the trail. I thought it would just be a fun 'every now and then' toy, but I've switched to using it exclusively which means that my wife has claimed my Anthem as her own

Got to agree with you there. I had a VFR back in the day which I loved and I've often toyed with the idea of getting another one because it just brought me so much joy. It really taught me how to ride a bike well. Very forgiving, not enough power to get into trouble and could hold a line really well. Don't have any photos of it that I can find besides this one where I was taking it to a track day at Killarney. It had so little top end speed that I barely slowed down for the corners It was all about holding onto all of the momentum.

I used to have a ZX6R with underseat exhaust but can't say that I ever noticed the heat from under the seat. The engine was more than hot enough though for me to not really notice heat from anywhere else.

I went there last weekend with my wife (she's new to MTB and I thought it would be a nice place for her to learn some skills) and I haven't ridden there in about five years. The trails were very over grown but I just put that down to the time of year with the crops. We weren't able to go as fast but that's hardly the end of the world when learning the ropes. I didn't feel like the actual trails themselves were in too much of a bad state of repair, but then I do like a rough trail so maybe I'm not the best judge. My biggest criticism though (and its the same as it was five years ago) is that it's just boring. Even the 'advanced trail' from the top is dull. Even my wife was able to ride all of it and her skill level and confidence are low. Hoogies and Contermans are a lot more fun, especially Hoogies with the skills park. Wish I had gone there instead. Plus I got a tick on me On the plus side, we went to the Dairy Shed at Contermanskloof afterwards and that was fantastic! I'd highly recommend going there.

Wow! What an opportunity! I'd love to put myself forward, but I know there are people better prepared for it on such short notice. Hope you find the person you're looking for!

If it's being removed, is it a hook plate?