Lance Cruz

"I heard Mathew was in the lead, what happened Lance, did you see it??" At the end of the flow/jump section, where it crossed the jeep track, adjacent to the Maties stables. I was standing there with a mate who had raced earlier. Matt did some hero cadence braking, as the kid froze as soon as everyone started shouting (and he was right in the middle of the transition section), and had to dismount. I thought the kid was a goner. But Lombardi has skills. It cost him dearly, though... Blame the parent. Boy was probably about nine- or ten-years old, had substantial eye glasses (as someone with sight issues, I noticed). Was crying as his mom took him away. I felt they should have gone to the commissioner and made a declaration, and he should have met Matt afterwards. To get closure. Perhaps he did. But it was a very unfortunate state of affairs, which could easily have been an outright tragedy, if someone of lesser (than Matt) skills had been involved.

Was the incident where the kid ran in front of Lombardi reported to the race commissioner?

Revelation has remarkable torsional rigidity for a '32 chassis. For lightweight riders. In my experience. Yari opens up a compelling enduro fork option at an affordable price point as Nico said, but perhaps its most remarkable application could be as a HT or SS trail fork at shorter travel specifications: considering those '35 stanchions. Yari could become the option if you like mowing through rock gardens or really have the talent - and/or mass - to seriously load the front through faster stuff.

120mm 650B Yari, with its 35mm chassis, is an interesting thing.

"This thread… I can't believe nobody's been called Hitler yet." Actually, I think the debate has been mostly constructive and necessary, with interesting questions being asked about pricing, sourcing, economies of scale and the marketing budgets versus actual heritage.

“It's just retardedly expensive. As are S-Works, Carbon Scalpels, Trek 9.8's.” The market will price at demand level. Similar fundamental economics to automotive purchasing and property rentals. “I just don't see how (other than Giant) no one has attacked the market by doing this cheaper (maybe with XT 11 speeds it will drop a bit” Ironically, for many who purchase bicycling goods at this near six-figure price level the absolute price, and knowledge that others are cognisant of that price point, is part of the appeal. Odd? Yes. But ostentation is the face of staggering income inequality is a South Africanism. “or making it worthwhile to buy second-hand (by making warranties transferable or extendable).” Two market forces at work here. Consumers, tutored in behaviour by the electronics industry, actually believe in the 12 month product cycle; even if a new model year product is only a kaleidoscope of different colour ways. New is good: preowned is a hand-me-down cricket bat: bad. As a manufacturer: do you wish to own a legacy issue? I don’t. “Never raced or road-gapped… Lightly used.” Sure. Mass to wear coefficient needs to be considered too. Is a pre-owned 96kg rider bike worth less than a similar 70kg owner bike? Probably. How does this influence the warrantee fluidity? “Instead, we get "cheap and easy ways to finance your dream bike" - because more consumer debt is what this country needs.” A fool and his/her money are easily parted. We all need to go back to steel single-speeds with 130mm, 34 stanchion forks and droppers. There will be such harmony on the trails if this transpires.

"Pat and his gang in PMB or Mark and his gang in Slaapies. Try doing that on a 'famous name' bike." The discrepancy between engineering departments and testing crews are substantial with most brands. Not that many notice. Regrettably. ​Remarkable seeing the contagious anti-Pyga sentiment from some, supported by some very tenuous logic. If I was going to own a quiver-killing 29er for local conditions, this would be it.

"What is the "+5" ?" - Chain-line offset.

A lot of sensible from Iwan. My Europeans colleagues and friends always comment how bizarre it is to observe the sheer number of S-Works bikes here. Unless you are an ex-pro or significant local hero, European cycling etiquette precludes most from ever riding anything S-Works. As Iwan mentioned: The Epics have very committed angles, a geometry package for the truly gifted over challenging/fatiguing terrain. I've ridden an Epic with a dropper and barely coped. In mitigation I am a very average rider, but perhaps that is the point: aren't there many other average riders on Epic who should be on Cambers, or.... A Stage? Any notion of doubt about the Pyga Stage's provenance is ridiculous. Patrick is very highly regarded internationally for his geometry and suspension intuition. It is a shame many South African riders (mostly stage racing brand fan-people) have no idea the esteem that Morewoods were - and remain to be - held in overseas. They are very boutique bikes. Some of the downhill frames are regarded as the best mountain bikes ever built. Unsurprising, then, that Pyga trail bikes have been returning near perfect reviews from demanding European testers since their launch. The supply chain logic concerning price has been addressed by others. Feature for feature, I can’t see how the Pyga should retail for less than any comparable American branded frame if it is of the same sourcing (the region of quality noodles), with quality components and truth be told: cleverer, more liveable, geometry. Nico with the unpronounceable surname appears quite happy on his stage racing