Eddie Stafford

So after the feedback, I ordered the Ribble titanium with Shimano 105 - 2 x 12 on 24 January. Delivery was estimated to be between 26 March and 2 April. I ordered the bike to be send to my home address in Somerset West. The price was R50k. The checkout said "all shipping and taxes included". Being a bit skeptical, I phoned Ribble's online help line and the guy that I spoke to confirmed that the shipping and taxes are included in the price. Also checked the customs tariffs on the SARS website and bikes imported from the UK is free of custom duty, but subject to SA VAT. On 20 March, I received and email from Ribble saying that my bike has been shipped. After that, 2 emails from DHL and this morning the bike was delivered. Test ride this afternoon. Happy days!!

I would love a Lynskey, but not sure if I would get a new one for the same price.

I have decided to buy a new titanium road bike and have identified two bikes of interest. the bike will be bought in the UK and someone will bring it in March. The bikes are the Ribble Endurance Ti Disc Sport - https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-endurance-ti-disc-105-r7100/ And the Holdsworth Helm - https://www.planetx.co.uk/products/holdsworth-helm-sram-force-22-titanium-road-bike. Both bikes cost the same - £1,999 (ZAR 48,000) (The Holdsworth shows the price as £1,659, but when you add UK VAT it is £1,999) The Ribble comes with Shimano 105 2x12 (50/34) and a Mavic Aksium 19 wheelset (heavy at around 1850 grams). The Holdsworth comes with SRAM Force 2x11 (50/34) and a Vision Team 30 wheelset (heavy at around 1900 grams). Except for the different wheelsets, groupsets and seat stays there is little to choose from. Which one of the two will you choose and why?

I need a trailer that can carry luggage and 6 bikes from 4 August 2023 to 12 August 2023. If you have one that I can rent or know of someone that can help, please PM me. Thanks Eddie

I am also looking for an entry for the 100 miler. PM please if available.

Question for those that have done the race before. They mention a Rider Support Zone and I presume this is where you will put your gazebo with your support team, drinks and food. Is there enough space for everyone or will it be advisable to go early on Saturday to get a spot? Thanks.

Yes it is the total time to complete the entire route. When you enter you tell them what your estimated time will be. The slower riders normally start first and the racing guys and girls last. The cut off is 26 days.

https://soshanger.com/Derailleur-hangers These guys should have one, but not cheap and shipping from France.

If anyone is interested, I am selling a Trekmates Squall Hooped Bivvy. https://www.trekmates.co.uk/products/squall-bivi-bag It weights 980 grams, which is a bit on the heavy side for a bivvy, but it is made of a stronger and more durable material than the superlight tents. It also has a very good waterproof rating. Only used 4 times, you cannot sit up in it and I can confirm that it works in snow. R1,500 – PM me

I am not sure if Decathlon in South Africa stocks pannier racks and bags, but their overseas branches have a huge collection. One can probably enquire from them if they can get stock. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-sports/c1-cycling/c3-pannier-bags-and-saddle-bags/_/N-12a753p https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-sports/c1-cycling/c3-pannier-racks-and-bike-baskets/_/N-kdm44i Not all bikes are suitable for panniers and pannier bags. The other option is to go for a handlebar bag and saddlebag. The Topeak serious are available in SA, CWC were able to order some. They are not to expensive and excellent quality. What is nice is that there drybags have an outlet to let air out when you close the bag. The handlebar bag and saddle bag is only a simple harness with a drybag. I think any of the tent/safari/seat cover manufactures can easily make one to custom fit your bike. Just take them a photo of what you have in mind. At the end of the day it is just a piece of canvass and a few straps. Drybags are easy to come by. I am using Acepack. It is one of the cheaper brands and the quality is fantastic. https://www.acepac.bike/sedlove-brasny/ Also look at www.bike24.com there are 100's to choose from.

I am not sure if Decathlon in South Africa stocks pannier racks and bags, but their overseas branches have a huge collection. One can probably enquire from them if they can get stock. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-sports/c1-cycling/c3-pannier-bags-and-saddle-bags/_/N-12a753p https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-sports/c1-cycling/c3-pannier-racks-and-bike-baskets/_/N-kdm44i Not all bikes are suitable for panniers and pannier bags. The other option is to go for a handlebar bag and saddlebag. The Topeak serious are available in SA, CWC were able to order some. They are not to expensive and excellent quality. What is nice is that there drybags have an outlet to let air out when you close the bag. The handlebar bag and saddle bag is only a simple harness with a drybag. I think any of the tent/safari/seat cover manufactures can easily make one to custom fit your bike. Just take them a photo of what you have in mind. At the end of the day it is just a piece of canvass and a few straps. Drybags are easy to come by. I am using Acepack. It is one of the cheaper brands and the quality is fantastic. https://www.acepac.bike/sedlove-brasny/ Also look at www.bike24.com there are 100's to choose from.

My bike for the Silk Road. It is my 6 year old titanium GT Xizang 29er with a Fox 32 SC fork. The drivetrain is an old style 2 x 10 Shimano XT, with a Rotor REX 2.2 crank 36/22 (would have preferred 39/25 but you can’t find the chainrings anymore) and a 11/36 cassette. Brakes are Shimano XT and I bought the new Richie Mini Silver aero bars and it looks perfect to reduce Ulnar nerve damage. Maxxis Ikon 2.35 tubeless tires front and back and an unbranded wheelset from my wife’s bike. WTB Rocket saddle. I am not the most tech savvy person on earth, but made an Instagram profile where I will, depending on phone coverage, put photos and videos along the way. The link is: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=45xmbw85kswh&utm_content=mhrperq There will also be videos of my bike and equipment. The Silk Road Race starts on Friday 13 August at 18:00 SA time and can be followed on: https://www.srmr2021.maprogress.com The other guys from SA that I know of is Arno Crous, Heinrich Visser (won the Munga one year, but is still waiting for his bike to arrive – Turkish Airlines), Sean Hutchinson and Tony Huglin.

He also went out of his way to help some RASA riders in October.

If you are the winner, do you get to choose your frame size?

There is an article on Bikeradar of the new Ridley Kanzo gravel bike that is set up as 1 x, but comes with a new 2 speed hub that is controlled wirelessly and offers ratios of 1:1 and 0.7:1 giving a total gear range of between 358 per cent with an 11-27 cassette and 451 per cent with an 11-34. They say it offers the “the same functionality as the front derailleur and way more”. Is this the new 2 x systems? https://www.bikeradar.com/news/ridley-kanzo-fast/ https://classified-cycling.cc/product/

Vetseun, I signed in just to like your comment.

Based on the previous topic about problems with the clutch of 12 spd Shimano derailleurs, why don't you open and lube the clutch and see if that makes a difference. For a quick fix I squirted oily chain lube (Finish Line wet lube) into the clutch and it immediately "fixed" the problem. When I have more time I will clean and grease the clutch properly.

Slightly off topic, but I am buying a set of Cura 2 brakes and was wondering if it is worth spending more money for the Formula two piece disc (with the spider) or just stick to the cheaper solid one piece?

It is the clutch and is a very common problem with the 1 x 12 Shimano derailleurs. My XT derailleur is less that three months old and did exactly the same. I went through whole process of getting the derailleur hanger checked, trying spacers and a longer b-screw, but to no avail. Opened the clutch and it is dry, rusted and sticky. It is a hassle to take the derailleur apart to clean the clutch. Exactly the same happened with the clutch of my previous 11 speed XT derailleur, whereas the 6 year old 10 speed XT derailleur's clutch on my other bike is faultless. It really pis.... me off when you pay R2,500 for a derailleur and it stops working properly after less than three months! Surely Shimano must know about the problem. We are not alone: https://crankjoy.com/review-update-shimano-xt-8100-arising-issue/

Yip and those Moots bikes don't come cheap.

I was wondering if dirt or mud will have an effect on the "sliding mechanism"?

Thanks, but I live in Mauritius. I will go for the normal 6803 and I am sure it should be OK.

Thank you, I found this that explains the Internal Clearing. https://blog.slsbearings.com.sg/why-is-normal-clearance-no-longer-the-normal They say C3 is slightly larger than normal. So I wonder if I can use Cn rather than C3 in the hub.

I need 6803 - C3 bearings to rebuild an American Classic rear hub. The supplier says he can get 6803 bearings, but not the C3. The 6803 bearing size is standard 17 x 26 x 5 mm. Does the C3 play a role and if so what? Thank you.

My son and I did the 97 km yesterday, it was our first road race in South Africa. It was very well organized and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a look at the 97km and 71km results and pulled out the following: 97km – Youth riders – 34/1072 Male U19 – 20 Male U17 – 7 Male U15 – 2 Female U19 – 4 Female U17 – 1 Female U15 – 0 71km – Youth riders – 15/273 Male U19 – 6 Male U17 – 0 Male U15 – 3 Female U19 – 1 Female U17 – 1 Female U15 – 0 That is a combined total of 49 out of 1345 riders (71 and 97), only 3.6% My son did the Lomond Triathlon solo sprint late last year. I think it is an ideal event for children with 400 m swim, 15km cycle and 6km run. Out of the 97 competitors (M and F) only 8 were between the ages of 12 and 17. I also had a look at the results of 2019 Blue Lagoon triathlon in Langebaan. Again, distances that I think are ideal for children. 400m swim 10km cycle and 2.5km run. There were only 8 competitors (M and F) between ages 12 to 15. One would think that with the strong swimming, cycling and running culture in the Western Cape that these events will attract a lot more youth competitors. Maybe it is the cost involved or the fact that summer sports like cricket and waterpolo overshadows the rest.