IdeJongh

From my experience, MTBing is just more complex, more variables, more to conquer, more that can go wrong. For me personally roading is "sitting and pedalling" and mtbing is an experience. Got to love it.

Crap, is it made from cast iron?

Definitely look at second hand bike if you're just getting in to it.

What's the weight on the bikes? KHS is slightly better spec'd. Not sure about the Rock Shock, but it should give better feel than the Suntour XCM, had it on my Felt HT, and wasnt the most pleasant. The KHS should give a better ride, but when you fall completely in love with the sport and buy yourself a Merida DS, it wont really matter which of these you bought.

You guys get any good photos on actionfreeze? Like finding needle in haystack.

I only started racing this year as well, but have yet to experience a MTB race with massively elaborate watertables (in contrast with Argus etc), therefore dont expect much except a bit of poweraid or splash of water. So I carry two bottels with me, plus a nougat bar as well, which is more than enough for the 2.5 hours on the 45km, but guess I'd be hacked off as well if I rode for 4+ hours to find empty tables. The race was fantastic, the route, the crowd, the mountains (more fun to look at than climb though). Definitely be back next year!!

Sho, all shapes and sizes. 1.85m, 82kg

Tough choice, scalpal is cool, especially with the lefty, but gives some admin sometimes. Merida, lotsa bang for you buck, i have the 1000D now, and its awesome!

What costs can one expect? I would love not having to worry about specs/lenses all the time. +- R14 000 Thats not too bad. Any tax benefit?

What costs can one expect? I would love not having to worry about specs/lenses all the time.

In the wise words of Paris Hilton - "Thats Hot"

Riding on and off with contacts. Sometimes things just get too dusty and eyes get irritated, then would ride with normal specs. Havent found the best answer yet.

The dude in the yellow helmut, he ain't stopping for nothin!! IdeJongh2009-06-03 06:06:59

Ek het so maand terug selfde storie gehad, ons doc het gese - nadat jy weer gesond is, vat 'n rustige trippie uit, as jy voel jy wil dood dan is jy nog nie reg nie, as jy goed voel, ry bietjie harder more, en as jy dan nogsteeds goed voel is jy fine. Het so gemaak en was terug op die oefen program 3dae nadat ek gesond gevoel het.

Sho man, hope you get it back!

Yes, they then plot your vomit volume over time, and express your fitness level in L/day.

http://www.spectrumsport.co.za/index_files/MTBResults2009.htm or just http://www.spectrumsport.co.za/Magalies_Monster_MTB_20090530.pdfIdeJongh2009-06-02 03:30:25

The cool thing is, beginners can go for it as well, sure we wont kick ass as much but its awesome to go and experience all MTBing has to offer. I started riding in Jan and managed to complete the 45km in 3:25, 128th. So not lightning stuff, but was an awesome experience.IdeJongh2009-06-02 01:41:19

Slave, ja agree this hijack has gone nuts. Even though we might disagree on some points regarding these issues, I agree with you that our fossil fuel dependacy needs to be adressed asap, as a sustainable answer wont come easy.

Slave, no you need a lot of hyrdo plants to make a dent. One is not making a dent, it doesnt even provide electricity to the grid, only controls peaking, why would two or three?? Yes solar and wind is AN answer but as what cost, hence my comment regarding cheap energy. Why was the US, UK, China etc allowed to build there empires on cheap energy but struggling africa now has to do so on far less affordable means? As for global warming...dont believe everything you read in the press, there is much more going on behind the scenes.

Yeah agree overall, but with these hyrdo electric plants, where is SA would you find that amount of water? Drakenberg is the only place, and that purely large enough for grid regulation. Yes we're reversing millions years of natural CO2 capture, but the entire planets industrial and economic expansion is based on cheap energy. Yes we must find viable substitutes, but more due to the fact that we're going to run out of fossil fuels long before we notice the impact of climate change. My 2c.IdeJongh2009-06-01 06:36:16

Maybe too much screwing and too little servicing!! Yikes who screws during the Epic anyway!!! You'd be suprised I was sound asleep. . . But the second evening in greyton to riders went at it and the girl was not quiet. They got cheered on by the riders around them and this did'nt make them stop they went for the finishline sprinting they didn't have brakes?? In those slippery conditions breaks dont work (ask me I know), keep to the basic rule, "no helmut no ride"

sometimes u gotta do what u gotta do