AlanD

Just changed them over now, super easy????. The one hose slightly short but that is at a almost 90 degree turn so should be fine.

Just gone to.check now and can see you.can just swop. Thats so awsome. Looks like the clamp is also separate from the brake. Yup, used to the rear on the right. Mmhhhh...told the wife this and she gave me the look that said, don't you dare think about doing that now...lol Thanks Myles.

Thanks. Well thanks the thing, I'm really left handed so I think that I would like my dominant hand control the front. Do I need to change the hoses around?

Today was the maiden voyage on the Trance at Thaba Trail. What can I say about this machine. Its AWSOME. She is very agile and twitchy for lack of a better word and turned rocks into pillowy marshmallows. The one thing that stuck me was how much she actually just want to go, and go fast. As soon as I let go of the brakes she just seems to roll forward faster than my Merida 26er and caught me by surprise once or twice. The post (had some concerns on the height) was actually just right and didn't struggle with it at all. Maybe an experiment with a handlebar with a little more rise, like 20mm or 25mm would be good. if any one has one (780mm). It did also realize that this bike has loads of knobs and dials on the suspension and dialing that in is going to take some time but today I used a good few features of it and worked out great. One or two quick things on the components: The SRAM trigger to go up on the gears is pushed like the one to go down which I had to get used to as Shimano you pull the trigger to go up a gear. The brakes (Avid Trail 9) seem to have a lot more modulation that my Shimano XTs and takes a little getting used to but the hardest thing I have to QUICKLY get used to was the rear brake being on the left where I am used to it on the right, almost had an eina...lol All in all, this bike is AMAZING and so different to my old bike. It also somehow felt so easy to pedal, just smother and nicer. It climbed so well also and that impressed me. Really loved the ride but fiddled a lot with all its bits...lol....she even tapped my butt when I was hanging off her back while going down a drop. Think I just need to learn to ride her properly as there is lots of bike. Felt strange being on a different bike as me and the Merida bonded for many years and knew each other well. Right, now to the trail. YAFTA: I made that first section that I had not made before but stalled on two other sections that I made previously...BUT...did those sections a second time and managed to do them, chuffed. SAMUEL: Also struggled on one steep section...BUT...did it again and made it all.

Thanks skollie, shes a beaut. Its as low as it can go and the remote is working well. Still feels she needs to go down a cm or two but then i just adjust the dropper a tpuch and its fine. Will see on the first few rides.

This...

You need them for steering. Sell a kidney and one lung. Can get buy with the rest :-)

Yeah, really enjoyed Samuel. Including that all the time. I have the hang of Yafta except that first climb but i will conquer it soon...on a different bike...lol I think they should get rid of those small jumps and just leave the table tops, that would be good to try practicing. Will roll em and try the last one. Was a little tentative after the two crashes...hahaha

Very lekker loops. Also just roll over them but today i was a little brave...lesson learnt..rollin from.now on..lol

Thaba today for a great ride. Did Samuel today: what an awsomw flowy section. Has its challenges too and think i only struggled once. Yafta: first attempt at the first climb and failed. Second and last attempt also failed. It seems to have just a slight steeper incline at the top where i just struggle...BUT..made everything else after that. So doing Samuel and Yafta was a good achievement i think. Now for the unpleasantness: Theres that section that includes some of the downhill course, you know the one with the jumps and that massive berm in the beginning. So, that corner just before the monster wall of berm, has some loose stoney stuff and my tires just gave way and mam down. Got up, checked the bike, she was fine. Checked if anyone saw, not that i can see although im sure it looked like wild animals having a brawl with all the sand that got kicked up. A few abrasions and lumps forming. Shake it off and start again to roll over those jumps. What i dont understand is there is a jump just infront of the table top jump, why not just have the tabletop? Anyway, roll over the one slightly faster and the bike just bounced me around until she stopped. A small shin slap from the pedal. I am certain the Merida knows she is being replaced and was angry with me so she was difficult today and not complying....lol. Lekker ride though

Really like that colour. Congrats.

Starting her early...she may need a smaller bike....lol

3 months....crazy expensive.

I prefer black cat -

Agree with rouxtjie. I had to service mine two to three times a year (non-stealth) that cost a fortune. Eventually sold it and got a 2016 giant dropper - best decision ever.

Whoa, never seen that before. Its also one of those nice skull chainrings. Bleh, who needs working gears when you can just freewheel...hahaha. Nice one kitted, thumbs up -

Think i will wait for the Almighty Trance to arrive, bond with her for a ride or two then should be ready to roll.... Might then be faster...hahaha

Where is Blue B?

I do all the green, or so i thought and Yafta. After that sign with the maps on that piece of blue fence, i go past there and turn left but before i turn left i see past therat the top that ends up in that twisty bits, there is a whole bunch of signs saying blue. Just too tentative to try one in case i have to walk more than i ride...hahaha...yeah would be nice to meet up but be warned, im pretty slow and rest often....hahahaha

Sweet. Soafter conquering Yafta, whats the next section of blue i could incorporate in my ride? The nice thing about Yafta is that the last downhill section is a lekker reward for the hard work.

Ah yes, the almighty trance....it will be shipped next week only. I must excersise patience. She will be reveiled then :-)

Sure will. I think i saw you today: i was driving home and saw the Lapiere by that man robot just past rietvlei. Were you wearing a white helmut? Looked like a POC.

Had a beautiful ride at Thaba today. Did Yafta today again and didn't male the first uphill but only by a few pedal strokes...BUT...made everything else after that bit coasting inbetween sections to pick up my lung....really chuffed with that.

Lol...no, its brakpan..lol

You really did have a crap day..lol