GroenHoender

Not sure if it is the right place to ask... (moderators are welcome to move it to the right section). I have a Giant Anthem 4 which I want to sell / trade for a Giant Talon (27.5) but I am not sure about what price I should ask for it. Here are the specs: Giant Anthem 4 (year: 2011/12, not sure) Wheel Size: 26" Frame: Large Rims: Alex Rims Tires: Maxxis Crossmark Rear shock: Fox Front shock: Rock Shox Full XTR components (except for the crank which is XT) Stem: Ritchey Carbon Back Derailleur: Ritchey Carbon BBB Grips Shimano M520 pedals Regularly serviced at Dirtopia shop (Stellenbosch)

You don't have to spend R2k or more on clothes wear.... I was a rugby player who is 1.88 (6 feet 2) with a chest of 138cm and weight 130kg (was 140kg but recently dropped weight nicely). Also struggled to find clothes that fit me but in the end found one brand that worked for me: First Ascent. They are a local business (Cape Town) and supply their range of clothes to all bike and sport shops. Just ask a representative of every bike shop in your area to order XXXL items from First Ascent. You can then in your leisure time try and fit each item at the bike shop. I, for example, got the following items from FirstAscent that fit me easily: tops: Men's Thunder Jersey (R549) shorts: Men's 8 Panel Domestique (R599) bib: Men's Endurance Bib (R799) jacket: Men's Magneeto (R949) I have found that specialised clothes, with fancy label names (mostly overseas brands, or those with high reputation bike names) usually does not fit or they don't make it for big people because they work with international size standards where the average international male are sized / shaped like Lance Armstrong: skinny and tall / short. None of those "high brands" fits the average SA male, who is bigger than the international average size. Link: http://www.firstascent.co.za/product-category/mens/biking-mens/

Thanks to everyone who send me advice via PM or on this forum. I found a solution to my problem - seems that most sales people at cycle shops does not know Thule equipment well for I went to a Thule distributor who informed me that the Thule "Spare Me" rack would actually fit any SUV which have a spare wheel on the back, without any problem. The Thule "Spare Me" rack comes with the necessary seperate parts to test-fit on the spare wheel hub - then it is just a matter of time to assemble the rack together and violá....problem solved. Carries 2 bikes max, thought.

Hi all, I know for a fact that I am not the only one here that is in perfect skinny "Armstrong" shape, which is why I ask this: I am in the 40 year age bracket, 6'1" tall and with a 130cm chest (translated into as "3XL"). Practically a big Os du Randt body which I plan to trim down a bit with proper exercise :-) I do not have any problems getting cycle shorts (including bib) - found by trail and error and lots of fitting and swearing in change rooms :-) that First Accents are perfect. Unfortunatley I am still looking for shirts that fits my upper body - as per advice from someone at Chris Willemse Cycles it is a good idea to buy one size large for a nice and comfortable wear. So, my dilemma: where do I get a 4XL ??? I am based in the Winelands (Stellenbosch, Western Cape)

Hi all, A long while ago I bought a 2ndhand Toyota RAV4 (2005 model) which, by design, have a spare wheel mounted on the back (booth) door. It also had a customised tow bar (in form of it being welded with additional steel bars to make it longer to reach beyond the spare wheel). I have that tow bar removed and sold because I never needed one. My MTB was transported mostly in the back, with back seats removed or folded flat. However, over time I got tired of loading / unloading the bike plus I now must share space with the "boss (wife)" in terms of additional baggage in booth. So, I want to transport my MTB outside the SUV. So, my options are as follows: (a) definitely NO tow bar again, because it will cause me lot of grief in terms of it being at a low angle underneath the SUV as well as requiring welding to extend its reach, meaning it will be closer to ground, as well as hitting speed bumps, etc (which did happened a lot with the original tow bar before I had it removed). Also, a Thule Euro bike rack mounted on a tow bar will prevent me from opening the 5th door / accessing the boot, unless I remove bikes from tow bar rack before I can open the door. (b) roof racks are not an option, ever, due to height of SUV involved, as well as the messy issues of MTB (bugs, dirt, etc) as well as garage issues. Which lefts me with a "rack-on-spare wheel" option which also sounds like a more sensible option because it is easy to get access to the booth with bikes hanging off the wheel. But my problem is that the Thule "Spare Me" rack does not fit the RAV4 spare wheel design. What else are my options? Can anyone give me some advice, please? Thanks in advance.

Frohan - if you are what I think you is, a big "Hallo!" from a fellow hubber on the forum :-) You will know me as the deaf guy who was with you in the same school. If it is your friend, with that big lights, can you tell the rest of us what type of lights he uses? I definitely would like to know, as I am practically paranoid on what approaches me from behind....I also have 2 seperate lights at the back (LED types, white and red) but I think mine is much more smaller than your friend, plus I only ride around in Stellenbosch, nowhere else.

You also got in the news (DieBurger): http://www.dieburger.com/nuus/2014-06-27-kerkman-met-plank-van-fiets-geslaan-beroof-by-eersterivier Just curious (no offence meant): why did you ride alone? why not in a group? Here in Stellenbosch it is happening more regularly: single individuals (joggers or bikers) that got attacked, robbed or worst. Most recent one is with well-known Elana Meyer who was jogging along the Eerste River (in town), got attacked but not robbed as she managed to get away.

A pity I missed the iKubu / Backtracker event - then again, I actually got the email this morning (24 June) informing me of the event on 24 June at 18:00. That was a bit too short notice for my taste. But a buddy of mine went to have a look at the gizmo. From discussions with him, it sounds like a very very interesting gadget but expensive! Then again, one's life is worth the expensive gadget. I would love to see more features build into it, such as a GPS tracker, allowing my loved one to check from her location (or via phone) where I am (either down and out with accident, or still driving around, or with bike stolen). Almost like iPhone's "Find my iPhone" (to track and find bike), as well as Endomondo or Strava GPS feature (tracking route, candence, speed, climbing, etc) combined ;-)

Thanks for the suggestion - unfortunately a bit too far for me. I am based in Stellenbosch, and even the Bottelary Hills is quite a way out of town. Hence my post - to find out which MTB organisation or club in my town have details of trails, fees and more where I can enjoy having informal, casual, relaxed rides. Not remotedly interested in any event / competition stuff.

Errr, no, I did not say PPA for the discounts but because when I Google'd bike organisations and trails, the PPA popped up. As well as a few other sites. But digging deeper made me realise that PPA is an organisation involved in promoting MTB and building trails, as opposed to clubs who is, well, just clubs (no disrespect meant). Allow me to quote from my original post again: "The last thing I want is a large collection of plastic bike boards, and a empty purse :-)" That is the main reason for my inquiry. I am based in Stellenbosch, and aside of Dirtopia and Jonkershoek, I don't have any clue or idea of any other trails, including which are open for riding, which are off-limits (private grounds), etc I am willing to pay to ride on a trail but I do not want to incur too much/many expenses either.

Sorry about my post being bit vague. Not interested in anything race-related. More interested in casual rides (again, not any event related). Basically just going to any trail, pay up the necessary fee, and ride just for the fun of it. But what I have heard is that it is expensive, as every trail has their own fee as well as the obligatory buy "bike board" stuff. Will being member of the PPA prevent this? The last thing I want is a large collection of plastic bike boards, and a empty purse :-) I see on their web site that they have a lot of trails: http://www.pedalpower.org.za/mtb/index.php/mtb6/trails-to-ride/ Hence my original post: is it worth it to be a PPA member, just for the fun-ride aspects?

Not sure if it is the right place to ask this: Just curious to learn or find out anyone's thoughts and opinions with regarding 'Pedal Power Association'? Are they worth it to be a member of? Given their broad exposure, as well as their involvement with various trails all over the Western Cape, and the member benefits they offer (ie, discounts at various trails), is it worth it? Sometimes it is too much of a hassle to go to a specific trail, just to pay a lot of money to get a information bike board, and to ride there. Please understand it is not a flame topic or it intends to be. I also understand the reason behind trail fees as it is all for maintenance of trails. My gripe is just that there are so many bike clubs / organisations out there but with limited benefits.

I would like to help with that - being in Stellenbosch myself. Where / how / etc do I get in contact with the BackTracker folks - at their offices in Technopark?