Christofison

If you can be super accurate with a vernier on the side of the taught chain, then 12 half links should measure: 152.4mm = new 153.00mm ≈ 0.40% stretch 153.25mm ≈ 0.55% stretch 153.50mm ≈ 0.70% stretch

So 0.5 on that older chain checker in an XO/XX1 chain, in reality is probably closer to 0.75% because of the larger rollers.

I hope you're using a CC-4 or similar chain checker. The older & more basic chain checkers will be pretty inaccurate on XO1 & XX1 chains, with their over-sized rollers.

Brage's clip is makes me so amped to ride. He's got almost 10 times more votes than everyone else on the Pinkbike poll, so he's definitely won. Will be interesting to see by how much on the X-games site. https://www.pinkbike.com/news/poll-which-x-games-real-mtb-edit-is-your-favorite.html

You no longer have to do the fitness assessment to get up to 25% discount. Now the online and clinic health assessments get you there.

Everything fitness related gets the discount, incl. a shirt, a golf ball, a dumbbell bar end, a karate belt. How is the chest strap for an HR monitor not fitness related?

I was bleak to find out at Sportsmans Warehouse today that the Garmin Electrode Strap does not qualify for the 25% discount

Dude, you're so wrong on the available amounts per rolling 52 weeks. Also, it takes 25 weeks (6 months) of VAR Health goals achieved to regenerate that 25% additional discount. We're only 15 weeks into the year now, so another 10 to go before you can max your discount. Then you start from 0 again. In other words, by the end of June you can buy a R4k watch and get a discount of about R2.4k. Then by the end of December you can buy R2k Nike shoes and get a discount of about R1.2k (assuming 10% money boost). For this you'll have to have achieved 50 of the 52 weekly VAR goals for the year.

I was quite bleak to find out that based on my bank status, I'll only get 5% of the possible 25% discount, ie. 55% in total.

Any news when this is going live? We're getting close to the end of Q1.

A secret percentage off the wholesale price.

Siiick.

I can 100% relate to the opening paragraph of this article, back when I went from 2.25" tires on 19mm rims to 2.4" on 28mm. "Leaning into that first corner something unexpected happened. As I started to lay the bike over the tyres held, digging into the dirt and I could push the bar closer and closer to the ground. That's the magic - one of those perfect moments when the bike and the trail seem made for each other, when you feel like a hero, if only for a split second."

That was the conclusion of the article, correct. Someone needs to join half an XO1 chain with half an XX1 chain and measure wear with a digital guage of each half over time...similar to what this guy did with Shimano. https://youtu.be/ZrCp52b34Uk

No problem with mix matching. Maybe just swap the GX chain after 500km since it wears quicker, and then run the fancier chains for a 1000km? The XO1 chain gives you a bit more bang for your buck than the XX1. https://cyclingtips.com/2019/12/the-best-bicycle-chain-durability-and-efficiency-tested/

On a new chain and new cassette the forces applied are distributed evenly (more evenly) across the cogs, thus lower force on each tooth. The chain 'stretches' as the pins wear, and the pins wear quicker than the cogs do. On a 'stretched' chain there will be a greater force applied to the first cog tooth in contact, thus accelerating the wear. Putting a new chain on now, will extend the life span of the cassette. But don't ditch the current chain. Keep it for when the cassette wear catches up, then you can use it again. I like to buy one chainring, one cassette and 3 chains and rotate the chains every 500-1000km. Hang all 3 up and then use which ever is shortest.

I just checked my points monitor and saw that you can redo the mental wellbeing assessment in the second half of the year. Perhaps that 3rd health goal will only be achieved then?

Close up photo of the small cog maybe? It sounds like that cog is pretty worn for a 0.5 chain to skip. You'll probably find that a new chain will also skip in some of the other cogs too, for the first 1000ish km until it stretches to a snug fit. A new chain will extend the remaining life of the cassette a bit, but you'll need to ride gentle(high cadence) and avoid that small cog for a while.

Supposedly tailored for each person. It's pretty stupid that the app doesn't tell you what the third goal is, but I bet it is the fitness assessment. Also, it doesn't say that you'll get any reward for doing the third health check, aside from the vitality points which you can get from regular exercise anyway and 40 D-miles. Side note, and possibly why the third goal isn't showing...it looks like the fitness assessment is changing, in that you don't need to do it to increase cash back on Healthy Gear. For the new Vitality Active Gear benefit which should be coming soon, it seems like only the Health Check is required. https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/gear-up-and-get-active-with-vitality

So sick man, well done

Stage 1: Training Camps Stage 2: Supertubes into FreerideStage 3: Forest Friendzy (DO NOT ride before SUNDAY)Stage 4: Revised EnduroStage 5: Black Rhino into Happy Hops

Haha neither am I.

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I risked it last year with no knee-pads, only because I couldn't afford any at the time. Thankfully I managed to keep the rubber on the ground, but it was scary. Those rocks at Conties are pretty sharp.

Hasn't been announced yet. Black Rhino is definitely in, then maybe go check out last years route. https://www.strava.com/activities/2436253099