IH8MUD

Gaint/Dragons Sports sorted out my frame claim chop-chop. Had all the relevant info as mentioned above, and did it through the shop I bought the bike from. Didn't even matter if the bike was 5 years old and I not in SA.

I am not for one or the other. Just some experience: My Current 4x4's Land Rover: Hankook MT (off road 90% of the time) Land Cruiser: Michellin MS AT Suzuki Jimney: BF Goodrich AT Nissan Plaas bakkie: Gerneral AT Military Puch: Cooper ST MT. ( off road 90% of the time) Land Cruiser came with Hankook MT and their grip on tar was crap. But I put the Hankook MT on the Land Rover because they was cheap at the time, it never see tar and can't go faster than 80km/h With some Auto Transmissions, If you go to big a size up in tires the Shifting gets erratic. Happend to my V6 Prado Auto. But do as you like. It is your car and money and a wonderful free SA.

MT tyres have less grip on tar, especially in the wet. They will also probably not last as long as AT. How much time do you really spend off road? What is your current wheel size? Is your car Manual or Automatic?

This e-bike business is like "draadtrek" . . . . For some it is ok . . . But it is NOT THE REAL THING.

:thumbup: There is a reason I don't downhill with the likes of MR. Minnaar. I can't handle my bike at that speed. I don't have the skill nor the guts. On MTB trails most can handle the speed they can generate themselves. This is like putting a 6-year old on a quad bike, because it stands upright by itself and the little bugger can press the throttle. Then they wonder whey they spend their Saturday night at the ER. As for the "it will help the less strong to keep up" argument. Ride with your peers in terms of your capabilities. That is how it works. Otherwise let me have a E-bike . . . . . because I want to ride with Nino and Julien and the boys and I can't keep up. Hey! Invent something electrical to that I could go and play a game against the Bulls because at the moment I can not.

E-Bikes can be good . . . the whole point is to make it easier. Get them. Thieves and bike-jackers are lazy, useless, bastards. (hens they do what they do) . . . Their whole game plan and targets would instantly shift. Why would they still want your S-works or Pinarello? It is hard work "trapping" that thing! They would leave me on my "you-have-to-pedal-it- to-death-bike" alone . . .

Damn . . . . . Thanks for the info. No I can stop cursing GT's website. The single speed option looks very nice. Perhaps one will cross my path one day.

@ BrandonF I keep seeing hard tail Carbon GT's in the hub with this CNC machined aluminum parts where the rear wheel and brake caliper attach (rear dropouts?) Also saw a black single speed like this. I want to know more about it. But when I look at the GT bikes on their website, I can not find this model or frame! Is it an older frame? Don't they make it anymore?

What the hell?! Where do these people live? Canada? Definitely not in sunny Southern Africa! That lame ass "bike thief" did not even have no knife . . .! Shameful! When I read "bike spike" I at least hoped the seat will remotely click lose, fall off, and they get a seat post in the bunghole . . . This is useless .

Yes in theory. But it usually goes like this . . . . BUT for 35K your get this better components .. . . they last longer and it's an ivestment. AND for 40K you get this componets . . . AND the better Carbon . . . . . lighter & stronger . . AND then this wheel . . . . man . . you be fast . . . JUST 5-10K . . . It's in Investment . .. you only by this bike once . NEW technology!. . . Its where everyone is going . . It's the 2016 model . . And soon you're at 60K . . . . We are all victims/suckers for this.

Was follow the thread. Always looking for better chain lube. Got some Smoov at the "after race" lucky draw. Reading the instructions: "Apply on the inside of the chain while turning the pedals to ensure that the lube gets worked into the chain." I like to lube the chain one drop on inside of one link at a time method. (Possible not the best method, but that is just me) Experimented a bit. Dropped some on a clean, dry chain on the top of the links of the bottom chain. Thus inside of the chain. The Smoov drops where just "sitting" on top of the chain links and not "flowing" into the chain links like I find with light oil lubes. The cohesion forces (attraction between "like/same" molecules. Molecules of Smoov and Smoov) of the Smoov appears to strong. With very weak adhesion forces (attraction between "unlike/different" molecules. Molecules of Smoov and the metal) between the lube and the chain. (I apologize if my chemistry terms is not correct, but hopefully what I tried to say is clear.) To get the Smoov into the links one would have to use the method as it is stated on the bottle. You all can rightfully say this is all invalid (and I am a poepol) as I did not follow the instructions. A week later the LBS washed my bike as part of a service and they applied some Smoove. Positive:I must admit, the chain was very quite. Negative: There was Smoov all over the back wheel/rim/chain-stay. Leading me the believe that they employed the "turn crank and squirt the lube method". (Correctly as instructed on the bottle) I went though a whole role of paper towels to try and clean of the Smoov from the bicycle and the buildup on the outside of the chain, the jockey wheels and the rest of the drive train. I know I did not follow the directions in my "experiment" and neither was it in any way very scientific. But, Sorry, no Smoov for me.

As said above, look a lot like some other lights on the market. Like those from Ryder. With that, I am not saying it is bad or anything. But if I may give advice, GET ANOTHER BAR MOUNTING SYSTEM. I have chucked those mounts on my lights and fitted better ones. Those are crappy. The rubber band are to long or the short, and they perish and break and the light can not be swiveled and then shine off center form the front wheel

Got some FOX bibs recently. The chamois looks and feel a lot like those in the Assos UNO Bib. (The shop says it's the same . . I don't know) (Not sure if Assos still make the UNO) Very comfy and it cost about R700 compared to R10000000000 for a Assos. Not sure if it will last as good as an Assos. The Lycra quality is not as good.

I was to pooped/sleg . . . . Laughable case of something like "blind leading the blind" (unfit dragging the more unfit). I wound not mind if they also took turn leading, but after 25 km of doing all the work . .

If in a team or 2-person stage race . . . then Draft. I might be wrong but even top teams draft behind their partners and took turns on the "flat roads" in the Epic. If it someone you don't know . . . . and don't share in doing the work up-front . . then F#$$-off!! I have stopped in a race to get rid of leach like drafters.

Just ride it . . . nothing on that bike is holding you back.

Beginning of the race . . . . the "Technical" parts is easy . .. Halfway in the race . . . . . . the "Technical parts is tough . . .. want ek is poepsleg.

Have found that the "buy last years stock for a better price so we can keep next years model" scenario to be much more applicable to North American and European market. In Canada you can buys last years Toyota or Jeep sometimes at 0% interest!! My brother over there always read all the reviews, then buy an "old" bike as the new stock for next year arrives. Great deals. Here the shops don't stock so much . not so much invested in stock. . . so they don't care . . it seems. Some sod will come and buy it, as there is a lack of alternative choices and not enough competition. Just my 2C

Think you made a good choice. Maybe not so much between the bikes. But after Scott rejected a warranty claim on a 6-month Scott Spark of one of my friends (cracked frame) I think you made the better decision.

Sorry I misinterpreted your post. My bad. I did wonder about the oil. Now it makes sens.

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VERY NICE Tallboy! But is there a reason why the rear shock is sort of "other-why" round? http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en/us/tallboy

I checked here. http://bcbikerace.com/news-and-media But they do not seem to have daily updates and tracking like the EPIC . . . . Anybody know of another site?

My brother and another x-pat is doing it . . . . I am green with envy!!!