100Tours

I suspect the actual fairies take this feedback much better than the average hub poster.. If you have ever run a project like this then you have probably realised that it is useful to hear people's feedback and experience of what you have built. Anyway the issue is a King_Cripy writes above - if you put up the sign you're assuming some liability, partly by encouraging people to use the trail. You have 2 choices: develop for safety or don't develop at all. The other side of the argument is that getting people hurt is a good way to get MTB activity curtailed along the spruit over time (because JHB Parks liability as well). Make it safer, we might prevent the next injury and make someone else's riding more enjoyable. And I'm glad you walked away from that one

I've been riding the spruit since 1998. Maybe you can leave a card in the run out area where the newbies end up once they've hit it.

If a number of newer riders are falling in the ditch then by definition that makes this an issue. I'd say it was safer without the sign (which would encourage you to follow the route more travelled). Once you've chosen the right line once you'll probably not then go over the lip by mistake on your second time passing, but I'd also assume that the signs are there for people riding it for the first time. This one is an issue because it is a quite technical feature on an otherwise non-technical part of the trail. 3 red arrows on their own would be bettter than a sign with 4 messages on. The red disappears amongst the rest of it. And to stop and read the sign (you can't really read it while riding) is not how most people ride. The sign therefore works as legal protection, rather than being risk reducing. This isn't negative criticism. It is meant to make the place more fun, and safer. FWIW I have spent evenings creosoting and fixing bridges around Alberts in years past. Not that it should make a difference, but I have put some effort in too.

Dear Spruit fairies (not sure if this is the right forum, but I'm loathe to start a new thread) This is a dangerous and poorly marked feature on the spruit. Dangerous in that I've witnessed 2 head injuries with riders going over the gap jump unawares over the last 4 days (and I've only been there twice), and poorly marked as I'll set out below. I nearly took myself over the gap too. This is immediately above the Victory Park Virgin Active gym. The marking issue is 3-fold 1. The dangerous line is the natural continuation of the riding line, while the preferred route required that you turn off. So your eye tends to take you into danger. 2. The '3-arrow' danger sign is almost identical to the route markings everywhere else (sponsors logo prominent, and about 75% the same as the route signs). This means that you don't immediately recognise it as a danger sign, and as well as being the natural line, the gap jump looks a lot like it is actually the marked route. 3. There is no indication that you should rather take the right fork(!) So even if you were planning on going that way, you're likely to change your mind to follow the marked route rather than ride 'off route'. Please re-think this.

The Lab used to stock Endura - which are awesome. But they only stock the outer half for some stupid reason which is therfore pointless. Good baggies are brilliant - especially if its wet and muddy (keeps your chamois clean and the mud out), or hot (no bib to overheat you), or you're planning on riding in the bush (thorns, etc..), or you might fall off (harder to tear). And the aerodynamics of bibs at 15kph isn't helping you much.

Also becomes the first Briton to win a Grand Tour. Bradley must be pleased for him

given they no longer sell Shimano or SRAM into South Africa their value proposition isn't all that good any more. at least for the bulk of my purchases.

from experience you pay between $60 and $80 a day for bike hire, so it is more expensive to hire if you're there for more than 3 days. Plus you have to ride someone else's bike

Alitalia round trip to Verona - R9000 Alitalia Bike transport - R3700 (US$250) 8 days accommodation, car hire, refueling, food and drink - EUR800 (=R13,000) All told that's R26,000, and you could probably save a bit off that if you were careful with drinks/meals. Not cheap, but perhaps more affordable than you think

This place

The Moser museum (and wine farm) in Trento

Cima Campo (up past a WW2 Italian tank battery on the Austrian border)

Passo San Boldo (built in 100 days - or a little more perhaps - by women and children in WW1)

Passo Gavia (on the day they cancelled the pass from the Giro)

On request: Sella Ronda from Canazei (Italy)..

I know a guy who did that with a bar end..

I count 62x14, so roughly equivalent to 48x11 (I think)

If the E Cape had more dashcams you'd see them doing that with cattle..

if you measure the cobble faces you'll get 2400m..

FWIW the stats from the NHS (UK) are as follows- smoke and stop in your 20's - has no measurable impact on your health or mortality ..stop in your 30's - life expectation is 1 year less ..stop in your 40s - you lose a decade. so basically if you've turned 40 its time to quit. Well done to the guys who have managed to give up.

it's not something you can win? edit: an honest answer to this question may even be the end of bikehub

I'll try post a pic later - mine takes a 650b slime tube and its full. Nice system overall.

True story, a heavier-than-average mate of mine walks into a T-shirt shop in China and puts on the only XL in the shop, which fits him like a rash vest.. The lady behind the counter looks him up and down and says, ahhh, Happy Buddah! She didn't get the sale.

My personal favourite - eMTB races are exempt from the no electronic bike rule who woulda thunk it

Piggs Peak Maguga Dam Lodge Hawane Resort Brett and Leslie are still a good contact as above - they'll be done with the 2018 version of the Frontier in a week or so.