levett

As the guys say: Nothern Farms - I intend to join Ian's group - hopefully this Sunday or The MTN Bike Park in Bryanston - if you can get some friends/family to go (they don't have to be cyclists) - they can chill on the deck/grass and drink Seattle Coffee and then you can ride (with some of them if they have bikes) - there are easy trails, and this is a 'fun' way to spend some time and enjoy your new sport. There is the Spruit (but you need a group) - I haven't been there for a long while, but you can ride from Bryanston to Emerentia Dam (or any portion you want - just don't go without a group.

My advice - don't do it! I got some from CRC and used them with my Continental GP4000s - unless you want to be changing tubes at very regular intervals, I don't think they are worth the 20g weight saving!

Are you in Jo'burg? I think I have an X9 FD that you could use to check if you're close to Jo'burg North. Best plan is to talk to Wayne (Kiwi) - wayne@planet-x-bikes.co.za - I'm sure he will have been asked this question before, and will have some advice.

I don't have the 'slotted dropout' Scandal 29er (mine's the regular) but, in discussion with Wayne (Kiwi), the advice was that the X9 and FD773 FD's give the best clearance (I run 2.4" Continental Mountain Kings, and there is plenty of clearance on the vertical dropout frame. Looking at how the X( fits (from memory), if the wheel is 'too far forward', I think it more likely that the tyre would rub on the frame rather than the FD. If you're in Jo'burg, you're welcome to 'compare'. It's also worth dropping Wayne (Kiwi on here an E-Mail) - The Thug may also have some advice. Cheers, Dave.

Which FD do you use? A 'high clamp' SRAM X9 or Shimano FD773 work best. Also ask Kiwi for advice.

I'm in - we usually do the MotorBike toy run. Make it easy, child friendly, and I'll bring my 8 year old along.

I believe that Cajees are franchises rather than 'one company' - I don't know if that makes a difference (the one's I've been in seem to have 'one focus'). What I can't believe about the Fourways Cajees is how they stay in business - have you seen the stock that they have got! There must be millions, and millions of stock in - OK they make a good profit margin on each 'sale', but to have that amount of money tied up on stack seems not to make sense. My favourite shop for buying parts and accessories is Solomons - I've always found them to be knowledgable, helpful, and straight - and they 'go the extra mile' to make a sale.

This might sould like a daft question - but here goes: I've only done one 45-50km MTB race before, and that was last years (2009) 94.7. How does the 45km 'Monster' compare to the 50km 94.7?

I just picked mine up at lunchtime - I'll let you know how it works!

To do the setup, I recommend putting some tywraps (cable ties) around the fork leg

700C (28") Rims fit (most) 26" MTB frames - they even (just) fit my full suspension Giant Trance Frame (though I haven't ridden it with them fitted), and work perfectly with my wife's Scott Scale 35 (only work with disc brakes (obviously) though. The other option is to get a set of 29er MTB wheels with a narrow rim and fit a 700C tyre on them - I have a set for my 29er, fitted with 700 25C tyres - that way, when you 'upgrade' from the 26" MTB to a 29er, you can use the same wheels. I run Hope Pro 2 Hubs with Velocity VXC 29er Rims and continental GP4000 700 25C tyres as my 'road Wheels' on my On-One Scandal 29er with no problems (and Bontrager Rythm Comp TLR Disc 29 with 2.4" Continental Mountain Kings for 'off-road)

Hi Brett, I was just trying to understand where the attacks are happening - I live in the area (broadacres) but don't ride my MTB in the area (I ride 'road' in that area though). I've heard of attacks near the Lion Park (the other side of Cedar road, outside of Northern Farms and, before security was improved, at Northern Farms. It seems to me that these people are 'watching', know where the isolated spots are, and know where to attack people. Sad as it is to say, it appears as though nowhere in the area is safe!

Brett - glad you guys are OK - could you please advise, in more detail, where the incident occured. Was it on the road 'to' Northern Farms, after the end of Cedar Road, and on the way to Northern Farms/the crossing of N14? (somewhere near Herron Bridge school?

I read a review and the guy said he used his 105 Front derailleur with the 'trigger shifters' with no problem so, like Johan says, Shimano say things are incompatible but, in practice, they work fine.

Johan, Next time I'm down (to get me new Carbon Cruiser checked out), I'll bring a 'spare' Road/Flat Bar derailleur for you to have a study at! You may be right with the 'Compatibility' issue - apparently an Ultegra 6703 Front Derailleur is only compatible with 6700 STI's (but a 6600 Derailleur is compatible with 6700 STI's ) Cheers, Dave.

Johan - I've certainly not tried this but (as we discussed) I've built that fab carbon frame into a 10-speed road bike with straight bars. With this, you need Shimano 10-speed trigger shifters and a 'special' 10-speed triple (mine's a triple) front derailleur (FD-R773 I think) - apparently standard road front derailleurs don't work (the double chainring front derailleur is FD-R770 I think). Would that indicate that the road trigger shifters are a different ratio (front derailleur)? And is that MTB ratio? or is it a 'special' ratio for the 10-speed trigger shifters? Maybe it's just that the 10-speed shifters for straight bars are different and MTB trigger shifters are the same as STI's - if so, sorry for causing the confusion. Cheers, Dave.

Solomans for R320. I've taken Mampara's advice, and bought a pair of Aspens to try (from Solomons at woodmead) - they'll do a much better price than R320 (talk to Aghtar) - significantly less than R300 each!

'That' caravan is a classic Have a look at: http://www.moorlandleisure.co.uk/tab.html and http://tab-rv.com/ Comes with And a 'full size' awning that is bigger than the caravan - and it only weighs 500kg! My bike is better than the one in the pic though!

Here is my latest creation It's running Ultegra Triple, with an 11-27 rear and came in at 7.14kg (complete - everythnig except pedals) This is (I think) the same frame as Apricot Jam is selling - fantastic quality - 1,100g for the frame, and 300g+ for the un-cut fork Light weight was not the priority (it is a triple afterall!), but I'm quite pleased with the weight - especially since the Shimano 10-speed flat-bar controls (trigger shifters and brakes) are Heavy - I think it would be lighter with road bars! And, if Shimano go 10-Speed MTB, I think those shifters would be much lighter No Name Carbon Frame Pro Lite Bars Planet-X (Kiwi) Stem Bontrager Race-Lite Wheels Michelin Pro Race 3 Tyres Hope Bottom Bracket Ultegra 6700 52-39-30 Crank Ultegra 6700 GS Rear Derailleur KCNC Seat Post Planet-X Saddle Shimano 'Special' Flat Bar Front Derailleur Shimano 10-Speed Flat Bar Trigger Shifters Shimano Flat Bar Brake Levers Planet-X Brakes And that's about it!levett2010-03-23 11:09:44

I didn't mean to wind you up Tony - I've seen you and you're lad at Teaks - it was a 'generalisation', rather than specific. Appologies - Dave

I've just looked on the Cycle Challenge website, and the entry fee includes an R5 CSA Rider Levy - WHAT IS THAT FOR and what do we get for it So we pay for our Licences, and then get to pay them a levy on top of that! Last year there was (I think) 28,000 entries - at R5 per entry, that's R140,000 to CSA on top of what we already pay! levett2010-03-23 08:29:12

Giving most kids (including mine) the choice, they would love to sit in front of the TV or Playstation (or whatever version they have) - very few 'want' to go cycling (before they get there) - but once there, they generally love it. I was told I was cruel to my lad when I entered him (when he was 7) into the 20km Dirt Festival at Northern Farms - when he finished, he loved it (I wondered why my arm ached so much at the end though - I was pushing him, and caught him, on one flat section, with his brakes on because he thought we were going too fast). He asked, after we got back from the Argus, if he could do the Argus next year - a) they won't let him, and b) even I think 110km is too much for a 9 year old!levett2010-03-23 08:35:09

I've also entered too (acually entered Thursday 18th March) - it is on 21st November I seem to think that the entries have opened much earlier than previous years - maybe the new sponsors are trying to maximise entries (and get money in the door - X number of entries x 8 months before the envet, at R270 per entry - now that's a healthy bank balance, and a reasonable amount of interest!)levett2010-03-23 07:35:53

My lad is completely spoiled (I have to be honest! Though so am I!). the frame I got was: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=12527 still heavy for it's size (actually weighs around 1.8kg), but built up into a nice bike. It has mostly XT components (my cast-off's) - though I did have to buy him XT cranks (as they were the only ones I could get in 165mm): http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20679 and I got 80mm travel RST Forks from Planet-X (Kiwi) Makes up to a fantastic bike!

I'd advise to build one - I've just built my (8 year old (just)) a bike based on my 'cast off's (good excuse for me to upgrade!!!) and a 14" hardtail frame I bought from CRC - The frame worked out around R1k to R1.2k or so. He was previously on a 24er - which was SOOOO heavy - now he has a tiny 26er with proper components.