PjT

So Eddie, how are you finding the Thudbuster? Worthy investment?

Anybody interested in a "bike bus" from Somerset -> Stellenbosch?

Hi all, To those who frequent Eden/Paradyskloof after work - alone. Take Note! Just got this via FB from a friend: https://www.facebook.com/502741716541040/posts/1448517028630166?sfns=mo

Who is doing this? Would like to see the route itself on a google earth map or similar- anyone found this somewhere yet? All I can find on their website is the route profile.

Hi there, thank you, but I went ahead and bought myself one from Rapide too ;-) Will delete/edit my original post.

Wow! What an awesome event....well organised...and really great routes with good variety of terrain. Will be going back next year. Your comments?

Yes, also looking forward to doing this for the 1st time. Bring the cold and cloudy weather...better than blistering sun. Safe riding all!

Race entries limited to 900 riders. According to race organisers, only about 175-200 entries left.

Entry done...

Any hubbers that have done this? Sounds pretty neat. Your comments?

Good time to start yes! This will be my first MTB challenge. Only getting out of the blocks at 08h12!!!

Found what i was looking for. thx

UPDATE: OK, so decided last night its time; and dropped the bike at the LBS this morning. Picked her up earlier and she is now 1x10 (11/42T with 32T up front) I had a secondhand XT crank (already fitted with a 32T narrow wide round chainring) that I got as part of a bundle deal when I bought a set of M785 XT brakes a while ago. There was also a 10sp rear shifter in the box. Removed: - Shimano M315 (Altus) brake set - Both Deore M6000 shifters - Front Derailleur - Race Face Crank with 36/22 chainrings Fitted: - M785 XT brakeset - XT rear shifter (attached onto brakelever thanks to iSpec) - Moved dropper lever to spot where front shifter used to be - XT Crank + 32T chainring (with new Shimano BB) Decided to keep the 11/42T cassette for now, and do proper test over the weekend and see if my legs beg me for the 46T On the short ride back to the office- me feeling happy so far!

Thanks all for the great advice. I will be going 1x10 in the days to come.

Eddy: mileage on the sunrace cassette so far?

Thanks for detailed feedback Eddy. i am also fairly happy with the deore I have...and they are fairly new still. I also have right/rear m780 shifter that I got with a set of m785 xt brakes. Plan is to use those. :-)

Cool. And that is the Sunrace 11-416T - right? You mentioned you have Shimano XT. Is that with M780 shifters? Pondering if I should also swap the Deore (M6000) for XT 10ps shifter. Will it make world of difference?

Thanks for clarifying (or explaining) in Lehmans terms ;-)

Oops, that is very important. Thanks

Good investment then...and I will keep in mind for the next time. For now, minimal cost with maximum/optimal benefit. PS> Another reason for going 1x is so that I can put the dropper post lever on the left thumb. It makes a world of difference on my XXL 23" frame when going down steep descents. Lever is currently above the bars, above the right shifter...so between finding the right gear and operating the dropper...things get a little busy

Make sense, but at >R3500 for a 9-46T cassette?! That is serious over capitalizing on my 2014 Spez Rockhopper Hardtail.

Oval... I have been looking at those. Supposedly (in theory) 1 32T oval would be a 30 on the narrow side, and a 34T on the broader side. I have a 32T round chainring lying in box that I got as part of a deal...so my plan is to get the 11-46T cassette, put it on and see what happens. I am sure I will miss my 22 chainring with 42 cog at the back (can you say GRANNY!) but the legs would just need to work a bit harder ;-) On that note, are my calculations of gear ratio accurate below, and how accurate do theory and practice meet up with each other on this? 42 (back) ÷ 22 (front) = 1.9 (ratio) 46 (back) ÷ 32 (front) = 1.4 (ratio) How much difference will this 0.5 make / or how bad will I feel it?

I agree, a 2x setup is sort of the "best of both worlds" but there are many time on the trails that I find myself feeling like a teenager learning to drive a stickshift...struggling to get the right gear between front chainrings and cassette. Yes, I suppose there would be time when one "spins out" on flats/commuting to the trails...but do you honestly think the 1x setup wears the smaller cogs out quicker?

Hi Schnavel, Thx for the reply, "works perfectly" is what I want to hear ;-) However what is the possibility that the "smother shifting" is due to SRAM components, and not so much the speed setup. Ie. comparing a 10sp and 11sp Shimano would probably yield more accurate results, however even here the shifters and mech will still differ?

Thx for response. Are you on a 1x11 / 1x12 now? and if I may ask, why did you leave the 10's behind?