Dan Dob

Went back to a non clutch type derailluer on our last singletrack trip and boy is it noisy! Worth the upgrade just to help your sanity IMO

Has anyone checked that your Quick release springs are the right way around? If they are the wrong way around, the wheel might not sit in the drop outs correctly and seem to be dished incorrectly. If that is the case, it's a very easy fix (though with a very embarrassed look on your face!)

Err, Admin Do you think you could move this post to 'Routes and trails' page please?

Hi Hubbers, With the new trails being finished in Jonkershoek for the season, it's time to update iRide Africa's trail map of the area. I'm having issues with naming the trails though and am interested to see what I could get input from the locals. PLEASE-I don't want made up names or suggested names or names that you would like to call the trails. I am after the official trail names as named by the trail builders if possible. Using Strava segment names is the easiest way to get names of trails but they are often made up by the user and sometimes not fair on the original builders of the trail. What I (think) are correct on my map are the following; Lower, middle and upper canary Boletus Elliotti (masons/never ending story) Radiata (finally back! tiding section!) Patula Fire hut trail 1, 2, & 3 Trails that I don't know the names for; The 3 new canaries above upper? The new dbl black diamond run The flow section that runs from the new dbl black diamond (I have heard it called flow trail) Trail 8 (runs towards gate from dam wall) Trail 7 Specialized Epic 2 section above never ending story Please give me some input-I guess the best is to speak to Meurant and Bennett, but am interested in the response.

Pappa Bear, Is that trail you drew in, on iRide Africa map about right? If so I will update it and put it online as I will only be riding it later this week. Can't wait!

I agree, was a really tough day out there. Gotto say I was disappointed with the route, which felt quite 'Epic'y. Not enough flow and too much grinding straight up vineyards just to bomb straight down them again. That said, the new Banghoek Valley singletrack was incredible and lots of fun (as was the normal Jonkershoek stuff)

Craigwt, I don't normally ride with kneepads and will probably only do so on my DH bike so need a more burly set like the 661's or RaceFace's offerings.

Backpacks aren't mandatory but baggies are

Ja, Meurant tends to keep things raw- he obviously likes it cos he finished pretty high up on the list! With the shorter stages here, I find it difficult to get into a rhythm- I was just getting into Stage 3, thinking that I was only about 1/2 way through it, so wasn't even looking out for the traffic cone warning so was really caught by surprise and went 'flying through the air with the greatest of ease'. Weeeee! On that note anyone want a set of G-Form knee pads size medium (I'd say small)? Used twice, not my cup of tea. R400.

PoS, you must be an English teacher with your clever use of words back there DJR, Thanks! Was quite surprised about 4th place as my back brake was non existent in the first 2 stages and I had a small crash in stage 3 (yep, in *that* final corner). Just highlights that enduro really is more about riding at 80% and most importantly not crashing IMO. The likes of Tom Rood, Gary Barnard and Mark Hopkins and Matthew Lombardi were smashing the stages but all must have had some offs, meaning I could sneak in ahead of them I was on the 2014 Giant Trance X 650B, which I had only ridden twice before and have some way to go with dialing the suspension, but it performed brilliantly and was very happy to have a smaller wheelsize in all those loose corners!

So when is someone going to organise an Enduro in Eselfontein? It is made for this format! Robert Starke of Contermanskloof says he is keen to host one there sometime just before Winter. Would be great to get 4-5 enduro races in a year to keep us all honest!

Loved that stage 2! Tunnel vision of note . Noticed a lot of brown shoulders coming off that stage-and just in case you made it through unscathed, the tag reader was put right next 2 wattle stumps, so that you had to place you wheels right inbetween them, all while trying to brake (offcamber) before smashing into the vineyard and getting your tag to read. Good times!

I've been running iRide Africa for 5 years now so have been outside, cycling a LOT during this period and have been taking note of the weather during every month for 5 years. This rain is nothing abnormal-what I have noticed is that the rain in Cape Town only really stops in mid December, so that's when I can almost guarantee 90% sunny days. What does happen sometimes is that the rain comes in the weekends for 4-5 weeks in a row, and the weeks are sunshine bliss! That is when people start moaning about all the rain because the weekends are when most people can squeeze in their long training rides. The other interesting thing I've noticed is that winter rains really only start in July/August. May and June are incredible riding months in Cape Town besides the shorter daylight hours.

Another great bike and blog post out by Dave! http://mercerbikes.co.za/zed-ps-zed-p/

I cover all out rental bikes in it and have bought buckets loads of offcuts of 3M vinyl tape. I can sell you enough to cover your bike for R150, but it'll be up to you to cut it and stick it all on (time consuming). Come by to pick up.

Good question- we don't celebrate our mtb history nearly enough. Ken Pascoe has been at the forefront of building the Howick trails since we started building there in the early 90's. Absolute legend and is out there clearing and cutting and getting permission while we are all riding or working. See that Pyga recently recognised his efforts by naming their 160mm frame after him which is great! There are many other names that could be added-mostly the guys that have been at it since waaay back and done all the disciplines at some point or another. Chris Nixon, Myles Kelsey, Meurant Botha, Oli Munnik to name a few...

Glad to see there are people starting to go the 'book your own tour' route. Get a bunch of your mates together, stay in quality B&B's and ride the trails that suit you and race against each other without the queues! I rode the W2W this wknd and had an absolute blast but still bleak that a: there wasn't more tech trail (even though it's harder trail than most stage races) and b: Even though we were in the top 30 teams, I still had to dawdle behind riders that couldn't ride switchbacks c: that I wasn't strong & fit enough to overtake them before every trail By the looks of a few threads on thehub, it looks like there are quite a few people that are looking to ride/race on gnarlier trails, which is great news - Who's going to team up with us to start hosting these type of events?

Entered as well-really sad to be missing out on Eselfontein but looking forward to riding trails blind-always good to highlight your weak points!

Great! Looks like I'll make it too. See you all tomorrow.

Event Name: Self Rescue Mechanics Course When: 12 November 2013 Where: 8 Richmond Road, Mowbray, Western Cape Category: MTB This course will enable you to become self sufficient on your bike rides. The aim is to give you more confidence in being able to finish races or get home should you experience a typical mechanical breakdown on the trail. We also cover the basics of removing and inserting your wheels (safely!) and cleaning your bike as well as making sure you bike is safe to ride and optimised for you! This course will teach you the following; Cleaning your bike Removing and inserting your wheels Lubricating your chain Adjusting your suspension Punctures (tubes and tubeless) Broken chain (quick link and chain breaker) Rubbing brakes Our mechanics courses are held at our premises 8 Richmond road, Mowbray. You are welcome to bring your road or mountain bike. You are to bring; A bike (preferably dirty/in need of service) Tools that you carry on a bike ride (multi-tool, plugs, pump etc) We will supply; The work area Specialised tools (BB, chain whip, chainbreakers, fork pumps etc) Some hex keys and chainbreakers to share Cleaning solution and brushes (for sale as well) Grease Go to Event Page

Have these bikes for our rental fleet and have never had an issue... I'd look at your storage/travelling as possible causes.

I had a great day out on my little used DH bike with Omega Man. Track has got huge potential and is already super fun. Here's a pic I grabbed off my gopro (which was not angled right the rest of the time so footage is unusable.)

No way you can learn to braze/weld in a weekend!

Not yet but there are a few things on the horizon in Cape Town

Haha BFScott, Jennie IS fast but has the patience to amble along at any pace dictated by our guests hence making her one of the best guides available .