Nick

That's crazy talk! I'm a terrible high poster.

I wouldn't be surprised if they phase out the Stumpjumper ST. The Epic Evo is just as capable, is lighter, and pedals better.

I didn't check to be honest. Spec sheet says 170/175, so I'm guessing that it might be size specific? Pedal strikes was not something I noticed while riding.

We're all different. I love riding short travel bikes on all levels of trail. It makes every trail on your ride fun no matter the grade. Our trails aren't overly technical or steep and I find riding a big travel bike limits my enjoyment on easier trails. I also like the pedalling as I tend to link a number of trail networks into a single ride all while leaving from home. That said, I'm definitely more in the Epic Evo camp than the race-focussed Epic but give it a dropper post and the bike still rips.

They are being coy about the alloy frames. There is apparently something else related to the Epic coming later in the year which may or may not be it.

In their testing, weight is pretty much a constant. It's the UCI limit. Sure, the lower priced models would benefit from weight savings. Trek mentioned in the press call that they were not doing a rim brake version because they simply were not selling enough rim brake bikes to justify building them.

The brand went through a number of distributors over the last decade in SA. I think this inconsistency has something to do with their current market share. Trek took over directly a few years ago and, from my perspective at least, they have steadied the ship and are looking to grow.

We removed that particular ad on suspicion of it being a scam.

Two new Scalpel specification levels announced today, both with SRAM's new 52 tooth Eagle systems. Scalpel Hi-MOD Ultimate FrameAll-New, 100mm travel, BallisTec Hi-Mod Carbon, Proportional Response Tuned, FlexPivot Chainstay, PF30-83, Tapered Headtube, Speed Release 12mm thru axle, Ai Offset, Stash compatibleForkLefty Ocho Carbon, 100mm, Chamber Damper with remote lockout, OppO Spring System, tapered steerer, 55mm offsetRear ShockFox Float DPS Factory EVOL, 100mm, remote lockout, adjustable reboundRimsENVE M525 Carbon, 24h, tubeless readyHubs(F) Lefty 60 / ® Custom DT Swiss, 36t Star Ratchet, 12x148mm thru-axleSpokesDT Swiss Aerolite, straight pullTyres(F) Schwalbe Racing Ray EVO, 29 x 2.25", SnakeSkin, Addix Speedgrip, tubeless ready, ® Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO, 29 x 2.25", SnakeSkin, Addix Speed, tubeless readyCranksetSRAM XX1 Eagle DUB, 34T, Ai offsetBottom BracketSRAM DUB PF30 MTB83ChainSRAM XX1 Eagle, Copper, 12-speedRear CogsSRAM XG-1299, XX1 Eagle, Copper, 10-52, 12-speedRear DerailleurSRAM XX1 Eagle AXSShiftersSRAM Eagle AXS, 12-speedHandlebarENVE M5, Carbon, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 9° sweep, 760mmGripsESI Chunky Silicone, 32mm dia.StemCannondale 1, 7075 Alloy, 1-1/8", 31.8, 7°HeadsetIntegrated, 1-1/8 to 1.5", sealed angular contact bearings BrakesSRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic disc, 160/160mm Centerline X rotorsBrake LeversSRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic discSaddlePROLOGO Dimension NDR CPC Tirox SaddleSeatpostENVE Carbon, 31.6 x 400mm, 0mm offsetSizesS, M, L, XLColourCopper (CPR)ExtrasStash Kit (Fabric 8 in 1 Mini Tool and Dynaplug tubeless puncture repair tool)Claimed Weight (excluding Stash)9.45 kgSuggested Retail PriceR 199,995.00 Scalpel Carbon LTD FrameAll-New, 100mm travel, BallisTec Carbon, Proportional Response Tuned, FlexPivot Chainstay, PF30-83, Tapered Headtube,Speed Release 12mm thru axle, Ai Offset, Stash compatibleForkLefty Ocho, 100mm, Chamber Damper with remote lockout, OppO Spring System, tapered steerer, 55mm offsetRear ShockFox Float DPS Performance Elite EVOL, remote lockout, adjustable reboundRimsHollowGram 25, Superlight Hi-Impact Carbon, 28h, 25mm IW, tubeless readyHubs(F) HollowGram Lefty 60 / ® HollowGram w/DT Swiss Star Ratchet internals, 12x148mmSpokesDT Swiss Competition Race, straight-pullTyres(F) Schwalbe Racing Ray Performance, 29 x 2.25", Addix Compound, tubeless ready, ® Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance, 29 x 2.25", Addix Compound, tubeless readyCranksetTruvativ Stylo C, 34T, Ai offsetBottom BracketSRAM DUB PF30 MTB83ChainSRAM X01 Eagle, 12-speedRear CogsSRAM XG-1295, XO1 Eagle, 10-52, 12-speedRear DerailleurSRAM X01 EagleShiftersSRAM XO Eagle, 12-speedHandlebarCannondale 1 Flat, Carbon, 31.8mm, 9° back, 760mmGripsESI Chunky Silicone, 32mm dia.StemCannondale 1, 7075 Alloy, 1-1/8", 31.8, 7°HeadsetIntegrated, 1-1/8 to 1.5", sealed angular contact bearings BrakesShimano XT hydraulic disc, 160/160mm XT rotorsBrake LeversShimano XT hydraulic discSaddlePrologo Dimension NDR, Tirox railsSeatpostCannondale 1, UD Carbon, 31.6 x 400mmSizesS, M, L, XLColourCarbon (CBR)ExtrasStash Kit (Fabric 8 in 1 Mini Tool and Dynaplug tubeless puncture repair tool)Suggested Retail PriceR 119,995.00

Just to clarify the Bike Hub Plus advert removal. Direct sold adverts from the bike industry are not blocked on Bike Hub Plus by default. We appreciate that people like to see these. It is the adverts that follow you around from site to site that are blocked. There is an opt-in option for BH Plus members to further remove the direct sold adverts too and be completely ad free.

That would be useful. It won't happen immediately but I've added the suggestion to our feature request board.

Thanks for all the bike photos everyone! It has been enjoyable tuning in to see what everyone is riding. Here is the official announcement of the prize winners: https://community.bikehub.co.za/features/_/competitions/backyard-bike-checks-congratulations-to-our-winners-r8126

We usually take the photos in the race village between stages in the evenings. So it never got made.

This bike was at the top of our 2020 Epic Bike Check list. Sadly, not to be.

Shimano also announced flat mount MTB brakes for XC frames and no doubt riders will fit them to their (flat bar) gravel bikes too.

You'll find them here: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/185156-coronavirus-lockdown-and-exercising-outdoors/ I moved the most recent comments in an attempt to keep the lockdown and exercising discussion in one place. Comments specific to the PPA suggestions are still welcome here.

But the rims say 29 on them Love the Marzocchi gold.

We're not closing the Classifieds. It will operate as is during the lockdown. We are expecting it to slow down though.

In the light of recent developments relating to the Coronavirus pandemic, the organisers of KAP sani2c, the three-day mountain bike stage race in KwaZulu-Natal due to be held from 12-16 May, have made the decision to postpone the event to December. Click here to view the article

So an improvement on the laptop and phone then? I'll chat to the team about the tablet problem. How's the log in issue going for everyone else? We put out a number of updates to site on Tuesday morning, along with a hopeful fix for this issue.

Thanks for reporting. We'll take a look. Update: We think we've found the problem. Fix in the works.

Yeah, we can have a look at doing that. I'll add it our feature requests.

Yes, this is an issue for some users. You should be logged in for a year by default, so no remember me option needed. We've been struggling to replicate the problem, so our fixes have been a bit of a stab in the dark. There is another fix going out early next week which we are hoping will do the job.

Press Release from Mitchelton-SCOTT: Following extensive discussions, Mitchelton-SCOTT has made the decision to withdraw its teams from the next period of racing, regardless of the individual Government Regulations in place. The current period of consideration will run from 04/03/2020 to 22/03/2020 and will include the following races:Strade Bianche (men and women)GP Industria (men)Paris-Nice (men)Tirreno-Adriatico (men)Ronde van Drenthe (women)Danilith Nokere Koerse (women)Milan-SanRemo (men)Trofeo Alfredo Binda (women)The UCI and these races have each been notified of the decision. During this period, the situation will be closely monitored and decisions for the following period will be made. The main reasons for these withdrawals are listed below:We, as Team Doctors and the wider team, have a duty of care to protect health and wellbeing of all our riders and staff. We will not have any input into, or control over, the measures that race organisers may or may not put in place to manage the COVID-19 risks. We are a moving, international logistical puzzle, with staff and riders travelling between different countries with different health systems and strategies around COVID-19. Constant travel will increase the health risks and make management of logistics, potential quarantine periods, etc, extremely difficult.To withdraw any additional impact we as a team, either via illness or injury, may put on national and international health systems and hospitals.Whilst we have put in all the preparations and are eager to race, as an organisation we believe this is the best way to ensure we adhere to our duty of care to riders and staff, before returning to business as usual as soon as possible.

RCS saying that they expect the races to be cancelled, according to Cycling News. Italy has just closed schools and universities for two weeks.