STEEL Niner

Shimano shoes all the way, the top of the range 3XX(something something) is the business! Full carbon sole, super comfy, wide and the moldable insert will help if not sort-out any flat foot issues. It also has a molded toe box keeping them in "shape" and comfy for a looooooong time! By far the best ive used incl spez, sidi, gaerne, answer (long time ago), time and previous versions of S.

Mouthwash is another alternative fungus killer. A minty after taste is also more pleasurable than toilet cleaner!!

Sweet, we staying @ mankele. Wifes birthday present to me, cant wait!! No just hope the new steed arrives before departure!

@ MOTHERGOOSE. Gonna be at Mankele on 9/10 May to check it out, let me know if you also going to be there that weekend and we can hook up!?!?!

name and shame so we dont all get the same cr@p from his 'spares box'

This is always a tough one and could even be an inbred virus like "koksaki" aka yuppie flu or even glandular fever. EIther one of these are a real duzi as you never really get rid of it but they lie dormant until you prompt them up again by overtraining. Rest is by far the first option as well as diet and blood tests if you are serious about getting better. Rest up, sleep early and enjoy the lie-ins in the morn for at least a week then re-asses and listen to your body, it generally tells you more than you think.

Awesome post, makes you think how "hardcore" we really think we are when finishing a modern day event.......... Ive always maintained that you will be amazed at how hard you can push the human body, mind permitting of course!!! 24 hour solo races go a long way to peering into this window however. But after this post, even that seems ordinary!?!?!

Both Kenda and Maxxis generally have stronger tire walls than most ( had no isues), have only had side wall probs with conti and hutchinson in the past.

NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE big O. do they come with a matching fu attitude!?!?

Exactly, and with all this attention and public knowledge we will never know if the intentions would have migrated into practice, but the fact is; the intention was clear and damaging enough.... we hope. off to go ride and visit my favourite LBS who was not on the list. Mikes Bikes!

big up to Brandon for taking the time to air an insiders point of view. from what i can gather Brandon and Anton form summit have been the only ones from the meeting to put a toe in the shark infested hub waters in public to voice their views on the situation. It is naive to think the other parties involved are not keeping an eye on this as "guests" or whatever but obviously to **** scared to actually join and post. I am sure Brandon and the team have much better things to do like watch their 'boys' in blue and yellow kick some serious @ss tomorrow in the Epic prologue. So personally to Brandon, thanks for trying to shed some light on the facts from the inside for all us armchair critics on the outside. It has put you guys in even a higher light and i hope your product image does not suffer because of this. As for the 'masterminds' behind the meeting, different story altogether.........

You could always have a few extra medals for the line entry guys say 100 or so on a first come first serve basis. Chances are they wont be taken by the first couple hundred finishers anyway. But even that should still reduce costs for the organizer who hopefully has the scruples to use the savings wisely. Use it don't use it. Its your choice should you happen to be a race organizer.

Maybe its a good poll topic then: Choose to take medal or donate proceeds to charity to get a broader feel? Of-course there are always economy of scale problems, but one of my mantras is 'no problems only solutions' so i hope the economy of scale falls in favor of a charity instead of something unwanted/needed in my dustbin. I understand that some people may want the medal and they are more than entitled to it, the option would be nice to try and shift funds to where they might be better spent and i hope the medal guys and organizers can make this happen. Maybe my idea glass just seems half full..........

Like the sticker option dirt girl, much less admin and manpower than tick list.

That is why the medals should only be available for pre-entries. This should hopefully give enough time to estimate medal numbers and have them made. Line entries get fee penalty and no medal option, just another incentive to enter online, making everyones life easier.

At least its not IN the road! Always a good start....

As far as medals go; read this somewhere and thought it was a grand idea, apologies if it has been posted before! When entering online there should be an option to donate the medal cost to the charity associated with the event, or if you want the medal, opt to receive the medal. This way the guys who end up tossing the medal away can contribute to a good cause instead. The only logistical thing will be giving the medals to the guys after the event who want them and not to everyone but this could be done at reg or collection point after the finish with a simple tick list. Also, no pre-entry no medal, just another little penalty for the late comers. The organizers can also then cut down on cost/sponsorship and use it elsewhere, like goodie bags with useful things like valve adapters or tyre levers?!? I am sure the medal cost donation option and a space to donate a little more would be an easy addition to the online process, same as ride subs. And would be used by many, myself included.

Is it a spoke spanner and portable cassette/disk rotor/BB tool?

Anything FIT has got to be good, imho still the best out there, cant wait to try these bars out!!! Good job FIT!!

Thanks for the pics and the heads up on the chain bored girl. I don't have any pics (yet) but the shopping list was: Niner (MCR) magic carpet ride Reynolds 853 frame Pro carbon fork XT wheels XTR M960 (polished) cranks with blackspire SS chainwheel DMR tensioner if needed XTR brakes Chris King headset Thompson seatpost Bar undecided for now. CANT wait for the outstanding bits to arrive, especially the frame!! Im like a kid the night before christmas!!! I see the brown Peace has WTB tyres, they any good and where can yo get them?

Unicycle, what does any of that have to do with Fritz and the topic??? Gotta love these forums where you can hide behind a nickname and post e-mails who were not even sent to you, unless you are actually Brandon, Dave or Zoon?!? I personally prefer to apply mud to my own face by actually riding in it and not posting BS about myself, but if thats how you roll.. enjoy!

Sweet, hope you don't mind an over eager SS newb drooling over your rig while his is on the water. What colour is your niner so i can spot you in the crowd?

Hey Jules, will you be at the night race again next week? I stay just down the road in g-side and would like to check your setup, still waiting for my niner so will be there on a small wheeler.

Theres always next time......... practice makes perfect!!

@ holy roller: One gear, more beer...... oh dear........... can't steer.... Corny and strange but true! Cant wait for my 'gold member' niner to arrive, will definately be celebrated with some golden nectar!!