_bob_

For me the difference between driving to giba and holla is 25 km one way, so no big deal to go to holla - have an annual membership there and it's quieter.

Not riding the race, but might come watch a bit. I ride at Holla pretty much every weekend. A bit of a drive to get there, but I like the place

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I eventually found the one I posted about. Looked at the Thule, but it only seems to fit on top of the load bed and I have read a few reports of it blowing off - maybe just due to it not being tightened enough. I haven't seen it in person, so I can't be sure, but there doesn't seem to be a locking mechanism on it to keep it from collapsing - not the same way as the one I was looking for (it's called a StableLoader, fyi). This thing fits inside the loadbed, locks by putting a couple of bolts through it and also, the bike carrier part mounts using two bolts, going all the way through the main shaft, locking it that way too. Removing is easy as releasing the tension using the wheel on one side. This thing is made of steel and is solid. I'm quite a weighty fella, and I stood on the thing and even jumped a little and it went nowhere. Tried it out with the bike on and works like a charm. Oh, and you can lock the bike onto it, by locking the skewer down with a Yale lock. Thanks again _bob_2009-07-06 08:43:43

I'm nowhere near racing fit just yet, so that doesn't make a difference for me. I asked about a reasonably good all round tyre for my hardtail GT and the crossmarks were reccomended. Didn't have any hassles with them so I put them on the mongoose when I built it up.

Not that I know anything about MTB tyres, but I have crossmarks on mine and they seem OK.

Congrats! Had mine for a couple of weeks now. Very happy.

I was just thinking the same thing

Amen to that - however, the pain and scrapes of falling off are the same

Apparently, in Durbs, it'll be a 16 degree high tomorrow. Time to pull out the heaters. I don't even own clothing for cold weather like that.

Only one I could find from Thule was their telescopic one. It looks like it fits onto loadbed sides, rather than inside the loadbed. Not so sure about that - wouldn't want bikes blowing off the back of the bakkie on the highway.

Thanks. Will look into those as well. Just want something to keep the bike upright, rather than have it on its side. Just not sure whether I can fit it upright with the wheels on.

Instead of putting in a towbar, just to carry a bike or two, I'm thinking of something like this: Anyone have any experience with these loadbed carriers - good idea/bad idea? Should I just go for a towbar and towbar mounted bike carrier? Thanks

Hope he recovers quickly and fully. Cyclesphere have asked for help in finding the driver and have offered a reward for info leading to the arrest.

Just got this on e-mail PLEASE HELP US FIND THIS VEHICLE . CYCLESPHERE IS OFFERING A R1000.00 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF THE DRIVER . Glenashley cyclist badly hurt in hit-and-run A Glenashley man is in a serious condition in a Durban hospital after being hit by a car while cycling on the M4 just past Umhlanga at the weekend. Patrick Nothling - who?s in his mid-fifties - was out cycling with his wife when he was side-swiped by a gold Toyota Corolla at about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon. They were going up the hill, before the Sibaya turnoff at the time. The driver of the car did not stop at the scene. Nothling?s brother Ian, says he was badly injured and had to be airlifted through to St Augustine?s hospital for treatment. ?He has a broken ankle and another break just behind the knee; a suspected broken pelvis; his right hand elbow is badly smashed - which they operated on for two hours to remove the chips. His head was badly cut and grazed and full of bruises.? Ian says the car involved lost part of its passenger door side mirror. It looked to be about a 2003 model. He explains where Patrick was on the road at the time: ?He was between the pavement and the yellow line. People who travel that road regularly will know that it?s actually a double car lane up the hill. The driver had plenty of space. He (Patrick) wasn?t actually on the car lane.? - And if you have any information about the gold Corolla, and who owns it, please contact Ian on 083 3208735. (Story by Diane Macpherson) SAPS CASE NO : 213 / 06 / 2009 DBN NORTH

No rumours floating around as to when it might go into production?

Thought so. Was going to stir some more, but thought I might have to put my money where my mouth is and I'm in no shape to do that......yet

Apparently falling is part of the fun, for those watching anyway @SilverMountain - went for a test ride today and all I can say is I think you'll enjoy the mongoose. I think a thanks is in order to those who invented dual suspension on mountain bikes, my teeth and my backside thank you As for the 27th, I'll try make it, although I'm not really fit enough to do any racing just yet. Might just come and watch and support the beer tent and watch the Marathon vs. Goose challenge.

A bit of a hijack. Hey Candz, just visted the site in your signature - how's the biking in that part of the world? - pics on the site look good. Looks like a nice place to visit when I need to get out of town for a day or few Hijack off ...and as far as pedals are concerned, I had a set of those flat-on-one-side-spd-on-the-other (the metal ones with "spikes" on the flat end) and they just did damage to my shins and calves when I fell off the bike when I couldn't unclip. _bob_2009-06-12 12:08:04

Found a review of the 2007 Marathon at http://www.mtbonline.co.za/averageguy/raleighmarathon2007review.htm which says they were designed to suit long and multiday cross country rides. I assume yours would be the same.

Might not be a problem for anyone else. I just can't seem to angle my foot out far enough. I've heard that Candys and Eggbeaters are easier to get out of. Have a set of Look Quartz that I'm going to try.

When is the Giba birthday thing? Might join in if I manage to get my goose built up and learn not to fall off it (hate those damn cleats)

I got myself a set of Hayes Stroker Ace - most probably overkill, but I like the way they look. Ridden once and so far so good

My calls seem to come in waves. A couple of months of nothing, then a week or two of calls every day, then a few months of nothing again. Asking to speak to a supervisor will more often than not end in a disconnected call - from their side.