Cyclocross

Too late to help you but I had success fitting h/set using length of threaded rod, 2 x sections of 6 inch long wooden skirting board drilled off centre and 2 x Thule thumbnuts. Rod goes through headtube, set greased headset upper and lower bearings into position, followed by skirting board x2 with rod through drilled holes, finished with Thule thumbnuts. Can use washers if you want to spread load between wood and thumbnuts. Tighten thumbnuts until headset upper & lower bearings get snub against headtube. Using leverage created by offset skirting boards, keep headset bearings lined up straight as you tighten thumbnuts 1/4 turn at a time. Next thing, pop, in they go and tighten properly until bearings are in all the way. Remove thumbnuts et al, fit fork and away you go. Remember to return your thumbnuts to your Thule bike rack before needing to load your bike very early the next morning!

The cause of the crash was a double donga on a fast forest road. Bunny hopping the first at speed would put your front wheel right into the 2nd, with the inevitable endo, cartwheel and damage. You either had to slow down or hop early to land between the dongas and hop again to carry the second. Should have been marked as dangerous (assuming signage wasn't relocated by some mischiveous locals) given the speed most approached this at. Perhaps there were marshalls there (prior to crash). Despite your injuries Taps, you provided a service to most riders behind and prevented more crashes. Nothing like an ambulance on the route to get people sensing danger and slowing down.

Called my wife to come watch some of the wipeouts. They look even worse in PVR slow motion.

No question it has one of the highest ratios of ST to Jeep Track of any of the KZN races. The high turn out each year is testament to this. This requires that some of the ST goes uphill, but none of it too technical. I'd say it was just right. Regarding congestion, my perspective from E batch (note to self - remember to pre enter) riding into D and some C's is that almost all were polite and gave way quickly at a safe place where they could pull over slightly to let me pass. Thank you all. Perhaps it was the not-so-quiet DT Swiss rear hub on my ss which anounces my arrival and negates the need for a bell . I call it the Call of the Wild!

Not owning a trailer, I have borrowed and used both Campmaster (basic model) & Venter. Campmaster is cheaper but not as well put together i.m.o. e.g. Rivets pulled out on latches, quick to rust in places etc. Campmaster is MassMart's (Game/Makro/Builders) in-house brand and generally products are copies of good products from other brands but using lower spec materials and finishes. Campmaster would be fine for someone using trailer occassionally and keeping it under cover. Seeing you're from Tzaneen where you need to travel some distance to go anywhere, I would pay a little more and go with a more durable option. Check the 4x4 forums where there is lots of useful information, including the fact that the Jurgens appears to be the heaviest, although I didn't note which model this comment was referring to.

Shifting will be like those old 10 speed racers that transported loads of boys to school back in the day. Grind, grind, catch. Just keep the shift button pushed and keep pedalling. It shifts up eventually. Talking of cheap, how cheap did you get it? We're talking Durban cheap not Joburg chear right? Might be willing to take it off your hands for my ss if you want something more suited to 2x9.

Berg and Bush country!

Show uses footage from both 3 and 2 day events.

The queues were only long because the food was in such plentiful supply!

From a press release just received via e-mail. Should be interesting. Will there be a Mayoral convoy with blue lights? Will putting the Mayor at risk (e.g. passing too close by motorists or failing to move over on the down hills) warrant use of force by his entourage? Press Release: EThekwini Municipality Mayor Commits to Cycling to Work Regularly This press release was emailed out at : 03 November, 2011 06:00 _________________________________________________________________ EThekwini Municipality Mayor James Nxumalo has committed himself to cycling regularly using an electric bicycle when going to work.The pledge was made during the launch of the Metro Police Electric Bicycle Pilot Project held today. Ten electric bicycles were handed over to the Metro Police to use when patrolling in the Durban beach front as part of the pilot. The project aims to test alternative modes of transportation in the City. Petrol and diesel engines continue to contribute negatively to the overall carbon footprint."As the eThekwini Municipality we are committed to playing our part in renewable energy and different modes of transportation. I will be cycling regularly from my home in Pinetown to work at the City Hall. I will do my best to do this regularly. I am challenging other Mayors throughout South Africa and internationally to commit themselves as I have," said Nxumalo.

Scott's are like Addidas shoes, you need a size bigger than you normally wear! Here's the X0 geometry - sure they are the same. S M L Seattube center - top, mmST 406 482 533 Toptube, mm T 544 564 593 Toptube (effective), mm T' 571 590 610 Headtube, mm H 120 125 145 Fork Height, mm FH 450 450 450 Chainstays, mm CS 425 425 425 BB drop, mm BD 35 35 35 Wheelbase, mm WB 1038 1057 1090 Head Angle, deg a 71° 71° 71° Seat Angle, deg b 72.5° 72.5° 73.5° Apologies for formatting. Is fine in editor

Can anyone say how much brighter/better the new led stuff is compared to the previously mentioned Topeak Moonshine HID? Just a rouch comparison such as 30% or 50% better etc. Have been convincing myself over the past few years that led systems were improving but HID was still best. Think that is history now though.

I've used Shimano (also 16 & 17t) and found them to be very quiet. I regularly drip oil between the chrome sprocket and black steel body to keep it running. Grit does get in but doesn't affect performance or noise. Although I have the Pedro's tool (thanks JensonUSA several years ago), I have found that I need a shop to do it as I can't get enough leverage on it to undo it while keeping the teeth of the tool engaged. Risk to knuckles is too great I also found that I changed them less and less once I found my prefered ratio so no biggie for me. My new ss pony has a splined freewheel.

I see I can get a 183mm Hope Mono 6 Saw Disc for a similar price at CRC as the Avid 185mm Clean Sweep X Rotor from the new guys (Cycles Online). In fact Avid is cheaper by a few rand and VAT, but will require postage, go assume they are similar in price. Which would hubbers choose? (It's for a xc bike, not downhill or even FR). http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16457 http://www.cyclesonline.co.za/p17072610/Avid-Clean-Sweep-X-Rotor.aspx

Super soft compound Maxxis - very grippy

Using the Test of the Reasonable Man, if such a thing exists on the Hub, would indicate that there is enough variety of opinion regarding both the meaning and respect for the term Dibs, that it is meaningless and merely an expression of intent by prospective buyers. Key to understanding the OP's unhappiness in my opinion therefore, comes down to his use of the word "negotiating". While he was still negotiating, another buyer concluded a deal. i.e. firm offer and acceptance. Let me give an example: At the PMB World Cup late on Sunday afternoon as teams are starting to pack up, mechanics of at least one pro team are offering kit, tyres etc which were fitted but lightly or not used at the event, for sale rather than ship them home at great cost. In one case there is a crowd of guys negotiating with a mechanic regarding a sale of 2 x tyres not easily available locally, at least not cheaply. I enquire as to his asking price. While the crowd of negotiators is still negotiating, I pass 4 notes to the seller over their heads. Seller passes 2 x tyres to me. Deal done by means of firm offer being made (money to seller) and accepted (tyres to me). I walk away with tyres, negotiators stand around looking at each other as if their chamois has turned to sandpaper. Key principle: Negotiating means the terms (including shipping) of the offer are still being finalised which means the resulting offer cannot have been made nor accepted. Hence no concluded sale. Unfortunate for OP but a fact of life.

..and at R340 it's a good price. CRC is in the region of R375 I think when last I looked before VAT etc. [strange since I got mine from CRC for R200 a few months back].

If you're looking at old stuff and don't mind a retro look, consider an old 7 speed XT top mount thumb shifter which had a "secret" 8th click built in to handle the subsequent introduction of 8 speed cassettes in the early 90's.

Thanks JB. Luckily for me the old bearings were opened and stripped. Will remember this in future though.

If space permits, try placing the old bearing on top of the new, and gently striking the old/top one with hammer. Seems the external ring/shell of the old bearing puts even pressure on the new bearing's external ring/shell without touching the seal. Just don't knock the old bearing in too deep or it might get stuck. Also try cooling (i.e. stick it in the freezer for 20mins) the bearing and/or heating the receiving component (not if painted finish). Worked for me over the weekend when replacing cartridge bearings on an old square taper White Industries Ti bb.

Bearing Man (now called BMG) is the way to go. Take the old bearing in and they will measure and give you a replacement. Depending on stock, will also offer you a couple of alternatives with regard to quality. Also, they are open on Saturday mornings until 12 noon.

You might battle to get the wider rubber to fit between your chainstays right behind the bb shell.

Chainline is different. Will play around and see if this helps. If I lose patience, you'll be the first person I call regarding a 17t sprocket for sale. Also have the 12t which came with the spacers which I won't use.

Thanks for feedback. Middleburn chainring is 8 speed from the mid 90's, (before they introduced shiftgates and pins), so effectively a ss specific ring. No problems over the last year running it on my steel ss. Problem is slipping under pressure rather than chain coming off. Much the same as putting a new chain on an old cassette, except sprocket and chain are new. Yesterday, put my ss specific wheel (from steel ss) which has a Shimano bmx style sprocket, on the new bike to try identify problem, one component at a time. Up the road and around the block without a hint of slip. Hence my conclusion that Gusset sprocket is issue. Will be trying a Wipperman 7 speed chain (wider) once CRC send the missing connector link, to see if this makes any difference, before giving up on the Gusset sprocket.

Problem solved. Note: Gusset sprockets do not mesh with 9 speed chains as stated on their website.