mach7-7

Careful, Mountain Biking is the new Golf...

This kind of damage resembles the bike falling off a bike rack while driving your car to/from an event... Atleast that's what it looks like to me as my mates bike looked similiar when his bike rack broke....

Yes, I did precisely this. Carried on moving lock-on grips, (brake lever + trigger combo) inwards slightly until it just felt right and then I shaved the necessary off. Thanks to everyone that contributed for all the great advice.

My new baby. Only ridden once but still trying to dial in bar width and drop.....

Hi all, would really appreciate some feedback. I have just bought a 29er and the handlebar width is 680mm. My old 26er had 620mm wide handlebars and just felt right. I realise that a bigger wheel needs more leverage and with respect to head angle playing an important part etc.. Generally speaking though, what would the absolute minimum length be to be able to steer the bike adequately?. I am tempted to shave 30mm off each side to make it 620mm but have a feeling that I will then need to buy a new bar.. Responses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

Is this your new baby, Mr.Splat??

Chat to Nils from Woodstock Cycleworks. He is a SS fundi

I have a SLX crank and have no creaks or noises.. Does it only creak when you sit on the bike and pedal it (under load)?. I would remove the chain and rotate the crank arms. Should spin silky smooth. If it does then it could be another part of the drive train.. My moneys on your saddle rails creaking under saddle flex while you pedal....

Awesome!. I love the old bikes of yesteryear.. Sorry to hijack thread but just wanted to add my baby that I just recently built up. A 1993 Ball burnished 6061 GT Zaskar that rides just as well as the day she was made... if not faster Haven't set the bike with my measurements but simply had to take a quick pic.

Sent you a PM.

I think you should go for an Ergo Fit Bike setup at Sport Science with Dr. Jeroen Swart. After taking your measurements he will inform you of your correct Effective Top Tube length. Remember that some manufacturers state top tube length while others state effective toptube length. If you are unsure of the two then I suggest you google it. I realise that this setup cannot always be done before purchasing a bicycle and I know it is not cheap but it will help you two fold: 1. You will find out what size of frame you should be riding. 2. You will be setup correctly with the correct saddle height, setback and handlebar drop thus correcting your neck pain and reducing the chances of further injuries that you may sustain as you start riding longer distances. There really is no substitute for comfort and your efficiency will increase straight away. Check out : http://www.sciencetosport.com/ or speak to hubber "renayg" as he also conducts the Ergo-Fit setup. I am not affiliated to this organisation and am not a salesman but merely a passionate cyclist that had plenty pain which has now be resolved after one of these setup's. Cycling is so much more enjoyable without the pain. Its definitely the best money that I have spent on myself let alone my bike

Cold water hand wash with OMO hand washing powder and NEVER use softner!! The softner will destroy the chamois in no time!! NEVER tumble dry, just leave to air-dry and preferably in the shade and avoid direct sun light if you don't want your expensive kit fading... PS: Reminds me of the old tv advert with Morne Du Plessis: " I gotta do the washing"... LOL!

That the milfs walking / running on Boyes Drive always try and stop me just to say "Hi"... breaking my rhythm on the climbs

Hairy, Just checked your profile and I see you and I are from the same era... Remember the coolest mountain bikes back in the early 90's such as Klein, Cannondale CAD3 with headshock, GT Zaskar, Produx... Now those were the days hey!

Hey Mr.Hairy, This bike has been set to my measurements taken by Jeroen Swart. Its a 1993 GT Zaskar Le which originally had a Tioga "flip flop" stem that was compatible with an old A-headset.. The trend then was to run a stem with a length of atleast 110mm for that aggressive XC riding position. So my saddle setback is calculated along with my reach and this setup is where I should be, making my weight distribution perfect. I could probably benefit from a straight saddle post as your keen eye spotted the clamp almost running out of saddle rail but I am struggling to find the correct diameter (27.6mm, I believe). Even though this frame is stamped 16", the seatpost is infact 18" as the calculated 16" runs vertically from BB to bisection of cross tube. The newer Zaskars (post 1997) were measured conventionally along the seat tube and hence were properly sized as an 18". Just some trivia... These are old Azonic rims and yes, they are V-brake compatible. I paired them with Avid SL titanium brake modules and she feels as though she has ABS now (Koolstop pads work a treat). This frame is not Hydraulic friendly as it is the first Zaskar and hence has no caliper mounts. A back to basics hand made in the USA bike, that is simple to maintain, fun to ride and provides me with some nostalgia from my youth. In std8 this was my dream bike that I could never afford and now I finally have one and I am really enjoying her Thanks for all the feedback guys. Modern mass produced bikes will come and go, but the older hand fabricated bikes are what helped cycling get to where it is today.

Although this is neither a SS or a fixie, I just felt like sharing something that I have just finished off.. Sorry for the potential thread hijack but this was a project none the less.. A 1 X 9 Legend and my training / commuting bike.

That is correct, I know him. I rode past the scene last night after the ambulances left. He has a head and back injury and is undergoing an operation this afternoon. He will need further surgery but I am not going to go into too much detail at the moment. From what I saw I think that new "Bump" on the main hill jeep track could of been blamed as he seemed to have landed about 15 meters past it on the way down. If there was poor ambient light and one's weight is wrong while riding down that could definitely catch many a person out.... I will try and keep everyone updated.

Yo CPTmayhem, we can share a beer anytime, and I hope you remember to send me a PM for the next trailbuilding date Pain or Shine, now worries man. You never offended me and by the same token I hope I never offended you. By the way I am aware of those rules that listed. They are so general though and do not get into the nitty gritty... If you read the one part (pardon me as I cannot remember the heading) it states that one must not create new trails but in the same sentence it is saying that we must sensitive towards different soil types and learn to identify when a trail could get damaged by water, erosion etc... Very wishy washy, no committment really... you know, what do you do then, forget the trail until the water drains or ride around it.. or pro-actively re route... eish!! A very delicate issue But something we can all do, without the permission of Sanparks is make our own meeting: venue (preferably one with some cold lagers), time etc and actually introduce ourselves in person and have a lekker Phat chat about how to go forward. From what I have read and from the chaps that I have spoken to we have a very knowledgable and determined group of people who could definitely provide a means of looking after rider interest in Tokai. So guys, lets do a meet and greet Any ideas welcome.... and sorry to David16V for highjacking your thread...

Pain or Shine, thanks for the response. I am well aware of the thread which you made reference to but that thread is filled with people's emotions and personal point of view. Can you please make reference to the official document in which you have posted these rules from?. I have been monitoring your responses from time to time and I can't help but feel that you attitude is somewhat non diplomatic and a little brash. I do not wish to offend you, but people cannot walk around with the myway or the hiway attitude. So, please point us to the source of your information eg: Sanparks website or kindly post some mails with past correspondance between yourself and the Sanparks board. Its also important for me that whoever approaches the Sanparks does so in a way that addresses my interests as well as my fellow riders. Normally someone would be elected by a commitee. Like I said, I don't know how well you are connected but I suggest we contact Dan from iRide, a personal friend of mine, and awesome proactive chap with a vast experience in this matter with the correct attitude. Beleive it or not, not all people in this thread want to argue with eachother. A positive discussion yields more than a downright argument....

Hey peeps, Been reading through the posts and have found the following to be apparent: Lots of different groups of people all believing that their rules are more justified than the other group, with the effect that this causes segregation amongst different types of riding disciplines etc.. Arguments will ensue as to why Group A's rules are better and safer than Group B's rules ... and the story goes round and round and never get's solved. I like rules, the world would not function without rules. People cannot just start posting a list of rules on trails without them being approved. My thoughts: Someone who either has contacts or is a really good spokesperson should approach San parks and set up a meeting. Present your list of concerns, rules, improvements etc and get them "gazetted". In other words, they then become law and can be published in the lastest Sanparks newsletter. Once this is done, the rules are in print and there can be no argument should you break a rule. However, until this is done (or whether this ever materializes), ride safe, be oblidging, don't let your pride or bad attitude get in the way, respect fellow trail users and most importantly, have a jol on the mountain.. All of my best friends have been met on the trail through mountainbiking

+1 brother!. Totally correct, as per UCI rules, which can be downloaded off the net if anyone interested!. GRB285, you impress me my man, as I was starting to think that only I knew that rule

Hey guys, Thanks for all the feedback. I always enjoy reading about how people feel and understanding various points of view. I would like to commend the following people (pardon me if I have left you out): CPTMayhem, DJR, Pain or Shine etc. You guys are doing a tremendous job on the trails and I promise you that it does not go unnoticed, my mates and I truly appreciate it!! It was not my intention to enter into any arguments. I merely like to contribute where I can. The most important thing in this topic is that irrespective of riding discipline, we are all bike nuts who are passionate about this sport!! As mentioned in the past, I would not know who maintained the trails in the late 80's / early 90's and I doubt anyone here would have a clue either?. Back then there was no internet easily available and an awesome forum like this was a schoolboy's dream!. I guess I could ask some of my older Wharthog friends, I am sure they would know. There is a lot of young blood here in the hub, which is a good thing, but sometimes there is no substitute for experience. Something I was wondering about and perhaps someone can help me out here?. Are there any hubbers in this topic affiliated to the Sanparks?. Reason why I am asking is who decides where a trail can start / end?. As well as who can call the shots and possibly re-route a trail in order to possibly save an existing trail due to water logging or a broken tree which may have fallen and blocked the path?. Do you submit a trail re-route plan to Sanparks or do you just use common sense?. And who decides where to build new trails?. I for one would not know who gives this authority?. PLease can someone explain this to me. I would very much like to understand the procedure. Another thing, and I don't mean to hijack this thread.... I am always amused at people saying "you know the rules!". Well, I am stumped... What rules would everyone be refering to?. We know general rules like: no fires, no picnicking, dogs on leads only, horses on horse paths, riding times etc... but what mountain rules are being referred to? I am not aware of Sanparks publishing any "rules of the mountain"?. We all know the rules of the road when driving thanks to K53 books etc... But until I physically see a mountain rule book, then I guess Im just gonna use my noggin and hopefully common sense. Chaps, its been swell. I don't often get onto the Hub but when I do I always look forward to reading a good topic, especially one close to home. Please PM me the next trailbuilding date and I will try and be available to help. Keep up the good work, it does not go unnoticed

On a lighter note... An un-manned lightey = 1 x downright dangerous lightey

Hey grb285, I can see your passion and determination. I too am like you, seen the trails at their peak and seen them change through time to this very day. I am no fool, I fully understand the damage to trails by high volumes of traffic, as I mentioned in my previous quote. Read it again. Just one thing to consider wrt the above quote... Do Sanparks actually know who and how many people actually participate in trail mainenance?. Would they know you chaps by first name??. I highly doubt it. Like I said, they don't care, so your idea of a reward system is good, but I cannot see it working... Another thing, trees can provide stability of sand. If I must compare erosion before all of the pines were cut it can be seen that the trails were staying undamaged for a much longer period. Like I said, I have been riding these trails for longer than most Hub members. You only joined theHub a month ago and I am pretty sure that you have only known Tokai for a relatively short period of time. I may be wrong, but like I said, I was around before DH bikes were made, in other words before the trails at Tokai were offered "man made" assistance..... and interestingly enough, everyone complaining about the trail conditions is referring to the 600m of pure DH, so its all the downhill riders?. Correct? So, fabulous Fynbos that requires controlled fire burning every 5 years.... Bring it on and all of the erosion while there is no ground cover.. (sand dunes without vegetation = sand dune shift).. You gotta love the lack of real environmental thinking given by the crude minded business bean counters of Sanparks....

Hi guys, Firstly I would like to applaud every single person involved with the trailbuilding in Tokai. Well done!!. I am not going to write about what is correct or incorrect but what I would like to say is how I feel about Tokai, in general. In other words, people may agree or disagree with me, I don't mind as everyone is entitled to his / her own opinion and I don't see the need for being slated for one's respective view. Along time ago ( no, this is not a fairy tale) back in the early 90's there were tree's at Tokai!. Yes, big pinetree's which provided the trails with much needed cover from wind, rain, soil erosion etc.. and the ground was covered in pineneedles. Trail maintenance?. What was the need for this as the environment was a lot more stable, the trails were far more hardy and granted, there were also fewer bikes on the trails. Downhill routes were clearly routes indicating that the trail transpired down the mountain and was steep in nature, with no man made bumps or jumps. The only jump you had was from when a tree uprooted and made a huge "divit" in the ground... So jump bikes and DH bikes were unknown and XC bikes with fixed forks were all the rage along with BMX's... Point is the trees have been removed and along with that comes environmental factors which Sanparks never considered! Anyway, enough digressing.. My view may be a little harsh re SANparks, but it is based on history and history says a lot. Sanparks do not care about every single cyclist, hiker or mountaingoer... Im sad to say this, but it seems true. What would happen if all the awesome riders at Tokai did not get involved with trail maintenance?. Would Sanparks realise the errosive problem and suddenly wake up and start improving the situation?. Definitely not, infact by us helping maintain the trails we have made their live's easier and they are pretty much laughing right now. Meurant would of had his back against the wall in more than one department and you can only try so much before you realise that your efforts are in vain. You either are working with like minded individuals or you aren't... Remember, I am totally in support of trail maintenance, I just think that certain precedences are being set and will not be doing us very good. Neighbourhood patrols (crime watch) started out in the BKM area so well until the patrolling companies realised that the more the public do the less they have to do, with the effect that they take so long to respond. In this same manner, we are not doing ourselves any favours... So, unfortunately the trail situation in Tokai is not magically going to get better, atleast not in my lifetime ( as trees take centuries to grow once replanted). Trail upkeep is going to be neverending due to lack of tree cover and lack of interest re replanting from Sanparks. The one valid question is, where does the money from Wildcards go to? Heck if I know, but I would love to know. I think one hubber actually stated that there is no present or future business plan regarding the future of Tokai etc... Perhaps the City of Cape Town should interveen and actually take charge as I see nothing inproving as long as Sanparks manage the trails. I stand to correction, but this is my view. I have lived in Tokai for 33 years and have ridden on the Tokai trails since I was in my early teens. I really do commend all the riders in Tokai, the downhillers, Dirtjumpers, XC riders for putting in time and effort with regard trailbuilding etc, we are all passionate about this mountain, otherwise this thread would not of come about...... The quicker Sanparks realise this needs to be addressed the better. They ultimately need to take over the responsibility.. In the future, you are going to hear your children say: "lets go riding in Tokai Bush" whereas you and I will remember Tokai for the untame and magical forest that it was Big Up to every rider out there that cares!!!