TomvdP

Same unusual banjo position, same writing style. I agree with you, good eyes!

Yup, the official lines not long ago were either: a) Not achieving full extension was how it was supposed to be. It's indicative of how plush it is (nevermind that it never went to full extension even when lifted off the ground, with the weight of the wheel). b) Your equalisation dimple must be clogged with grease - maybe you serviced it wrong. Try again and get back to us. Pretty unimpressed that they've corrected this problem under the guise of "it rides higher in its travel". My Lyrik 150 only had between 143-145mm showing on a given day. Add to that that it rode deep into its travel and no amount of pressure allowed for less than 25% sag (80kg rider, testing the max pressure in the fork). The solution for me was to go to 160mm (possible with all modern Pikes by the way, despite what RS says) to get a dynamic ride height I was happy with. I will grudgingly buy this fix.

The Slade is very much in stock! Don't expect the shops to know about it though as it's not a marathon bike

AXS aint cheap. Maybe one day we'll all have paddles but for now I'm still happy with my mechanical levers. Pedals were taken off becuase they are my old SPDs that I have hit against most of the rocks on table mountain and are now just a black/silver mush. Would not have done a fresh bike justice with those dangling

XL Silverback Slider 2020 - Busy testing the prototype! Adjustable rear travel 140-160 with different shock strokes (same i2i), currently 140mm 150-170mm fork travel, currently 150mm

My XL Silverback Slade with 29x2.6" tyres and 140mm travel.

Rear wheel travel is measured vertically. So to convert 160mm fork travel to vertical: 160sin(66deg) = 138.6mm. Pretty close.

I have always had weird times with THE single track - seems to have some dodgy start/finish points since it got fixed up, you can't hang around near either... Mad Max's Bastard - https://www.strava.com/segments/3434517

I have or have had all these tires. The non-snakeskin Schwalbes I had, both had 'pin-holes' in the sidewall and for the 1st 2 weeks or so I had to constantly top them up until they'd all sealed. Even then it would occasionally leak air out the sidewall until I tilted it so the stans sealed it. Great tires though, and not as much of a nuisance as it sounds - but then I have a floor pump and check tire pressure most times before I go riding anyway. (edit. This was about 3 years ago - this problem may be fixed) For the past couple of months I have been riding Spaz tires, largly because of the cost. I have an s-works Ground Control 29x2.3 (R570 I think) that I ran at the front for about 3 months. Can't fault it, it worked great, plenty of grip, none of the problems I was expecting from putting a lightweight tire up front. Once I wore out my back tire I moved the GC to the back and got a Purgatory 29x2.3 (control casing, R470!!!) for the front. Now I thought the GC had grip... The purgatory has noticeably more and is very stable and confidence inspiring, I haven't noticed the extra weight - and I'm a bit of a weight weenie. Loving this configuration - sealed with a floor pump on Arch Exs and haven't given me one hassle.

Nice review! Been looking into these posts, I have one question that I can't find the answer to: Is there any side to side play like many dropper posts have? Or how long does it take to develop play?

+2 to the 50km finishers... Rode with a friend with temp no's, it's such a silly system that even the true number of finishers aren't shown if they were temps. I don't know if I'll be back next year - if it had been a perfect day it would have been a boring ride. What made today quite cool was the flooded rivers, mud, obies at the water table, bitter cold etc... And while I enjoyed it as a more of a survival/masochism race (I had 3 gears left by the end), I don't know if I would knowingly do it again.

Speedo. All three. (red is fastest) Edit: Seriously though, you are pretty much correct. I've only done one, but that was how I did it. Tri shorts under wetsuit and same stuff for running and cycling (except shoes obviously)

I have this exact problem. I am 1.87 but with long legs and I currently ride a L trance 26 that has been made quite light (<12kg) for xc etc. It is a little small for me so I'm considering my options but aggressive xc seems to be a dwindling class these days, esp now that the trance has gone 140mm. What do you guys think of using the new trance as a race bike?

I am a capcha king! (and I don't know what that is asking for!) That said... my understanding of capcha is that the 2nd word is a word it has found but doesn't know what it means. The first word it knows, and if you type the first word correctly it will assume the 2nd is correct and match your input to the picture...... and then give it to someone else. so basically it doesn't matter what you type for the 2nd word

Going up from Cape Town to Knysna this weekend for the races and looking to share fuel if anyone is keen. I can take 2 more people and 3 more bikes. Leaving Friday at about midday, and coming back Monday (leaving early). Would expect petrol to come out at about R800 both ways - split evenly.