Grease_Monkey

Do you use cush core? At a 100kg myself, if I ride those pressures I will take the tyres off the rim if I corner hard and destroy rims in a matter of a few rides. I ride 25psi front and rear, but use a cush core in the back.

Yeah, I'm not wearing any kit twice, not even after a 30mins ride. I sweat like a pig. New sweat doesn't smell, old sweat does - really bad. I have re-used hung up and dried exercise shirts before in a pinch, I wanted to kots from the smell after spending 10mins in that shirt, and the longer you spend in it, the worse the smell gets. Never again.

I don't finance toys. But I don't get this thread - we are not the OP's financial advisor, he didn't ask for our opinions on financing a bicycle, he asked if someone can advise on the financing options available. Keep in on topic..

I also have an older Epic (2006) in my garage that already has slicks on it (well more touring / commuting tyres). I also have a Shimano Tiagra 2x10 hydro groupset from a gravel build where it didn't quite work. I am going to be putting drops and the Tiagra groupset on the Epic to make a monster cross commuter bike to ride to work (new job close to home with a shower at work ). I am going to be keeping the front and rear suspension (just going to set it up hard), mostly because I am not planning on spending a single cent over and above gear cables and drop bars. But also because I feel like spending money on such an old bike is just not worth it, no matter the condition. The tyres I will be using are 26X1.8" Schwalbe Marathon tyres - heavy, and not tubeless compatible - but for my commuting purposes they will be perfect. Will post some pics once done. But that will only be mid May.

How was the shipping experience? Time and costs...

Great! Just drop me a PM next time you are in Somerset West.

Gearing and weight... well that was it in my case. I had a 2x road groupset to start with but I have been on mtbs only for such a long time that I just couldn’t get along with it again and went to 1x. With 1x the gearing did not have enough top end on the road and jumps between gears too big - but it was perfect offroad. A personal choice but just another reason I could not fall in love with the gravel bike. But me, like many others that don’t like gravel bikes expected too much (or the wrong thing) from them I guess. When I looks at Waynemol’s posts and where he rides I can see the right gravel bike being absolute heaven.

Hairy, when I had my Harley it was my only bike. Previously had some converted MX bikes (450 and a 250), a Kawa 636 superbike, a Kawa ER6N and an F800GS. I had no issues with the Harley as my only bike (a Wide Glide like Wayne’s). My intentions for it was similar to yours - weekend trips from 200 to 400km in a day, the occasional commute, and a few multi day trips. I strapped a bag to the sissy bar for those trips and had a removable windscreen (I still have it, and it’s yours mahala if you buy and HD and want it). The Harley was not the most versatile bike - that would have to be the F800, but I never felt like I needed another bike. If I had to buy a Harley again it would probably be something that sits a bit more upright than the Wide Glide (maybe a Fat Boy or Fat Bob). But definitely fine as an only bike if your intention is not to commute daily - they are a bit cumbersome for that.

Haha yeah cold is a relative term... I owned mine in Pretoria and Western Cape and it was in a garage, hardly ever below or approaching 0, and when it was I’d rather take the car or bicycle anyway. I can imagine it would struggle in very cold temps.

I’ve had fast bikes, nippy bikes, and a Harley. The Harley was not slow in a straight line, but it was the slowest and least practical of all my bikes. Despite that, it put the biggest smile on my face when I started her up on a cold morning and those Vance and Hines straight pipes did their thing. Pretty sure everyone else hated me though. Harleys are not practical bikes, they are not fast, they are heavy, but like any toy - if it puts a smile on your face - it’s the right toy.

Agree, I guess I never used it for it's intended purpose. But as it relates to the original question - don't get one if you are not going to use it for the intended purpose.

Personally, I think gravel bikes suck. Had one, it is slow on the road, it sucks on dirt (flame suit on). Every time I rode it on dirt I wished I had my hardtail. Tried to convince myself for a long time it was good - I had spent money on it! Hell, I am sure you will even find some posts here on the hub of me saying I liked it, but eventually I saw the light and sold it. A hardtail mtb (XC/marathon geo) is the best all rounder IMO, that's what I would buy if I was you.

Mine are in the sun at work and outside at night. Has been for 4 years - no damage from the sun, cold, rain, etc.

I leave them on my car (x3). Just leave the wheel chocks on the one rack I use a couple of times a week, the other chocks I remove and throw behind my back seats. Not too much hassle if you have to remove every now and then, but a pain to do daily. So I run the risk of one set being stolen, but I recon that's a risk worth taking. The effort it has saved me over the lifetime of the racks is worth more than what a new set would cost.

Agree 100%. I am just not sure if you can legally stop them from doing it (on open public roads that an event uses).

It's wrong, no way around it. 2 scenarios though: 1. On public roads that are not closed off - they are technically right that they can do what they want in terms of riding there. Doesn't make them less of a box, but I guess you can't fault them from a legal perspective. I assume if the public roads are closed specifically there may be a case against them - I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know what that is. The chill zone, that's plain old theft. 2. Where the race passes through private property - someone that is not part of the event is trespassing. Simple as that... Either way, box.

Haha ja, best to do them in the light first! But glad you enjoyed it.

I am 30 this year, spring chicken. I get reminded about how young I am very often in my riding group hahaha

Brage, hands down. Reminds me of the edits circa early 2000's. It has that same freeride attitude and feel to it that got me amped to get on a bicycle when I was 13.

I'm surprised, I think a short travel machine with a dropper is the best tool for the job. I've done it on a Sentinel, a hardtail trail bike (silverback Slade), and an SB130 now - and I can honestly say I was overbiked all of those times. It's not that the trails aren't techy - they are. It's just all those short sharp bursts needed on the climbs means I want as little squish as possible. I guess it's never as simple as travel. But IMO, a Scalpel SE, Epic Evo, etc. are the perfect bikes for these trails.... Anyway, I had fun on my hardtail and I had fun on the full squish trail bikes, these trails are just superb regardless of the bike you are on.

I moved to Western Cape in 2019, but for the 2 years (2017/18) I lived in Pta the Wolwespruit night ride was a weekly appointment for me. I never felt unsafe. Lots of people out and about.

If you maintain it religiously, no. If you ride and service like any normal person would, then yes of course. The questions is just how much it annoys you and how long you can put up with it. A noisy bike irritates the hell out of me, it ruins my ride - I know it shouldn't, but I get fixated on it. So whenever I pick something up, I just sort it out immediately - it's PITA, but my bike is quiet.

Jared, you are overthinking this. Buy a combo, any combo. Try it out, next time try something else. Eventually you find what you like. Mtb tech is at the point where there are really very few terrible options so any of the above mentioned will do just fine. At the end of the day tyres are personal preference, so the only way to find you perfect is to try a few out.

Started watching House of Cards over the weekend. Always been on my list, but never got around to it. Man, am I happy I left it for now - so good!

Agree, what an awesome day out. I will be there for every open weekend for sure! Hopefully next time we can do the camp / weekend trip again rather than just a day trip.