Grease_Monkey

People don't wear propper shoes with suits anymore, it's not cool. (Read in comic sans)

Terrible accident, but you have a truly inspiring attitude towards this. I wish you all the best! Will be following this thread to see what interesting mods you end up making to the bike.

My dog (boxer) has had parvo - we nearly lost him. After an expensive and gut wrenching week at the vet he just just made it out. It was honestly one of the worst weeks I've ever had. My advice - keep her isolated. Socialising is not going to mean anything if she is not alive to socialise... We kept our second pup (black lab) isolated for a long time because of the first pup getting parvo - she has been socialised just fine

Was speaking to a friend about this yesterday. Spez's prices are going up at a rate higher than inflation and the spec level keeps dropping. In 2016 I bought a Stumpy Expert model - at that point it was specced with 1x11 X01 and XT brakes, and a Fox factory shock. Then 1x12 came out and all of a sudden 1x12 GX replaced 1x11 XO1 - that makes no sense to me - 1x12 was just an evolution to gearing, GX Eagle is in no way equal to 1x11 XO1. Along with that the Expert builds came with lower spec brakes and suspension. It's like every time there is a new release the parts spec just gets worse! The comp level bikes are now being released with Tektro brakes, X Fusion droppers, RS Recon forks, and NX groupsets where they used to at least come with SLX brakes, Spaz droppers, and XT groupos - and this at a much higher price than a few years ago. And the joke is the frames and geo are getting much more capable, but with the crap spec you cannot make use of the extra capability. It's a joke. I know there is alot of R&D involved - but the industry has lost it's mind thinking that charging 250k for a bicycle is okay. I can get a fully kitted out BMW 1200GS for that price - and there is alot more R&D and tech in that thing... Anyway, I'm flogging a dead horse here. As long as we pay it, they will continue asking those prices.

Yep, even the most premium of brands have bad batches. It's how the respond to it that matters.

Yup... Stans sealant, lekker wide rims (well for gravel - 23mm internal width). Ideally I would want to run no higher than 3 bar. That's what I started off with, just got a ton of punctures - I think 4 on my first time out. But anyway. Where I do really like these tyres are on the tar - they roll nice and fast.

4 bar is smack bang in the middle of the reccommended pressures printed on the side of the tyre. 3bar being the minimum. Running any lower than 4 bar got me a ton of punctures that didn't seal. Since running 4.5 in the back and 4 in the front I haven't gotten as many punctures punctures - but you sacrifice alot of comfort.

I actually went from a Cotic Solaris Max to a Slade recently. - The weights are pretty much on par. - The big advantage of a steel frame is comfort, and there is no denying they ride softer than alu, but in this specific case I cannot feel the difference. The slade was designed to be quite compliant in the rear so as alu frames go it's comfy. This is not a comment on steel vs alu, rather Solaris vs Slade. - The Cotic's build was just sublime, it's a premium frame and the small details like cable clips on the frame is superior. Eg: on the Slade I drilled a hole beneath the bb for water to drain. Another downside, that cable routing in the top tube - it works well, but not if you run back brake on the left. - The thin tubing on steel bikes just look better (IMO) - Pricing of steel is steep vs pricing of alu. This might come across as negative towards the Slade, but it's not. I love my Slade, I just loved my Cotic a hell of alot. At the end of the day the Slade was a better choice for the riding I do. In short, the Slade is an awesome frame and I am amazed at how capable it is every time I ride it. I am finding it is the bike I reach for most when I walk into the garage. But... if money is not an issue, and angles are exactly the same, I am always going to choose steel over alu - but that's just me. Steel makes me all tingly in the pants area, alu doesn't. That said, half of my bikes are alu just because of the value you get with it - good price, decent weight, durable.

Not exactly the type of hardtail the OP is looking for.

It is... I heard (and it's just hearsay, that's why I won't mention shop names and quote it as fact) - that a certain bike shop moves around 30 E bike units per month, now their top selling product. I like ebikes, but it will be a sad day when they replace normal bikes are the norm rather than an n+1 item.

Not the best pic, I'll add some more later

Must be recently in stock then - but that's great news for the OP. When I was shopping there wasn't a single on available in SA - ended up buying a 2nd hand frame.

- Kona Honzo from Trailtech Cycles in Nelspruit. - Nukeproof Scout you will have to order on Chain Reaction Cycles - Locally the Silverback Slade Trail is awesome - currently out of stock, but should be in shops again soon. I was deciding between the Silverback Slade frame and a Scout 290 frame, I ended up going for the Slade because of the slightly steeper seat angle. I am running a 27.5x2.8 plus rear wheel and 29x2.6 front wheel which slackens the seat tube angle a bit so I needed that extra degree when compared to the Scout. I am a very happy camper - one of the most fun bikes I have ridden in a while! That said, you won't go wrong with any of those options.

Ok

Another vote for the Eliminator, all the grip of a Minnion without the rolling resistance and weight penalty. Recently bought one for the hardtail, I think it may well become my tyre of choice....

Fair enough haha

Haha surely you don't believe that old wive's tale?

Please share. I think there are enough people on this forum with back issues that will be interested. I myself have hernaited discs between L4&L5, L5&S1 - and a pinched nerve in my neck as a result of those discs. I have tried everything under the sun short of fusions - which I don't want to do because I am not even 30 yet and don't want to sit with those complications at 50. Anyway, if you don't want to share here - please PM me.

Haha thanks, well on my way And remember if you want naming rights to my first born, the bidding starts at 100k

I don't blame you, riding alone at night is a pretty awesome experience. That was my initial plan, but if it hadn't been for Jakkals I think I would've done one or two less laps this weekend.

Coz it's only fun when you get a reaction, and no one's feeding the troll.

Haha noted. I'll stop being a troll.

Great event, well organised! Well done Meurant and team! My only complaint is that I have to wait until 2022 to do it again. I had a good ride, but not quite as many laps as I would have liked. I started off with little sleep on Friday after a rough week at work - so my strategy going in was to do one opening lap and then sleep for a few hours and put in the hard laps late afternoon and evening. That strategy went out the window from the first second. PhilipV, Jakkals, CJVan, Hansolo, and myself did 2 opening laps together - the heat was brutal, but the excitement was high, so after a quick stop to refuel I went out for a third lap - that was my first mistake. The heat did a number on me and I was already quite low on hydration. After lap 3 I tried to sleep, but no luck, and after sitting around for a while decided to go out for another 2 laps with CJVan - little bit less heat, but still on the warm side. At this point I was quite sleepy, but it was braai time. I took a quick shower - felt like a new person, and we sat around the fire until about 9:30. We then started getting ready, was waiting around for the guys to get ready when we noticed PhilipV was gone - we thought he had gone for a PRD, but the sneaky bugger pulled a race move and went out for a solo ride - he clearly wanted to win the side bet! Jakkals and myself started pedalling again around 10, went out for 2 laps, our tally now sitting at 7. At this point I felt amazing, I had plans to do at least another 3 laps before going to sleep, but when we were refuelling for lap 3 of the evening the tiredness hit me very hard. On the 3rd lap I bonked HARD - took a tactical chunder at the end of the lap in Fountain of Youth, and decided to call it quits and go to sleep. Got back to camp, and proceeded to throw up a cocktail of energy bars, bananas, and steak - felt pretty terrible, but fell asleep straight away after a quick shower. At this point PhilipV had not yet gotten in from his night ride, and I knew I'd be at least one lap behind him in the morning, possibly 2. I woke up around 6, with 3 hours of sleep. The tally at that point: PhilipV - 9 Jakkals - 8 Myself - 8 CJVan (battery failure and a trail run too much that week) - 7 Hansolo - 7 I knew the chances of catching up at this point was slim to none, so my goal was just to make 12 laps and get that silver medal. Jakkals and myself went out for 2 laps, quick refuel, and then another. Now around 10AM it was starting to get very hot, and I don't do well in the heat. I went back to camp, and Jakkals did another lap. PhilipV was also out on the trail, putting in the hard laps in the heat on his big trail bike. Jakkals and CJVan circled back to camp for me, and we did our final lap, finishing just after 12. That put the final tally at: 14 for PhilipV (On a Giant Trance with slow rolling tyres), 13 for Jakkals (On a Giant Trance with slow rolling tyres and flat pedals), 12 for me, and Hansolo (and that on a rigid bike - kudos!), CJVan on 10 (Try not cancel yourself on a trail run 2 days before the event next time) My money was on CJVan for the win, but it seems Philip's competitive racing side came out for the victory. All said and done, it was an awesome weeked, lekker camping, better company! Hats of to the sharp end of the race, you guys are not human!

But it just looks so... right

At least Odi is passionate about something worthwhile