Rigardt@Scott

My BIL has a bulk SMS company. They typically sell to businesses like insurers, banks, security companies etc etc, but also to the general public. They have written some software to identify and stop these scam SMSs from going out - long story short, these guys send out hundreds, if not thousands of these messages per week - and they get more responses than you think. Poverty and hard times make people desperate, and desperate people are gullible people. People want to believe they have won the lotto so they take a chance against their better judgement.

Me too... but t minus 3 hours and 32mins before I am on the trails. And this thread is not making the day pass by any faster!

Not much to add - you are pretty spot on with the direction you are thinking. If you want more grip on the front go for the Aggressor rather than the Ardent - it also rolls a bit faster than the Ardent, just slightly heavier.

Ah okay, I understood from the initial post it would be for gravel bikes (you replied on my pic of Farr gravel frame you there would be a carbon for for weight savings soon)...

So when are these carbon forks landing? And do you have any idea yet what sort of price range they will fall in? I am assuming thru axel and flat mount brake mounts?

No, that is post mount to post mount... You get adapters like yours and adapters to put a post mount caliper on a flat mount frame. But getting a flat mount calier on a post mount frame or fork is more challenging - AFAIK only the Canadian company that makes it commercially. Edit: sorry, I see your question has been answered already.

Describes me too, and I'm more than 100kg... I've never had a single issue with Exo and most of my riding is done at Jonkers. Also done Ezel and Klipberg with Exo casing with no flats, burps, pinch flats, or dinged rims. Maybe I'm just slow.

That dog makes it look like Aaron Gwin can't scrub a jump.

Yeah fair enough, rode. And no, haha I occassionaly rode with them - but they were a bietjie stadig for my taste. Hahaha I draw the line at long pants, other than that I will wear anything.

Hey hey hey... I ride a Harley (with leather jacket and "hardcore patches"), and have owned scooters, also have lots of pink shirts (and even a pink Bulls jersey). Let's not generalise here Or maybe I'm just a walking contradiction.

I've always wanted to own an Orange, but never have... One day (never) when I have stupid money maybe.

Myles, if you take up the challenge let me know - sounds like a fun day and I'd be keen to join.

The little guys (some, not all of them for sure) also seem to be the ones that just push past everyone on the side of the quees and jump in at the front. It was also the only unpleasant bit of the day for me - but then again, I guess most of us were little sh!ts at that age too - I know I was.

It is a black trail, people should have prepared for it, or skipped it if they weren't up for it. If organisers keep leaving out harder stages enduro as a discipline will never progress in SA. IMO everyone knew what they were signing up for.

Awesome event as usual. Thanks marhals, organisers, and everyone else that made it happen! I had a very good race. My fitness was lacking (as usual) so I just had to take it easy on the climbs. But my stages went well, felt like I kept it smooth and finished with a respectable time (we will see where I place). But finished within 30seconds of a buddy of mine that usually puts 45seconds to 75seconds into me per stage - so I am happy with myself Plumber was extremely washed out (feels like it washed out a hell of alot in the last week). Very loose on top, and dusty but manageable on the second bit - but considering I did not even attempt Plumber last year I am quite chuffed that I felt I could "race" it today. The only place it could have gone better was Armageddon and Iron Monkey where I was just very tired, but no one to blame but myself for that.

I need one of those... if you don't mind, what did you pay for it landed in SA? And could you maybe PM name of the hubber that makes it locally to me? I currently have my wife's post mount calliper on my bike which means her bike has some cheapy on it - so I need to return hers soon.

Start any time between 7 and 9. Just register first.

I have a Camelbak one for you - the one with the 1.5L bladder. It's baby blue though - used only a couple times.

Shuttling at Jonkers is a no no, whoever was doing it was breaking the rules (or had some sort of special permission). Cars are only allowed on the circle route. The jeep track on the mountain are for MTO (or pre-arranged) access only.

My wife just laughs at me and asks if I have matured past the age of 12. Naturally my answer was no...

Thanks! Good to know that section is not in, I just recently got over my fear of the top 2 sections hahaha

Love Leatt's products as a general rule, but their hydration packs are not well thought out at all. They are stiff and do not conform to your body. The smaller option has nearly no storage space, the bigger option is massive. IMO they need an in the middle option... but can't say I would recommend their hydration packs at all - not with the amount of excellent options you have.

Haven't read the whole thread, but my 2c in any case.... I owned a Cambelbak Mule for nearly 10 years, it lasted extremely well and did everything I wanted it to. The only reason I started shopping for a new one was because the Mule started having a real funky smell to it even after washes, to be expected with the amount of use it got. I was going to replace it with another Camelbak, but at the time I was shopping I could only find brightly coloured options in SA, and I wanted a black backpack. Then looked at Osprey (one of the guys I ride with raved about it). Ended up buying the Raptor 10 model. It is awesome - the tool roll at the bottom is great, keeps weight low and keeps stuff nicely organised. The bladder is easy to fill, but the bite valve is not quite as nice as Camelbak's. The hip straps are great, it puts the weight of the pack on your hips rather than shoulders which helps with fatigue on longer rides. The only complaint I have is that storage space is a bit lacking on the 10L model, but that is all fixed by getting the 14L model - it is the same size, but has straps externally that allows for the bag to expand a bit should you want to take a warm top and one or two other items with you. My current recommendation is the Osprey Raptor 14L for anyone looking for a pack. But... I have not used the new Camelbak models so can't really comment and say the Osprey is better - I am sure the new Camelbak stuff is just as good based on my previous experience with Camelbak. Either way, you won't go wrong with either option. Both brands have exceptional warranties and look brand new even after years of use, which for me justifies the higher price tags.

Also did my last ride yesterday afternoon. We have been spending so much time getting Plumber and Iron Monkey right that we have not been spending any time on Armageddon. So did that top to bottom last night - with the upper section included it is a LOOONG stage - definitely one that is gonna catch you out if the fitness is not up to par. Also did the bottom jump section of Plumber - not included last year, but as I understand it will be in this year. Good fun, but going to be interesting in a race run, I'm sure we will see a few OTBs on the jumps on that section - that's where I would be sitting if I was the photographer

I'm not seeing any rear suspension there