Rigardt@Scott

I get nervous just watching that! The section between the trees really puts into perspective how fast he is going.

I would love to know how much research you do when buying something big if this is how much you do when buying a tyre.

That mentality exists only in SA.

I use glasses with photochromic lenses, that way it doesn’t really matter what time of day/night I ride. Generally speaking the more expensive lenses go a bit more clear than the cheaper ones when in the dark. Oakley’s as well as POCs are very good. Otherwise just a clear lense works well. I find any sort of tint to be more annoying than anything else in the dark.

hahaha correct you are. We even decided to have 2 kids 16 months apart. Maybe I am a sucker for punishment.

And I am returning the ebike today. It was fun... but I can’t say I am too heart sore giving it back. Money no object I’d buy one as a +1, but every time I get on my normal bike I realise I actually like the suffering somewhat.

Don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but try Rotsvas in Pretoria. Not DH style technical, just technical in the sense that it is very rocky and you have to pick your way through everything up and down. Quite challenging, and takes is out of you if you are not fit. But like I said, not Enduro / DH techy, a shorter travel, nimble bike type of technical.

Metalic pads are noisy when wet. No way around it.

Problem is the DH and DD casings aren’t available in faster rolling tyres - I wish they were. To the OP, you need a tyre with a strong sidewall. Maxxis make a Double Down (DD) casing, and a Down Hill (DH) casing. Their normal EXO or EXO+ casing will not handle your weight easily. The only faster rolling tyre I am aware of that you will get in SA in the casings I mentioned is the Maxxis Minion SS (semi slick) in 2.3. I think my local shop actually has one, I will check today and let you know - they will be able to courier to you. Then I would also suggest a tyre insert and tubeless conversion instead of using a tube. Look at Cush Core or Vitoria air liner - both expensive but they will save your rims and tyres and you will get away with lower pressures (maybe around 3 bar). You can google Cush Core to get more info on it. I’ll send you a message later today once I’ve asked my local shop if they have the Minion SS in either DD or DH casing. If you get lucky you may also find the Maxxis Aggressor in a shop in DD casing. Your other alternative is to look at Specialized tyres, they bring the Slaughter (similar to the Maxxis Minion SS) into SA in a DH casing, and then the Eliminator which rolls a bit slower but still fast enough in a Black Diamond casing which is similar to the Maxxis DD casing. My dad is also heavy (145kg) and he uses a Specialized Eliminator in Black Diamond with a Cush Core insert and runs about 2.8bar. That seems to be fine for him.

You definitely need to bleed them. Even with 180mm front and rear, Codes are dam powerful brakes.

Short answer - do the rotors. If you do buy new brakes you are going to buy new rotors anyway. So fit them now, if it makes a difference, awesome. If it still doesn't perform the way you want, get the new brakes. You will not have lost any money anyway. Not sure on your weight, but if you are on the heavier side, go 180 back, 203 in front. No such thing as overkill unless you really want to save weight, which is minimal on rotors anyway.

I love the changes. It will take a bit of time to get used to, but the old interface was seriously outdated. The new one is bang up to date.

What casings did you use? Any Spaz tyre in control casing is horrid. Grid casing is another story. The Ground Control 2.3 in Grid is probably one of my favourite summer rear tyres.

Ja, they went on ad nauseum about hardtails on that course, and then when Rob actually says something interesting he doesn't expand on it.

It was an AXS dropper no? Possibly a connection issue or problem with the remote? At least that is where cables are great, you can just pull it up...

I heard Rob say something about the British men not having a spot at Olympics? Did I misunderstand completely or is there something to that statement?

I think he has the knowledge. To me it seems that he tries to field a question to Bart (the XCO expert) for him to answer and inform the public. The problem is they do not understand half of what the other guy is saying. Rob asks if most ladies will be using hardtails, then Bart answers no and continues to explains how the ladies won't be using full suspension bikes!? Either way, the commentary is utter crap.

That’s the dream home setup for me. Enjoy!

Upskilling and falling go hand in hand. The (technically) best riders I know fall often and hard. Not that you have to fall to get better, just hard to separate the two.

Not suggesting you import - just for advice on what is comfy. Guessing there are alot more rides wearing long pants that can comment that there will be here.

I have seen one or two guys wear them here in winter, but I don't so can't comment on comfort. One of the guys I know that does wear long pants occasionally wears Fox and he gets on well with it. If I was you I'd post this question on a UK or Canadian forum, you will get more replies there.

Sounds like a certain local Youtuber

I rode 2 piston Curas for around 3 years, then bought myself the 4 piston version just over a year ago. I have long been a Cura fanboy, I don't think there is anything better out there rand for rand. Maybe I have just been spoiled for too long and my expectations of the Guides are a bit high.

Bit of confusion. I though it was 2 piston due to terrible braking performance and small caliper size (besides for G2 and Code I am not too clued up on Sram brakes). When I actually checked on the bike (it's not mine), I saw it is actually 4 piston - the caliper is just quite small compared to other 4 piston calipers I am used to. But yes, they are "R". It's my old man's bike. He uses it twice a year, and when he does it is on Jonkershoek circle route at a leisurely pace. So no point in even trying to improve performance as for what he does there will be no difference between v-brakes and Codes....

Definitely guide calipers and levers.