Mr lee

I think this has more to do with the fact that 75% of the time new bikes come with tubed tyres and in order to go tubeless you need to get a decent tubeless tyre anyway! It is however great that Titan are selling most or all of their bikes with TR tyres even though they may not be the best tread for everyone's application. It at least helps anyone new into the sport/(hobby ) to go tubeless without the added expense!

Ok so on the topic of scrotum....a saddle bag is cool as long as it is not overly huge and flapping around like a bull's happy ball sack on his way to mount a fair cow . Like everything else there are a few do's and don'ts! Select the appropriate size for your bike and needs and mount it securely so it does not sway around and make hideous noises as it bangs everything around it... the mounting straps will also start to rub the paint and/or carbon if not tight! Make sure that the contents are tightly packed too so your tool and tyre levers don't rattle and potentially cut into your spare tube.

Whether you look cool or not in whatever gear, as long as you are riding, you are cool

Now there is something I would never rock on any of my bikes!!! It's not crap if it helps me out of a pickle

I like to be prepared, well as much as possible, so I don't have to walk a million miles back home or to the car! So I an one of the uncool I always ride with a camelbak...road or mountain. It's just easier for me to keep my over-sized phone, keys, additional bomb, tubeless repair kit, money, cards, glass cleaner and cloth (I have prescription sunglasses that sweat always seems to obscure my vision from time to time) and whatever else I feel I need to take with me! I cannot stand to have all that weight in my jersey pockets, pulling and bouncing around! I only ever keep bars and gels in there as they are easier to get to while on the move. The bladder is only used on long and hot rides so it also provides for extra storage space if I need to take arm warmers or a jacket off on those cooler rides. A camelbak actually looks like a little saddle bag on my back cause being such a big oak I tend to obscure the proportions a little My mountain has a medium sized saddle bag with tube, levers, bomb, C02 adapter, multi-tool, quick links, tube patches, and a few other tiny bits and bobs that may help with trail side repairs. I have a micro saddle bag on the road as the tube is obviously alot smaller than a 29r with pretty much the same contents as the mountain....at least it looks more road specific and slightly streamlined in comparison

Was on my way to a local bike race yesterday morning with the wife...we were actually riding there, and I passed a roadie with floro kit and no lights. I obviously had mine on as I now do not believe in leaving home without them (day or night), cause I don't want to become another statistic!! Anyway as I have mentioned before, when passing under the shade of overhanging tree's and if the sun is in a motorist or other road user's eyes THAT FLORO JERSEY IS NOT GOING TO HELP!!!

Saw quite a few roadies around linksfield off ramp area in jhb(not sure of exact road names) yesterday without lights and it was overcast! Those with lights were visible

And how was it Andrew?

Don't worry about being charged for a guided ride....total rip off and you can ride wherever you want...within reason. You will see loads of cars pull in with bikes, especially at the vacation club!

You can always ride the hill climb from the entrance (the one that travels next to the mono-rail). Keep left as you enter! I did that last year and could not get to the top without stopping....granted I was not that fit at the time though If you ride that a few times over I am sure you will look forward to that cold beer or a dip in any of the pools, especially with the temps these days. We rode around the golf course later in the afternoon after 5 on the golf cart paths and didn't have any problems...almost got lost a few times too . Even saw a lonely elephant up on the mountain slope There are more than enough paths (on and off road) to keep you busy and exploring. As mentioned above though I would not venture out of the grounds for your own safety!

I feel that cyclists need to take it upon themselves to make sure they are visible at all times of the day and not only when it is dark! FOR YOUR OWN SELF PRESERVATION! It is always the drivers fault for not seeing us but we are also in part at fault for expecting drivers to see a small and often dark moving object while trying to concentrate on all the other hazards on 4-16 wheels. I make it a point now to ride with lights on during the day as well now, along with the usual bright clothing....I use the black and darker colours for the bike parks. What really got my attention was when on a morning ride with the better half. She had disappeared into the shadows of a large tree at the side of the road when I looked back to see if she was ok. The sun was so bright that all I could see was the flash of her front light . Motorists would not have seen her either (from the front or back) had she not have had anything to grab their attention! EDIT: spelling mistooks

Ouch....! Would love to see a pic

Very nice bar for the price. Left mine at 780 and love how much extra control I now have

Finally got my 25mm ID rims Had Wayne from Rapide rebuild my wheels using my existing hub, spokes and nipples to keep the costs down and boy what a difference they make! Much stiffer and more confidence inspiring....even got a few more PR's on the usual technical sections I do. There is much less tyre roll now, especially with the 2.4 ardent up front, which was kind of too wide for the original cross country like skinny rims anyway . With the original wheels I ran 2.2-2.4 bar at the back and 1.2-1.5 bar at the front depending on the terrain. That was Ardent 2.4 front and Ardent 2.25 rear. With the new wider rims I have changed to an Ardent Race 2.2 rear as I was worried about frame space clearance and it seems it was the right thing to do as I have the same clearance I had with the old setup, which is about 6mm either side! It is not bad now that it is dry but when it gets wed and muddy it will pack up quickly! I also wanted to give the Ardent Race a go out back anyway as it is a better roller than the Ardent and I can definitely feel it. The only downside is sacrificing the raw grip I had with the Ardent in the corners....have had the rear slide out alot since the change but getting used to it. I have a Rockshox Recon silver and the is ample clearance all the way around with the Ardent 2.4...12-13mm.

What width did you go with for the rims? Before and after impressions?

Ahh....

Won't that cause mud to pack in there as opposed to only around the frame if not used? What is the purpose of mounting it there as I cannot see it stopping mud or water from being flung up onto your back? Just asking cause I have never considered one on the rear...

Congrats Michele! Hope you enjoy your new machine. Hope you come on here at least once (if you aren't already) and post a pic of it in all it's glory

My comment was not related to winning the bike but more to do with what options I would have if I were to purchase one. After all, are we not discussing this brand in this thread? ...and by doing so the organizers and supporting companies are getting just what they wanted....brand exposure ....and believe me if you were to give me one in any colour I would definitely not say no

Aww no more Shimano XT options for the Tallbay CC ...never been a fan of SRAM... Who comes up with these hideous frame colours??? Gloss rust !!! The black is nice but it doesn't make it WOW . I still like the bike but a step back in that department me thinks!

But surely this is also benefiting the various brands involved due to the increased exposure! I for one have always been interested in the brand due to XXL frame sizing (Tallboy) which would be perfect for me and due to this initiative I have been back to the web site to "check it out" more times than I can recall I know it is none of anyone's business besides the organizers and involved parties but I would think that the prizes would be offered up at a reduced a rate...

If I was sure that the 2.35 Ardent Race would fit on the rear with minimal frame scrub then I would get one but I plan to go 25mm internal rim width so it would be a waste :/ I would definitely choose the Ardent race or Ardent as a front rear combo over a crossmark or Ikon one! But hey, each to their own

If you look around you will find that some shops are starting to stock the Ardent Race 29x2.2 which would be the perfect rear tyre if you are looking for a bit more grip withot sacrificing too much in the rolling resistance department! If I can find one cheap then I would like to try one in place of the 2.25 Ardent I currently have on my rear. Would have been so nice if CWC stocked the race 2.2 with their current specials....

Entered

For long rides I would say Ardent due to the lower rolling resistance!