Trevz

Satori Suspension seatpost - I like it. Looks like a dropper post and I think it works quite well for the small bumps. Paid like R500 bucks for this thing. You get normal alloy posts that cost as much as this, so I figured it's worth trying out.

Hi Guys Looking for some advice. I want to get into bikepacking / touring. I got a hardtail MTB and have been thinking of getting the Momsen Steel STF frame and importing my parts over. (This seems to be a cheaper solution) The other option I'm looking at is getting a drop bar gravel bike, In this regard been looking at Farr Out frame kit. I really like it. Also been looking at like a Momsen GP300 or a Merida Silex if I can find one nowadays. Building up the Farr frame will be more costly due to getting a gravel groupset. What I'm wondering to myself is, for spending long days in the saddle on SA gravel roads do I need a thinner tyre gravel bike or do I need a thicker tyre mtb? I lean to the Farr frame at the moment. Was even thinking of possibly running it as a flat bar initially to keep costs down. What do you guys think is the best setup for my intended purpose?

Thanks for this...hadn't heard of this before. I was riding in the Vaal / Grootvlei recently and looked at the sign to Standerton, that had me wondering how could I get from about Heidelberg to R/Bay...I've got family I could visit along this route in the "small" towns. Sure, they the type of family I usually only see at family funerals but maybe the bike can unite us. haha and a close aunty lives in R/Bay....This seems like it could be a good route for me, a newbie in bikepacking/touring...I really want to break my virginity in this regard. Thank you!

Get the Momsen frame. See what you can transfer over from your current bike. I'm thinking of going through the same process. I like my bike and the component upgrades on it.... but want that steel frame.

Sunday solo gravel ride. Vaal Dam to Grootvlei loop. Mostly gravel. Wind was quite crap in the area. Riding straight into it. Fun was had. Peace and quiet... Farmers greeted me when they passed in their bakkies. All was good.

Can try Gary at MTB Xperience https://www.mtbxperience.co.za/ His in Moreleta Park area. I tend to go to him and I'm based in Midrand, don't mind driving out that way. I trust his services and I don't like going to the bigger bike shops anymore. They tend to have all these funny book in systems etc. and sometimes you just need a quick fix. Plus he can collect and deliver. I think this service covers the whole of Pretoria.

Satori Suspension Seat Post for the gravel bike - Hopefully it smooths out the corrugations. Rode off a little kerb (while seated) in my complex, it felt smooth....definitely better than the standard alloy post it replaced. I'm sure once i do the tubeless conversion and get a better saddle, all of this will come together to make a more comfortable ride. Time shall tell. Looks good to me too, like a mini dropper post.

Quick question, is a SRAM Apex 1 shifter compatible with a 11 speed Shimano SLX M7000 Rear Derailleur? Done some googling but still not sure about these pull ratios. Thanks

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/172995-gravel-bikes-what-do-you-have-and-where-did-you-buy-it/ View this thread.... You wont hesitate to buy one afterwards.

Yeah thats why I'm looking for apex. Dot want to spend too much. Otherwise I may have to look at a road groupset. Its not a massive big deal, the flat bar is fine....I'd like the drops, but the whole conversion must be as cheap as possible. I know when it comes to STI levers it gets expensive quickly.

Was going to start a new thread but came across this one....so lets rather recycle Is SRAM Apex 1 available locally? I remember Bike Addict used to have it on their website. But those days I didn't know that gravel riding would interest me. I've got a GT Grade in flat bar setup (done by previous owner) now I'd like to convert it back to drop bar.

***UPDATE*** Brake was cleaned and bled and is now working Thanks again Guys! I will replace these brakes all together, but for now need them to continue working and just serving their purpose

Grootvlei to Vaal Dam (Vaal Marina) - Gravel Ride

Thanks guys. I'll try clean it up and bleed it. Just want it to operate. I do plan to get a new brake set in the next month or 2 so just need it to work a bit longer before putting it to rest. Never had bad experiences with shimano, even Tektro I've had, they were also quite reliable.

Based on my playing around with Komoot, Komoot would have kept you on tarmac. Not sure how Komoot works but it looks like it can pick up foot trails. I put a destination from my home in Midrand to Magalies. For ride type i selected "MTB"...it calculated a route i zoomed in on the map and i noticed it was routing through open areas (open veld) which look like foot paths. Looked up the area on google maps to confirm it. So i'm sure if i had selected road it would have given me the tarmac only option. Don't know if Komoot uses satellite imagery to determine if a route is tar or gravel etc. I may be completely wrong here.

Hi Guys I have a SRAM Avid XX Caliper, one of the pistons seem to be stuck and the lever is spongy as if there is no fluid in the system. No fluid has escaped so i don't get why it feels this way. Took it off the bike (Front brakes) and looks like only the one piston moves inward when i gently squeezed on the lever. Is this serviceable?

I created a Komoot profile last week and downloaded the App. I've been playing around with it and quite enjoy it. Have made a route i want to do. Gives you options of MTB, Road or Touring, based on what you choose as your profile it chooses the best route for you. Plus it links up with my Sigma ROX via Sigma Data Center which is convenient. So far it seems quite good, but ja, i don't have even a week's experience with it, think i started trying it out last week Thursday so will see how it goes.

Braamfontein Spruit to the top of Northcliff Hill and back.... Full range of cassette was required to get to the top. Lol Views were worth it!

Its like you cant ride in any of the big metro's now....But West Coast is a bit of surprise...Looks like the remote gravel roads of the Karoo is the only place where we can be at peace.

Probably best to save yourself the hassle and just duplicate the cars number plate, you know each traffic cop has his/her own standards and rules...Isn't it like 200 bucks for a number plate?

Good choice. I saw it some months ago like when they first introduced it. The spec is really good. When ready to upgrade you could look for just a frame, HT or FS and transfer the components. I suspect the weight is all in the frame.

The drivetrain is "L-Twoo" operates like SRAM and is compatible with SRAM and Shimano. I've got 10 speed L-Twoo (1x10) and to be honest, it works, it shifts well...had a clumsy tumble on the drive side this weekend...the derailleur didn't break, still shifted nicely...I'm considering getting the 11 speed components to do a 1x11 setup, but when it comes to the cassette i will get sunrace instead, their cassette is on the heavy size. When i priced the 11 speed components the shifter and RD come up to about R800 - R900. shimano or sram upgrade kits start at about 3k. I think their components are good.

Wheres the Covid-19 Budget bikes?

Found myself in PTA North for work, came across a LBS... Picked up this SRAM 38t chainring for R240... Was going to order from csixx and that would have been at least triple the price... Feeling lucky. Lol. Will work for my 1x flat bar gravel grinder.

I've got used pedals if you keen ...was going to put em up in the classifieds anyway. Been keeping them from a previous road bike in case i end up getting a road bike again. I've however added a gravel bike to my options, so me and road bikes are done Shimano PD-R540 & Cleats (Yellow ones, think its SH-11 version if my memory serves me correctly)