Boast about your latest purchases here...

[LazyTrailRider]

26 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Thank you!

The ride is completely different. I am loving it and yet have to get used to how different it is. My first take away is the mullet wheel and how "different" it makes the back end feel. 

It definitely feels faster. I took it down the two Conters Rhinos a while back. On the camber, Rhino 1 would be a challenge, specifically the top bit. I could ride it, but most often than not I would walk down that top rocky bit. The Stumpy ate it for breakfast and spat out the carcass. 

At Plaisir and Hoogekraal Skills Park the experience is different. I almost want to say the Camber is a better jumper. The Stumpy just feels wallowy and absorbing of the jumps. I suspect suspension setup is key and I still need to find the "sweet spot". And, this is most where the back wheel just is more noticeable. When I really drive hard out of a berm, or land a jump a tad off center from straight upright, then the rear feels like it wants to let go behind me. Not bad, just different.

I am loving the 30t chain ring. It gets me up to the top much easier than the 32t on the Camber.

I haven't fiddled with the flipchips and headsets yet as I am still getting used to the slacker feel of this bike. But from what I have found so far, I am super keen to spend my holiday on the mountains of the western cape. I have a week in George coming up and I will be putting in some time on Witfontein and I am super keen to see how it handles.

Overall, I am absolutely loving the bike. The camber was not a "bad" bike and it held up under the absolute abuse I exposed it to. I rode that bike as if it was a much bigger bike, and it never let me down, so that is partly why I went back to Spez again.  It has now been retired to doing cycle path duty between home and Melkbos and maybe the odd Karoo to Coast and the Stumpy will take over the baton to rule on the trails.
 

The geo is indeed very, very different. I went to a Stumpy Evo from a previous-gen Stumpy (which is already significantly slacker than a Camber, which I've also ridden several times), and it's a noticeable jump in slackness.

Wait until you flip the headset cup around 😉

The SJ Evo is a *massively* capable bike and I think you'll find yourself smashing bigger and bigger features with it because it makes most things feel easy.

 

 

[Robbie Stewart]

55 minutes ago, LazyTrailRider said:

The geo is indeed very, very different. I went to a Stumpy Evo from a previous-gen Stumpy (which is already significantly slacker than a Camber, which I've also ridden several times), and it's a noticeable jump in slackness.

Wait until you flip the headset cup around 😉

The SJ Evo is a *massively* capable bike and I think you'll find yourself smashing bigger and bigger features with it because it makes most things feel easy.

 

 

Ja, I feel somewhat like a kid with a new toy not knowing what to do first. So many possibilities are suddenly presenting themself. On my to-do list is Iron Monkey without a doubt. Some Armageddon for sure and I'm curious to just go punish Red Phoenix because that is the one trail the Camber really gave me a hard time on. By the time I get spat out at the bottom my arms are in shock 

 

[LazyTrailRider]

1 hour ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I'm curious to just go punish Red Phoenix because that is the one trail the Camber really gave me a hard time on. By the time I get spat out at the bottom my arms are in shock 

Look at the bright side, I reckon your arm strength is waaay better than those of us who have been riding couches for a long time!

[Guest Mike Dewing]

Pulled the trigger on these FIDLOCK bottles, and daaaaam are they cool.!!😃🤘🏻

Waaay Better than I expected.! 🥳🤘🏻

[michaelbiker]

16 hours ago, Michael Dewing said:

Pulled the trigger on these FIDLOCK bottles, and daaaaam are they cool.!!😃🤘🏻

Waaay Better than I expected.! 🥳🤘🏻

I just bought a set too and really like them. They are pricey though but when you factor in the cost of bottle and bottle cage it’s not too bad.

[Guest Mike Dewing]

17 minutes ago, michaelbiker said:

I just bought a set too and really like them. They are pricey though but when you factor in the cost of bottle and bottle cage it’s not too bad.

Nice dude.! Yeah, I saw Cade media saying they were really good.. decided to do it, so was expecting good, but man these things are just epic.. 

yeah my wife nearly had a seizure when I told her how much they were😳🤣.. but you absolutely right.. factor in the cage as well and you not far off.. wonder if they’ll ever do an insulated bottle🤔 

also, if you just doing a shorter ride and only need one bottle the base by itself is just super clean on the frame.. hated the empty cage.. 😃🤘🏻

Edited December 6, 2023 by Michael Dewing

[SwissVan]

Upgraded my Cyclops  Pro Power Beam with a Wahoo Kicker Core

Had many years service from the power beam but eventually it was no longer possible to calibrate,  which resulted in some "unbelievable" power figures

Only done one ride so far and the Kicker Core looks like a great replacement, much quieter than the "wheel on" power beam.

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by SwissVan

[Mongoose!]

5 hours ago, SwissVan said:

... but eventually it was no longer possible to calibrate,  which resulted in some "unbelievable" power figures

Just what I need for Zwift races...

[thebob]

4 hours ago, Mongoose! said:

Just what I need for Zwift races...

Eddie! Is that you?

[SwissVan]

10 hours ago, Mongoose! said:

Just what I need for Zwift races...

The funny thing is even though I could put out major power / speed if I wanted to, there were often other riders who were going much faster and impossible to keep up with.

“Online doping” is real

 

 

[babse]

6 hours ago, thebob said:

Eddie! Is that you?

what a toole

[MORNE]

Not really allowed to say anything more. Those are the rules👀

thanks @AndrePretorius and AP cyclery in kzn for the hands on service over the phone and for hooking me up with these things we aren't allowed to speak about😅

also, thats all you’ll get from me. If you want to see more, see you on the trails

merry x-mas to me, from me…

love - me.

xxx

 

Edited December 15, 2023 by MORNE

[Guest Mike Dewing]

20 hours ago, SwissVan said:

The funny thing is even though I could put out major power / speed if I wanted to, there were often other riders who were going much faster and impossible to keep up with.

“Online doping” is real

 

 

I mean it would be quite cool if they just put bots in there to motivate you..🤷🏼‍♂️🤣

 

[Mongoose!]

20 hours ago, SwissVan said:

The funny thing is even though I could put out major power / speed if I wanted to, there were often other riders who were going much faster and impossible to keep up with.

“Online doping” is real

 

 

yes sadly it is  😔

[SwissVan]

23 minutes ago, Michael Dewing said:

I mean it would be quite cool if they just put bots in there to motivate you..🤷🏼‍♂️🤣

 

It’s possible in Rouvy, as I recall there is an option where you can choose to ride with companions (not other real life people) but a computer generated image of other riders who circulate around you just like in a bunch, and you can choose to benefit from drafting. I think there is also the option to time trial against a cgi “bot”

 

[Guest Mike Dewing]

1 minute ago, SwissVan said:

It’s possible in Rouvy, as I recall there is an option where you can choose to ride with companions (not other real life people) but a computer generated image of other riders who circulate around you just like in a bunch, and you can choose to benefit from drafting. I think there is also the option to time trial against a cgi “bot”

 

Also just makes it look busier, more users etc.. 

a dropmaster setting would be cool but so soul destroying🤣🤣.. just a bot that comes from behind, let’s your draft for a minute or two and then drops you..🤣🤣

id rage quit super hard..