I love my bike even though it’s not expensive or fancy

[cadenceblur]

3 hours ago, Shebeen said:

love this line of reasoning.

The okes who buy the new SWerks every year keep the 2nd hand market topped up of quality bikes.

You can buy excellent rim brake road bikes and non boost mtbs because the masses got sold a concept that seemed like a huge technology leap (but the actual gain is debatable). Perfectly good bikes became "obsolete", and therefore cheap cheap for those who know where to look.

Yip, says me on my non boost MTB (PYGA) and rim brake super roadie

[NoirBiker01]

Recently got back to mountain biking with a 2015 Trek remedy 27.5, it's been an awesome bike so far, I mostly gravitate towards downhill gnarly trails and this just takes it. 150mm front and 140mm rear travel is all I need.

 

[ChrisF]

10 000km on my commuter bike.  Stil puts a smile on my face as the miles glide past ...

 

 

I only do short rides on this beauty, but it has a special spot in my heart.  Every ride a celebration of my recovery. 

 

 

And yet it is the commuter that makes this possible.

[Acid]

Steel Surly. Rim brakes - 20,000km only just getting run in. 💪🏻

[Zebra]

On 2/10/2025 at 9:18 PM, ChrisF said:

10 000km on my commuter bike.  Stil puts a smile on my face as the miles glide past ...

 

I only do short rides on this beauty, but it has a special spot in my heart.  Every ride a celebration of my recovery. 

And yet it is the commuter that makes this possible.

Hi Chris, unsure if i have asked you before, but what size(s) are you two batteries; the downtube battery versus the rear rack battery, and what range can you get (in ‘average’ conditions)?

[ChrisF]

5 hours ago, Zebra said:

Hi Chris, unsure if i have asked you before, but what size(s) are you two batteries; the downtube battery versus the rear rack battery, and what range can you get (in ‘average’ conditions)?

 

Hi Chris

 

The Darrvin has 500W.h batteries, good for about 70km each, on a good day.  Using more assistance into the South-Easter the range drops quickly.

 

Thus I carry two spare batteries for long rides.   It is a "bucket" with space for two spare bateries that velcros in place.  For commuting this is removed and have a canvas bag that attaches to the rack. 

 

Typically I use 1 and half for the CTCT, but nice to know I dont have to worry about range if the wind decides to mix it up on the day.  Testing the theory of 70km/battery I have done a 202km ride with this setup .... deksels ,,, my boude was seer gesit, but the batteries lasted well and could have gone even further.

 

With the 99er, I was doing a battery swop in 31 seconds, total non-moving time. 

Edited Saturday at 10:49 AM by ChrisF

[ChrisF]

Not mine.

 

Saw this good looking bike at the Banhoek padstal today.  Spoke to the owner, lady at retirement age.

 

Chinese frame she brought in a few years back, and built up the bike over a few years.

 

The photo does not do it justice .... GOOD looking !!

 

Edited Saturday at 10:53 AM by ChrisF

[RobynE]

@ChrisF that is a very nice looking bike 

[stonemonkey]

My old school Morewood Kwela, did a 650b conversion with gravel tires. Surly rigid fork. My go to bike for bike-packing / touring 

[Wannabe]

I'll add pics later.

My road bike is a 2009 vintage Scott Speedster S still with original Ultegra 10spd group set, running an "old man gearing" 52/39 chainring and 11-32 cassette on Mavic Equipe wheels shot with Vittoria tires.

Mtb is a 2014 Scott Spark Elite with Shimano 11spd XT group set and brake set. 1 x 34/11-52 gearing, running on Lyne Pulse wheels with Vittoria Barzo 2.25 tires.

Gravel Donkey / Hybrid is a vintage unknown (probably mid 2010's) Haibike hardtail frame, put together entirely with 2nd hand parts I had on hand or scrounged from fiends. Sram 10spd Force group set front and rear, Tektra cable brakes, old XT wheelset with 40c Maxxis Rambler tubeless tires.

[PhilipV]

On 2/10/2025 at 3:10 PM, rock said:

10 year old steel bike with no gears - not even a 29er 😁

SO MUCH OF NNNNIIIIICCCCCEEEEE!!!!!!

On 2/10/2025 at 4:21 PM, Shebeen said:

love this line of reasoning.

The okes who buy the new SWerks every year keep the 2nd hand market topped up of quality bikes.

You can buy excellent rim brake road bikes and non boost mtbs because the masses got sold a concept that seemed like a huge technology leap (but the actual gain is debatable). Perfectly good bikes became "obsolete", and therefore cheap cheap for those who know where to look.

I have an up to date bike, and a 20 year old SS hardtail, and while i am undoubtedly faster on the new bike, the fun and stoke level is the same. My riding mates usually start laughing when I pull out the SS, because they know we'll be going slower, but hit all the fun lines while talking a lot of crap. 

 

[Andymann]

Chinese Carbon frame - think it's a cross between a Scott and a Felt landed for R4000 in 2018, second-hand fork off the Hub, second-hand Roval Carbon wheels off the Hub, 3 x 10 XT Groupset, Chinese Carbon bars, Thompson Alloy seatpost.  Absolutely love it - climbs like a rocket and on the flats when you hook the 48x10 at the back there's not many 1x's that can keep up.

 

[Mook]

On 2/15/2025 at 12:52 PM, ChrisF said:

Not mine.

 

Saw this good looking bike at the Banhoek padstal today.  Spoke to the owner, lady at retirement age.

 

Chinese frame she brought in a few years back, and built up the bike over a few years.

 

The photo does not do it justice .... GOOD looking !!

 

"The photo does not do it justice .... GOOD looking !!" .......  😜

Enough of the lady ................ your opinion of the bike 🤷‍♂️

[Super Sywurm]

I really enjoy my Rapide Tigre steel frame with cheapish parts.  I am always thinking about how I can upgrade the bike. 

In the past, I always wanted to replace my current bike, not with the Rapide.

[Jaco Steyn]

My 2011 Pinarello, rim brakes and all. Still does its job for me as a 62-year-old recreational cyclist. I cannot justify buying a new bike, but I have to admit, there's some gorgeous new bikes out there!