Any mountain bikers?

JacquesZA said:
hows the MTB going...
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Not bad actually, while the climbs are killing me, the way down is so much fun. I'm scared s***less half the time, especially down the single track. Mananged to get lost at Tokai, was fun. All in all good decision to buy the bike, even cycled to work on a few occasions.
 
That's a good deal, and its a pretty reputable bike. XCM shock will last you very long, mine has done 6000km+ and its still working beautifully. Alivio at the front is good and you have the benefit of Deore at the back. For the money you did very good. Personally I would have gone for the bike I have now, 2012 GT Karakoram 29er with XCM shock and Alivio/Acera. You might get better mileage from your Deore setup though, I have to replace my Acera about every 2500km.
 
Rouxenator said:
That's a good deal, and its a pretty reputable bike. XCM shock will last you very long, mine has done 6000km+ and its still working beautifully. Alivio at the front is good and you have the benefit of Deore at the back. For the money you did very good. Personally I would have gone for the bike I have now, 2012 GT Karakoram 29er with XCM shock and Alivio/Acera. You might get better mileage from your Deore setup though, I have to replace my Acera about every 2500km.
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Yeah, I didnt quite get the hype around the 29er until I saw how easily they climb. But I have to start somewhere and I really do like the one I got. Think I might get a roadbike next though
 
:D "29er Hype" seems like you have been talking to Clint far too much. After 700km on a Gary Fisher 26er I upgraded to my 29er and there is no way I'll ever ride anything else. Once you start doing longer rides you really start to appreciate the bigger wheels.

Edit : Are you doing any of the upcoming events? There is a nice MTB in Paarl at the end of the month and a brilliant ride in Franschhoek next month. Obviously in March its the Argus MTB which is not that hard but still quite a bit of fun. I have done most of the rides on the PPA calendar and have routes/profiles for them so if you are interested in any please do not hesitate to ask.
 
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Rouxenator said:
:D "29er Hype" seems like you have been talking to Clint far too much. After 700km on a Gary Fisher 26er I upgraded to my 29er and there is no way I'll ever ride anything else. Once you start doing longer rides you really start to appreciate the bigger wheels.

Edit : Are you doing any of the upcoming events? There is a nice MTB in Paarl at the end of the month and a brilliant ride in Franschhoek next month. Obviously in March its the Argus MTB which is not that hard but still quite a bit of fun. I have done most of the rides on the PPA calendar and have routes/profiles for them so if you are interested in any please do not hesitate to ask.
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I actually got a mailer for the ride on the 27th yesterday, but I'm out of town that week. Looking forward to doing event soon though, road or MTB.
 
I recently bought the GT Avalanche 2.
http://www.gtbicycles.com/2013/bikes/mountain/trail/avalanche-2-0

It is entry level but decently spec'd, especially considering the price I paid. It has Rockshox XC forks, Deore, Shimano Hydraulic brakes etc. I especially like the wide bars it came with. I mainly bought it just so that I can do some light trails with the GF who has grown to enjoy some light cycling.

My main form of cycling is dirt jumping though and that bike is more kitted out ( It needs to be, otherwise SNAP haha)

180045_10150415775945331_3698859_n.jpg
 
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Brawler said:
I recently bought the GT Avalanche 2.
http://www.gtbicycles.com/2013/bikes/mountain/trail/avalanche-2-0

It is entry level but decently spec'd, especially considering the price I paid. It has Rockshox XC forks, Deore, Shimano Hydraulic brakes etc. I especially like the wide bars it came with. I mainly bought it just so that I can do some light trails with the GF who has grown to enjoy some light cycling.

My main form of cycling is dirt jumping though and that bike is more kitted out.

View attachment 34020
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Nice bike. Im still too freaking scared to attempt any form of jumping.
 
MOwrt said:
Nice bike. Im still too freaking scared to attempt any form of jumping.
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If you do ever decide to jump or try anything more hectic you will need to upgrade. The entry level bikes just do not have the right geometry and enough strength.

It can also be a bit dangerous. I broke my shoulder in November :( Its my first major injury in years though.
 
Rouxenator said:
:D "29er Hype" seems like you have been talking to Clint far too much. After 700km on a Gary Fisher 26er I upgraded to my 29er and there is no way I'll ever ride anything else. Once you start doing longer rides you really start to appreciate the bigger wheels.
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Still don't see the need to get rid of my 26" and replace it with a 29er, which is why I refer to it as hype. Many I know rushed out to buy a 29" bike even when their 26" bikes were still good for a few more years. Manufacturers love the idea as it means more sales.

I much prefer the tight twisty stuff (I ride Giba Gorge all the time) anyway so my 26" does me well. I have a friend who is serious into his riding and he has both. He is still undecided as to which is best. I shared this before but I'll do it again:

26er Versus 29er: The Shootout You've Been Asking For

The Cannondale Trail SL 29 2 is our winner for two reasons. If you are new to mountain biking, the Trail SL 29 2 is the runaway winner. It is not even a close race. The 29er does not require the skill set that a 26er rider has to develop to have a good time. The wheels make for a far more forgiving bike and slow up the handling enough to make it harder to make a mistake. Experienced riders will have a tough time giving up their 26ers, because once you have developed the skills, the 26er is a lot more fun to ride. It responds to pumping the trail; it springs out of G-out situations; it bunny hops subconsciously, and it dances around the trail like a puppy let off its leash.

Our analogy is like surfing on a longboard versus a shortboard. The longboard floats the surfer better, is easier to paddle into the wave, and turns slower but with more stability. Once a surfer builds his skill, he is more likely to go to shorter boards that are harder to get into the wave and more skittish but far more fun.

The experienced rider will have more trouble deciding between the two. One of the wrecking crew noted, “29ers do all the boring parts of mountain biking better than the 26er, while the 26er makes the most of the fun.”
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Source: http://mbaction.com/Main/News/26er_Versus_29er_The_Shootout_Youve_Been_Asking_Fo_4713.aspx
 
The Paarl event is a hot one! It was my first ride ever when I did the 40km road race back in 2011 on a 26er MTB. Last year I did the 126km road ride on a Giant OCR road bike and I'm planning to do the same this year. Have not done any of its MTB trails but I am sure they will be equally hot :P

The Franschoek Porcupine Ridge is bliss! Did the long route last year and I am entered for it again this year :
porcupine ridge.jpg

Brawler said:
I recently bought the GT Avalanche 2.
http://www.gtbicycles.com/2013/bikes/mountain/trail/avalanche-2-0
View attachment 34020
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That's insane! :D You clearly know how to handle a bike, and with jumps you need something nimble like a 26er or smaller. Nice bike too, with GT if you go 1.0 or 2.0 you get quality components. I'm quite happy with my 3.0 spec bike but they are cheaper for a reason.
 
ClintZA said:
Still don't see the need to get rid of my 26" and replace it with a 29er, which is why I refer to it as hype. Many I know rushed out to buy a 29" bike even when their 26" bikes were still good for a few more years. Manufacturers love the idea as it means more sales.
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Got mine because I rode my 26er to destruction. I would not upgrade for any reason other than breakdown.

ClintZA said:
I much prefer the tight twisty stuff (I ride Giba Gorge all the time) anyway so my 26" does me well. I have a friend who is serious into his riding and he has both. He is still undecided as to which is best. I shared this before but I'll do it again:
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Then 26er is perfect for you. I'm more of a long distance XC rider so big wheels are a plus. Can't recall seeing a single 26er when I did the TransKaroo last year, and us hardtail riders were vastly out numbered too.
 
Rouxenator said:
That's insane! :D You clearly know how to handle a bike, and with jumps you need something nimble like a 26er or smaller. Nice bike too, with GT if you go 1.0 or 2.0 you get quality components. I'm quite happy with my 3.0 spec bike but they are cheaper for a reason.
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yeah thats the reason I got a 26" XC bike. If I get a 29er I worry that it would be too big of a difference when I ride my jump bike. I am probably not going to use the xc too much though.. although I am signed up for Argus :(

Do you do moonlightmass?
 
TheGuy said:
Can any recommend a website with a MTB race calendar?
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I mainly do what is on the PPA calendar : http://www.pedalpower.org.za/events/
In summer it is very much road events but from March onwards you'll find plenty of MTB events. Dryland also has a few sweet rides as does Dirtopia. I'm working on my Club 10,000 so I need to do as many PPA rides as possible :cool:
Brawler said:
yeah thats the reason I got a 26" XC bike. If I get a 29er I worry that it would be too big of a difference when I ride my jump bike. I am probably not going to use the xc too much though.. although I am signed up for Argus :(

Do you do moonlightmass?
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Nope, never done moonlightmass, is that the one at Dirtopia? I have done one ride in the night, it was the final stage of last years TransKaroo.

Has entries for the Argus MTB opened yet?
 
Rouxenator said:
I mainly do what is on the PPA calendar : http://www.pedalpower.org.za/events/
In summer it is very much road events but from March onwards you'll find plenty of MTB events. Dryland also has a few sweet rides as does Dirtopia. I'm working on my Club 10,000 so I need to do as many PPA rides as possible :cool:

Nope, never done moonlightmass, is that the one at Dirtopia? I have done one ride in the night, it was the final stage of last years TransKaroo.

Has entries for the Argus MTB opened yet?
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Did moonlightmass last week. Lotsa fun, but its just that a fun ride through the city. Not serious at all, there was even a 3 year old kid a his tricycle.
 
Moonlightmass is a night time ride every month in cape town cbd. Starts at greenpoint stadium, goes along sea point before going down somerset and then up long street. Ends with beers :D

Really is more of a jol and social but it is very nice to see the cbd safely by night. Quite a different experience. I think its only about 10KM so its VERY chilled. Usually 1000 - 1500 people do it.

http://www.moonlightmass.co.za/moonlightmass/About.html
http://www.noxrentals.co.za/blog/in...htmass-biggest-social-bicycle-ride-cape-town/
 
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