Mountain biking

Hahahaha is there brandy in your camelbak :P
what kind of kit do you wear cbrunsdonza? Do you have the same lycra kit that the roadies use or did you get the mountain bike baggy shorts and shirt?
Gumpie.. you may think spending R800 on a pair of bib shorts to be extremely crazy but its all worth it in the end. They are SO comfortable and they last much longer than cheaper shorts
 
Got a Camelbak Scudo in porno orange. Has a 3L bladder which I top up with filtered water at the office. Also has a built in rain cover which is actually handy, stows away in its own compartment.

On kit, ordered Anatomics from WHASP GELS - roadie gear but looks wicked ! Agree on bibs, thats on my wish list end of month along with my Shimano 520s and shoes! Just got my full finger Louis Garneau gloves this weekend - sweet things and keep my fingers warm and protected.

As I commute to work I concentrate more on goods not taking up too much volume like my Cape Union Mart Molecular Hi-Viz Jacket (R275) that folds up to the size of an apple.

Oh and one thing we have all forgotten to mention is a descent helmet. They are, I'm sorry to say, expensive. > R600 for a safe one like a Bell. On all our group rides (social) and all events there is a strict "no-helmet no-ride" policy!!!!!!

Also its the law to wear a helmet.
 
chau said:
What is the point of that? He might as well stay home and play some Motor cross X on xbox or something :P
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If you think you don't get excercise riding a dirt bike you are so wrong ;)
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Got a Camelbak Scudo in porno orange. Has a 3L bladder which I top up with filtered water at the office. Also has a built in rain cover which is actually handy, stows away in its own compartment.

On kit, ordered Anatomics from WHASP GELS - roadie gear but looks wicked ! Agree on bibs, thats on my wish list end of month along with my Shimano 520s and shoes! Just got my full finger Louis Garneau gloves this weekend - sweet things and keep my fingers warm and protected.

As I commute to work I concentrate more on goods not taking up too much volume like my Cape Union Mart Molecular Hi-Viz Jacket (R275) that folds up to the size of an apple.

Oh and one thing we have all forgotten to mention is a descent helmet. They are, I'm sorry to say, expensive. > R600 for a safe one like a Bell. On all our group rides (social) and all events there is a strict "no-helmet no-ride" policy!!!!!!

Also its the law to wear a helmet.
Click to expand...

I wonder if I have the same Louis Garneau gloves as you. They're also full fingered, has a red mesh on the palm for breathing and some thick gel pads on the palm side too.

As with the Bell helmets, they have a policy that if you have an accident with it you can basically swap it for a new helmet and only pay in something like 1/3 or 30% of the full price. That is a bargain even though you dont plan on falling ;)

Be prepared, this is a very expensive sport to get into:erm:
 
ponder said:
If you think you don't get excercise riding a dirt bike you are so wrong ;)
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No I didn't say that. My comment was to him getting an off road bike with motor :p he'll be using the motor more than leg power :D
 
So where do you guys go riding in Johannesburg ?

I live close to Emmarentia so I cycle around there and have ventured down the spruit a bit. I try to keep off the roads but would like to check out a few more places, I heard there was a cool farm out west that you can ride on
 
Nerfherder said:
actually you DO want your feet unclipping when you fall.
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yeah thats what i said, but for some reason i had the idea that the bike would come with those toe pick things...dont ask me why...
 
chau said:
I wonder if I have the same Louis Garneau gloves as you. They're also full fingered, has a red mesh on the palm for breathing and some thick gel pads on the palm side too.
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Got a pair of Freddys - they are black with yellow trim. Same design as what your talking about. My LBS Owner is a Downhill maniac champion and wears these. Also getting the fingerless for summer.

chau said:
As with the Bell helmets, they have a policy that if you have an accident with it you can basically swap it for a new helmet and only pay in something like 1/3 or 30% of the full price. That is a bargain even though you dont plan on falling ;)
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Correcto - but keep your receipt (unlike my wife!!!) and you can claim for 3 years after your purchase. Its considered you replace a helmet at least every 3 years.


chau said:
Be prepared, this is a very expensive sport to get into:erm:
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Agree but its worth it !!! Actually my cycling has gotten me so healthy that I'm saving a packet not going to the doctor for my asthma and I stopped eating junk food. This is how I can afford spending about R1000 a month on my cycling.

Lost 7kg since March, not been to the Dr once since then (last winter I went every month at R800 a pop!!!). Stopped drinking fizzy drinks and eating pies - save R200 per week.

So my cycling actually puts R600 into my pocket a month now!!! Oh, and I don't spend on petrol so thats another R500!!! as I commute.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Got a pair of Freddys - they are black with yellow trim. Same design as what your talking about. My LBS Owner is a Downhill maniac champion and wears these. Also getting the fingerless for summer.



Correcto - but keep your receipt (unlike my wife!!!) and you can claim for 3 years after your purchase. Its considered you replace a helmet at least every 3 years.




Agree but its worth it !!! Actually my cycling has gotten me so healthy that I'm saving a packet not going to the doctor for my asthma and I stopped eating junk food. This is how I can afford spending about R1000 a month on my cycling.

Lost 7kg since March, not been to the Dr once since then (last winter I went every month at R800 a pop!!!). Stopped drinking fizzy drinks and eating pies - save R200 per week.

So my cycling actually puts R600 into my pocket a month now!!! Oh, and I don't spend on petrol so thats another R500!!! as I commute.
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I didnt get a receipt with mine :/ I guess my trade in is out of the window now :/ Oh well

Gumpie, i hope we have kinda given you some decent info and hope you can come to a decision :) Happy riding
 
tau1z said:
i dunno, cleats would be somewhat beneficial....u would want ur feet unclipping when u fall...
but i agree with the overall view...
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Flat pedals and takkies. That is what you need. Clipping your feet into the pedals is foolish for all but the dead serious. Riding to the start of the mountain bike 50km at the Knysna Oyster Festival, I saw a guy come up to a stop street and he couldn't get his feet loose in time so he just toppled over. Some guy shouted "Hey, you can't fall off now, you haven't even started!"

*And takkies help when you are pushing your bike up the hills!
 
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gumpie said:
Basically i am just looking for a decent bike (most likely hardtail for now) that has a good frame, disk breaks and will last me a while.

I would like to use the bike to just try get out the house on weekends in stead of sitting on my fat a$$ all the time!!:D

What i have seen is that bike brands are like cars. You really get your fan boys on some brands that really dont like other brands.
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Want some good advice - don't buy NEW - 2009 prices went up 30-40%
For what you end up getting is expensive and not worth it especially if u just starting out. Since your intention is recreational and not serious as in entering 35km races and taking the MTB sport seriously i would suggest buying 2nd hand - u will be able to get a good buy for a good price occasionally a bargain will come along ( best is to take along a mate who is clued up on MTB components/Frames and can tell the difference between a good buy and a rip off ) next step once u have the bike is to join a club or join guys just going out for a casual ride - nothing to hectic, just enjoying the outdoors and do some really casual scenic rides.This will give you a very good indication if u will enjoy it and want to take it to the next level.
In summary u don't need to fork out a fortune to get started in MTB - u really dont need the latest and greatest either - take the plunge and if u get hooked then take it further by upgrading buying kit, entering races, paid MTB club membership etc etc
 
Nerfherder said:
So where do you guys go riding in Johannesburg ?

I live close to Emmarentia so I cycle around there and have ventured down the spruit a bit. I try to keep off the roads but would like to check out a few more places, I heard there was a cool farm out west that you can ride on
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... noticed all the posers couldn't help themselves discussing all their "cool kit" and forgot about actually riding :rolleyes:

Try northern farm for some nice trail rides ... they're just the other side of Fourways - 20 bucks entry for the day northernfarm

Also there's a Toyota MTB bike park opened in Bryanston recently on Main between Sloan and the western bypass

Some others worth trying :
Logwoods near Nooitgedacht (if they're still open ... haven't been in a while)
van Gaalens to Pecanwood Spar and back (Haarties - bonus here is you can grab a great cappuccino at the coffee shop when you're done)
Segwati Lodge (broederstroom)
 
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