Mountain bikers...speak up!

[Merlin]

Other than myself, I know BrianJ rides, and so does 2BugMe...

Who else here mountain bikes, and where in ZA are you?

I'm in JHB, and occassionally down in the PMB area - will be there again in April, for the UCI World Cup, and Sani.

Who's up for a pedal in JHB?

Mostly technical free-riding/trails.

Cheers, N.

[Sambabus]

I would love to get back in2 it,i used to mountain bike wen i stayed in PE,then i moved up hear and it got to dangerous,my brother was held up at gun point....BY A COP!!!!!!Then my younger brothers bike was stolen out of the garden,so i gave it up,but iv got a few friends that ride,....

[Blitzkrieg]

Used to ride quite a lot when I was young, then stopped riding. Had some fun riding in Nylstroom this past weekend, rode on the gravel roads surrounding the place that we camped at. My younger brother is a keen cyclist and I would also like to get back into it, but can't find the time....

[Merlin]

All about being cautious.

I got jacked at knifepoint, at age 11. Imagine how that F*cks a kid's Mind up...

...and I've had some hairy situations since, but generally thinking first keeps you out of trouble.

The only other bike I've had pinched was my first ever bike - the F*ckers took it on Xmas eve'! Never even got to ride it.

I like riding some Trials around town, and sometimes join the local club for country rides.

Recently we played around in the new bike park in Bryanston. Not cheap, but safe thrills for a day.

I can't wait for my next Leave...back down to PMB and the forests. Also doing Sani, up and down, in April. Should be a blast.

N.

[Pine]

I'm also a closet-mountain biker. Grew up in George, and knew the surrounding mountains and forests like the palm of my hand, all by MTB (Diamond Back ruled at the time, and whilst all my friends bought 50cc motorbikes, I invested in an MTB!

Last race was the Koranna in the Eastern Free State, and the 2Hell & Back in '98, but I quit shortly afterwards. (And discovered the wonders and comfort of off-roading by buggy instead.)

Lost all my skills and fitness the past decade though, would love to start again some time - but being on a pedaller in GP is not always a good idea

[Merlin]

Too true. The last year I have definately seen motorists and TAXIS' attitudes towards bike deteriorate.

I was riding the 11-odd kms to work quite often, on the dirt verge, until I was pushed off of THE VERGE by F'ing taxis and crashed twice last year, within 2 months.

No more riding to work.

...but I'm not about to give up my riding. Are none of you keen to tag along for some rides?

There are some decent areas to ride around Jo'burg, and the surrounds.

N.

[Sambabus]

Diamond back tapanger,cannondales and wheelers were the sh1t wen i was mountainbiking,aswell as Giants and thier ROCKSHOX,i remember perving over the igauna 600,....dont think Giant even uses rockshox anymore,

[Merlin]

There's a Diamond Back Topanga at Home, with manual and all. Are you listening...Pine?

My first suspension bike was a used Wheeler 5080 running the first ever commercial RockShox fork - a Quadra 10.

Amazing kit back then, but a real poS now.

N.

[Pine]

I had an Ascent EX at the time, it was just below the top of the range Apex model. Working at a Trappers Trading/Cycle Wise in George at the time, I got it at cost, and it was worth every single hard-earned cent!

Bought an old Cannondale Killer V (or something) in '07 - cause I always wanted one - but I have only been on it twice. Like old VWs, it 'needs some work'

[Pine]

15+ years ago, the Mountain Bike to have was either a Diamond Back, Muddy Fox, Cannondale, Gary Fischer, Schwinn, Mongoose and Bridgestone. Trek and Giant were completely unknow then..

[Sambabus]

Ha ha,i had i Wheeler 2800s or something,ridged forks...cost 2k back then,my step dad got it for me,he had the most beautifull cannondale,then swaped it for a shitty looking yellow cannondale headshock,it was brand new on the market back then...quite funny how things have changed.now iv got a mongoose bmx i got given,and a Santa Cruz scate board from the 70s,i use that to carve down to the shop every now and then,

[vader]

I had a Rally Burner bmx in std5 but got stolen with in the year...


Now I say cycling is for people that cant drive or are to poor for public transport.....

[Sambabus]

Now I say cycling is for people that cant drive or are to poor for public transport.....[/quote]



Nice Dark Lord,

[Merlin]

Jealousy will turn that bucket of yours green, Oom Vader.

It must really pain you to know how much more some pedal bikes are worth than your rusty heap, eh?

You should be nice to us pedal-enthusiasts...we're the ones who ride back to call the tow truck when your 'Force' fails to, Um, force.

[Chris]

Ouch!