Hehhehe awesome report Deekay, hard luck about the frame. some stats... Deekay punture 1... took 6 minutes just to get tyre off... 10mins 16 secs total fix... Deekay puncture 2 took 1 minute to get tyre off...and after a bit of fumblin...8mins 20 to total fix... you can't apply for the pit crew position just yet, but keep trying :-)
Oupa Gert was averaging around 10km/h running up nelmapius, pushing deekays bike and with battery pack in backpack.. You guys are Legends!!!! 20.7km for the eventful night and a lot of discussion about what one could have done to "save" deekays g.t. had this been a loooong endurance event.... somehow ductape came up as possibly the best quick fix for this scenario... 2009/7/3 Donald Klopper <[email protected]> > Whoosh, whoosh and CRACK!! > > > > An intro ride report. > > > > So after several months of excuses and reasons I was ready to hit the trail > again with the Dark and Dirty crowd. > > > > Recovered tendonitis in the Achilles, a busted rear wheel (bladed Mavic > spoke broken in the middle) fixed by using a spare wheel, a cranky crank > fixed to limit the chainring play (with epoxy no less) and a funny chest / > head infection that finally gave up the ghost: nothing would stop me from > playing in the dark... > > > > Since Oupa Gert spawned too many sons and they insist on visiting him now > and again, he was all out of internal combustion vehicular attire to get him > and his non-generalised steed to the D&D mall, I went to pick him up with my > vintage Beemer. > > > > Eight or so of us formed a united front against the frozen forces (QT and > Daleen went to the movies after showing their civvies-clad selves...). > Anyway it wasn't really *that* cold... if you're dressed for the occasion. > Nico swept. I did my best to stay just ahead of the sweeper (it wasn't > possible throughout the night ... more about that later). Mike was there > sporting his new dualie and his new cleats (still due for the famous "if you > haven't fallen yet ... you will" fall because of cycling shoes). Hardy > supporting and chatting. Oupa Gert grinning as always. The Mummy talking > about Vietnam and motorbikes. Some other speed-freaks with Fox forks and > skinny bodies (shame must have been cold for them ...). > > > > Writing a report for a D&D ride is either an honour, a suggestion, or an > uncontested exclamation of "dude you're definitely writing the report". I > fall in the latter category. > > > > The start of the ride went is usual, without much to discuss. > > > > My first flat (gmf) was just over Nellmapius, on the tar. 15 minutes later > (aaaargh tubeless tubes wheels!) it was fixed. > > > > On to the Python single track, with a non-slimed tube, which I just knew > wasn't pumped nearly hard enough. Halfway through Python, the snake bit me. > > > > That was my second and last flat. > > > > A borrowed Omo (Oxo, Okidata, Oh-No?) tube from Hardy solved the problem > this time in 8 minutes (hey it was dark and I'm slow OK?). I managed to pump > it to around 2 bars with The Mummy's fancy high-volume / high-pressure > little fashion accessory. Way too much talk ensued about pumping in > general... > > > > The double "whooshes" from the title of this report have been discussed now > and I had been assigned report-writer's duties. > > > > Back at the bottom of the Python we turned around ("he who is last shall be > first, and he who is first shall be last") and Nico raced up, and I > followed, with the rest of the riders up my tail. I actually caught him > halfway through this sweetest of trails, but shortly thereafter a sudden > lack of oxygen mysteriously caused my legs and lungs (at 5 degrees...) to > burn and I ended up 15m or so behind Nico, with The Mummy on my tail. The > rest of the crowd were around 50m behind us, so I was very chuffed with > everyone not just passing me in the middle of the trail as usual... > > > > Quad Buster was next. > > > > This is a little technical climb up to a water reservoir at the top of > Smuts. Granny gear engaged, my lungs still reeling from the return of > oxygenated air, I assumed the position (right at the back) following Mike. > After Mike had to dab (I told you it's a technical little climb) I caught > him and sat on his tail until we reached the top, panting like a deer > panteth for the water... Still, it's a great sense of achievement not to > have a heart-attack after such strenuous work, so lots of wide grins were > exchanged. > > > > And then I got back on the bike. > > > > There, right at the top. > > > > The remainder of the report title happened. > > > > "CRACK!". Just like that. I first thought that the seat post caused the > GT's frame to break around the seat post, but upon closer inspection there > was nothing wrong. > > > > I got back on the bike again. > > > > It felt like I was on a see-saw. > > > > Sure, this is a dualie. I'm used to a bit of see-saw motion, but this was > ridiculous. > > > > Back off the bike, I approached the crowd to complain that something was > afoot. How right I was... A foot. Or two feet. Actually more like 8 feet. > > > > Eventually I saw the problem. It wasn't anywhere close to the seat post. > > > > The top tube broke right through, close to the head-tube weld. Snap. > Crackle. Pop. The whole shebang. > > > > Out came cable ties and innovative suggestions about avoiding the rest of > the bike to disintegrate, and I actually rode the Quad Buster back down, > with Hardy next to me talking about guts and stuff. I knew he meant > "stupidity", really. > > > > We cruised back on the tar where the cable ties eventually didn't. I > decided to stand and pedal to Nellmapius. > > > > My insistence to try and hitch a lift was laughed off by my buddies... a > confused motorist almost stopped but then decided not to trust these > weirdo’s and continued on to a warm beer. Or something like that. > > > > Hardy took first turn to run with my bike, with me on his little hard tail. > I was worried I would break it. I really hope I didn't. > > > > Then after a kay or so, Hardy stopped and Oupa Gert took my bike and ran. > This stop allowed me to catch them again (I was still riding Hardy's > steed). > > > > After a kay or so, Oupa Gert stopped and gave the bike to Nico. This > allowed me to catch them again. Jislaaik these guys can run! > > > > Nico ran to the top, after which I felt sorry for him (or myself, but not > my bike) and told him to ride without pedalling to hard (because the flimsy > single weld that was holding the bike together wasn't going to take a lot > more punishment). > > > > We arrived at the parking lot, after yet another non-boring eventful D&D > ride. > > > > I sponsored hot choccies at the Spur for everyone that stayed, and went > home. > > > > I wasn't entirely disappointed. > > > > I wasn't even surprised. > > > > GT has lost a lot of respect through people who ride with me. This was the > third GT frame I broke in 2 1/2 years. It really seems like build quality > isn't high on the factory's priorities. The ride is very very sweet, but the > frames shouldn't break that easily! GT is a premium brand, built for > strength not light weight... I will insist on yet another warranty > replacement (I never abuse my bikes, but they definitely get *USED*). > > > > What's next? Two weeks of waiting at least. If I'm lucky. > > > > Let's see if service delivery in this country can surprise me in a good > way. > > > > I'm not holding my breath. > > > > But the ride, guys, was fun. And rough justice was served in the form of > the ladies not being able to catch the movie after all... Hiehiehie. > > > > DeeKay > > > > > > > > > > > > ********************************************************************** > > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and > > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they > > are addressed. 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