"Bryan" wrote in message
om...
I'm thinking about upgrading my old MTB. First upgrade wuill be a new
set of V's. I've been looking at Avid SD5 or SD7's. Has anyone go
these, if so what are they like? Some reviews of the SD5's say that
they rust very easily, whilst this isn't a real problem (but why make
MTB kit that rusts?), are the SD7's worth the extra?

Big question: what's wrong with the old V's? I've hardly ever seen any v's that
can't be made to work decently well.

Second upgrade may be to convert from 7spd to 8/9spd. Currently the
rear hub is XT. Looking around I seem to have 2 options, build up a
wheel based on a new hub, or get a new 8spd freehub body. The latter
option should take less time and effort, and if I get a hub form ebay
and pinch the freehub body, also cost a lot less. I'm assuming that I
will also need to get a new axle. Anyone know wha the OLN for an 8spd
rear hub is (7spd is 126mm iirc)? Will I need to cold set the frame,
or should I be able to bend it far enough (frame is steel, an Orange
Prestige)?

Another big question: why is that an upgrde? Are there hills you can't get up
with 7 speeds that you think 9 speed will help?

That said, if you are going to make the change, go to 9 speed, the costs are the
same and the diadvantages are the same, but you do get one extra sprocket.

Now for the OT it I'm going to South Africa for 3 months with work to
Bloemfontein, and goig to take my (hopefully newly upgraded bike)
with me. Has anyone done any cycling in sOuth Africa,

Me, I have cycled there quite a bit.

what is teh attitude to cyclists?

To summarise:
DIE! DIE! DIE, CYCLIST SCUM! DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

But only if you ride on the roads.

Be aware that even driving inside a large car is fairly terrifying. Other
drivers will overtake at speed just before blind curves with 1000-foot dropoffs
on one side. Which side they will pass on is indeterminate.

Also since I have never been ther can anyone
tell me anymore about the place? I particularly need to know how much
the beer is :-). Any help and advie greatly appreciated.

Beer is cheap but you will have to develop a taste for lager and pilsener. If
you do the usual painful Brit-CAMRA-type-abroad act and walk around saying "But
it's not a patch on REAL beer etc etc" you will rapidly find yourself drinking
alone.

HTH,
--
"Mango sorbet is clearcut proof that we have progressed beyond the
bare needs of survival and have progressed to the transcendant."
- Marc Goodman in talk.bizarre