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There may be somemore open letters sent to Strava, after they announced on Friday that 3rd party apps can no longer use data from the Strava API to analyse data, and also coaches will no longer be able to see their athlete's data (pivacy policy changes), inside of 30 days. So apps linked to Strava like StatsHunters, Velo Viewer, MyWindsock, etc. will have to makes changes to get your data from, your device manufacturer's software suite. Intervals.icu is the big one I need to make changes on (not for me, but the few guys I'm working with). https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/11/stravas-changes-to-kill-off-apps.html You may have seen a mail from them, this week: Hello G, We’re reaching out to inform you of a change that affects how third-party apps connected to Strava may display certain information. This update, effective on November 11th, is part of our commitment to privacy and transparency across all connected apps and devices. Third-party apps will now only be allowed to display Strava activity data related to a specific user to that user. Partners will be required to update their app within 30 days of November 11th to align with this new standard. What This Means for You You’ll continue to have access to your personal Strava activity data within your connected apps, but you may notice differences in how this data appears on platforms that need to align with our updated privacy terms. We understand these changes can be an adjustment, and we’re here to help. Read our full post for more details on this update and its impact. Thank you for being a valued member of the Strava community. Best, The Strava Team

Underwear too, please. 😜

You haven’t mentioned if you are already a cyclist or not. If you are just starting out then no bib short / saddle / shoe combo is going to shield you from suffering on the bike. It’s kind of a right of passage. There are things you can do to help - good shorts, bike fit, bike that fits, shorter rides etc but at the end of the day you need to build time in the saddle and be quite consistent about it. It gets better though and more fun with putting in time. A bit like any hobby really. I would estimate it takes about a year of consistent riding to get good legs. If you are coming from road to MTB then you’ll be fine. Maybe do a skills clinic if certain bits of trail scare you. Most importantly though, ride as much as you can. Otherwise the bike and equipment will end up on the classifieds here and someone will get a bargain.

@patham makes a good point, it really is worth it to invest in some training, especially when starting out in MTB. Sure, as we push the limits you do go over the edge of the berm, thats part of learning. But a ton of scrapes and bruises can be avoided by basic skills training. Enough riding buddies out there that can give you a 30 minute session before heading out onto the trails. Then session a few bits of the trails to hone in those basic skills. Also, fatigue is a blood thirsty monster .... my stupidist and potentially worst accident was after 3 hours on the trails, HOT, tired, foggy ... actually stopped to pour water over my head, but just a bit as I had to keep the rest for drinking. Shook it off and about 1km further I went airborn over an A-frame .... DONT ignore these near heatstroke symptoms ... in fact, the hotter, the earlier you start sipping water, regularly.

I have a set of T-handles on the side of the tool trolley. Second drawer is dedicated to an assortment of bits, Spinner, T-handle torque wrenches, a 4-12(?) N.m torque wrench. For the bigger torque items I go to the car tools. I managed to get a case with an assortment of bits ... those non standard bits that can turn a small d.i.y. job into fun. This is also in drawer 2. Makes life a LOT easier when everything is at the ready. Oooo, and if you get an ebike ... a 5mm hex bit in an extension is kept at the ready .... only way to backpedal the chain.

Yeah, T-handles are a life-saver when working on dirt bikes. The Motion Pro spinning ones are particularly nice, but not cheap. As for Torx, my bikes (both Huskies) mostly use the Hex (outer)-Torx (inner) combo bolts, which are very convenient, although I mostly found myself using the hex option, just out of habit.

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about T25 rotor screws... show's how long it's been since I paid mu bikes any attention 😅 As for bit quality, I had an issue just this past weekend trying to drive in T30 Ramset concrete screws. The 2 provided bits were both munted after about half a dozen screws each. What's more, I wasn't even using an impact driver, just a high-torque cordless drill. As a side note, very impressed with the fact my little Milwaukee drill was able to drive these and other heavy duty screws. Sadly I don't have the latest version with "kick-back control", so I did need to watch out not to break my wrists.

Best helmet you can afford, full finger gloves. After that it all varies, with both personal preference and over time and to suit your riding styles. For example, I started on flat pedals and takkies, after about a year moved onto Shimano SPDs. Started with sunglasses, and after moving to an area where trails have forests have ditched them. Started with a water bottle, then to Camelbacks for the long Spruit rides, now back to a single bottle. if you do do long rides, I do concur with puncture kits, inflation gear and a multi-tool. I have snapped 2 chains in 9 years, so I would chuck a quick-link in the kit. I was awarded the red badge of courage multiple times when I started out (I.e. I fell over a lot). A clean handkerchief to wipe away the blood came in handy (another reason to carry enough water) and when I taught my son to ride I would carry a very small first aid kit (gauze, etc) in the Camelback for the scrapes and grazes. And a mobile to call Mom for a casevac if it was a crash that could not be walked off. This is an aspect of learning MTB that does not get talked about much, is that learning does not come without risk or some pain. The trick is to just crash slowly in the early days. But at least one person I know started out in MTB, got fed up with the learning curve, then went into road cycling. On that dour note, the rewards are immense, I am only a weekend amateur, but I can’t not imagine a world without a MTB in my life, and my son is even more attached to it than me. So enjoy!

Hello, can anyone shed some light on the decision between the new float sl and the new sidluxe a2? Reliability wise mostly. Performance is secondary. Thanks a lot!

I avoid main road as much as I can and only join from under the bridge by the build it. But I then take the constantia road and do boyes drive and on main road by kalk bay. Only coming home I take main road all the way coz it’s quicker. sunset ride , just meant a late ride . I’ll try the Melkbos route 1 day. Campsbay to chappies also seems like a good 1. I guess the best way to know is to just explore

Very wide range of decent helmets from R900 .... Do consider MIPS technology, or similar from various brands. I was more than surprised by the price range available at Specialized bike stores. Not all heads are shaped the same .... some helmets just dont fit, others just work.

Helmets. Everything else is optional.

Hi Spano - we're doing this one, a week-long road bike tour during that same week prior to the Cape Town Cycle Tour, a tour, not a race - and fully catered with airport transfers, meals and accommodation - or DIY options for those who prefer to ride along and do their own thing off the bike. Check out TOURDEBOLAND on https://cyclotourism.co.za/ - with both local and international participants.

Crisis averted .... My son found one so we're getting there

Tygart was the one who made his name going after Pharmstrong. I said at the time he was in it more for making a name for himself and well history has shown this to be true. USADA have been selective who they prosecute. That gets lost in that they actually catch dopers but they are playing god in a way

Managed to get some tickets to caraboa cup quarter game at st Mary’s. My eldest son ain’t a member so again difficult. Being his birthday I called my connection in the club and boom. Lad is a Liverpool supporter but will need to stifle his cheers in the unlikely event they score/win. a few beers, dodgy pukka pie and bobs your uncle. No better way to celebrate a birthday. Poor lad just had another sprog so he never gets out these days.

Not sure if you found I have a sram 38t 104bcd with matching 24t both still good condition.

Great Britain's Lisa Dobriskey right after her 1500m race at the 2012 Olympics in London: “I’ll probably get into trouble for saying this, but I don’t believe I’m competing on a level playing field.” She was right, 5 of the 12 finishers in the final have been disqualified for doping offences. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/19/fifth-athlete-stripped-olympic-medal-dirtiest-races-athletics-history-tatyana-tomashova-london-2012-1500m

I do believe my Kickr Core works on this principle. Dont know how/if my Garmin can tap into that information like it can on typical sensors. Which effectively means that I can only record time, cadence and heart rate on my Garmin during an indoor ride - more accurately, I dont know how to record more directly onto the Garmin. The physical file dump of the fit file seems the only way to get all the data back to Garmin Connect. Which is okay for a non-Vitality user. Do wonder though if this works for Vitality users.

Most modern trainers have speed calculated from the accelerometer measuring rotational speed at/near the cassette.

Could be but there were some that rode in the bike traffic and some that kept to the side. Where I stay in Fourways we don't get many cyclists passing by

I’ve been asked for my opinion but will rather share my experience of running a small workshop in Prince Albert for the past 8 years . i am sorry I have never kept track and recorded bikepacker and bike tourists coming through. It would have made a nice book. In addition to those all the Freedom Challenge riders and similar races pass through. the European cycle tourists use much simpler bicycles that us locals do . I see lots of 26” hard tail rigid fork cantilever bikes with 3 x9 or 2 x10 drivetrain. Which is sensible if you are going to cycle through Africa . with a single exception not a single broken frame . The exception was a friend of Stan E from Scotland whose 20 year old steel 26” frame developed a crack at the BB caused by Scottish rust from the inside . And was welded expertly by our local handyman. I think we all make too much about frames breaking. If you look after your frame it will look after you whether carbon steel titanium or alu. what causes problems are wheels . Spokes hubs tyres and freebodies . And brakes . The odd BB . My 2C

Any chance of a regular Sunday ride overlapping with a part of the race route ? Or actually poeple (let's not correct this spelling mistake) that ride the race without paying ? Around here it happens that a normal weekend route overlaps with one or other event. With the one-tonner I knew it in advance and actually went trail riding instead.

We saw literally dozens and dozens, if not hundreds riding without boards. Lots of ebikes doing that. Also the odd e-bike going all out and definitely fit enough to ride an Amish bike....

Blown, zero damping, bouncing like a pogo stick