vulgar

Take it to yr local bike shop to box it , I org. courier(R300.00) one way,24hrs door to door, I assemble it and vis versa....

Rather buy myself a new tyre at that entry price...Redonculouse!!!

Hi All I have done it 8 years back to back...Its the worst road surface yet to date...the rivers also had more water than usual. Besides the corrugation and water it was dusty as hell and never been this hot.... From 40km to first climb at 104km the surface playes havoc, take your dentures out and fasten your bra straps.... Like the organizer said: They have a brand new grader parked on one of the farms, but the driver never pitched....the farmer then said to one of his workers to do the work, just to find out he ploughed the road instead of grading it.... Langwater is very deep, rather walk across, rest of the road twrds finish is fine. At Bergplaas I must admit it took me a while to click that the helpers were all 27ens...Bwhahaha must have been the dust clogged in my hearing. Repeat riders, enjoy it!! Its an awsome event.

Pitty,you guys are not there...mmmhhh bummed, I was hoping for a slip....could have teamed up lekker. @ shadowchaser-d , There is corrugation? joking.

399-1 will tell the laaities at the finish to keep the beers chilled... Last yr same wind, all I can say:"Kaptein span die seile "want jy gaan loop soos n Jet!!

Yeah I have done it 5 times, with brakes in be tween, I have done the camping 5 out of 5, love it. But am getting accomadation this time round. I think numbers in all multi stage events has gone down, accross S.A. I think generally its a case off done it a few times so why would you fork out money again for same route. Is generally a lekker race and prefer it to sani2 C. Last year the finish for stage 3 the race was moved because of protesters....they have made it Onrus caravan park again. Cant wait, going to put my bro in the hurt box( he said he wants mace....or was it to race?) Anyhoo great event, kamp staaldraad not so bad.

If everything looks like the thursday forcast prior to saturdays race , I will be happy!!! Dont mind the cold but dont give me headwind in the first 110km... Last year it was -2 deg, car frosted over at 07h30 Saturday morning, 10 deg at 10.00 at start and 20 in the valley... 3 hrs later.... Home just after last light (super cold again) dont think we will do 8h20 again if wind doesnt blow westerly, wich was basically the reason it was so fast last yr. So hoping for a westerly again....

Garmin 530 topo africa map no HR Belt RRP R5799.00 Garmin 530 Map and belt (performance bundle) RRP R7499.00 Garmin 830 No bundle RRP R7499.00 Garmin 830 perf. bundle RRP R8 999.00 Insane in the membrane!!!

I got a garmin 500, its getting long in the tooth with uploading to strava ens. I looked at getting a 520 , but budget doesnt allow it and cldnt justify the money and what I want to do with it...map plotting and navigation not my thing so dont need it really. I looked at Sigma Rox 12, very smart device. Then I got me the Giant Neostrack buillt on a Bryton base...very pleased with this device, bang for buck, had a IT techy that also cycles, have a closer look and loves gadgets, it and was very amazed at what you can do and what you pay...R2200.00 for unit and R650 for belt. Its wifi compatable, Ant+ and blue tooth. and 30 hrs plus running time. Big plus is that the digits are bigger so those that need reading glasses you def dont need that to watch this clock. With regards to Garmin launch 530 they say 3weeks still to go. 520 plus without bundle incl topoafrica map R4999.00 520 plus with HR strap incl TopoAfrica map R6250.00

Nothing wrong with the Chingkie tyres, bang for buck. Especially for a commute!! You dont wanne role with a fancier brand just to get NAILED, happened on my first ride on gravel tyres, hit a 7cm wood nail at a crossing, tyre foobar!!

This was the 2 nd time I ride the 100miler, I was covered in "foundation", at the pontoon crossing I asked the lady just for jam and cheese sandwich....the mud was falling of my face as i was talking to her, she couldn't stop laughing, we were the first 100milers to come in, the 60milers looked still fresh and no mud, what the heck I thought. The mud was so slipery at times that I/we wheel spun up some of the drags... The start of the race shld maybe take place in the road next year. What the quad bike was doing mids the riders I dont know...anyhow I stood at the back at the start and only caught the front group as we were passing over the bridge, that was almost a beeeg mistake. Last year we had mist, this year wet/dry maybe next yr a heat wave... OH how about organizing Port O Loo"s , there was nothing.... just a moerse Que.

Mark Renshaw has always played a pivotal role in leading out Cavendish. If i am not mistaken he wanted to retire last yr already but then said he will take another year's contract (maybe cav said :come on mate, one more year) Anyway all sportsmen have sell by dates, some have it early in their career and some later. I think 16 years as a pro is quit good and certainly more than the avg pro lifespan in the pro tour ranks. Also you always living out your suitcase, moving on the next day away from home missing family and friends, and when there is a party when you home ,you need to watch what you eat and drink ....the older we get the more difficult it becomes to motivate yourself. Unless you only started cycling at the age of 30 or 40(public in mind)...its a new hobby and dont understand why Pro's are retiring at such a "young age" Respect to Renshaw, workhorses always out the lime light and hardly get noticed... As for Cav, he WAS a very good sprinter,and thats that. Let the TOUR begin, Vive Le Tour

Ja its the same same, left or right, hope we go down the houses(like D.C) and not via main road dodging pedestrians with monthly groceries... Thats going to be fast but will try out my 36 x 10 conversion. It worked lekker at Swartberg 100. AMPED to kick some GR ass...gulp

Chis try another Mechanic, as a second opinion....no harm done....

I was always told to avoid confrontation, so I cycle on the N1. Not risking it from Dormac To town onbicycle route. I do find that the guys also cycle from Milnerton market on the right-side facing on coming traffic and cyclist coming frm town. I almost had a head on collision with a cyclist coming from town twrds Milnerton. A truck was parked in yellow lane, as they do, so I pass the truck as per normal, and from no where obscured an oncoming cyclist appeared from the front, I almost connected him...and then he still turns around and swears at me, like I was wrong. Anyway no to the bicycle lane as from me, sometimes the theory isnt practical as they didn't take into account 3rd parties(perps) I will risk my life on the Highway, the cops aint going to pull you over, the only time you see them on that road is them setting up a speed camera. That's their way of missing confrontation... Stay safe guys

email me at andreas@bikelane.co.za and will send you the mail with seeding

I entered in March, my friends who entered 3 weeks ago all infront of me, they havent ridden a mtb event since last yr this time.... So doubt its on date of entry

They emailed us with start times and it looks like plenty of peeps going, hissing serpent alone is 678 peeps.... I came 2nd last year in Bone crusher just cause some peeps infront of me took wrong route...eh what you gonna do, but besides that my seeding came out and now i am in Group D....wtf There are some guys in A that came an hour after me...not sure how it works. A bit shitty

I was told its not a csa event....but if you only have a R250 license you can ride no problem, just be aware that if you injure yourself that you are not covered under CSA

looking for a hissing serpent entry,30km

Hi Guys and Girlies Looking for an entry for Bloody Serpent, any one pulling out or not going pls inbox me. regards

Here goes: I am a first timer to the event. The Hype leading up to the granfondo 100 miler got me nervous, not so much the distance as I have done plenty mtb events that was longer(360ne & T.B)....the hype is all about "choose your weapon carefully" I wanted to do well but I dont own a gravel bike....Mehhh So my weapon off choice was my trusty Cannondale scalpel with a tweak. Panaracer Gravel King 700 x 43 tubless tyres. Chainring 36 x 42/10 I didnt know the route, only study the map a bit(10min) didnt make sense as I have never ridden around the area and have never seen Swartberg pass....I realised that I actualy knew the road from Cango caves to the start of the gravel part of the pass(Kobus se Gat) LoL A beautiful morning awaited us at the start. It was very intimidating to see all the G.B's and the caliber of riders that actually pitched in sponsored kit ens. I had 2 nd thoughts to my expectations as to were I wld like to finish...(Top 10) It started off with a neutral vehicle ushering us out of town, not fast, just lekker talking speed for next 35km My tyre last been pumped in 3 days and didn't check the pressure before...So it felt like I have a slow puncture but then the surface of the tar corse/smooth gives of different feelings, reaching first climb which I compare to bothmas kloof near Riebeeck kasteel, we descended into the mist with a fair headwind. I tucked in as my gear ratio does not allow me to go faster than 50km\hr. No problem, bunch was still fairly big at that point till we hit the first gravel section. That was so cool as the gravel section just do a natural selection, some guys float others fight the corrugations and out you go. I managed to hang on at the back of the group my guess we were down from 70 to 15 at the end when we reached Meirings poort tar section. Lefty worked well and at this stage I realized my 2.5 bars 80kg was actually just perfect, Meiringspoort by car is Wow but by bike its was amazing, loved it. going through the remote town of De Rust I felt the tension among the riders, as we crested the long drag out of town there was a quick dart as people jockeyed for position on the now very hilly gravel section coming up, Oh my hat, it was climb after climb after climb, short and steep,out your saddle stuff. Midway thru ,the water point off the beaten track ,caused havoc as some people rode past and now came to a complete halt to go back. The pace was already so hard that I cldnt cross back to lead group and I started to collect riders that was dropping off. At the cango caves tar section we were back to ten, I asked a few questions with regards to the route ahead....if I can remember correctly it was 123km done at the Caves turnoff and should be at the top off swartberg pass at 150km, little did I knew that it was literally 27km of gradual climbing, no downhills coming up.... I made a soft brake and rode on my own from there on. Water point just before gravel pass started i took on half coke half water 400ml only, and had one pocket potato dipped in salt, skop en charge was my pitstop motto, 1 farbar and 1 gel left to see me through to the other side... The pass itself was majestic as you approached it, I was told it was very steep the last 3km...and so it was, i was feeling the effort and maybe having a heavier bike or not being able to once train over 100km.... I was caught by 4 riders in the last km of the climb, as I crested I opened the suspension, I was ready to glide down the other side...I caught 1 rider on a GB in first km, second GBnrider after 3km, passed 4 cars by the time I reached the bottom. The lefty fork was amazing in comparison to the GB guys fighting the drift on ridgit forks in the corrugated corners, I didn't manage to catch the other 2 in front,they were seasoned pros and there technical abillity,s wasn't going to hold them back.... 6h 12min finish time on a modified Mtb, not to shabby for a newbie, but finished just outside top 10. Def. be back, this event is still growing and its going to be Beeegh The marshals in every cnr going down the pass is a nice idea. Thks to a well organised event.

If you can do a 5hr road ride with mtb without a coffee stop you shld be o.k....

Cool, keen to give it a go!! Organizer seems fair in comment. PLS pretty please and this is my beef with mtb events. PLEASE mark the route properly. Chalk arrows is not expensive. Mark direction before turn and in the turn and out the turn long sections of single track, take a color sticker , big square ones as route marker/checker on tree leaves bushes ens. for peace of mind "BOSS your still on the right track" NOT lost. There is nothing more frustrating than missing a turn or get to a junction and you cant find any distinct marker.... Lekker, lets see if ORG take note.

Started in $, got there an Hour before start which was @ 6.15 a.m, then holy smoke that start was fast, jeepers kreepers!!! I free flowed up climbs as you hardly had to pedal freewheeling from the back of the bunch into the climbers who are now going slower... I only heard 1 crash. Up Hells I cruised, down the other side 3 savage riders and Me & 3 others formed a pace-line but you always have the odd one not coming through for some rookie reason. Anyway Its was a fun day out, enjoyed the Big Bunch, Awesome Fast Speed , Awesome weather conditions flat sprint to cramp up in both quads....Haha. Venue was Nice. Lekker day out in die Boland. Sorry I dont have nothing bad to say... *P.S taking a route up a PASS will have serious consequences hence they took Slangkop descent out of the Argus route.