Jaco Steyn

What's the diameter of the magnet? I have about 30 neodymium magnets in my drawer, 9mmX2mm. I am in Sasolburg. I used one of them on my Garmin GSC10 speed and cadence sensor but moved on to one without the need for a magnet. You'll be able to get the specific size you need here: Neodymium Disc Magnets – Magnet Store South Africa

I am a VERY average rider. On a good day I keep up with the cycling club's Saturday morning group ride on the shorter 68km ride at an average speed of 28-29km/h. Cycling solo to Parys and back to Sasolburg on a Sunday morning usually can be done in just under 3 hours, but depending on the always present headwind on the way back. I also am not a Group A or B bunch candidate, I am not even a Group AA or BB candidate😁. This year I am in group DD, departing at 07:33. But I am not fazed about that starting time and group, I am a recreational, almost 62 year old cyclist that just want to try and keep fit and doing my 18th "947" ride this year. Thanks for your guidance, I will have a good look at it but will probably not do any big changes with the RideJoburg world cycling championships in less than two weeks.

What alternatives would you recommend? I have always just used Energade because it's always readily available, but I am open to suggestions.

Very informative reads I stumbled upon. What & When to Drink to Ride Longer Exactly What to Eat and Drink After a Ride

I think you're right about that. Perhaps one banana probably isn't enough for a 3 hour, 85km bike ride. I admit I do tend to not eat enough when out cycling.

Yesterday I had a true taste of the effect that heat, and wind has on cycling. I could not join our regular club ride on Saturday morning and went out on my own on Sunday morning. I did check the weather prediction for the day, which did indicate high temperatures and 25-30km/h winds, so I decided to go out early and by about 05:15 I was out on the road. I went out on a route I have done many, many times, cycling from Sasolburg to Parys and back, a round trip of just over 80km. The first warning sign was when I saw my cycling computer showing a temperature of 28 degrees even before I got to Parys, and constantly battling the wind, which came from the side. Arriving at Parys, I stopped and i ate a banana and had some Energade. Whist cycling from Sasolburg I regularly had a sip of my water bottel which had an electrolytes tablet dissolved in it. Before venturing back I thought about topping up my liquids at the shopping center's toilets, but thought I had a enough to get back home. That bad decision was a big mistake. About 13 km from home, I depleted all of the fluids I had. And my cycling computer indicated a temperature of 34°C. Plus I had the side-wind that did not help me at all. At about 5km from home my mouth and throat were totally parched. When I got back into Sasolburg I stopped at the Shell garage, filled my 750ml bottle and completely drained it within a few seconds. I refilled it, and then took on the last 3km back to home. Arriving back home, I had a glass of water with an electrolyte tablet dissolved in it, and also a big glass of ice-cold water to rehydrate. I was totally out of energy when I got back home. This morning my upper leg muscles are a bit stiff from yesterday's battle against the wind and enduring the heat. One thing's for sure, I will never ever attempt to cycle back to Sasolburg from Parys without first refilling my water bottles! My almost 62 year old body didn't take too kind to the abuse I subject it to yesterday...🫤

Road bike, 10 Speed Ultegra 6700 (I think🤔). Front big chainring. No idea how many KMs, but was replaced May this year after being used since I got the bike in February 2011. Probably >40 000km. Front small chainring, not yet been replaced. The cassette was replaced 4 times in the ±13.5 years I have had my road bike. Each time an original Shimano cassette, but not always Ultegra. Currently Ultegra 11 - 28 cassette The chain was replaced about the same interval as the cassette. Since day one of owning my road bike, I have only used the Liqui-Moly dry chain lube, but recently switched over the Squirt chain lube. We'll see how that goes.

Unfortunately there was a fatality at the race due to bizarre and very tragic circumstances. Information in the attached newspaper article.

Our cycling club communicated the information which was correct at that specific time. I spoke to some of the event organisers before the race on Sunday, and they told me that the permit authorising the route to go through the SBR reserve only came through Friday afternoon. They have given up hope of getting a permit and put their alternative route plans in place before that, but eventually they could continue with their original planned route.

I entered the 53km race, and by the end of the day I was very glad I did that. I pitied those out on the long route with that absolutely terrible wind. I still suffered even though it was the sorter route, a 53km ride should have been an easy 1:45 - 1:50 for my level of cycling, but only managed to do it in 2:05.

We were informed by our cycling club that the longer (±110km) race will no longer go through the reserve. They are reverting to the older/previous route. I do not see anything about that change on their website.

I received an answer from Spectrum Sport that you can enter on race day, but also, if you enter before the 10th (date of entries closing), they can move your entry to next years event should you not be able to make it on the 13th for whatever reason.

I have no idea, I will e-mail them and enquire.

That information is from the event organiser, which I e-mailed for information and it was sent to me. It's also available on the website: N3TC MEALS ON WHEELS 2024 (myactive.co.za) The information is on the left-hand side of the web page.

For those doing the Meals on wheels race this year, here is some info on this years' race. I am attaching the GPX files for both the 50 and 100 km rides, as well as the route and profiles. MOW202452km.gpx MOW2024107km.gpx