Jaco Steyn

I'll probably be going down every second or third year. It's mostly been me and my son going down, sharing costs as far as possible, but even doing that, it still works out at about R6K per person. My son just became a father, so his expendable monies are being eaten up by other responsibilities this year, hopefully we'll be going down next year again. But, to those lucky enough to take part in about two month's time, may you have safe trips to whoever is travelling to CT, and those hopefuls achieve their goals and personal bests.

If you know of someone with a 3D printer, there is a file you can download from thingiverse for exactly that problem. You 3D print a new bracket and screw it onto the Edge. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2889942

You will definitely enjoy your ride! But you may just be in for a wet ride though.... Rain predicted for tomorrow morning throughout the entire day, Sunday morning looking a bit better. Here's the route profile from Pont du Val to Parys.

What route are you planning? I am not very sure about the roads leading out from Barrage, but I am assuming your starting point will be at about where Pont de Val is on the Freestate side of the Vaal River? Then up to and past the Bon-Af berry farm, then with the R59 to Parys? Saturday 29 shouldn't be too busy on the R59, it's usually more busy on a Sunday. From Barrage to the R59 should be very quiet. That should give a round trip of about 60km.

Makro only had the Cannodale Trial 5 and the Trial 7 as a one off. The Trial 5, which is the better specked one sold out very quickly. Some of the Makro stores should still have stock of the Trial 7. This should still be a very good option for your requirements, which is selling at R3999.. I only saw those bikes in a medium size, which should be right for you. If you can still find one, I would go for that one.

Me and my son both took part, he started at about 07:10 (cannot remember which group number) and I started at 07:55 in group Y. We have diverse opinions on the route, he's saying this route is easier, and I think it's much tougherer.... He's possibly saying that because he's almost halved his time since his first 947 three years ago. This year he did it in 03:40. I agree what Scotty said a number of posts back, the part just after coming out of Kyalami was rough. AND, they were lying with the writing on the road, "Last Climb"! But, I do not take part for any specific time, I ride to enjoy the freedom of the roads, and to complete without any incidents or accidents, which I did. Plus I improved 32 minutes on last year's time! Nowhere close to my PB of 3:26 which I achieved on my 3rd 947 (I think I was 42 then), but I am happy with this time. The heat is the main thing that slowed me down, my Garmin indicated 31 degrees when I started, and 41 degrees when I finished. The avg temperature for my race was 36.5 degrees. I do not think I have EVER drank so much water during a cycle race ever! Die outoppie (almost 56..) was dors! I discovered a very cool app that creates a "birds eye view" video of your ride, using Strava information, called "Relive". Here's a link to the video of my ride: https://www.relive.cc/view/1971927618

It would have been nice if we were made aware of this by the event organisers. I was there this morning and would have gone and looked my name up to sign it. This year it will be my 13th (I think….. ) time I'm doing this race.

Took a day's leave to go to the expo and number collection. Doing some other business too, should be at the Dome about 10:00ish. My son and I have the arrangement that I drive to go to the expo and number collection, and he drives on the morning of the race. With the price of petrol these days and also coming from Sasolburg one should make these types of arrangements to share costs. I REALLY hope I am not disappointed with the expo, at least I have give up on expecting anything worth the while regarding the goodie bag. Maybe one day there will be a system in place for us to print our own numbers, or the option of delivery by courier for us out of town participants, supporting races far away from us. It isn't always possible to drive to the JHB area twice, once for number collection and then again a day or so later to participate in the event.

I'll be at the finish line, assisting my son that's doing the photo finish for the race commissaires. If you're a hubber, shout out a hello to me and my son when you pass the finish line...….

No need to go to Cyclelab for it, you can get it at a lot of other retailers, such as Builders Warehouse. You can even order it from Takealot. But, I agree in getting it, works VERY well! And is environmental friendly.

I spoke to a supevisor of the sporting goods department at Makro Vaal on Saturday, and I stood by her while she looked up on the system to see which branches still had some available. Makro alberton had 7 and Woodmead had 13. I cannot remember which other ones in the Gauteng area also still had some available, but there were more, I just cannot remember at which branches.

I got mine at Makro Vaal, they only received 10, with a waiting list of 20. They phoned me on Tuesday at 11:00 I arrived there just before 12:00. Assembled it that afternoon after work and fine tuned everything the next day, once again after work. I used it to commute to work and back on Thursday and Friday, and, what a pleasure! This will be used to replace my daily commuter, a 10 year old Cannondale F7 (26"). Therefore no real MTB'ing will be involved most of the time. Build quality - Excellent! I would almost say a little better than my old 'Dale. Shifting precision - As good as can be expected from the Acera R/D. I have not really made use of the F/D. Brakes - Those Tektro hydrolic brakes stops on a dime! I almost fell my a$$ off the fist time, being accostumed to the older mechanical brakes. What would I improve/upgrade - For what I need it for, nothing, except tomaybe put in sludge in the tubes and a tyre liner to protect me from the thorns and small pieces of glass on my way to work and back. I almost was tempted to put up a photo of my ride as well, but then remembered the MTB purists here on the Hub will have a field day commenting on the reflectors on the bicycle...... This unfortunately is a factory requirement at Sasol that it must have both front (white) and rear(red) reflectors on it according to the Road Traffic Act.

Look at post #318 on page 20 of this thread.

Thanks for posting the photos. This looks like it will be a perfect replacement for my daily commuter bike. My old Cannondale F7 has served me loyally for the last 9 years, but it's time for a new one to last me for my last 5 odd years before possibly retiring after what then will be 40 years at Sasol. Yesterday I was 35 years at Sasol...... I have been cycling to work and back (currently) for about 30 years now, and for the price of possibly a single car installment, I can continue saving on fuel expenses.

I went to Makro Vaal, and they haven't yet received their stock. The told me that the Woodmead branch did have stock, but I'm deffinitely not going to drive from Sasolburg to the northern side of Johannesburg with the price of petrol these days. The indicated to me that they hope to get theirs on Tuesday.

I try to do this race whenever I am free, but unfortunately that hasn't been the case for some time now. I am off to Mount Amanzi for a week, mostly to give my VERY dedicated and hard-working wife a bit of a well deserved break. She is a housewife which takes her work very seriously, e.g. our ENTIRE house gets cleaned each and every day, weekends included. When I get home there's always a meal prepared. And also to celebrate her 51st birthday, and my 35 years long service at Sasol. Coincidentally my wife's birthday and my work appointment anniversary falls on the same date.

I also had a look at it at Makro Vaal. Seriously considering this to replace my 8 year old commuter MTB, which also is a Cannondale. I have no need for the latest and greatest components just to cycle to work and back. I am however holding back a bit for the Trial 5 which I think is the better deal at only R500 more.

Thanks for this feedback, I'll look into this. I like what I see on the link you provided! It looks as it's exactly what I need. I am also going to the Getaway Show at the TicketPro dome this weekend, and will have a look at the offerings there.

I have done the JB Train tours thing too in the past, and it was AWESOME! I met people on that trip that I still keep in contact with. But, that too has become a very expensive option, and the travel dates and arrival times were not to everybody's liking. You arrive in CT on the Saturday afternoon somewhere between 14:00 - 15:00 in the afternoon, so you have no or little time to go to the expo. Then the train departs back to JHB later that week on the Wedneday or Thursday. you have a lot of free time after the race, but none before the race. The last time I enquired about these tours, it worked out cheaper to fly down on something like a Kulula package deal that included flights, accomodation and car rental. This year's deal was ±R6500 for both me and my son, which wasn't too bad, and we stayed about 1,5km away from the start. If you shop around well in advance, you can get some good deals. We booked this trip about 7 months in advance.

Sitting it out next year, after having an awesome one this year. Awesome as in not having a good time, but as in a good day's riding in wonderfull weather. My son improved his time with about 90 minutes, and I did my 3rd best time ever. However, main reason for sitting out is my eldest son's wife is expecting their first end of December, so my riding partner will not be able to go down. And, it's a DAMN expensive excercise for us here up north! ±R10K for a couple of days in the Cape is forcing us to limit how often we can go down for the World Funride Championship.

Seems like a very good deal, but WAY too much for my needs. What can you recommend for a 55+ outoppie that's attempting to gain some fitness before the 947, only needed for the first ±20-30 minutes of cycling untill the sun is properly out?

There is a person that's well trusted and supported on the Mybroadband forum that does courier services. Maybe you can contact him through his website and maybe he can assist you? https://www.scottshipping.co.za/ https://www.scottshipping.co.za/worldwide-shopping-how-it-works/

Nope, working at Sasol. Will be there for 35 years on the 6th of October.

I hope that they have something similar at the end of October. I am getting some long service money and will be in the market for a decent entry level MTB. This will mostly be used to commute to work and back. My Cannondale have served me faithfully and faultlessly for about 8 years, but it's time for something new.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/consumer-live/2018-08-17-buying-something-from-overseas-read-this-first/ Interesting read for people contemplating importing items on a regular basis.