Jaco Steyn

I really wish I had one of these new smart trainers for this lock-down period. I managed to get hold of an older RAVX trainer, similar to this one, just an older version of it: https://ravx.com/product/x-catcher-copy/ I set it up on my old Raleigh RC4500 that my son now uses to cycle and tried it out yesterday. OMG! I was knackered, and could only manage about 22 minutes on it! My cadence was much higher than usually, where when I am out on the road it's about 65-70, but on the trainer it was 85. My heart rate went up from my usual of 160 to 172 on the trainer. This morning my upper legs muscles are so sore, I'll skip one day and have another go at it tomorrow morning. Although it was much more intense, I think I would have had a more enjoyable experience if I had the luxury of a virtual ride. Maybe something to consider getting sometime in the future. Here is a pic of my current setup.

Just yesterday I digged up my old Rav-X indoor trainer to set up a bike to cater for this extended shut-down. I installed a spare unused GSC-10 cadence-speed sonsor on it, and took two random sensor magnets from my drawer. My trusty old Garmin Edge 500 paired with the sensor immediately. The cadence worked first time, but I had to fine tune the spoke magnet's pick-up arm position to get it to read the stationary speed. I can therefore set your mind at ease that you can use any magnet you have available, it will definitely work.

I am soooooo jealous of those fortunate to take part. I have not been able to go down for two years in a row now. At about R10k for a couple of days it's an expensive outing. But I'll most probably be going down next year. My bucket list is to complete 21 rides (completed 12 already), but I started cycling fairly late in life, when I turned 40 and realised I was becomming a couch potato. Time unfortunately isn't my friends, I'm turning 57 next week. I still have 9 rides to do before achieving my goal, but that probably will take me at least 15 years to achieve. Anyways, good luck to all taking part, for those going for a PB, go for it! For those (like me that ride for the views, socializing, just a nice day out cycling), I also hope you all have fun and that the weather gods plays along nicely.

What I do with any map update that's available for any of my Garmin devices, is to first to the install to the local hardrive of the PC, and only then install it to the device itself using either Garmin's Basecamp or MapInstall. MapInstall works easier for me. When you are in Garmin Express and at the page for the map you wish to update and install, expand the "Installation Options". When asked "Select where you would like to install the files." choose the "Computer Only" option. After the map was successfully downloaded and installed on your PC, you can install it to your device, but also have the option to browse and explore the map on your computer at your leisure.

I purchased mine from Makro the day the deal was launched in October last year. I got it to replace my 7 year old Cannondale that I used for commuting to work and back. It's now done about 3000km and I have not had one single issue with it. Admittedly it's not subjected to any rough riding, but only for commuting. Still original tyres and brake pads. I'm still very happy with my purchase.

Not too bad for us that finished in the first bunches. It may have been a bit more hectic for the later groups. My son and I found the trucks into which we had to load the bicycles fairly easy, and just a couple of meters further up a line of about 6-7 busses were waiting for the cyclists. The guys doing the bike transport were NightwinG couriers that also does bike transport from the main centres down to the "Argus". We waited for about 10-15 minutes in the bus for it to fill up and we left back to Melrose Arch. Just after we debussed at MA, the truck with the bicycles arrived. When you handed your bike in at first, you were given a wrist band with a number on it, and another one was tied onto the bike. When you went to collect your bike, they matched the number on your wrist band to that of the bike before handing it back to you.

Scotty, I was one of those that moved to the shorter distance. One of the biggest reasons to do that it becomes a VERY long day when you drive all the way from Sasolburg and then back again. But I am quite happy with my ride. Rider 171 of 2211, 137 of 1327 for gender, 36 of 141 group position and 16 of 93 for my age group.

However, hosting a short course in addition to the traditional 109km route is proving extremely complex. The team at Cape Town Cycle Tour, together with key stakeholders including the City of Cape Town, has invested considerable time and effort in planning for two world-class events within the City and surrounds. Safety, experience and quality of the event cannot be compromised, and disruption and inconvenience to the residents of the City of Cape Town must be minimised. This process can’t be rushed and with the entry date upon us, the decision has been taken to postpone the short route option until 2021 to allow for further planning and judicious preparation. “We know that there will be some disappointment around this decision – we’re disappointed too,” says Bellairs. “But as always, the safety of participants comes first. We hope to have good news next year regarding the short course for 2021. All stakesholders will continue working to make this possible.” https://www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/news/road/sa-road-cycling/cape-town-cycle-tour-entries-open-e-bikes-welcome-short-route-clarification-r7979

Carla Oberholzer ladies winner. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Winner is Jason Oosthuizen.

Because I am not going down for the CTCT this year, I have entered for the 49km distance. Starting in AS at 08:00. But I just LOVE this race! Always a good vibe, well organised. Just that last ±5km slight incline towards the finish that always catches me out.

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.

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...….

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.

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.

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.

I have a MASSIVE saddle bag on my road bike, and would not have it otherwise. It has space for three CO2 cannisters, three tubes, three tyre levers, master links for 9, 10 and 11 speed chains, a chain breaker, different sizes of cable ties and short pieces of 9, 10 and 11 speed chains. The last items I keep mostly to help out those that feel it isn't cool to carry a saddle bag, and have encountered problems with their chains. I have helped out numerous felllow cyclists in getting them back into the race. I almost stopped hellping out other cyclists after encountering THE rudest youngster at the Telkom Satellite Challenge a couple of years back.whose chain broke, and I stopped to help him by using one of my master links. He kept on rushing me on, telling me that he was in a hurry to get back to his bunch. After I helped him, he just sped of without any word of thanks.