Robbie Stewart

My thoughts are that cycling in general has become a bit of a "brag" sport. And the people who fork out the money are the ones to blame. They feed the monster. 400k for a bicycle. In what universe does that make sense? Like SRAM bringing out a new Eagle 1987 T-Type group set that sells for over 60k depending on who you buy it from. Then you only have to look at events like the Epic, and the sponsors they attract. Cycling has become a prestige sport for the well-heeled, funded by the masses who splurge life savings to say they also ride the latest and best. Even if they got ripped to the moon and back in the process.

To the only place that matters.

Curious. Found a mail in the inbox from Strava, addressing all developers of third party apps about the requirements of Garmin to for these apps to include attribution to Garmin by 1 November. It reads like a document intended to warn these app providers that the deadline is fixed and must be met. Has Strava capitulated? "Dear Developer, We’re writing to inform you of a change to the Strava API Agreement. Garmin’s new API Brand Guidelines now require even downstream developers that do not connect directly with Garmin to include brand attribution when data is sourced from a Garmin device. This Garmin requirement is reflected in a new Section 2.4 in our API Agreement (reproduced below). Garmin Data Attribution: Activity data obtained through the Strava API may include data that requires attribution to Garmin. Therefore, if your application displays information derived from Garmin-sourced data, you must display attribution to Garmin in the form and manner required by Garmin’s brand guidelines. Garmin’s API Brand Guidelines are scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2025. If you have questions regarding Garmin’s attribution requirements, the deadline, or your compliance with the requirements, we encourage you to reach out to connect-support@developer.garmin.com. Best, The Strava API Team"

More and more people tend to ask me when I'm converting to an e-bike. My wife wants to know when I'm going to stop thinking I'm in my 20's. I still feel able to ride at the level I do, and the stoke is still super high. I am wanting to correlate a direct link between the ability and skill to ride to mental and physical health. To my mind, I tend to think that as long as I'm having fun on the bike I'm in a good space mentally and physically. but in saying that, whenever I'm not riding my body is beginning to ask questions I don't want to answer . . .

Ek erken niks nie 🫣🤣 At least I set a bronze medal run on Conties Rhino 2 yesterday, so I'm not completely gone yet.

I drive around with mine hanging over the rear load bin without it being tied down. I suppose those days are well and truly over it seems.

I'll be reaching that threshold next year. I'll have to become more adventurous. The problem with living in Cape Town is that riding the best trails all the time means there are only the less interesting lines left.

Ditto Although, I am getting slower and I'm seeing more and more rides with fewer and fewer PR's despite to my mind at least going ball's to the wall every ride. Either I've peaked in terms of my performance or I really am getting slower. It's sad to see yourself fall off the curve so quick, but at my golden age of very late 40's I suppose it's to be expected.

I have a paid Strava subscription and I upload using Garmin. If Strava decides to kick Garmin to the kerb then I suppose I'm not continuing down that road. The main reason I use Strava is because of the mileage and hours on my bikes, which I use as a measuring stick to check service and parts replacement intervals. I'm not into the training component any more as much as I used to be.

Definitely tongue in cheek 😁

you could also offer her the opportunity to not come if she doesn't want to. Benefit is your costs will nearly halve

I wouldn't cycle in Dubai itself because the roads are pretty congested and not designed with cycling in mind. Outside of Dubai, East of the airport the sand begins. It's flat land with dunes the only elevation until you reach the emirate of Fujaira where there are mountains. I'm not sure about the suitability for mountain biking though. I'm not sure what happens towards Abu Dhabi but from what I understand @capedivercycles that part of the world when working that side. He can probably give the best advice.

me3rEnD@1 🤣

I fail to see what my spending on my recreation has got to do with anyone. That survey seems way too invasive.

The descent towards Avontuur from the top of the first climb up Ou Wapad is nothing more than a very rough, rocky, rutted jeep track common for the area. Going fast down there on a MTB is challenging. Then the descent from the top of the Prince Alfred's pass to De Vlugt is a winding 14km that is usually fairly smooth for being a gravel road. Depends on the preceding winter, which this year was below average rainfall. The next descent is maybe half as long, but it is much rougher usually than the previous one, especially just before the bottom. The road is stony and rutted around that part usually. Take extra care on a gravel bike. From there it is pretty standard gravel fare until the entry to Kom se Pad, which is again morphing into forestry jeep track. The last drop into Gouna is steep, windy and loose marbles. Again, caution. The descent from Simola to Knysna is on tar down a pretty steep hill. Top speeds will be achieved there if you still have arms left.

Well he's definitely not a man. He's acting like a child. It's embarrassing to be frank.

I'm so going to try this on the farm next time I see the local kitties. We have a resident family that we don't pester. Every now and then they make an appearance.

It's been a good couple of years since I saw rooikat in these parts. I came across one on the climb out from supertubes on Contermans around 2015, and about the same time I had one just waltzing past me at the top of Stairway to Heaven at Meerendal while I sat on the bench wondering what I was thinking pedaling up that hill. Good to know they're still around. I once saw a pair of bat-ear foxes at Contermans just below the Rhino trail head. That was quite cool as well.

I have a 42km tar route I ride often. I had a set of Maxxis Assegai / Minion DHR ii on the bike and it took me around 2 hours to do the loop. At the end of the ride I felt like I'd done twice the distance. I swapped that rubber for a set a Schwalbe Rocket Ron and Racing Ralph tires. The first time I did my usual route I cut 30 minutes off the time and felt much stronger at the end of it. Since then the ride time is fairly consistent on that route.

I will say this with full confidence. You can listen to whatever @droo says. He runs the preemo suspension service setup in Cape Town. I've had my bike there, and it's due for another round soon again (actually, it's overdue, but don't tell him I said that . . .)

I can't speak to the nature of your riding so can't give informed advice. I would say though that if the trails lean towards being better suited to XC bikes then a HT will suffice. Full suspension bikes cost more to maintain, more often. Suspension services are NOT cheap. But then, if you ride like I do, which is what it sounds like (throwing caution to the wind, crash first and ask questions later) then a full-sus will be better. If you ride HT and venture to more technical trails, then the full-sus will be your friend as well. It all really boils down to what you want to do on the bike, and start from there. Either way will work. Both have pro's and con's.

The temptation to engage higher power climbing up Ouwapad and the climb out of De Vlugt would make the ascent up to Simola from the Gouna river interesting.

Will there be a dedicated shuttle service? asking for a friend

I've found Schwalbe Racing Ray up front and Maxxis Rekon Race to be pretty fast rolling. I had a Schwalbe Racing Ralph at the rear but I encountered numerous flats.

Got a proper hole ripped into my lower leg by a dog that decided to take a bite as I rode past. It was too quick to unclip from the pedal and before I knew it I had a sheep dog opening my leg to the bone. 13 stitches and 5 x rounds of rabies shots courtesy of riding past a open gate by a farm labour house on the way to Simonsberg. Since that day I have serious trust issues with dogs and nearly ended one on the beach at Melkbos after its owner let it off the leash and it promptly charged my 4 y.o. daughter.