Mads

From a cycling club's website: General Etiquette Ride steadily. Keep a steady line and constant speed while in a group. Any sudden change is magnified as it reaches riders at the back and so can have dramatic consequences. No racing. You can race to your heart’s content in organised competitive events but please not on group runs. Do not overtake the rider/riders at the head of the group. If you have to, then do not push your way back into your original position but rejoin at the back of the group as soon as possible. Ride two abreast where it as safe to do so but always be prepared to single out when necessary. Ride immediately behind the rider in front - do not overlap either forwards or sideways. Overlapping forwards gives you no chance to avoid the rider in front if he swerves or falls, and overlapping sideways results in the group presenting a three abreast profile. Never ride more than two abreast. When approaching a hill anticipate the gradient and change gear in good time. Missing a gear change on the steep bit can bring you to a sudden halt - not a good thing for the riders behind you! Ride safely at all times. Follow the requirements of the Highway Code as they apply to cyclists and guidance from your leaders. Treat members of the group and other road users with courtesy. Acknowledge with a wave courteous behaviour by other road users. (Many oncoming motorists will slow down or stop when they meet a large group of cyclists, whilst others allow the whole group to join or cross a major road). Do not "wave through" a following vehicle that is waiting to overtake - let the driver make this decision. This will avoid the risk of being held responsible if the overtaking results in any form of accident. Do not react to bad driving incidents with gestures or provoke retaliation. Remember a road rage motorist has a one ton weapon! Ride with the group which best suits your ability. It is usually better (and less embarrassing) to start low and build up. If in doubt senior club members will be happy to advise. It is sometimes nice to try an easier group, especially if you are a bit off colour. It is considered bad manners to hold back a strong group when an easier group is available. Visitors and potential members are welcome to try the rides free of charge but should be encouraged to apply for membership. http://www.woolwichcyclingclub.org.uk/CyclingEtiquette.htm

Absolutely stunning!! I do believe we are so blessed were we stay. We can actually ride in any direction and find the most awesome views. But your timing must be right and 5h00 is not a good time..........well not this time of the year.

Wow ! Respect! I also rode there last Sunday. I used all my 24 gears but mostly the smaller ones. And I was shattered when I came home - granted the headwind on my way home helped - but shattered.

Weather prediction for Sunday is perfect weather.

Well No actually we discussed it yesterday. Some of us need better lights. This is off course a very good training method. You pick someone with a very good light and if you cant keep up with him, you get left in the dark!

On the outskirts of Paarl at 5.00AM :D Not much to see ........................

Sjoe...........I can't think of something to say that can make you feel better. But I can imagine that you must be devastated.

There is a lot of cyclo core videos on Youtube about techniques etc. which I find very useful.

May I join ? the B team .

When I started with hill intervals this happened to me. My program said something about HR 85%-95% , but the moment I started climbing, my HR shot to 95% and then my legs gave in . I then slowed down and first tried hills that were no steep and built myself to the steeper hills.

I also used to suck at climbing but after 6 months of hill intervals etc ...... I still do - just a little bit less - but still do. But patience is a virtue. And I will get there..........one day

A few months ago I was also riding that Monument road. that day a few of them were busy riding. The earth rumbled as they came down there. But today ..... seeing what they actually ride at that speed. Sjoe ! Maybe there in lies the secret. Low altitude flying.

That was the problem.!! My bike said: "No ways, Uh hu!! You go first!" So we both walked :P

Today I had this bright Idea of going to the Taalmonument road in Paarl and chase up the tar road ( doing my hill intervals) and then going down the single tracks while recovering my HR. It went well up the tar road ......but then I tried the (I think) highest one going through the trees first. and after that a few more........ I could not even ride some of the chicken runs. I am sure one needs a ladder to descent some of those drops I am now convinced downhillers must be very good or down right insane or a bit of both. :D

MMMmmm so since December I averaged about 9-10 hours a week training. Which is easy to do ... 2 long rides and a few sessions in the week . I work from a structured training plan but was very disappointed in my results for the last two races I did, as I expected to do much better with all the effort I put in. After all my last race I was so dissapointed and unmotivated, I hardly got on my bike. So my training hours dropped to half of what i used to be and the last week almost nothing. When I started to ride my bike after these 3 weeks, I expected to have lost fitness and power, but what amazed me is how much I actually improved. My lap times on a 40km route improved with about 2km/h (with a MTB and the previous time is was done with a road bike) and I could also feel more power up the hills. Did I over train? I don't think so .... What is not being said and I realise this now........ I choose to ride in the mornings 5h00. Which means I have to wake up at 3h45-4h00. Which means I operate on about 4-5 hours sleep per night. So maybe my body just caught up on lost ZZZZ and now I am fit as a fiddle ready to go. I will bear this in mind and go to bed earlier in future.

I think it depends on how you body reacts to a product. I tried a lot of them and at the end uses Hammer Perpeteum for longer rides and Hammer Heed for shorter rides. Edit : Just to be fair I have never tried this Staminade Endure product.

I am with you on this eitan.

I saw him finish and I really felt for him and the others. I was a mere spectator.

Mmm Although I would love to do a stage race and this one is actually very affordable compared to others, it is still bit steep for my tiny pocket. But that would have been nice! And if I then would have won the bike ........... Ag what a pleasure!!

Thank You Some food for thought. Especially the potential damage part. My brother could not ride last year because of a front wheel that got bend on our way to Uniondale. Would like to avoid a similar experience.

With the K2C entries open. I want to organise everything well in advance as last year we battled to get accommodation. So what we thought of doing this year is this: On our way we stop at Uniondale and register then... we sleep in Knysna then ... we go to the start by shuttle the next morning and then we stay the night in Knysna. and come home on the Monday. First of all ..... any comments . What is the pro's and con's of doing it this way? And secondly can someone refer us to a place to stay that is reasonable, but near to the finish? Thanks

I was a spectator at the finish and it was really bad to watch. That guy ( well, I am sure it was him) was taken away in neck- and back braces. It was really sad to see riders walking over the finish line, covered in blood carrying fragments of bikes. Or others finishing - obviously hurt - limping over the finish line.

No no that would not do! That would mean more races will be spoilt. I vowed the previous year not to ride the Argus again - because of the type of riders you get there. I now only ride the rest of the races. So please !!!! Today I went as a spectator at the start , after that we went with the shuttle to the finish and must be honest really were jealous at all the riders (especially as I am definitely the fittest I have ever been on this stage) But once I started to read about all the accidents, my stomach turns and I remember why I don't ride the Argus. But to be serious I think you have a good point.

Well, I consider myself an expert in washing white rugby short so here goes: First of all remember that mud is in actual fact a bit fatty or greasy. So the doom and the preen will work, but what I do is rub al the stains in Sunlight dish washing liquid as that works like a charm ( by the way this also works for fat stains on clothes as well) And then soak in Omo (with the enzymes) hand wash. for a day and then wash as usual. If the material's wash specifications allow for a bit warmer water - do so Before washing it you can rub the stains a bit with your hands I try this before using the domestos In future never let it dry as that makes it worst. I used to wash those rugby shorts as soon as they came of the rugby field and had no problems after that. @Ricky bobby : Ek het ook altyd Domestos by die mengsel gegooi vir die rugby broeke, maar ek dink dit gaan dalk die materiaal van die fietsry hemde 'n knou gee