cat-i

Except if you start at 9-ish 😬

Yes, they do. I thought I received a mailer with the 2023 dates but can't find it on their website. Bet is probably to subscribe to their newsletter or find them on facebook. Hoping to do it again this year, but will train a bit more than just a flat 50 km twice a week for 3 weeks!

Magnificent event! Due to torrential rain we could not ride the middle day - which was just as well, the distances sounded short but was proper mountain biking. Day 1 (16 December) was 65 km with about 700m of climbing. The first 15k was fast and flat on gravel road; then we turned onto jeeptrack that effectively became singletrack after the downpours of the previous week. It was a long (15km?) slog often sandy climb. We had plenty of jelly tots, bar ones and coke at the 30-ish km waterpoint where we had to decide between the long and short route. Decided that we will take our chances with the brewing storm. A bit of dirt road, then some technical gravel climbing matched by a downhill that would have been a lot faster if I spent more time on my bike the few months before! The last bit was very beautiful jeeptrack (washed away by the rain, so technically singletrack). We caught the last few of the short distance photo-riders, and arrived at Leeuwenboschfontein just in time to set up our camp before the storm. The evening we enjoyed the spit-braai put together by the race organisers. Unfortunately the afternoon's rain washed away the routes that we were supposed to ride the next day, so the whole stage got cancelled. We slept late, braaied, read books, and hiked on the farm. Stage 3 was 64km with 1150m of ascent. The first 5 km was on the same flat fast gravelroad of the first day, then we turned towards Montagu 9the other Oubergpas) and into a reserve/farm for the first wake-up climb of the day. Saw kwagga (down on the farmyard with the sheep) and later some Eland. A magnificent downhill, then onto a farmyard (at about 30km) whee we had to again choose between long and short. It was a long climb till the escarpment, and once on teh top, a bit more climbing. BUT the views were magnificent!! Some jeeptrack on top, then down with a gnarly-ish downhill back to the waterpoint on the farm yard (now at about 54km). Climbing for the day not done yet; a short climb on the kwagga-loop, and then out of the farm gates and on to the gravel road for the slight uphill slog of about 4 kms back to Leeuwenboschfontein. Some observations: - Dont be fooled by the relative short distances. This is proper mountain biking. This is why you have a montain bike! - There was a few e-bikes. Although I never read all the threads about whether e-bikes should be allowed on a mountain, I certainly can see the appeal. - The format of camping and riding from the same place worked well. Loved the spitbraai on the first evening, just to meet the other riders and chat a bit.

Entered! After mostly running this year, it's time to get back on a bicycle. Looking forward!

Exploring the new local trails.

MasterJ are you still in the area, or do you perhaps know if that trail from Silwerstrand is still allowed?

Nothing beats commuting for endurance! It's that afternoon ride in the bad weather to get home that I wouldn't have done otherwise. When I was at Unisa there was a cyclist colleague who regularly told me he does not commute because he prefers quality training. It was only after I've beaten him multiple times (because the first few were luck) that he later also started commuting.

After 25 years of commuting, rode my last commute last week. Looking forward t some micro-adventures which may include cycling, but work will now be from home.

Reinet! Ek sien hierdie nou eers. Rus in vrede Cois. Dink aan jou Reinet. Baie sterkte.

Also back at the office. Wrote the Jimny off about 4 months ago; it has done only 6000 kms in the last 2 years, so haven't replaced it yet. Taking the 26er in to the office. Rudely learnt that 3 times a week on Rouvy is not the same as commuting twice a day. Oh my word it's hard! Luckily Mr Cat-i goes in to Sandton on Thursdays, and some other days when he feels too sorry for me. Slowly getting there again.

I got hold of a new spark 910 (Contessa, in the most exquisite salmon pink) last year for 54k. it was 2020 stock. It was a small, which helped - the medium was quite a bit more expensive. O got mine through Linden Cycles - where are you based?

10000 in a full year should have been broken a long time ago. Maybe finally next year.

Everything Escapee said. I am very jealous,

Loved the ride this morning. Wasn't wasn't as flat as the promo suggested - great last minute training for Reitz BielieMielie next weekend.

I overestimated by ability to get up for a morning-commute when it's pouring outside. It's so much easier in the afternoons - got to get home. So Hairy, even though you wont be cycling for a while, I haven't caught you like I hoped, and now heading for work-from-home the next 2 weeks. Will try again next month!