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6 hours ago, Cabous9 said:Wow, that look and sound great. @cat-i do you maybe know if they going to host it again this year?
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.
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Entered! After mostly running this year, it's time to get back on a bicycle. Looking forward!
Exploring the new local trails.
On 2/5/2016 at 6:34 AM, masterj said:If your staying at Silwerstrand. If you head out the gate, turn left onto the gravel road. You will see the wacky wine mtb signs. The green one is about 25km, black about 45km and the red one a 65km. Most of the farmers close the gates. Just jump over it as they dont mind us riding on their farms. At Gospel Express you will find the old mtb route as well. Theyve got white boards with green and red arrows on. You can do van Loveren java mtb too. Then if you drive past van Loveren to where the red bridge is. Head on strait till you get Janeza, Langverwagcht cellar. There you will find the Pofadder trails. Free of charge and 90% single track.
MasterJ are you still in the area, or do you perhaps know if that trail from Silwerstrand is still allowed?
13 hours ago, Hairy said:From commuting daily no matter the weather, to working from home thanks to Covid ......... my cycling has gone down hill faster than Mr Minnnn.
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.
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?
Everything Escapee said.
I am very jealous,
3
Loved the ride this morning. Wasn't wasn't as flat as the promo suggested - great last minute training for Reitz BielieMielie next weekend.
Ok, so we back at work, but work will be working from home... So there goes any commuting miles
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!
I'm sure Rosemary Hill was on this list, but now can't find it anywhere. It will have to be Northern Farms, then. Hope it's not too muddy after the recent torrential rain.
Now to get Strava to allow you to create challanges like in Endomondo.
Loved the stats that was available on Endomondo - last year I could keep tabs on everyone's weekly/monthly mileage, insights into riding patterns, see when the patterns changed - for me, last year was as much an exercise in data mining than it was in being outside for longer.
Those types of stats isn't available on Strava - or Iif they are, I dont know where to look.
I see on their email they suggest MapMyRun. nayone got experience with that?
2
you've bumped up you mileage rather nicely last week.
Looks like I'll be taking this week off if the weather report is to be believed.
My husband is trying to fit he whole year into the last few weeks ... so we entered BielieMielie in less than 2 weeks, and the weekend after that, Sani stagger trailrun ... after 6 months of doing very little, I will have to either run or cycle into the office to cram in all the last minute training I can get - nevermind the weather.
One thing I miss due to now working from home is my commute!
I'm in two minds about that.
We've been working from home 2 weeks, and then in to office 2 weeks.
Love the commutes on mornings like today - The Jakaranda-purple streets washed clean after the weekend storms. But love the convenience of working from home!
It was Friday morning today, most drivers seems to forget how to drive then. Ad month end and it was even worse than normal.
Truck decided to park in the road.
Single lane, then In the oncoming lane another car tries to pass a car, how they both got through the gap I don't know.
As you said, we live another day!
Crazy afternoon in Sandton as well ... was still recovering from the shock of the car squeezing past me on a single lane with oncoming traffic just before the pavement starts, when the big bakkie on the mentioned pavement started reversing seemingly totally unaware of anything else on the space he is aiming for... Glad to live another day!
No ways I am going to tell you guys how far(or short) my commute is. I need to leave at 04h30 just to extend my commute to the same sort of distance as some of you.
You're also in Sandton area? Nothing is flat around here! At least that's what i keep telling myself if I take an hour to cycle 14 km ...
How far do you guys commute ?
Total round trip for me is 33km.
Hairy I dont think I'm any threat to you or Cat-i even if you log no more commutes for the rest of the year.
Weekly reports of attacks in the Spruit, so the fun singletracksections are off limits for now - which means most is tar now. This morning's ride was 14 km with 300m ascent. Joburg is not flat, which is great for using commutes as training.
well thanks to you and all the others that did not commute this year I have made it to the first page, should grab 14th spot tomorrow.
Ouzo did you sommer take 13th spot while you were on your way up?
We are working 2 weeks in office and 2 weeks from home, so I also started to get some commuting in again. It's slow going, but great to be back.
Looking for a Hanger for an older Giant Reign 2007
Most Giants of that time frame used the same hangers ?
Has a NO 7 stamped on
Or similar in design, i have tools to modify.
0833978067
So close, but not.
My Giant Trance from 2009 finally has to retire ... I had 2 extra hangers - they are similar, but not quite like yours.
[Event] Cape Town Cycle Tour 2023
in Events
Posted · Edited by cat-i
Except if you start at 9-ish 😬