The Ouzo

Hello tar, meet The Ouzo. Hello The Ouzo, meet the tar. 0/10, would not recommend. Nasty gash on my fore head. Will need to replace my helmet. Nasty roasty on the knee cap with bruising. Stuffed up a rib, not sure how bad yet, suspect just cartilage. left arm has some swelling near the elbow, hopefully its just bruising, but my pinky had no feeling when I continued riding. Bike is ok, some very minor scratches. I'm sure this happened because I just put on new bar tape, the universe wont allow perfect bar tape

Never watched it when it came out, finally watching Reacher

look, I plan to ride until I'm so old they create a new age category for me, maybe it wont be full distance Ride joburgs, but it gives me something to work towards.

why not 21 ? as that seems to be the magic number in these cycle tours

I see some of the mainstream "news" publications were running with the story yesterday (note news in quotes, we know how good our local journos are at verifying facts)

21 for me, but if things go as planned, this will be a chilled ride this year in preparation for DC the next weekend.

you are absolving the dealer from doing due diligence when you want to sell your used motorised vehicle (car or bike) it gets put through an evaluation to pick up any of the more common issues, by low balling every ad with a spray and pray approach the dealers are cheeping out on doing their due diligence. Some bikes they'll pick up for a steal where they wash and lube and its out the door and big profits, others they'll pick up and will be lemons. what percentage of these lemons are fixed to standard before being sold ? How many are sold as is and the dealers hope the new buyer doesnt come back to them when something fails ?

and then usually its these ones, that you've bent over backwards for to give "best price" , are the most problematic customers with continuous come backs.

more like they THINK they are making a killing, yet their bills have gone unpaid

I dont know, these cycling related topics seem to go round in circles anyway.

thanks, will take a look

ego

I find my knees are the weakest link with 1 leg squats, but perhaps I should ease into them like he mentions, go part the way down first, and build up to going lower. Will change my pushups to spiderman and include the side planks

I think in these ultra events its a lot of mental fortitude. I often get asked by non athletes how I can keep riding for 100+ km even when I'm tired (remember 100km is FAR for some people) when the mind gives up the body shuts down.

you'll probably find there is a profit opportunity for the organisers by including the tents in the price. like a cell phone contract that throws in midnight minutes and sms even though nobody uses them.

we havent even hit full winter yet, but already its only getting light when I get back from my ride.

and when you start your ride to early you finish before sunrise. Lekker pic

cant find a thread for 2025 Saw this on our cycling group Emperor's Palace Classic Postponement – Rider Safety Remains Paramount They say Murphy's Law is "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, that sentiment rings true for the 17th edition of the Emperor's Palace Classic, originally set for Sunday, 23 March 2025. De Villiers National Cycling has made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s event. After meeting with EMPD precinct representatives yesterday, we were informed that due to the ongoing dispute between the EMPD and its employees — even with Labour Court involvement — management cannot guarantee the presence of EMPD staff to manage traffic and ensure rider safety on race day. The matter is set for further adjudication in the Labour Court on Thursday, 20 March 2025, and consensus is that a resolution is unlikely before the weekend. For us, rider safety is non-negotiable. Without the necessary traffic control, hosting the event under these circumstances would be reckless and contrary to our values. While road damage along parts of the route was a challenge, we were ready to tackle this. The added uncertainty surrounding traffic management makes it impossible to proceed responsibly. We understand the disappointment and frustration this brings — not just to the riders but to the entire cycling community. This marks the second event this year impacted by factors beyond our control, and we share in your dismay. That said, we’re determined to offer riders flexibility regarding their entries: Automatic Transfer – Rider entries will automatically move to the new event date once finalized. Entry to 2026 – Riders may choose to transfer their entry to next year’s edition of the Emperor’s Palace Classic. Partial Refund – Riders who prefer not to wait can request a refund, acknowledging that significant costs have already been incurred in the event’s preparation, making a 50% refund appropriate. In consultation with Cycling SA, we have secured Sunday, 2 November 2025 as the new date and are awaiting final confirmation from Emperor’s Palace. This date falls two weeks before the Ride Jo’burg event, making it ideal for final race prep. Riders wishing to transfer to 2026 or request a partial refund can contact our support team directly at devillierscycling@mweb.co.za. De Villiers National Cycling deeply respects the ongoing efforts to resolve the EMPD’s internal matters and remains hopeful for a swift resolution. We look forward to welcoming riders back to a safer and more secure race day. To every rider who has trained tirelessly, the sponsors who have shown unwavering support, and the cycling community that rallies behind this iconic event — we thank you for your patience and understanding. When the Emperor's Palace Classic returns, it will do so stronger than ever. For further updates and to manage your entry, please visit MyActive.co.za. De Villiers National Cycling Committed to Safety, Dedicated to Cycling

or got to action photo, choose CTCT and put in your friends bib number. New photos are popping up regularly, so they are still sorting and identifying. I just hate the small ultra low quality preview they give you, I can make out enough details to decide if I want the pics or not. (only reason I'll buy pics this year is because its my 21st one)

Update There was a question earlier in this thread regarding the water proofing of the device after battery replacement. At the time I had not really put it to the test. Sunday I tested it properly, got caught in a proper downpour, I can now safely say that the device is still very much waterproof.

there alot of people in this race that deserve much respect for what they do. whilst I was struggling up chappies, a gent on an old peugot came past with no saddle. Its was stuffed in back pocket, must have broken off. That could not have been easy either.

that like me between fish hoek and simons town. Nobody in site front or rear, I had to remind myself I was doing "The August" because there was no sign that it was a race day. I'm used to starting further back, where you are either passing someone, or someone is passing you or both.

Greek grannies and granpas swear by ouzo. Me too, even though I dont drink, i've always got a bottle of ouzo around. Sorts out nigglies quick quick.

will try and get them all together for a pic. first one I have is from 1999, there are some missing in between, but will give a fair look into the past

well 349 out of 369 finishers in the group. Still not last though.