The Ouzo

the words are english, but I dont understand them. Shut down motorsport ???? you must be translating from another language.

but i would switch brands if it was common for that brand of tyre to be defective

the only lenses I've ever had ir happen to were on a cheap pair of Nike sunglasses that I abused. Used to wash them with pool water, use them as safety glasses when weed wacking the lawn and so on. I've daily worn D'Arcs and Rudy Project for cycling and have not had this happen.

well when you put into context how long they've lasted you, then it doesnt look so ridiculous to keep buying them, but most of the stories I've read people make it seem like it happened within 1 - 2 years of ownership.

if this keeps happening, why do people still swear by Oakleys ? This is certainly not the first time I've read about this happening, yet, as proved by the posts in this thread, some people will just keep buying them If they were cheap to buy and you could treat them as disposable then by all means, but they are certainly not cheap.

damn you're right, just checked again. it was for 2025. oops.

So it turns out I’ve already entered. I must have grabbed one of the early bird entries at the beginning of the year. went to the entry portal now to check, because when you get to my age you forget if you’ve had breakfast or not, let alone what you did 6 months ago. Entry page states entry is paid for and no further changes allowed. now to see which limbs and internal organs I can do without and start selling them.

this would be my suggestion as well. Although I also dont know if its technically possible.

Affordability is relative. This year I did it as cheap as I could, even my 1 night accommodation was gifted to me, and it still cost a fair bit (flights, ubers and food) based on my income at the time. I've just spent the last 2 months with zero income, so even the entry fee for the race is out of reach this time around (first time in 27 years that I have not entered). So you can argue it from different angles, but lets face it, even the R900 entry fee, whilst in theory going to a good cause, is on the steep side. having said the above, should my finances change, I will be making some sort of plan to enter and ride.

Also using PBG, I've gone so far as adding HRM straps and cadence sensors onto it so that I can track battery replacement intervals.

I think perhaps Garming is having an issue, or maybe the update they sent to the 130's. After saturdays ride it took around 2hours for my ride to synch to my iphone via bluetooth, fridays ride synched to garmin connect but would not synch to strava for a few hours

The big problem is mindset of the people behind the wheel. On my last day at work end of last month, I was sitting around having a chat to a bunch of my now ex colleagues when cyclist came up. Them knowing that I cycled the comments were held back slightly, but the general consensus was that we are a nuisance and should keep off the roads, they dont care if they pass us to close. I've been around for many years and have had this debate often enough not to get riled up by it, only leaving them with the comment that its just a few second of their commute, be patient and let the guys be.

Volvo also have cyclist detection as part of their collision mitigation system. Not sure how well it works. I also recall reading of a system that would alert you to oncoming cyclist should you be parked and about to open your door. But from my experience in the industry, most south africans wanted all or the majority of these systems turned off before taking their new cars.

I skipped to the end of the thread, to much rinse and repeat. this is a fight that won’t be won. It has been going on ever since horses and pedestrians shared the same space. As Robyn has said, self preservation trumps right of way. The flip side though is that certain acts of self preservation are seen by the other side as being a chop (to use a phrase that has already been used in this thread )

I would say @ 7:25 start time you're probably near the end of any start groups that will stick together. Try and start at the front of your batch, as you're heading past Jan Smuts offramp start trying to find some one or a group thats going at a speed you want to be going.

good tactic, because then you, in theory, should be stronger than those around you, which means its easier to sit near the front, you're not bleeding out of your eyes so your response times and awareness is better.

have always ridden in the mid to later groups, like you said, wild west. every man for himself. everyone is just trying to finish, let alone get a time. Last couple of years I've worked my way forward by getting decent time and realised more bunches get formed the earlier you start. Last year we put a team together to get sub 3, and I must say it was impressive looking having 9 guys in the same kit starting together and pushing through on the road with everyone else sucking our wheels. But if you can suck wheel until the end of the M1, get to woodmead with a highish average, from then onwards if you're decently fit you can push through on your own and still manage mid 3 hours.

yeah tell me about it. I'm in and out of cars all day, when I went down in April, between the broken ribs and the roastie on my knee rubbing against my work pants, getting in and out of the lower cars was a mission. But, for the 947, to get a good time, you need to, atleast for the M1 stretch, sit in a bunch.

Mike, as someone that ALWAYS trained solo, bunch riding confidence and skill is something thats been hard to learn, but makes a big difference with race times. When I was young and brave (or dumb, the debate still continues), I could sit in the middle of massive bunches and cruise along at stupid speeds. 1 fall many many years ago in a bunch and that was the end of that. Only ever riding in bunches in races had me sitting on the outskirts or the back working much harder than I should. When I joined my cycling group beginning of last year it took me a long time to get the confidence in the bunch, those first group rides were hell to try and stay with the bunch. As I slowly got more confident it got easier. Then the groups got faster, the crashes became more frequent, my confidence took a know and I found myself suffering again. And then I crashed, and now I'm on the outskirts or at the back again working my ass off to stay with them, those days that I have confidence and I correctly position myself in the bunch I can feel are much much easier. I still feel solo rides are great. They are great to clear your head, they are great to ride are your own pace, and with nobody to hide behind they are great to build fitness and strength.

hahahaha Many years ago I walked into my LBS and wanted some easier gearing, shop owner, also old school, told me to save my money and train more, I'd then get used to the gearing I had.

everybody wants 5 star treatment, fancy shiny dealerships that also offer aftersales service and qualified staff, but nobody wants any % of the cost of all of that to come from their purchase.

the same perception of the OP on selling his bike applies to people selling their used cars, they mostly all think they are worth more than what they have been offered. its always, "but I paid x amount for it when I bought it" or "they are selling for x amount on autotrader". Advertised price <> selling price like somebody mentioned earlier, an items worth is only what people are willing to pay for that item.

Everyone has covered everything nicely here. The days leading up to the race are also very important, I find that due to nerves (I still get nervous even after doing the same race 21 times) I dont get a good nights sleep the night before, so the days before are important. Also learnt the hard way at this years CTCT, what you do on and off the bike in the week leading up to race day can have an impact. I was walking on average 8000 steps a day at work leading up to race weekend, then on the saturday I was killing time walking around the expo and the waterfront whilst I waited for check in time at the hotel. Race day my legs were tired in the first 1 km. Dont walk if you can stand, dont stand if you can sit, dont sit if you can lie down.

Saturday afternoon Checking to see how much swine is still left in the body. HR was around 15BPM higher than RPE, had to force myself to take it easier.