ChrisF

@'Dale are you doing the tandem ride this year ? Enjoy your ride 👍

Fall back to something like 7:30, and join I-Love-Boobies, or one of the other charity rides .... PS - I am NOT falling back to the charity groups this year .... damn, the traffic gets hectic !!

How do you devide the two times ? Do you change it to minutes first ?

Jip, seems they sent out the final seeding emails at 5pm today. Same as what RaceTec site was showing.

The joys of getting work calls from unknown numbers ... have to answer. If it starts off fishy, I just ask: "Is this work related" .... not work, end the call.

Where are you ? Possibly a Hubber near you can help you to do a quick check of the bike. Silverback, Marvel and Titan frames are similar. Sure the shocks may differ between these three. Gears are in the same price class. Biggest obvious difference might be the size of the front ring ... smaller climbs better. After that it is down to something on the individual bike, as mentioned above.

Much appreciated.

Not sure to what extent Google translate will keep track of the story line .... but here is the full ride report .... Tour de PPA 2025 1:00 vanoggend word ek wakker van die bure se kuiergaste … Erg dankbaar ek kon omdraai en weer aan die slaap raak. “Bietjie” later is dit weer die bure se geraas wat my wakker maak. Maar toe ek my oë oop maak besef ek dit is al te lig buite, my wekker is gestel vir 4:32 …. Dit is 6:26 …. Die race begin 6:30 …. En toe raak ek kalm. Sal maar klaar maak en die roete doen, al mis ek dan nou my race. So in die deur draf deur die badkamer het ek my tande geborsel, deodorant gespuit en chammy-dream aangesit …. Hoop maar die regte goed is op die regte plekke gebruik …. Die GoPro besluit toe hy wil fotos neem, nie videos nie …. 30 sekondes gesukkel, toe haal ek dit van die fiets af. Skuus M&M, ek sal dit later toets. (EDIT - was going to test the GoPro and a battery pack for a long video for use on a tandem at CTCT) Hoe gaan race jy sonder ontbyt … sonder KOFFIE !! Ek gryp toe maar ‘n ekstra energy bar en gooi in my rugsak. En so SLEEP ek bult op na die die wegspring plek …. Niks soos ‘n fiets trap om kalmte te laat neerdaal nie, en ek kry ‘n oomblik van helderheid. Die eerste groepe begin 6:30, ek is in die 7:00 groep … en dit is nou eers 6:56, en ek is "maar net" 2,5km van die start line …. Kyk toe TRAP ek daai trike teen daai bulte op !!! 7:04 wil die PPA antie my vertel ek is te laat … ek moet nou maar die kort afstand ry …. “Dis okay, dan doen ek maar ‘n solo rit vanoggend”, en daar GAAN ek …. 1km verder sien ek ‘n ambulans op die roete, en ek haal hom mooi in …. 2,2km gaan ek die ambulans en die laaste ryer verby. Jammer vir die damme, maar DANKBAAR om te weet ek is nie alleen op die pad nie. Soos ek draai uit Vierlanden op Wellington weg sien ek ‘n lang string fietsryers. Maar die adrenalien POMP, en ek TRAP … ligte opdraende sit ek sommer bo die motor se spoed (motor sit af teen 32km/h). Dwars wind van voor … Suid Ooster … hier gaan ons nog wind kry oppad terug. Ag nee wat … net na Phisantekraal toe draai daai wind en kletter ons van voor !! Strepies trek dun soos die ryers sukkel teen daai bulte en daai wind. Maar die mannetjie staan en wieg sommer op die pedale teen daai bulte uit …. Ek praat later met myself: “MOENIE nou die vuurhoutjies brand nie!”. Wat wou, wat sal ek nou vir myself luister … TRAP !! Dice later ‘n roadie teen ‘n afdraende af teen 67km/h … Okay hy het het ‘n bietjie weg getrek teen die afdraende. Halfpad teen die volgende bult groet ons toe ek verby staan en wieg op daai pedale. Uiteindelik draai ons rigting Wellington, wind van agter. Wragtig sit ‘n groot groep en kuier teen die bultjie …. Toe ek ‘n halwe kans kry met die verkeer is ek daar verby (dankbaar vir die minuut se ruskans). En so herken ‘n vriend my, en ons gesels bietjie. Ek vra hom waar sy dogter is, ek weet hulle ry saam. “NEE, sy luister mos nie vir my nie ! Sy is daar voor erens. En my vriendin luister ook nie, sy is daar agter erens …. Wat is my 30-jaar se ervaring? Dink jy hulle wil na raad luister?” Kyk, ek het gedog my dag ‘n wankelrig begin …. Net daar besef ek my dag gaan eintlik nog erg goed. En toe is ons verby Windmeul (Agter Paarl) en dit is ‘n lekker lang afdraend tot die draai voor Wellington …. En daar verdyn die dun wiel in die verte …. Ek het hom so 5km later weer gekry teen die volgende lang opdraende. Hy is darem nou weer verenig met sy dogter ….. Die dag begin nou ‘n lekker ritme kry. Ek maak steeds stelmatig plekke op en ry lekker. Nee, ek moes dit nie eens gedink het nie ….. Toe ons van die R45 af links draai, terug tronk se kant toe. TOE vat daai Suid Ooster vir ons !!! Daai wat jy moet hard trap op ‘n afdraende net om aan die beweeg te bly. E-bike op FULL boost, en ek sukkel om 15 tot 25km/h te trap. Maar daar is nog ‘n klein stroompie adrenalien … ek trap, en staan en wieg teen die bulte op. Maar nou kan ek nie meer so lank wieg op ‘n slag nie. Wag, nog ‘n energy bar. Nog elektroliete drink. Gelukkig ken ek die stuk, en weet dis net ‘n 10km stuk wat net moet klaar kom …. Ek trap vir al wat ek werd is. Paar keer ‘n groepie agter my gevorm wat weg kruip vir die wind, wanneer ek skop teen die opdraende val hulle uit die bus. Draai, wind nou van die kant … dankie tog. Die is ‘n lekker 10km, meestal afdraende, en die opdraende is daai ligte 1-grade waar jy nog kan spoed hou. Ek hou van die stukkie. Terug op die Stellenbosch-Malmesbury pad (R302). Het mos afdraende gehad … so julle weet wat wag. En JA, nou weer terug IN die wind in !!! Hier het ek swaar gekry. Adrenalien pompie was leeg …. Ek was bang die gebrek aan ontbyt kon nou dramas maak met my bloed suiker …. Halwe energy bar, en nog elektroliete. Die bulte en die wind is nou ERG ! Ek steek steeds ander ryers verby … maar ek suffer…. “Suck it up buttercup!!!” By Klipheuwel se draai stop ek en vra ‘n verkeerskonstabel om my fiets vas te hou. Ek ruil gou die battery. Ongeveer ‘n 35 tot 40 sekonde pitstop, en daar gaan ek weer. Dit was lank genoeg dat ‘n groep ryers by my verby is, en nou so 50m voor my is. Ek sit regop en trap rustig terwyl ek ‘n gaping hou agter die groot groep. Net na die Klipheuwel-Philladelphia draai is ‘n waterpunt en party stop terwyl ander weg trek …. Ek trek regs en trap om die chaos. Die volgende stukkie was nogal erg ongemaklik. Groot trok druk so stuk stuk by die bondel verby. Dankie tog vir die motorfiets marchal wat die situasie goed hanteer het. Nou kom daar nog ‘n bakkie agter die trok wat ook deur druk, sonder hulp van ‘n marchal … Ek sit terug en skep asem terwyl die riller voor my afspeel …. Die trok draai in by ‘n plaas. Die bakkie ry soos ‘n “dinges” verby die groep fietsryers, met voertuie wat van voor kom …. Okay, kalmte terug in die ren en vrede op die pad …. Genoeg gerus, tyd om die lot verby te steek en TRAP aan die laaste 15km !! Waar is my bene ? Waar is die adrenalien ? Ja, ek trap verby, maar dit is pynlik stadig. Draai op in Adderley, laaste stuk …. IN die wind in, en ‘n paar lelike bulte. My bene begin darem weer werk wanneer ek wieg teen daai bulte op, soort van. Staan tye raak al korter … tenk raak nou leeg. Nog ‘n halwe energy bar, en maak daai elektroliet bottel leeg. Ek wag vir ‘n gaping om ‘n groep verby te gaan toe ‘n roadie met ‘n A-groep nommer verby ons vlieg. Ek is ook sommer regs en volg sy spoor. So ent verder sit hy regop en trap rustig teen die bult uit. “Klim in die bus”, en ek gee hom ‘n sekonde om in te klim, en toe is dit OOP KETELS !! Voel of ek Zone 5 slaan soos ek daar op beur teen die bulte in die wind in, maar ek moet ‘n A-groep man huis toe sleep 🤣 … hy het seker maar ‘n mechanical gehad dat hy nou nog hier rond ploeter saam met die naweek ryers. Volgende afdraende, lang styl een, trek ek oor en sê hy moet maar gaan, ek spin uit. Hy lag net. Hy het reeds klaar gery, net gou terug gekom om saam met ‘n paar vriende die laaste stukkie te trap. Hy is rustig dat ek die wind breek tot hy by hulle kom. By Spes Bona kry hy sy vriende en ons groet. EDIT- Hy is een van die A manne wat in D weggetrek het, en saam met B klaar gemaak het. STERK ryer !! En so sit en speel hy in daai wind asof hy nog niks gery het nie .... RESPEK !! Daai laaste twee kilometer het nog nooit SO lank en erg gevoel nie …. Garmin reken dit is my vinnigste 40km op rekord. Strava reken dit is my vinnigste 100km op rekord Finish Time reken ek staan nommer 2 op die e-bike podium ... net jammer daar is nie n podium vir ebikes nie 😛 Nee kyk, dit was ‘n lekker harde rit. LEKKER. DANKBAAR dat ek dit kon doen. Sekerlik n ren wat ek lank gaan onthou.

Ek het nie SO baie Brits vir die naweek nie .... 😛

With Tour de PPA done and dusted, and seeding updated ..... can we see our CTCT seeding somewhere ? Or do we wait for an email from CTCT ?

Some of the HEALTH screening benefits are NOT "dependant" on Vitality. NON Vitality members have access to these benefits. Sure, often Vitality members can score points by taking part in these programs. Since the Vitality angle is driven so hard, some non-Vitality members miss these programs.

And this is the conundrum with ebikes starting in their seeding vs all at the way at the back. When I start in my seeding, it is easy to start at the back of that group, and I know the group will pull a gap on the flats while I spin out. When the hills and wind join the game the field is spread out and it is safer to pass, and much less riders to pass. Starting at the very back I was passing LOTS of cyclists yesterday, often groups. On a few occasions those groups were so big that they were over the white line and I had to be careful to overtake safely. From this point of view .... starting in your seeding position is much safer for all riders. BUT .... the 3:03 riders will then seed higher and higher and impact the racing. Pity, as this means a blunt rule needs to be applied to protect the racing.

With what you have done the last 12 months you are miles ahead of 90% of the riders.

We were chatting about the 3:03. I have no idea who he is, or how he managed that time. It is possible he is using one of the e-road-bikes that provide assist to 42km/h. Even then, very good ride for him. Well done Deon. But at those speeds he could impact the results of the mid groups if a few riders grab his slip .... thus we all have to start at the back to not influence results.

Hiehie .... 🤣 Part of me still thinks it sucks to be relegated to the back, just because I am on an ebike. My G or H seeding is as special to me as the rider that moved from C to B. But then .... Winelands, Durbie Dash etc, I start in my seeding group. I get passed by a few roadies on the flats. I catch some of them on the climbs. But mostly a long solo ride. Yesterday was fun to consistently having a carrot just up the road, and in sight .... one chase after the other. One long sprint ! It certainly is a different type of FUN. Though a few spots it was tricky to pass groups so big that they were well over the middle line .... As for ebikes start position .... the gent with his 3:03 reinforces the discusions around the policing of ebikes and keeping them out of the racing bunches .... thanks to these riders all ebikers now have to be treated the same ..... I understand and respect the need for clean racing up front. Just pissed off that a very small number of ebikers are now impacting the race for all ebikers. It is what it is .... and with these 3:03 racers, the rest of us will have to start at the back.

What is this working together thing you speak of ?

Basically your seeding will match your speeds to qualify for that group, more or less. No issue in falling back a bit. Just know there will be strong riders that missed some seeding events, that will be trying to get past ... Keep left, only move right for as long as it takes to pass. ENJOY

Contact Irma and ask if she still has any spare capacity - https://irmfit.co.za/

What was the wind like when you finished ? By 10:00 the wind along Adderley was BRUTAL !!

BIG thumbs up for the motorcycle marchalls !! They were excellent at keeping the groups safe from vehicles. And letting the vehicles know when it was safe to pass. With some of the slower groups I would catch and pass the motorcycle, and greet them as passed.

What a ride The wind spread out the field. I was giving it stick from the start, having already warmed up on the ride to the venue. Only 33 seconds in Zone two, rest in zone 3 and 4. Some photos along the Phisantekraal section. Had a nice dice with a roadie on the downhill after Paarl Farms. My tucking away at 67km/h he was still accelerating. Did catch him on the next uphill. Caught up with @BMCfan before Windmeul. Thanks for the chat. And the roadie dissapears on the downhill toward Nelsons Creek. And then it was a suffer fest back into the wind .... At least the views were amazing ... Along Adderley I had the rare fortune to provide a slip into that wind to an A-group rider. EDIT - Dankie Du Toit, dit was lekker. Sure, that is the truth, but obviously not the full truth .... but why spoil a happy moment with all the facts. VERY happy with my stats. PD for 40km PB for 100km Second step on the podium for e-bikes ... if they had a podium It was one of my hardest rides, but man I enjoyed it !!!

One of the A bunch riders started in D. Raced up to finish in B. Then came back some 10km to find his buddies, and ride to the end with them.

After today's wind at Tour de PPA I have had enough of wind for a while ....

Best advice. Last year I dropped back some 20 minutes to start with a charity. HEAVY and slow traffic until M3. Smitswinkel was a parking lot ... no way to make up time. My slowest CTCT. Sure, differences up front should notbbe that drastic ... but miss that break of 4 and your fast ride is not happening

And here I thought us "Middle-Aged-Men-In-Lycra" would stick together .....