hboli4

Thanks Jewey, I guess it is something I will need to practice and not try and attempt in haste. The sweep who picked me up mentioned that the cassette is machined to shift easily and this might be why it shifted/jumped up.

Hallo Hubbers, To all the tech-guru's out there. Is it possible to do an emergency ss conversion with a oval chainring on your mtb? The bearing on my top jockey-wheel seized during an event over the weekend. I tried to make the bike ss just to try and make it to the CP where I could get some tech assistance. I shortened the chain and gave myself a sort-off middle gear with the chain lined up as close as possible with the chainring. After two pedal strokes the chain jumped to the next bigger cog on the cassette and tightened to the extent that I could not loosen the thru-axle and it sort of pulled/bent the chainstay that it touched my crankarm. All I can think is that due to the oval chainring not being, well uhm round, the chain jumped when there was slack before being pulled tight again when it reached the 'fat' part of the chainring? Hope this makes sense?

Well done Johan that is a great time! My ride unfortunately ended at about 35km with a mechanical. Super bleak and negative - still not over it.

Looks like it might just be very pleasant riding weather - not too hot or cold - some light rain today it seems. Wind might be a bit of a bugger - at least until Louvain - headwind all the way there.

I try to have a loved one there for this very reason....but if you are as fast was Waldo this might not go well with the loved one.

You will find a lot of info on the 'older' threads - 2018 / 19 had a lot IIRC. You are welcome to send me a DM with questions if you like, but I can only comment as a back of the pack finisher - between 24 & 28 hours 🙂 If you have support at the CP's it helps with options ito what you will need. If you only use the crates - CP1 should generally have warmer clothing/spare battery if you intend swopping out. I also prepare my nutrition in zip bags beforehand for the sections to come if you do not want to use the Biogen. Also a meal replacement if you battle with your stomach. Maybe wetwipes if you want. CP2 maybe another spare battery/nutrition. Sunblock if you are only arriving in the day. CP3 not much,sunblock if you are fast,nutrition - use this box to dump some weight. I definitely do not get to CP1 in daytime so will start with my lights. Cannot comment on the gravelbike - only mtb for me.

I am very happy with my Bontrager Circuit helmet. Have had both Mips & Wavecell versions and for the type of riding I do the attachable lights work a treat, especially on the longer 24hr + events.

Hi Hennie, There are a couple of historic threads on the Hub that you can search with loads of info, IIRC the 2018/19 and 2021 threads have the most info. You are more than welcome to ask your questions here - loads of guys who have done it multiple times. You can also send me a message if you would like to - I am based in Bloem.

Will hopefully see both of you at the finishline next year. Will be raising funds for CANSA.

These links are spammers or whatever they are called. The live feed from the finishline they do through Facebook.

As long as he leaves Loxton by midday tomorrow he will not be cut.

I'm very worried. At the pace he is going he is hitting the Tankwa on Sunday where it looks like the tailwind has turned to a headwind by then...

Has he turned around yet? Last time I checked he was climbing up back towards Sutherland.

Team CR3 rider in a world of pain off course.

Maybe Andre Ormond but not sure - he was hanging at the back and is definitely in a car at the moment. Problem is it is only getting more difficult from here and fatigue is compounding. At least still looks like a tailwind.

Might be the tracker acting up - very tall fences on that section.

Certain sections change from year to year, this section is the same as last year but not the year before I think. The changes are mostly due to farms changing hands / farmers changing their minds and denying access resulting in route changes

Aish, couple of guys toying with the CUT and Gemmerbal still in Britstown.

I was very close to making the same mistake last year, was busy fiddling with the strapping on my stuffed achilles just after leaving the RV but luckily saw the warning on the GPS after a couple of 100m,

I'm also a bit worried - I know he spent something like 12 hours in Britstown last year so probably thinking he has that in the backpocket but he is moving quite slowly, hope all is ok.

It is truly astonishing! As far as I know it is a recording - you will see that it sometimes veers off the current route as it is plotted on the route he rode.

Drikus is truly flying - looks like a tailwind since VDK. I agree with you Shebeen. When I rode I decided to do it my way and not be bothered about what others are doing - it is out of my control as well as how the rules are enforced(or not) - as long as I stay within the rules. To this end I never rode with anybody else and only briefly chatted to riders at RV's & CP's and a couple of times on the route. Stupid to not make use of drafting? - probably. But I made up my mind before the start to do my own thing and ride as if drafting was not allowed. Also - I am probably too slow to draft anybody in any case.😁

There was a section between Fraserburg & WP8 which was VERY rough and rocky with deep sand sections that I though would be very tough on a gravel bike but they are not doing that section this year.

Yip - you are correct, was always allowed until RV1 with this rule scrapped last year. I get what you are saying in terms of the rules, but regarding this rule I think it is the correct decision to allow it for the race - it is just too difficult to enforce without having resources follow riders over the vast distance. As you say, trying to make a gap and then being caught by people working together has always been a part of cycling.

Personally I don't think the contenders will use drafting as tactic or if they do only until the first RV. It is then that strategy comes into play i.t.o. how long to stop/rest/eat if they indeed plan to do so and if you wait on someone else it can hurt your race. I'll be the first to offer the old cliche - Sutherland is halfway...