Neville Bailey

Registered - see you then!

I think I have sorted out my unrealistic performance on my dumb trainer. I am using a Giant Cyclotron Mag II trainer, which is not included on Rouvy's list of trainers, so I assumed that the Giant Cyclotron Fluid Comp trainer would work for mine, so I chose it. After the race, I contacted Rouvy and they suggested that I select the Deskbike trainer under "Other", which I did and then did a route yesterday evening. The results were much closer to reality, in terms of heart rate, power output and speed. Rouvy automatically adjusts the speed depending on the gradient, cadence and heart rate, for dumb trainers. So it seems that the Deskbike trainer matches the power curve to my trainer much more accurately than the Fluid Comp trainer. So when is the next race? I will now probably come stone last!

My average and max heart rate seemed quite a bit lower than it would be at the same speed in the real world. My average was 121 and I normally average at about 135. My max was 139 and I normally max at about 165 in the real world. I suspect my resistance setting is too low on the trainer even though I followed the recommendations on the trainer manual.

I set the trainer to the midpoint resistance level. Next time I will set it to the highest level. I am running Rouvy on my iPad and my Garmin ANT+ sensors are connected via the CABLE device, which converts ANT+ to Bluetooth.

My wheel circumference is set to 2105mm - standard for a road bike. Not sure how my sensors can be out, as they are accurate on a normal bike ride.

Thanks, although I’m a bit puzzled as I certainly don’t think I should have been that far ahead of everyone. I used a dumb trainer and I have logged my correct weight etc. Not sure what else I could have set incorrectly that would distort my performance. I’m fact, I slowed down on purpose after the halfway mark as I felt a bit guilty! Anything that I should check?

I’m connected at last.

Can’t join the race!

I’m in!

This was my 5th CTCT and a PB - my first sub-4 (3hrs 43min) so I was chuffed! Here’s my view of the race, if you have the patience to watch it... I started in batch 2F.

We are driving down from Durban today and tomorrow, stopping overnight at Colesberg tonight. Passing through Bethlehem right now. We will go for a gentle leg stretcher ride from Colesberg to Phillipolis this afternoon. Carrying 3 bikes on our platform rack - one bike belongs to a friend who is flying down.

I flew down from Durban on Thursday to do the race, so it’s quite disappointing that it has been cancelled, although I accept the reasons. I’m staying in Somerset West until my flight back on Tuesday morning, and I’m determined to get a ride in before then, weather permitting. Are there any riders in the area that plan to ride either today or tomorrow that I can join? I’ve always wanted to ride along the coast towards Rooi Els.

Starting in Batch 2E at 6:18am. Hope the weather plays its part.

I’m flying down from Durban to race in my first Stellenbosch Cycle Tour and really looking forward to it. I will be staying with family in Helderberg Village in Somerset West and was wondering if there are any leg loosener rides planned on the Saturday morning in the area?

I use a GoPro Hero 7 Silver for the video footage and then overlay the data from the Garmin Edge 520 GPX file, using Garmin VIRB Edit software.

Thankfully I had an incident-free race and achieved a PB of 3 hours 40 minutes. Managed to latch onto a great bunch along the M1. Here’s my race on video:

Just received an email with my starting batch - starting in batch I at 6:51. A lot earlier than last year which was batch R at 7:31. Now I'm nervous!

Here's a copy of the GPX file from my ride last year - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LhPj_VcQ2jUGJBhEY2yVPWH_X7U01hb3

I have a GoPro Hero 7 Silver and I use mine to shoot all my club rides and races. I've used all the various mounts, including handlebar, chesty and rear facing (under my saddle). I haven't tried the helmet mount, because that really makes you look like a dork! Of all the mounts, I've settled on the rear facing mount, because I find it much more interesting to watch mugs instead of bums! The facial expressions of riders behind you are sometimes priceless, and it gets interesting when they start picking their noses and other things... I use Garmin VIRB Edit software on my MacBook Pro to overlay the GPX data onto the video footage and then upload the entire ride/race video onto YouTube. I couldn't be bothered to edit the video any more than the above, so my videos are probably boring to most people, but I often find myself re-watching some of my videos, especially before races when I watch my previous year's race video. Here is my YouTube Channel link for those who might be interested: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-8Qn2VVzJV509wIvctGoMQ?view_as=subscriber

Oh wow! Thanks again for that pull up and over those hills! See you in Ladysmith next weekend.

Please remind me who you are again? I don’t remember anyone with the name of bobbie...

Does anyone know if there will be camping facilities at Riversands the night before the race? I know that in previous years there was, but I don’t see anything mentioned on the website for this year.

Hmmm, I wonder what this announcement will be about?

https://youtu.be/X4DiowWI8fg https://youtu.be/TbOBgJUXU9U https://youtu.be/ui9QeK18hrg