JohanDiv

The section that runs parallel with the Wynandsrivier that will likely be affected in parts after the floods is 8km. The first Gouritz crossing you actually approach the Gouritz river along one of the river tributaries for 10km. Definitely more than 1km to consider. Typing that out, if ALL of that is affected, route change or emergency road repairs would be on the cards surely. Regarding mud, CP1 surroundings usually 2-3km in normal winter perfect conditions. I'm not sure where else mud is going to be an issue after the storm. I just know my gravelbike doesn't deal well with mud. Even with 45mm the mud gets clogged up between the tyre and frame quickly.

The other brand you are talking about I ordered a bunch of custom design jerseys with my company logo on. Same jerseys, same size, but the sizes differ. Not from one or two.. every single jersey fits differently that is supposed to be the same size and style - baffles the mind. Back to Vye - got a bit of take-it-or-leave-it "houding" when we were busy designing our jerseys with them, and then ended up going with the other brand.

I'm doing it on my gravel bike this year to compensate for my fitness level. The closest I got to a Sub 4 on a MTB was 4:12. Hoping I can get closer to 3:59 on the gravel bike even with a bit less fitness this year. I'm not bargaining on a comfy ride. Will take it easy until after the Ou Wapad descend, then we gooi! I'm running 45mm at the rear and 50mm up front.

If I was still 50/50ing between MTB and gravel bike, I'd now go MTB without a doubt. Towards the end of the route it can wash away quite bad and expose long sections of river bed boulders as you ride along Wynandsrivier that is even tricky to ride on a MTB. You'd definitely walk that on a gravel bike. Before and after Rooiberg when you cross Gouritz(currently in flood) twice around 220kms and 270km it can also expose boulders that's tricky to ride over. It also gets muddy easily around CP1. Doubt it will dry out before the race even if it stops raining now within the next few days.

Latest Temu and Ali Cycling haul.. 2x rear lights (Already have one, and it works great. Bought two more for my wife and dad) - R83 Wahoo Roam 3 silicone cover - R296 Kiddy seat similar to the Shotgun seat - R 1056 Road pedal to flat pedal converter - R185

https://www.robofactory.co.za/12v-power-supply/898-12v-5a-60w-power-supply-with-dc-plug.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17183005411&gbraid=0AAAAACxgwRw7VuBOpt73BuBPgeH8U35Ho&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh-HPBhCIARIsAC0p3ccnL0eDkVHC4NrqyFYauWXpYWfN_hNROlWfIQxdGet0rGday1GcTVUaAhMOEALw_wcB This should work. I've never ordered from them, but their reviews seem good. Cheap enough to chance it I'd say!

I started with two bottles and hydration pack. Main reason is if you are riding with a group in the early part of the race, they might blast through WP1 without refilling bottles, then you loose that advantage of sticking together if you have to stop. Also had enough food and gels on me to carry me to CP1. Worked well as we had a nice group of 10-15 working together and did in fact blast through that first Kammanassie WP1 without stopping and the attacks went up that little kicker climb just after WP1 that reduced us to 7 or 8 that worked together to CP1. Lights on the bike from the start. At CP1 everyone in that group had different plans on how long they stop, so from there on in you are likely to be solo or less than 5 guys together. I left on my own there. I dropped my hydration pack in my CP1 box, spare battery for light in back pocket for rest of the race, put on warmer clothes, swapped sunglasses for photochromics, and just refilled my two bottles from there at the waterpoints and CPs as needed. Drylands always deliver at the WPs and CPs, so no shortage of Biogen drinks and gels and food. Ate properly at CP2, fresh battery in the box, and more layers. Spare water bottle in box in case I dropped one on the route. Got lost shortly after CP2, luckily saw another rider's light in the distance, so could back track and catch up to join him. We stuck together from there through the night all the way to the finish line. CP3 swapped batteries. And again spare bottle just in case. Also food I know I can stomach. Sometimes your system just get tired of all the nonsense you eat on route, so I had simple chicken and rice packed for back up. Didn't eat it though, the pannekoek en boiled egg still went down 04:30 the morning. After that I survived on gels to the end. My moving time was just over 17 hours, but I missed Sub 18 hrs. Definitely will try and streamline my stops next time. Skipping this year, but I'll be back for my Sub 17 hopefully next year!

I think the fun is only starting now. Both frames cracked, and there is no stock available on frames only, so the bike shop says it will have to be full bike replacements, and then the insurance must take the old bikes to salvage the parts. Quoted R302 000. Damage to the Prado is R25 000. I sent the quotes to the estate, so awaiting their feedback now. At least they are covered for R5mil Public Liability.

Jip. Contractor on the estate damaged an overhead CCTV cable the previous day, so they installed a temporary anchor cable over the exit lane to keep a pole in place while they do repairs. The temporary anchor cable was obviously not installed high enough.

Exactly my reaction as well!

Not that far today....

I've been punishing a set of Kore 60T ratchet hubs on my gravel bike for a while.. They sound amazing(personal preference), and seem to handle daily Paarl Mountain loops perfectly well on the gravel bike. They run better than my DT350 hubs on my road wheelset.

Haven't paid much attention to my Vitality in the last year or so, and I just realized that I forgot that all my Wahoo activities won't pull through. Is that still a thing - Wahoo still not recognized by Discovery? Do I still have to go through the whole process of exporting my Wahoo fit file, use fitfiletools to change the device to a Garmin, then manually upload to Garmin Connect for it to pull through to Vitality? Anyone got a shortcut for this by now?

I guess it helps if one of your training partners is Mr. Brian Brummer. He knows a thing or two about grinding gravel

Friday with the little one.. 20260405_081501.mp4 And Sunday without him.. struggling these days to get out the door without him, he loves riding! 20260412_100228.mp4

One of the more fun races on the calendar.... IF IT DOESN'T RAIN! And usually a perfect leg tester before Trans Baviaans.

Interesting! For 36One I just pop a gel whenever I see a hill approaching in the distance. The last one I think I popped around 40 of those Biogen Liquid Energy Gels on top of the All-you-can-eat buffets and normal Biogen gels at every waterpoint. For me they go down much easier than the regular gels

Ordered this bib from Aliexpress last week. Cost: R485. Shipping R135. Just got the Meili Logistics & SpeedAF customs invoice: R 491. I know it is a clothing item and usually that is a bit more at customs (I always bugdet 30-50% of clothing item price), but over 100% ?!

Few laps in the Paarl Arboretum after a year and a half off the bike.. Missing out on these perfect dirt sections in the middle of town when on the road bike! PS, it's not the drone footage that make me look 20kgs overweight.. I AM 20KGS OVERWEIGHT!!

Sho that looks almost exactly to what we did 2022 Stage 4, or like 80% the same. Stage 3 and 4 were the play days around Greyton.. loved riding the trails there! https://www.strava.com/activities/6874642676/segments/2942050304823506234

I was deciding between the Schwalbe G-One RS and the Specialized Pathfinders. Both looked solid, but could only find the pathfinders in 42mm at the time (apparently they come in 47mm now?).. ended up going with the RS 45mm and very happy with them.

I did 4h10m @93kg on a dual suspension with 2.4 Maxxis Aspens on South Industries XC rims. 1,8bar back and 1,5bar front and bombed it on the downhills. If I was actually in shape that setup would've taken me sub 4 with ease.

I probably order 10 times per year on Aliexpress, and it always goes to my nearest SAPO where I pick it up and pay customs. Shipping time varies between 2 weeks and 6 weeks usually. I placed an order on 29 Aug, and SpeedAF just delivered my package to my door. Pleasantly surprised! When did they make this change?

Probably too late.. I reluctantly had to switch from Shimano to Sram +- 5 years ago when parts weren't available. Since then all three my bikes are now AXS with parts + batteries interchangeable.. doubt this news will lure me back to Shimano.

Hi guys, One of my clients bought a farm in the Bottelary Hills trail network - Orange Route and Steeneveld Road runs through his property. We are planning to put up a few one and two bedroom cottages for cyclists that want to stay for a weekend and ride the network, swimming pool, convert the existing f-upped farm buildings and werf area to a coffee shop/restaurant similar to Knus in Paarl, reopen the farms brandy distillery with tasting room, and possibly a boutique hotel at a much later stage (We did L'Ermitage for him in Franschhoek, so it would probably have a similar feel to that). Guys that ride there regularly, do you think this location would work for this type of facilities? And what other facilities should he think of adding to attract more cyclists?