Zebra

Yes, also feel you are harsh - he raised a SINGLE arm, and then, just - and quite gently - acknowledged the awaiting crowd - I think he handled it well.

Longer chainstays help with HEEL clearance, meaning the back of foot then will not make contact with rear panniers, and this also handily provides a more-stable ride (less twitchy). That said, i used a Cannondale rigid fork MTB for much of my touring, but made sure the pannier bags could be mounted well back, for heel clearance - it IS a thing!

I have recently ordered 4 inexpensive items. Communication very good, so far. About 2-week delivery time. Will advise what TAXES are payable. R500-R600 exposure, so willing to try it out. Expect plenty of ADDITIONAL, focussed NON ORDER-related emails, but i am ok with that. they promise a R20 rebate IF it arrives after predicted date! Chris

If asking a question (tell me why…?) and SIMULTANEOUSLY stating ‘inconsiderate’, I think F-I-R-S-T wait for a response, and THEN go all ‘inconsiderate’…. (fellow eBike rider, AND non eBiker…) have you ASKED the organizers? Cheers, Chris

Robbie - dislocating my shoulder on Tokai/Cobra in early December, I also made a vist to ‘The Tunnel’ (CT scanner) for say the 07th or 08th time, b-u-t this time, for the first-time EVER, anywhere, I got claustrophobic (tunnel around 10cm from my face, and of course ‘The Noise’…) only 25 mins, but I NEARLY pushed the Emergency button they give you, but i had dropped it, and felt a bit daft shouting ‘help’! Got a new respect for that damn tunnel, clearly I needed a spoon of Chuck Norris TTFU!

…Newlands, Bunny Chow and Hansa; man, sounds more like you back in good ol SA than ‘Blighty’! 😆 Nice pics, enjoy, Chris (Flying Brick).

Inexpensive shot of White vinegar into the washing machine drawer, IF the anti-bacterial wash is pricey, or finished; works wonders! Chris

I’m with you on your thinking: CE may well be ‘harder’ than a Comrades, for THREE reasons (caveat: done a few CE’s, 0 Comrades) 1. staying HEALTHY for 8 days, esp. using the old Portaloos, actually takes some doing, and riding with Epic bum for a good few of the 8 days is hectic (yes, CE has/had a bum-clinic every morning…). 2. Avoiding crashing/injury to at least 1 of the 2 riders, whilst riding for 8 days takes some doing… 3. the H-E-A-T on MULTIPLE days is something else; manage the heat, and you manage the race, my experience. I think Comrades is WAY harder than ANY single day of the Epic, but the Epic is challenging, due to its DURATION. Cheers.

There. Fixed it! ;

Seems like Valley Road in Hout Bay, is going to have 6 weeks of possible stop/go road works, whilst the authorities (Urban Mobility Directorate) create a non-motorised transport infrastructure, SOUTHBOUND on Valley Road. (in my mind, Valeey roads runs somewhat East-West (rising and setting sun.., but anyhow!) Mon March 25th until Friday 03rd May, including ‘weekend’ work from 09:00 until 15:30. I see this as a brilliant initiative, since Valley rd is already used by many to avoid the lower slopes of C’Nek, for both road safety reasons, as well as other recent incidents near the Graveyard. So sounds like a great initiative, and - this once - i am hoping any cynics give it a chance, before passing pre-judgement. this is all i know, more as it happens. Chris

I think Blue Board rider is rider allowed to continue WITHOUT a (withdrawn) partner. Chris

Fun story, 2 weeks back i had to visit the Fisantekraal area, for the 1st time in 15-or 20-odd years…. It was then that I DROVE OVER - was reminded of - THE BRIDGE -; a bridge that we raced over in the League series, all those years ago… Significance of the bridge was that, after some hardish racing, a group would come across the bridge in the OCCULTDALE/ WELLINGTONADDERLY road area, and if you did not IMMEDIATELY stand and give 1000% percent, the entire group fractured into 2 groups; the MANNE in the front groups, and the WANNA-BE’s getting BLOWN out the back! Somebody please remind me where that short, but sharp, bridge is located; it gave me a good FEW sleepless nites!!! Chris

Any chance your buffering problems/line speed are linked to the rare undersea cable damage, down West AND East coast of Africa, in last 48-72 hours? Cheers, Chris

….in tight-fitting cycling clothing, having a Gherkin in the ‘wrong place’ could put you in a bit of a PICKLE…😆

Managed to watch DSTV 430 with sound OFF, and cell phone with TIZ, sound ON, made for fun/chaotic viewing, but WHAT a finish!!!

Unsure what you are missing, but in case you are surprised the level of work-out you can get on an eBike, consider this: i have a vintage racer, a 29er, and a converted 26er eMTB. On the eMTB, I get a serious, soaked-through workout on the 30km commute from Hout Bay to Paarden Eiland, cycling with low/lowish assistance (on setting 3 or 4 out of 9 settings). It reduces the time needed for the commute from 1h25 minutes, to 60 minutes; staff wonder how i can get so ‘stuffed’ on a eBike, but hammering Suikerbossie, (and then chasing 16-wheelers in the harbour) with low e-assistance, on a HEAVY eBike, the effort is real, and i have a lifetime of cycling behind me, to compare the non-e and e-effort’. So yes, I am NOT surprised someone could cramp on/after a hard ebike session, if thats what you mean? Ebikes can be serious effort, if you want, helpfully, they REDUCE the total time needed, rather than being a low-effort magic carpet ride! Cheers, Chris

Yes, yo can see THIS picture, in the background; the silver vehicle was the SECOND vehicle the taxi struck...

24th February, caused by a Taxi Driver, near Llandudno...

different angle; just see where that Taxi is parked....

this - in the last few days, shows the 'Taxi Rush' i mentioned in an earlier post...

…whist i feel sure that the ‘collective’ will get camera footage of the Renault Kwid in the area at that exact time, I feel angry about firstly the not-stopping with what was clearly a MASSIVE impact, ….a-n-d secondly, the fact that the driver cannot be blood-alcohol tests 24/48/72 hours later…. Since SUCH an impact must show massive inattention, and, to me at least, is more than someone say changing a radio station; I cannot but feel that fleeing the scene, alcohol was involved…. Rant off.

Living in HB, and driving IN to work 4x days a week, i often see reckless Taxi drivers ‘belting’ back TOWARDS HB, racing to collect the NEXT LOAD of passengers needing to go to town.. Not condoning it - I have had to take evasive action in my minibus more than once, but this seems the reason for their idiotic driving… Chris

Look, i had a GOOD chuckle at the ‘R1000’ bike shop! How very accurate your description is! 😆

I did this 15-odd years ago, great fun, and it was the Alpe du Huez time-trial tour, with Lance and Big Jan Ulrich, fun times. We based ourself in a town within riding distance of a COUPLE of stages, and cycled up to a vantage point BEFORE the tour came through, and then could cycle back to or guest-house each afternoon, then repeat the next day… On a motorbike, using a map, I feel you could BASE YOURSELF in one town, for say 3 nights, and watch 3+ stages without riding overly far, just something to think about… Ice Cream Man / Zebra, Flying Brick!

…would like to see a picture of the Amber you tried to pick up; what line did you use on her? …oh, you mean EMBERS!