tinmug

Update: just heard that new cycling routes are in the pipeline! 😁🤙

About the map above; 'You can basically ride anything': I'm afraid not. The green lines in the diagram above are, strictly speaking, for hiking only. Seeberg has a new 360-degree hiking trail called the Baker Trail (with the southern section being brand new), but bicycles are not allowed there. Same applies to the trails from Geelbek, but folks do occasionally ride between Geelbek and the Churchhaven area (part or trail not shown on map, no signs calming you can't ... yet). A big part of the peninsula between Geelbek and Preekstoel is privately owned. The white line (tar) that you see on the map between Langebaan Gate and Tsaarsbank (and/or West Coast [Road] Gate) is perfectly pleasant to ride, even on a MTB. An absolute no-go route is (apart from obvious stuff like the beaches etc ... you'd amazed where some cyclists venture and how close they are pushing to get rule-abiding cyclists banned outright) is south along the twee-spoor marked MTB Trails on the map above. The road is closed for a very good reason: there is an Black Harrier pair (endangered species) nesting close to the trail; and any traffic – foot, bicycle etc – disturbs the birds and places the chicks' lives at risk. Play according to the rules and the trails will remain open to cyclists for many years to come (and bear in mind that the volunteers – who have a loud voice in the rules – consists of riders and hikers who generally see mountain bikers as a nuisance). The park has a brand new manager that has already carved one new hiking trail and will hopefully toss a new MTB route or two our way the the future.

The best flower viewing is in the Postberg Reserve (privately owned, open only two months of the year). You can cycle the usual trail (no idea what it's called, assuming it even has a name) that starts at Langebaan-side gate, up the tar road, turn left/inland just after you crest the first hill then follow the dirt road around and down back to the tar road. Turn left/south when you get to the tar and pedal short distance to trail running off towards lagoon (behind low-slung chain), follow the trail back to where you started. Easy ride, will be some flowers to see and highly likely sightings of Eland, steenbok and if you're lucky the lone bontebok (and maybe red hartebeest). Repeat if not tired or head south along the tar before the road sweeps around south-end of lagoon for a nice tar stretch towards Postberg Reserve.

Thanks, was just about to ask that. Assume that SAST.

The Mobu looks amazing. But yeah. 🤑 Ibis available locally (as a frame-only arrangement)? The Sling does look good (much better than ate-something-sour face of their aircraft 😅), and the attitude of the Sling founders is infectious (have been following their antics for many years). But better half favours carbon (she already has a steel GB). Not that old really, boost hubs. She'll likely want to keep her current frame (because god knows the 5 bikes in the garage is nearly enough yet!); so a nice rebuild project sounds like a nice way to upgrade. Really nice. Really, really nice. Price? Also darn nice, admired the Mercers in the article that appeared about Dave somewhere recently. But yeah, carbon (at least you think it's lighter). 😂

Exploring going lighter for the wife's bike. She's running reasonably good bits on an ageing and heavy full-suspension frame; could be handy to carry those (inasmuch as could be carried over, probably not rear shock) over to a lighter frame. Hardtail is tempting for the weight saving (and simplicity). But also just curious who makes carbon frames in SA.

It seems few shops sell carbon frames (MTB, both HT and FS) in South Africa. Who are the (local) manufacturers? I know about Pyga 🤩 and Core. But who else is out there? Recommendations? Experience with any of these? Worth importing?

That looks beautifully designed and made. 👍

https://tiz-cycling-live.io/manual.php

Any way to watch TdF without Supersport? GCN+ doesn't seem to list it (for SA).

... others don't have a day who owns a team. 😉

Email GCN about it.

Email GCN about it.

Surprisingly rock-solid feed from GCN+ today. So far.

Then GCN needs to make it very clear that the expect me to lie about my geographical location before so readily taking my money. 😉 Besides, DSTVs rights to the broadcast has no bearing on the quality of the feed being catered for by GCN+. If a VPN resolves the problem then it's between GCN+ and their infrastructure support this region. If tomorrow is as unwatchable as today then I'll likely cancel. I refuse to pay for what was, at best, a radio broadcast today.

... several people have stated that running through a VPN solves it. Thus I have pretend I am in a different country just to get a service I am paying for to function?

Quality of the feed. It's unwatchable. How do you access Eurosport?

You can't. Best is probably VPN on computer then send to ATV. GCN+ feed a complete waste of time so far. Not happy.

The feed seems to settle down after 30-odd minutes. I run much the same: ATV on 100 meg line, and initially the feed is unwatchable. It’s %#*£ annoying (thanks a lot UCI). It’d be annoying for a free service, it’s absurd for a paid service. My suggestion: everyone with issues contact GCN and bitch about it. Maybe, just maybe they’ll actually do something about it. Not holding my breath though.

Apart from the dorps – Citrusdal and Clanwilliam – catering en route will be scarce. You can probably pre-arrange for meals at Cederberg Oasis. Possibly Mount Ceder too.

Who owns the brewery now?

You've got some fun toys in your workshop! 👍

I watched the men's race with a 45-minute delay. No issues streaming this time.

The commentary and visuals are not too bad. The streaming is practically useless though. About 70% clear, 30% blocky rubbish and the occasional outright pause. Not sure if it's worth the entry price (watching on HD TV, not mobile device – at my age I need the biggest screen I can get).

I consistently get north of 90-something Mbps on my line. @lechatnoir thanks for the confidence booster with you running on a 6 Mbps line (at was resolution). Short Track is at, I think, 1800 this evening. So a good time to test and see what American horrors awaits us in terms of commentary ... 😂