Tubehunter

Chappies proper Chappies overhang Chappies last bit of climb Chappies descent

A selection of pics from my camera... Going up Eastern Boulevard (N2 shortly after the start) Misty Cliffs Soetwater turn Chappies overlooking Noordhoek

Doubt many of the people are too concerned about the bunch riding skills once you get into the double alphabet letters. Surprisingly it's the bunch riding skills of some of the riders right up in the front bunches. Generalising now, but most likely chaps who are really strong cyclists who mostly do triathlons or something similar where their exposure to group riding is really minimal, do a seeding event somewhere with a fantastic time and then end up at the sharp end of the field. These are the real dangers to the groups as the front guys ride tight and expect that everyone who is there has some form of bunch riding etiquette, which is more often seriously lacking and REALLY evident when everyone starts jostling to be in the top 10% of the group. Rode in D group 7 plus years ago and coming over Hospital Bend into the fast section where the N2 and the M3 split some chap decides to go left of the bollards and chase down the outside of the these to make up some position in the group. Yep you guessed it, when he eventually got to the bottom of the hill and had to change his option from heading to the airport to get back on the route towards UCT he was going too fast to cut back in safely, but gave it a bash anyway and managed to hit the side of a bollard with his right pedal sending it tumbling across the road in front of the group. He's suddenly snaking at 60plus km\h and slowing down to get back in control, whilst you hear that dreaded sound of bikes and riders going down at pace behind you. (Didn't see him again or manage to get his number.) This one incident has made me that loud mouth in the group who shouts at riders overtaking on the left in high speed sections especially when they give no warning. You will know who they are quite simply because they will pull this stunt and then when they squeeze into a non existent gap, causing wheels to overlap, at plus 60 kays they'll reach down for their bottle and we all know where that ends up....

Hope you were wearing your timing chip on your body somewhere and that this did not get left behind on your bike... Nice job Wes!

The trick will be in doing shorter rides with higher intensity intervals including the tabata sprints to build up the intensity and ride these proper hard sessions mixed with some recovery while you slowly decrease the recovery portion as your training progresses. Alternate these types of high intensity work with longer rides that don't go as intense or in your case bring on cramp. Try ride just below this and you should raise the 'cramp level' with this type of conditioning! Good luck. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

If you want to race for a PB, this is what is required to be on it and still have some legs left. You can't train shorter distances than the event and go harder than training and expect your legs to go along for the ride... Get your distances up and research tabata intervals...

Sorry to hear Batty Boy! Cramp is such a useless way to make one underperform! It has plagued me through the years too, but I have found race conditioning to be my ally in this regard. Does any of your training simulate race conditions that bring on the condition? If yes, did the same thing happen when you did this in training?? Do you include any sprint intervals in your training or is it all LSD stuff?

Jeeeeeez, you lot can gripe! If you're coming to the Argus to race, be ready to race. Do some race day prep then. If you've committed that many hours of training and nutrition to be ready then also consider a recce of the route slowly before, yep in a car if you must, making some notes. If not, there are enough videos of the route available from many options. Check em out. The seeding is as close to perfect as it can be without taking into account everyone's individual aspirations for the event. I've done both fast and slow Argus's, some slow one's from the front and some fast one's from the middle to back. The reasons for those chosen efforts were entirely dependant on how I felt and the Organisers can't plan for that. Woke up feeling unwell one year and went to check on the bike in the morning with both tubbies flat and training wheels had a proper buckle. Jumped on the mountainbike and did a 6 plus hour cruise around the peninsula, stopping at all those spectators who taunt you when you're riding and drank the beer and ate their bacon off their skottel. Had a whale of a time. Started in my normal seeding time as I had other committments for the early evening that would not allow me to drop right to the back. We all have to earn our seeding and it is our individual choice on how to use it. Oh and yes OP there is a locakable bag service in operation at the start and has been for years. That's why your race pack includes the sticker for your tog bag... The 1 min gaps in the front groups is a new thing and personally I don't think it worked well. As is the start chute process. This needs some more work too. That being said... Well done Cycle Tour Trust on yet another great event. See you next year!!!!

Hi. Looks like a decent bike! What was the frame cost??

'Let's Get Rocked' by Def Leppard

Huh??????? How do you get that?? You do know that Helen Zille hid black activists in her home at the height of apartheid and is the journalist who dug up the truth about Steven Biko, placing her in serious danger at the time. Why would she now be pro thuggery???? That's as bold as me saying that you should be arrested with Faizel and co because you also ride a bicycle...

Yep, undressed by the fuzz in public. Who do you charge with the indecency?????

Met eish.... That's just messed up. Thuggery 101.

Or you could use it as a push bike for grown ups....

There's even a free tuk tuk service running for those not used being off wheels... Pleasant in and out effort.

Part of the reason this project took so long, is that I sanded down the fork and frame by hand. Prepped with Rustoleum Primer, upwards of 4 coats of Rustoleum gloss white on the frame and fork, then 3 coats of clear to finish her off. Groupo got Rustoleum metal primer in a matt white finish x 2 coats and 3 coats of clear to protect. All items from builders warehouse. These items were around 500 clips. All in cost with new shifters, bars, stem, brake levers, et al and full service with rebuild from the mech was around 2K. Have a hybrid that weighs around 8Kgs and rides like a dream Most difficult part was having the patience to walk away after initial base coats and allow these to dry correctly. Fun project. Eager to finish the other rolling chassis I have now...

Properly a hats off idea Bateleur!!! Sorry I missed catching up with you on the recce ride this year.

She'll be on the Argus route this Sunday. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Tubehunter/image_zps7b12622f.jpg

Forgot I had this topic but anyway, it has taken a lot longer than I originally planned for and well the bike was lying in pieces in the garage for QUITE some time. The main hold up was the seat post that was fused to the carbon frame. Tried all manner of backyard tricks that went nowhere. Big shout out to Mark at Crown Cycles who eventually rescued the frame from my grubby, frustrated no result hands and got it sorted. Was awesome to get her back up. And running and she's been for a short spin to see what she runs like, which was AWESOME. Yep, she'll mostly be used by the better half as her ride of choice when we're on the tar. Got some vinyl that still needs to go on, but here she is now before I put ladies seat and other bits on to make the size better for my lady. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Tubehunter/image_zpsdfca2c55.jpg

Errrrr Nope, more horse-sh1te you're selling I wont buy. I am not an apologist and don't think anyone else here is trying to be either. Also not attempting to justify the over reaction seen in the clip and will state that ONCE AGAIN! If your choice is to see this whole incident being what was filmed on a passerby's cellphone as the entirity, that is your choice. I can respect that even if I don't understand it. Can you do the same? In plain english. A 19 year old contract driver and his van full of buddies could have done so much more than is being let on, to have a whole group of cyclists respond this way. Lets hear what that is too. That is all. Over and out.

Howzeeeet Matt. Just went through. Didn't see you guys unfortunately. Hope you enjoy the Expo!

You clowns can take almost anything out of context eh.... I don't know this chap from soap. Also, as stated multiple times, the LAW must run its course and he should get what he has coming. Whatever that is, as a cyclist I doubt it will be harder to swallow than years of doing this race, prepping fully for a sub 3 ride and then having that taken away. This I say entirely as if I was in his shoes.

The extreme light crew have advertised that they are running specials that wont be available anywhere other than the expo. Haven't seen anything else. CWC always worth a walk by too. Will check this out later.

What makes it this mostly is that very often the rules that are there to protect us, in fact make it more dangerous. Any group over 20 cyclists trying to ride through Clifton along Victoria road in single file can tell you about this experience. Each and every one of the 20 riders will at some point feel really threatened by that driver who has no spatial awareness of their vehicle, has committed to overtaking along this stretch and then sees a vehicle approaching from the front. At the same time it is difficult for a motorist to understand that we don't take alternate measures purely for the sake of frustrating them, but almost entirely for our own safety. (Yes, there are the punks who cruise along side by side oblivious along their whole ride who completely mess this up too)

Did a check on Faisel's Argus results yesterday and after a stonking 3:01 last year, he had a decent C group seeding for this year and probably was on course for the elusive sub 3 after many years of trying. Think the greatest specific punishment has already been dealt. All the months of sub 3 training gone in one moment of retaliation...