Hearts*

This is not good news at all...many take those routes as safe(Bottelary/R304/R44). I live in Kuilsriver so that is our normal training routes. I usually only use those roads on Saturdays and have never been alone. I do however see alot of cyclists alone especially women. The only other safe road is then Polka, but it seems as soon as we say its safe something happens...I usually look directly at these guys next to the road waiting for them to do something, I think I have this built up anger and the one that will cross me is going to be very sorry.

I have a triple, but mostly stick to the middle blade up front on flats and rolling hills...at the back 11-23... If I climb steeper hills I go into my granny as I like spinning up, but the back is about 3 down from the top else it is to light... At the moment I'm the fittest I've been, but I would change to a compact if I change my bike as it fits my riding style...

Not good news, you see alot of cyclist doing that stretch alone...you would think being on a main road you are fairly safe, but these guys don't care anymore... I'm from Kuilsriver and I only do Polka into Stellenbosch via Cloetesville/Kromrhee and back via Bottelary on my own, the rest is just to dodgy... Eersteriver/Kayamandi areas are big no no areas...

Hi Hellwarp. The Zevenwacht climb confusion was actually before the bridge, the bridge signage was fine. It is the climb just before that, when you get to the top the road only goes to the left and then right towards the bridge...There was no signage at that point to indicate you are still on the route and to continue left and then right, but I assumed the assumption is the route can only go that way I guess. Like I said I'm a newbie on trails so that could be the problem...

I did the Green loop last Thursday entering from Zevenwacht side...signage was good, but I missed the trail route twice(I think this is not due to the signage, but rather me being a newbie on trails)... First was taking the left to join the green loop after the nasty climb with no signage at the top so I went down and checked the board and had to do the climb again Second was I think where the owner is cultivating the land, I went straight and saw no signage at the bottom and assumed this was the cultivation section and went right as this is the only way to go and this connected with the route... All in all a great trail with nice single-track, I just need to build on the confidence to do them faster...

Yip according to the email I received from PPA yesterday.

I'm struggling to enter online...I get diagnostics explorer issues?

so can I assume PPA "N" directly translates into Argus "N" start group?

I am now in N...what can I expect for the Argus as a start time or group? Hopefully before 7:30am?

It was my teams 1st DC for all our riders...we started the day with 8 riders which was always going to be a tough day... The 8th rider was a Swellendam local who contacted the team captain the Friday since the vibe in the town has urged him to take on the challenger again, he has completed 2 DC's before...he however didn't train and I don't think aimed to finish the route... Our problems started in the starting blocks when our first rider had a flat, 1km later a 2nd flat...you then know its going to be a long day in the saddle... After Tradouw pass out 1st weak link fell off, he was suppose to be a work horse for the 1st 100km and then he could of retired...it was not to be Our supposed strongest rider was in poor form on the day and struggled with knee problems at 63km...at this stage we were 6 riding together with the Swellendam local attacking the route and we never saw him again...We started to get worried since we were only 6 left and tried phoning him with no luck, but continued nursing our injured rider...After Ashton our rider became worse and we phoned the local again and he answered which was good news, but it turned out he phoned his wife to pick him up along the route...now we were only 6 on the road with 1 seriously injured rider, but we continued... After the traffic circle in Robertson turning left into the wind he pulled a calf and nursed it to get back on the bike and continued until 180km when medics told him both his ITB's are messed and he had to withdraw...All this nursing and stopping caused us to cut it fine on cut-off and we decided to call it quits after 185km on the bike for over 9:30hrs... All in all still a very fun day and I would definately do it next year with a full team of 12...It seems the bicycling 12week program worked well for me, as I had no cramps and pulled the team 80% of the way...

My team is starting 5:33...just aiming to finish within the cut-off. We have 3 riders that dissapointed us in the last week and another that fell ill...so we will be a novice team with 8 riders...it's going to be a long day!

Thanks guys, I have emailed Gautrain. I will also try 94.7 office...

Does anyone know if the Gautrain will allow bikes for the weekend of the 94.7 ? I'm coming from CPT and our bikes will be rolled as is from the airplane fully assembled and not in a bike bag. Going to Sandton station where our lift will be waiting...

Coming through from Brackenfell I would use Old Paarl road into Bellville, right into Bill Bezuidenhout and Left into Avondale(Oakdale area)which becomes Frans Conradie which you can follow right through to Parow golf course...Left into M12 Jan van Riebeeck drive and right Milton drive...at the second robot(Vasco boulevard) you go left towards Voortrekker... You can either go towards Voortekker if you are brave or through the suburb Dingle road and do a short bit of Voortekker over the bridge into Thornton and you are in Pinelands...most of that route has a big yellow lane and some parts are bicycle lanes...I use the robot to race and some interval training... Let me know how it goes...

Thanks Saudiq I will give Maryke a shout... Yes I missed one week of the training program since I started 2 weeks ago, but have been putting in extra hours per day.

Our weekend group base rides started about 2 months ago...the 8 week program with more specific training last week, but the specific training is not for everyone as some guys go to the gym during the week...the group is split as well 8 in CPT with the balance in JHB... The post is basically to cover myself not to be the weak link. What are your thoughts Rydogg?

Last year going up for the 94.7 I saw guys with complete bikes roll in on to the fragile section...I couriered my bike, but it seems less of a hassle than taking it apart? But then again my road bike is not really expensive, so I plan on rolling it complete as is...has anyone tried this before? Flying 1time, last time was with kulula.

I commute daily with my MTB to reduce the chances of punctures...25km one way Route up: Down Van Riebeeck in Kuilsriver towards Bellville...over Strand street bridge left pass Traffic department...left on Modderdam and right into Tienie meyer bypass right into Pinelands passing Cravenby/Elsies/Epping... Route home: Through Thornton under bridge on Grand west side toward Voortrekker...left on Vasco boulevard and right into Milton and then toward N1 city left I take the right into Frans Conradie all the way back to Bellville onto Voortrekker and back into Kuilsriver... Not the most comfortable routes in terms of traffic, but what can a man do?

Thanks Scott 1. Now I just need to stick to this program for it to work... Yes we are not comfortable with the longer rides yet, still building to the +150km rides...this weekend we are aiming for +140km

Hi Guys, I'm a regular browzer to the hub, but not always a regular poster. I have not found the exact answer I'm looking for... Below is an overview of the program: Week1. Mon(Rest day), Tue(Base with 3x15 tempo)1:15, Wed base 1:00, Thu(15min tempo/5 min threshold) 1:15, Fri (15min tempo/5 min threshold) 1:15, Sat (15min tempo/5 min threshold) 1:15, Sunday Long ride 3:00 Other weeks more or less the same, week 3 maximum effort week and week 4 recovery week and then again week 7 max effort week, also I'm doing the 94.7... I am not following the program to the letter...I commute daily 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening that I use for intervals...also Saturday is my long ride and Sunday recovery/rest day... Will I burn myself or should this program give me the desired DC results? Social team aiming for 9 hours...

Hi guys, do you know when Zevenwacht will be added. I sent them an email to enquire if I can ride on the farm and they advised it is OK, but soon permits will be required. Please confirm that I am still riding legally for free, I am happy to pay for a permit if required. I'm still a novice so basically using the farm too train and improve MTB skills...

Silverback Nebraska 2010 Full Shimano XT groupset Rox Shock Recon Air with remote cable Tyres SCHWALBE in very good condition Bike in very good condition hardly driven with computer and Shimano Pedals Also my next service is free Paid R8.5k at Recycles in Bellville.

Thanks for the replies guys, I am currently using cytopower and vooma gels so will try the 32GI. I actually do have the chews, but they dont taste to great and the 32GI drink I used when training, but not race speed training. I will train more this winter and see what works for me...

Hi Guys I'm sure this has been covered, but I need a fresh start... I have been cycling for ±3 years and still seem to cramp in longer races at about 65km's...Is it my training, we mostly do longer rides on a weekend between 80-90km...never realy 100+km's... I thought maybe the training is not that important, but more the nutrition and maybe I have a shortage of certain magnesium and potassium...another guy I know does not do longer rides but easily manages 3:30 in the Argus with 2 years of cycling on his own? Is it my ability?

Sorry to hijack, but it seems you are sorted out so you won't mind I hope... I'm also in the market with a similar price range willing to go up to R7k, the above bike has a SRAM red 9 speed is that any good? I'm close so I am able to check it out. Also I only want to start MTB to supplement my road cycling during winter and maybe get in a few MTB races? So what would you guys recommend?