Dgas

This may be a stupid question and has probably been asked here before. Is the anyway to watch/stream the TDF in SA apart from DSTV?

I use Garrun insurance. They are bike specific and understand the different bits that make up a bike. Have had very good service from them. Hit a pothole with my deep section carbon wheels, replaced within 2 weeks.

I sent them an email, so far have received no response. Who did you send it to? I used the email on the Web site. its not the R 350, I am pissed of at the lack of communication, they just kept saying it’s going ahead. They must have known a while ago it’s not going to happen. It’s a pity that it has been badly handled, will affect people’s trust in entering upfront. Same company that is promoting the Joburg Classic, not entering that, not getting caught twice. Unfortunately I have entered Satellite, different company but probably the same result.

My wife kind of knows that my bike is worth about 190k. Has no idea how it got there and does not ask. The current bike was built up so the spend was over a few months so she did not see it all at once. There is always something new and mostly carbon you can buy. And if it’s not for the bike there are shoes and helmets and sunglasses and gloves and etc.

Last year the time started after the neutral zone at the timing mats on Earling road. Assume it will be the same this year.

Last year the section around the circles was a neutral zone, the race started at the timing mats as you turned onto Earling road towards Steyn City. Does anybody know if it is the same this year?

My new Trek, got it yesterday, rode for the first time today.

Also got passed by the e bike on Spitskop and Long Tom, I would like to ask the e bike rider why bother to enter, what is the point. If you are not capable of riding 150km then enter only one of the stages. Would love to hear the point of view from the e bikers. My wife drove the route behind me in a BMW X5, does she qualify for a medal, can she say she completed the race? Seems about the same amount of effort. In the Panorama Tour last month there were two of the annoying e bike things. Fortunately they had their own category.

Its a great race you will love it. The first stage is cold and then the day gets warmer. Make sure you have somewhere to put the kit you will be taking off. My wife normally follows me around, so kit and breakfast and lunch is taken care off by her. There are lots of hills so make sure your gearing is suitable. Most hills are around 6 - 7 % with the top of Spitskop at around 11% but only for a short bit. Long Tom is 7- 9 % for most of the length. I ride 52/36 oval chainrings on the front and 11/27 on the back and have no problems on the hills. I use the same gearing for the Panorama.

The wind was blowing from the side so the line was spread diagonally across the road. So when I moved over as per the marshals instruction, there was no wheel to hold. This happened a number of times, I was not the only rider and a few got dropped including me.You are correct, had I been stronger I would have been in the front driving the group. I was not complaining about getting dropped, it happens, it’s part of racing. My comment was on the way the races unfolded for me. The marshals were doing their best to keep order. I am also assuming that other groups had the same issue on the highway.

Me and the rest of A and probably a lot of the other groups. I did follow the marshals orders, moved over, nearly hit the cones and then after dodging the cones and being out in the wind I got dropped. The guys that stayed on the left of the cones, stayed on. As somebody mentioned in earlier post we should have stayed on the left side of the highway, which would have created a whole lot of problems at the off ramps.

I got onto the highway with the front of A, to stay out of the wind I ended halfway across the lane open for cars. The marshals kept on trying to get us to go back onto the coned off section of the road. Which is fully understandable, but once there, you were exposed to the wind. The cones on the highway were dangerous I dodged a few. Eventually I got dropped when going back into the safety of the coned of section. Finished on a 2.38 with the second group in A.

There was a crash in A just after the left turn by Heidelberg. Was everybody ok? I missed it by a few bike lengths.