Stephan

Does anyone have experience with running foam inserts in XC bike? I like to do a mix of gravel, trail, and some mild downhill stuff on my XC bike, but I have had three snakebites on rocky downhill sections recently. I'll run my tires with a bit more pressure from now on, but as a random thought, I wondered if anyone has gone the insert route on an XC bike?

Ignorance is bliss. No point in trying to explain to you how risk assessments for these types of events work, and the actual consequences if something goes wrong. 100% correct decision. No doubt lessons learned from 2019 was also factored in. Will be back in 2024.

OK I've seen the press release now. Tough call for organisation to make, but the correct one given the weather forecast in my view.

Source?

That's very useful! Thanks @sias and @Thornman

Doing my first Desert Dash this year. We are a team of 4, so doing the relay. Does the route stay the same every year? Or does it change? Last year it was: Stage 1: 100km / 1223m Stage 2: 76km / 1470m Stage 3: 86km / 377m Stage 4: 83km / 164m Stage 5: 47km / 451m https://desertdashnamibia.com/rider-info/the-route.html Can anyone give some advice on how difficult or easy each stage is? We need to figure out which rider does what leg of the race. 🙂

Back to the original question about safety, when I did the CC on my own a few years ago I attached a self-defense pepper spray can to my top tube, to use in case I had to defend myself against someone or something (stray dogs/snakes/animals/baboons). I fitted it using industrial Velcro which you can buy at most hardware shops. I also had a Coghlan's Air Horn taped to the handlebar so that I could press the button which would then make a very loud sound to scare off something or someone (www.driftersshop.co.za/products/coghlans-air-horn). Some more tips in my post-ride report here:

All the roads are public roads, not private farmland. Except for the short sections on the N2 national road, they are very quiet roads with minimal car traffic. To clarify, "townships" in SA mean informal settlements. Use common sense and avoid them. I agree. Much less hassle. Fly to Cape Town and get an UberXL or scheduled transfer from the airport to Stellenbosch, stay at an Airbnb or guesthouse for a few days then start your trip. Ride to Knysna and fly back to Cape Town from Plett or George Airports. Another option is to rent a car and drive back to Cape Town along the Garden Route. You will not be sorry. It is an amazing drive! Bus options: greyhound.co.za/ and intercape.co.za Cape Town to/from George/Plett flights: https://www.flyairlink.com or https://www.flycemair.co.za/ or https://www.flysafair.co.za/ Car rental: www.airports.co.za/airports/cape-town-international-airport/transport/car-rental

You won't regret doing the Cross Cape. Stunning route. Don't leave your bikes or possessions alone when riding around in the towns and you should be fine.

Does anyone know when entries close?

Also curious to know... (replaced my gx chain this past week and wondered the same thing)

@Headshot can you give more details about these spots please? drop on the Kirstenbosch lower track a while before the steep rubber mat descent drop into the river bed after the rock garden Avenue Bordeaux descent

Interesting discussion. Listen from 24:35

@EddieV I think many people feel the same. I certainly do.

Pogi beats WA by 1min20sec. But Vingo beats Pogi by 1min38sec. Everyone predicted a 20sec gap, some said maybe 45secs. But he smashes him by almost a minute more than everyone predicted. That doesn't make sense? Not between these two? 🤔

My pre-race meal/breakfast https://futurelife.com/products/energize-drinking-meal

Where on the https://tiz-cycling.io/main/ do I get the live feed for each days stage? Or is this site only for replays of completed stages?

Other MTB races?

So the date changed from 8 July to 12 August, which suits me fine. I was going to be away on the 8th, but now I can do this race. 🙂

My eyes. 🙂 Drove past on Saturday (Wolseley side).

Currently closed.

If you want to go light and don't carry supper, then my personal favorite route option is: Start at Kunje Guest Farm (call them and pre-arrange parking, they are very nice). Day 1 - Kunje > Citrusdal > into the berg over Nieuwoudts Pass > sleep at Jamaka (the shop has more than enough food and beer, so you dont need to carry anything). Day 2 - Jamaka > up Uitkyk Pass > rest stop at Sanddrift wines / Kromriver / Oasis > sleep at Mount Ceder. Day 3 - Mount Ceder back to Kunje (if you want to, call the owner of Houdenbek Farm and ask his permission to take the shortcut through his farm to connect back to the R303 where the shoulder starts). Alternatively, if you want to follow the whole route, then start in Citrusdal, go all the way down to Clanwilliam and come back up the dirt road, sleep at Jamaka. Day 2 is the same, but day 3 is a very long one and you have to do Middelberg Pass at the end of three days with tired legs.

Your accommodation options once you get into the Cederberg are the following: Jamaka Organic Farm (well stocked farm shop where you can get snacks, drinks, etc.) Cape Nature Algeria camp (very poorly stocked shop at reception, basically they sell ice and a few cooldrinks if you are lucky) Driehoek (limited supply of snacks and general supplies that people need when they camp there, but to get to Driehoek you have to detour off the main road) Sanddrift (decent supply of snacks, ships, nuts, etc. and drinks at their small shop) Kromriver (fully stocked shop and restaurant - your best option) Oasis (restaurant and bar - second best option) Nuwerus (just a place to sleep, no food) Mount Ceder (excellent restaurant and limited supply of some snacks and drinks - my personal preference in terms of overnight stop on night 2 of the circuit) Next stop heading south from Mount Ceder is the shops at Op-Die-Berg.

Well done Matt. That is an amazing result considering he had just over a week to get used to the time zone difference, the competition and conditions. Oh, and the puncture (or whatever went wrong with his wheel).

Matt 18th? Nice one!