JJDT

Their queuing system is totally flawed it seems. I requested a re-seeding on website link entered all the info and a short motivation why. Received my re-seeding now, up from K - H after I requested G again as per last year. Not really satisfied but at least it is somewhat better. Now how come a few Hub Members who clearly stated that they requested a re-seeding a few days ago receive no response, but some receive a response within 24 hours. It does not seem that they do have a queuing system at all, it is like randomly choosing a request and not per time in.

Thinking about this seeding fiasco again. Will the organisers be able to cope with the huge demand of re-seeding requests? I only know of a few riders(Bikehub responses) that their seeding is also a mess. Hopefully they will consider to do a re-run of the seeding based on the possible huge number of re-seeding requests if everybody deem that their seeding is incorrect, which actually is.

Was there a race in 2020, can't seem to remember if there was a race? Found my results untill 2019 on racetec and the last 2021 and 2022 finishtime results.

Where do you query the number of races completed? I'm doing no 21 this year and it shows 18. The seeding is also a disgrace as I did a 3:18 last year and seeded in K last year was F.

Now with your question answered, do you still want to upgrade if your 830 will do the same job with a power bank? Just a curious observation.

Q1 No for seeding they look at past races completed, they will have the data. Q2 Yes

These guys with their Cortina's are smoking some good stuff...the person/s who buys it do have some better groceries that clouds their mind even more.

If you are a cyclist whether MTB or Road and did the transition to Gravel (Gravel Racing with a purpose built Gravel Bike) you should be able to handle some technical bits. On the road in midrace it starts to rain buckets of water and you are on a steep descent doing 50km/h + on a now wet road and know there is a sharp turn ahead you will know what to do in order not to crash. The same applies to MTB where some skill is needed to negotiate some tech sections to avoid crashing. Those skills can be applied to gravel if there is some tech section look ahead and plan. I do not recall that it was that difficult as per category winners comments.

The only reason I took it to Cyclelab is because there are no shops in our area that do know e-bikes. The only place that have some knowledge of e-bikes is West Rand Cycles, but they only know Specialized E-Bikes. Back on topic tried to adjust the cable but the more I fiddle the more oil is seeping out. I also tried to remove the entire seat post but it seems to be stuck with the cable. To replace the cable it seems that you need to remove the entire motor as the housing is running between the motor and the frame to the bottom of the seat tube. Searched for maintenance on these posts I found a manual and there is no mention of oil in this post, now even more confused about the source of the oil.

The seat post is a Merida Comp TR. No adjustments were made by us, and thanks for the confirmation about grease, lube and spray. I must add that last year after a year of ownership the bike was booked with Cycle Lab for a major service stating that both the suspensions needs to looked at and assumed that the dropper post will also be looked at. The mechanic contacted my wife stating that a major service was not needed and the both the suspensions looked fine. At found it strange at the time but left it there seeing that they know what to look for. I have made it my mission to aquire much knowledge as possible over the past year of what is true and what is not true. It seems now that the post is dire need of a proper service and adjustment.

Thanks for your input, but my concern is the oil that was found. If the cable tension was not correct it would've started noticeably during rides that it is problem?

So I'm fairly new in this tech to diagnose possible issues so I need help from the community. My wife's e-bike do have a dropper post and yesterday afternoon we decided to go for a quick ride and what she usually do is drop the post start riding and then let the post up again. So yesterday after the ride when we stopped she told me that the post will not go down all the way and it does not return when the she engages the lever, but with some help it returns to the up position. I thought it was just sticky and quickly searched on the net for a possible solution. The solution was if you are on the trail just use some chain lube or silicone spray, but if you are at home/workshop you need to loosen the cap clean around the post and re-grease with suspension grease. I unscrewed the cap and saw that it was clean with no dirt and screwed the cap on again. I then noticed oil beneath the bike, about 50ml is my guess. Questions: I searched again for the working of this mechanism and noted it uses the same oil as the front and rear suspensions, is the post also subjected to a certain period of maintenance? The most important question how do I fix this issue (will most likely take it to the LBS)?

I also do have my fair share of title deeds along the monster route over the years. The very last one was somewhat of an embarrassment. The last 2km before the finish is that small water crossing and that year there was some more water flowing, anyway came flying down and there was this slower rider(possibly from the shorter route) in front of me and I thought that I would cross the water on his right hand side. In the water I was abruptly stopped by this large rock in water and fell right in front of the photographers just to be presented later with the images of me in the water. Back to the topic, maybe the route did not deliver to your expectations, but surely there were also some funny enjoyable moments in the race.

Just on a final note from my side. I do not think that the organisers will have a route that is impossible to ride for the average rider or which is deemed dangerous. If it the latter was the case then there will be no future events and also the race commissionaire will not grant his approval for the event. Maybe for next year ride Breedt's Nek up and down from both sides just to hone your tech skills and know what to expect.

This is what the Monster used to look like when it was still on the old route going through Mountain Sanctuary and the distance was 70 Km. This route was harder than the current 65km not because of the shorter distance but the actual climbing.

Do not know the route of the monster now, but the "old" Monster as mentioned in this thread was tough, even the shorter 45km. Last time I did the event was in 2018 with the shortened route but was also tough. The monster is known to many as the hardest one day MTB event due to the the tough technical climbs as well as the technical descents. Trailseeker events are more aimed to the average rider with average skill set whereas the Monster on the other side will test your technical ability.

Found my old Arcade games on one of my external HDD's backup. Surprisingly the old MAME emulator that I used on my old Win 7 PC is working on Win 11. Played some of the old games that I used to play when still at school. Space InvadersPinball Action, Rygar, Elevator Action etc. If I saved all the 20c that I used to play these arcade games it would've been quite a sum of money these these days. To quickly waste R1 on games was nothing in those days...in hindsight will I do it again and my answer will definitely a YES

Know the area of the finish well. We normally camp in the Parys area during December and these roads are my riding routes when we are in the area. There are two options to get more than 200km's. The first option is not to stop at the finish venue but to continue to the T junction which is about 5km's further up the road and return to the finish. The 2nd option is not to turn left towards the venue once over the river but to continue for another 1.2km and then turn left (Potch - Parys road), once on this road for about 2 - 3km you can turn left again into the Kopjeskraal road and after about 2km's you can turn left again, this road will also take you to the finish venue. Also tempting for this ride.

Unfortunately not. Go to the event page and see if you can find some more info.

There is a shuttle service but you need to book a seat.

If you follow my suggestion for the "to" route I will follow your original "to" road going back or just swop it around for a nice loop as oppose to just out and back. I do not know how busy the Old Pretoria Main road is but as another alternative is to keep straight until you reach Olifantsfontein Road and then turn left for the "to" route or going back head straight untill you reach Old Pretoria Main Road and then turn right.

What is the max distance or if distance is not an issue, this is my suggestion. I will continue on Allandale to Kyalami then right on the old 947 route until Summit then left into Summit Road (still on the old 947 route). Just past the N14(where your route continues on) I will turn left into Lion Park road. Just past the intersection of Ceder road turn right into K33.05 road going over the N14 again. At the next intersection turn right into Pelindaba Road again heading towards Harties (If you are keen you can continue straight over the intersection for a quick Cradle Loop). At the end of this road at the T-Junction turn left towards Broederstroom, this road will take you to a few meters from the entrance of Van Gaalen.

Correct. The first half is fast with some good gravel roads with hardly any climbing, the only climbing will be from the start at the boat club to the main road leading to the dam wall. After halfway there is long tar stretch(slow drag) until you find the gravel road with some loose sand when trying to avoid the corrugation with some rolling hills(nothing serious but just energy sapping due to the condition of the road). If you started out to fast this gravel road after halfway will eat your remaining energy very quickly. Then it will be long tiring way to the end.

This is a "fast race" with the little elevation over the distance, most of the elevation is basically the 2nd half of the race. My suggestion is to get some speed training as to be familiar with a pace you will be riding. Also as suggested go for a long ride 4hours + to get time in the saddle as it will be long day in saddle. What I did last year is to have my normal riding snacks while riding and had a 10min stop at halfway for decent food and also to top up riding snacks for the 2nd half. Family members were at the halfway mark to provide me with food and also the top up snacks.

Thinking of buying a new set of wheels and I was looking at the Rapide wheels. Anyone using these wheels and your feedback. Know the other products bought from Rapide never had any issues but I just want to know long term usage.