iRob

I remember seeing it this morning; I'll see how I manage through there soon. Look it's tight; with the wind channeling bewteen the buildings in Paarden island seems I'll be pushing soon as well!!

Hahahaha, Nooit, I bought myself a MagicShine light and was actually out testing it as a new method of self-defense. I just got on my old bike, started riding and that fell in love with that route. Next goal is Blockhouse and back via that route and back end of kloof nek. It is actually a pity there isn't any mud along that route. I need to up my mud-skills big time.

I agree with Thor, comparing it to the road this is way better. If anything the pedestrians are going to get way worse when the buses start their rounds. I just "shout" cyclist, but I've experienced some people getting a fright, screaming and jumping in front of me. Shame, it normally the woman who are frightened the most. I've done it at night a few times (22:00) and then the guys ginding seem happy to see someone else... At that time of the evening they are generally not doing much apart from handing each other strange parcels. Kid you not I've seen guys dealing drugss. But like I say, it was at 22:00. I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can while it is still quite clean.

I use the dedicated cycle lane. I have used the "red-route" but that was prior to the cycle lane being completed in the Paarden Island area. They have made good progress with the cycle lane, the only bad section is just as it passes under the N1. Each week I ride into town there is some major improvement. I do it in an MTB so it is a bit better then on a road bike I suppose. Looking out for pedestrians is something I do anyway, if only because I'm convinced some of those okes are on tik and looking for easy money!!

I'm loving the cycle-lane. I went for a ride yesterday and again this morning and have taking it into town more then once. The city council could so easily have said "screw the cyclists" and made two dedicated bus-lanes on the section between Woodbridge Island and Boundry Rd, but they didn't. If I worked in Town I'd use that route a lot more. It really is a great, car free route. Just take care in the evenings, there are some questionable folk "camping" next to the route, but I've found a nice bright light makes then shy away. Thank you Mr. BRT-City-council-planner-person for not just ditching the idea of a cycling route.

I have a 21" hard-tail MTB frame and it is classified as Large. I also have a full-susser with a 20" frame which is classified as large. The "feel" in terms of fit and reach is almost identical. I think it is a safe to say your is a large. I'd consider anything bigger then 21" as XL.

Hey, that's why God made boys. To help helpless girls.

I learnt a VERY important lesson. Pump trumps "bomb". Got stranded en-route to the block-house on Devil's peak yesterday. It was RAINING. And burst an tube, screwed up the repair and when I replaced it with the spare tube I had, the tyre had a nice little pool of water in it and pushed the tube right out the side of the rim on both sides. Wow. Fluke and "silliness" all thrown together with a side order of stinging rain, and no more bombs. I had to walk 5km down to a mates house in town. Lesson learnt. Mini-pump I miss you. I hope someone learns from this.

I had two bottles and they worked well, one fell out once, but was because I tried to grab it while riding over one of those bumpy sections. That Ou Wa pad section was littered, and it was just after the first water stop. Ai. I remember the Argus MTB race being similar... I ended up donating my pump to a bloke, he looked like he'd need it more then me...

daa da daa da daa da da da da daa da daa da daa da da da da I love you baby. A buddy in the office told the "gay shark" joke and that song is stuck in my head.

Yes they are pretty wide. They don't hurt for anything less then 60km, but then again most stage races are more then 6okm, ugh. I'm a broke man, cycling is $$$

I'm busy undertaking a pimp-my-bike project on my Anthem X2. White grips, white cables and housings, narrower bar, its looking hot, will post some phodies sometime next weekish.

Did anyone lose a water bottle at Karoo to Coast on Sunday? I picked one up. Hahaha.

Jo. They're a pair of basic Olympics. I know my running shoes have a built-up insole, not orthopedic, just general anti-pronation shoes. Have you had a similar problem?

any help?

Hermanus! A nice ride on Friday, maybe the whale festival half marathon on saturday, but i'll really have to consider that one. haven't urn in a while. But the weekend should be great! hope the weather plays along!!

Hello I did the Karoo to Coast yesterday and with about 30km to go my feet felt like they were going to fall off. The outsides of my feet, halfway along the length of my feet were very sore and tender. I've had this sort of pain while wearing ice-skates or roller blades, but yesterday was on a different level. Has anyone experienced it and can they offer any help, I reckon it must be that my shoes were too tight, but they felt really loose and I could wiggle my foot around freely, which relieved the pain a bit, but it made it really difficult to pedal. I've got what some people would call "trappers" and they're pretty wide (UK 12 1/2), so what do okes with big feet do? Not fun I tell you!

Hahahaha, I've heard that it is MUDDY. I'm not sure how the flip I'm going to deal with that. Or the altitude for that matter. Jo jo jo!

I'm doing the Sabie Experience. I'm not sure how I'm going to get around the altitude but I'll just have to train harder. The only reason I'm not riding today is that all I feel on my butt is pain. Hey - its the first ride I ever did over 60km. I'd only ever did 60km on the road.

Hi IdeJongh Thanks. I think it was fatigue. Its good advise though; I'm doing a stage race in December so I have a lot of preparation ahead!

I'm also pretty new to HR training on a bike, will say it is pretty awesome. Has anyone ever experienced it being really (!!!) difficult to get their HR above 85% during a long race (4hrs into a 6hrs race) ? Did the karoo to coast yesterday and it just wouldn't budge. I had too little power to push a higher gear, but the ones I could push where not getting me above 85%. Maybe I'm just weak or something, but I was really surprised. Maybe it is some defense mechanism. Any ideas? That said, HR training has REALLY changed my endurance and recovery SIGNIFICANTLY!

This is an acknowledgment of the machine-like ability of one of my friends whom I had the privilege of riding with yesterday. JK rode up the back-end of kloofnek with one gear. Middle front, small rear on a MTB weighing a good 15kg. All the way up. This guy put me to shame, but heck he is like a brother and he is a legend. He also inspired me to ride harder then ever before and is a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to share with me. I'm not sure if anyone will even read this, but hey, JK, I salute you brother!

Jo. Impressive. Max on a MTB with knobblies - 65.3km/h on Tablemountain road. Also 58km/h on a MTB, but that was flat as can be. I remember the first time I broke the 60km/h barrier on a MTB. I was 13 years old on a Giant ATX 780. Loved that feeling!

So I had a look, the presta's are thos silly non-removable ones. Posted a thread in the Rant 'n Rave section, "Legends - keeping me on the road" Pretty good service and help from the guys at Action Cycling in CT. I now have two slimmed tubes and am ready to ride again with no fear of thorn induced punctures. Shot for the operating experience guys.

LUCKILY they were on the same wheel. Instant patches are seriously the best thing since whatever was better before them. Got a mini-pump and it does the job, but it was a reminder to ensure I'm kitted before going on a 3hrs plus ride.