Red Zone

Scary results from a study of 114 randomly tested sports supplements in Europe with 10% coming back positive for banned substances. What are the chances that its better here in SA. Article here http://www.slowtwitch.com/Features/2013_Euro_Supplement_Testing_3903.html

Read in the papers that someone was clocked going 105 km/h along that stretch of road. I only ride along there in a group or otherwise take Boyes Drive.

For interest, I came across this recently, Jody Swallow on bike with drop bars and clip ons, not sure it its a Tri frame or not http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tpdarXCZ3ZA/UXARmuHvPSI/AAAAAAAAAE8/ufxwBAZl_D8/s1600/jodiebikeup.jpg

A tri bike makes a big difference, no mistake, no debate really. However I did 70.3 and a host of shorter tri's on my road bike with clip on bars and was fine, and not really a big difference in speed vs the tri bike (which I now have). After IM there are often quite a few tri bikes going around. I waited patiently until a good deal came up and pounced, my tri bike is absolutely FANTASTIC. I love it and the aero design and position do make a difference in terms of speed on the bike and running comfort off the bike. That being said, time saved using a tri rig is only a few minutes, I would guess probably 10 min max over IM distance Max (for an 11- 12 hour), over 70.3 the difference is probably way under 5 mins (for a 5:30 ish time). You want best bang for your buck and you cant really train day in an day out on your tri bike unless you have open roads and little traffic. I would say go for a road bike, with some good aero wheels, felt have some nice aero frames out there. Then look for a tri frame and cockpit and build up a tri bike and share wheels between the two bikes. This has worked out to be the most beneficial to me in terms of cost and use / training.

Silly race, got to love it

Unfortunately I ride a Canondale Slice so your XLab mount wont work on my bike, but if anyone has one of the special mounts that are made for the slice's seatpost lying around let me know

Its mainly for the training rides that I want some extra carrying capacity, including spares. I agree that for racing there is normally enough water on course to get away with using race nutrition stations. I think I will go for the between the bars option, I hope I have enough space, as I run a pretty tight setup.

Million dollar question. If the lefty wasn't proprietary to Canondale, would we see other bikes using it? IMO that's a big fat one sided YES!

I am looking at a new system for my TT bike, the one that I had was rubbish (TacX) admittedly it was cheep so I shouldn't have expected much. I am keen on the Xlab turbo wing, but cant seem to find one around Cape Town. Any other options that people are using which are solid and hold a bottle securely?

No, Greg Minnaar doesn't wear the brightest payjamas

TSA, CSA, ASA all seem to be on the same band wagon, I cant help having the feeling that we are just paying an incompetent bunch of fat cats big salaries to "administer" the sport. I have personally never seen any benefit whatsoever for the money that I pay them, its just endless license fees. Would we be better off without these guys and just having local organisers like PPA? absolutely.

Milk protein is one of the most difficult to digest, so this isn't a great option

Singletrack should be closed in very wet conditions, it gets trashed so quickly, sad to see the condition of some of the trails in tokai, keep us posted for the repair days, will make a plan to come and help out.

Bit the bullet and got the BBB one from Crown Cycles today, will give it a spin today and report back, when I bought it they only had one left, so call if anyone else is looking to get one from Crown. Its also avail from Chain reaction, but for a bit more

Lawyer up and teach them a lesson

That frame looks the business, cant go wrong with Spez IMO, and of course Aero is everything, I hope you have some nice hoops to put on that guy

Often its not the cage but a cheep poorly designed bottle. Try the Xlab gorilla cage XT, also make sure that you use a bottle with a groove running around the top.

You need to receive an email inviting you to enter, I think that you need to have done 10 or more to get a "VIP" entry. For the rest you must wait until 1 Sept

I am in. VIP entry

Oh thank goodness the sport is clean at last.

Now that is a fantastic idea, will line this one up for my 40th birthday in four years time.

I would spend a bit more than the Felt F95, and make sure you get at least a Tiagra Groupset or better yet 105. I would look at a second hand bike, it is a buyers market and you can get great value

I can think of nothing worse than knifing through the air on my TT rig, accompanied by nothing but the gentle sound of the wind through my aerobars, the hiss of my tyres on the tarmac and the esoteric bliss of going really fast in an aero tuck, to have some baggy panted, helmet visored, camelbaked dirt rider spoiling the moment with that infernal racket from his fat tyres.

This really gets to me, to ride a road bike on a bit of tar at Cape Point we need an activity card, what the hell for? you don't need a hiking, swimming, or running activity card so why an activity card to ride a road bike. Just another way for Sanparks to rip us off further. Do Sanparks also know that Ou Kaapse Weg runs through the national park, as does Spaanscemat River Road, perhaps they should erect some boom gates to catch the cyclists when entering and leaving the park, what a joke.

Like the OP said, how irresponsible, if you don't make sure that your lights have enough charge for your ride, you may as well not even bother.