Red Zone

I have used expired Gu, it was around 4 months after the date. Got sick, pretty bad, and I generally have a high tolerance for stomach ailments. I will never make that mistake again, for the sake of a few bob, its not worth messing up a race.

The new 16 inch avalanche bikes are pretty nice, no more back pedal breaks and front and rear brakes. I think that they offer the best bang for your buck, IMO the game or makro bikes are just not worth it - the quality is just what you expect for the price. My kids are both on 16 inch avalanche's (I paid around R1500 for both last Christmas) at 4 and 5 and a half years old. I see myself going up to 20 inch when my son hits 6 and a half, but he is a taller boy and has pretty much outgrown the 16 inch. With your kids turning 5 you could be on the cusp of going 20 inch, consider carefully the larger size, you might be outgrowing a 16 inch in 6 months or you could be getting bikes too big for your kids to ride. There are measurement charts online for sizing, check them out.

I see that car around my hood in the Southern Suburbs, at least I know to give it a wide berth from now on

Speculation sometimes is dangerous but I agree that water temp could play a role. I did it last year, not this year. The water temp is way below that which we triathletes are normally used to and it is a real shock to the system. I made sure that I spent some time in the water to acclimatize and was very prepared; mentally, physically and equipment wise for the cold. It was still a shock and a very tough swim due to the physical effects of the cold. If someone isn't used to the physical realities of a triathlon swim, perhaps doesn't have a good (well fitting) suit or hoodie is a bit unfit then the cold could push you over the edge.

From EWN "Event organiser Iain Banner said the athlete was not that far from finishing the race." Another insensitive throw away line, unless he was in a team he still had the bike and run to complete. And still no further information.

I agree, the water temp is a problem, last year the swim was shortened due to the cold. The cycle is also a bit of a dog show, not a great course for the large AG field. The organisers have chosen to showcase a fantastic venue rather than a good race course

I have found that New Balance seem to conk in fairly quickly, its like the EVA goes stale and hardens up. I have found I get much better longevity out of Asics. I dont keep a running log book so it is hard to estimate, but I think I got around 1000 km out of the NB, and get around 1500 out of Asics. I try to keep three pairs of running shoes around, and rotate them for long runs, short stuff, track work, hills etc...

Anything under 2 hours, no breakfast and just 750 ml water. 3 to 4 hours I will have pronutro / futerlife in summer and oats in winter and ride with one bottle with some electrolytes - I like the rehydrat sports stuff. I take a jungle energy bar just in case I feel the need for a little umph - but dont normally use it. Over four hours I will have same brekko as above and take two bottles but now one has 32 GI -Endurance and an energy bar for just in case. 100 km race will be two bottles of 32 GI plus a bar or a gel or two. races up to 200 km will include some proper food such as bananas and fruitcake and coke for the final hour, races that take me up from 10 to 24 hours will just be whatever I feel like eating and drinking from a smorgasbord of goodies after around 6 hours of normal race food

And they missed out on a rear facing camera, silly nerds

http://www.thebounce.co.za/articles/sports/10-reasons-why-guys-must-fight-the-exodus-from-golf-to-cycling/3923 I think this is tongue in cheek

Silly to ride that road in the peak hour. But I have often thought, although never had the guts to do it, that it is better to claim the lane and make cars wait to pass than to keep to the side of a road that doesn't allow a 1 m passing space and risk your own life. You do get sections of road, like the Main Road between Muizenberg and Fish Hoek where I feel this sort of behavior is acceptable, simply due to the speed and reckless driving of motorists. However you take a big risk that someone will simply mow you down.

They had a drone doing some filming at the AfricanX trail race, there are some pretty cool shots, it could absolutely work for mtb.

Thanks Frail, its going to be my first ultra so it will be nice to have the open road. There was an incident which I saw in the Red Hill marathon where a cyclist tried to cut through the runners, clipped someone and went down hard. Runners are not expecting bikes and are prone to sudden changes in direction, it can be pretty dangerous for all parties. If anyone wants to ride then the best thing to do is to head out 30 mins before the runners (ie 6 am) and enjoy the quieter roads

With the 10 year anniversary, there were promises of all sorts of special stuff, we assumed that we would get a different or better bag & finishers shirt, perhaps some other stuff thrown in for good measure. There was a lot of hype built around the anniversary, which increased entries and the speed of sales and that sort of snowballed into a FOMO explosion. Sadly all the special stuff came to pretty much nothing but a bit of different embroidery, but the entries did fly on the back of the expectation. I do think the tougher bike and the hard time we had on the course last year did put some people off, there were loads of DNF's on the bike leg last year.

I hope that she took this up with the race organisers as well as posting on her blog. It does make sense to have more than 3 ladies teams up front, it is in fact better said that only having three ladies teams in the first batch really limits the ladies race. However she does say she was not in it to place high up the standings and had problems on the prologue. So its all a rather redundant argument, if you are not racing it then be content to ride based on your seeding.

My advise is to wait a few weeks there will be quite a bit of second hand stock after Ironman. Or try this http://www.performancebikes.co.za/pDEMO0018/Fuji-Norcom-Straight-21-2.aspx It is R5000 more than you wanted to spend but it looks like a great deal.

Big thanks to Andrew and the guys at Performance Bikes for selecting my post as the winning post. I chose a fantastic orange flat bar for my new MTB build and some lock on grips. I was more than chuffed when I had exceeded the prize money by R40 and Andrew threw this in as well. The goodies arrived this morning by Courier, the FUNN components look the business, cant wait to get them on the bike

The irony is that the Two Oceans is now longer than the Argus, the runners are going to have bragging rights for sure this year.

I think they should have just canned it, there is going to be chaos out there with guys sprinting the "full" distance, others reseeding themselves to ride with mates, others doing a slow ride for solidarity, two and three lappers etc...everyone that I speak to seems to have a different idea for Sunday. To cram 35 000 riders onto 47 km of road is a bad idea. I think the freeway is going to be a war zone with crashes. I wont be riding, rather go for a long run. I just wish that some of my entry fee could be transferred to the volunteer wildfire services

This would have never happened if they didn't change the name of the Argus

Tokai closed for a few years, sounds a bit crazy, hope this isnt even remotely true, and just after I renewed my activity permit

All this talk of a completely new route is absolute nonsense, although somewhat amusing while we wait for the decision. As I understand it there is the "normal" route in place and a contingency, which is Ou Kaapse Weg and a few other optional detours like Boyes Drive. These routes will have been approved by traffic, disaster management etc... there is no option for a completely new route, its either the normal route or a detour using Ou Kaapse Weg and the M3. The CTCT / Argus is a circum-peninsula ride if it cant happen using a detour on the route the race will be scrapped.

The PPA is its members it is an association and not a business, it is simply asking for its members to donate to assist. Why have a go at the PPA for trying to help the fire fighting effort?

I agree, there is no such thing as an "accident" accident implies that no-one was to blame. On the face of it; if the truck was not driving in the yellow line the cyclist would still be alive today plain and simple.

I think Sea Point may be a little different along the promenade which is a a sort of multiple user space where you are allowed to cycle, skate, run etc... it is not a proclaimed cycle path. Places like Milnerton are different with a designated cycle path / lane, there the law says you must ride in the cycle path. Some of the cycle paths cannot be ridden flat out, but it is probably safer to ride fast on a cycle path than doing 32-43 km/h down beach road Sea Point