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@Mongoose Manwhat tyres are those you're running? They look pretty smooth on the vertical line!
Interesting placement of your two extra bottle cages I assume those are a cable tie hack?
10 hours ago, Tomik said:Yes, it goes to Herbertsdale. Starts just after the Gouritz crossing of coming from Vanwyksdorp. It's long but fairly gradual on both sides, the Klein Karoo side is longer.
We rode it from Bonnievale (Eight Bells) and then traversed the Langeberg to Garcia Pass and over to Riversdale. Only issue was water - there was none after the pub!
Thanks, been eyeing that route from Riversdale over Garcia then back via the route to Herbertsdale for awhile but at 170km'ish it's a proper long day! Plus as you've mentioned very little by way of water stops.
On 12/23/2021 at 10:01 AM, Tomik said:Another option (assuming you have a gravel bike) from Calitzdorp is to go over Rooiberg Pass to Vanwyksdorp and then over Cloete's Pass to Mossel Bay. Also a big day out (176km) but Cloete's Pass is great. There's a pub 2km down the south aside - handy for a water refilll.
Where's Cloete's pass, is that the one that takes you to Herbertsdale?
I've done Gysmanshoek, Garcia, Robinson & Montagu passes but don't recognise Cloete's..
Done Robinson pass a couple of times from the Oudtshoorn side but never during peak season.
Compared to a normal morning ride in the Cape Town south it was pleasantly rustig. So it's probably quite subjective depending on what traffic conditions you're used to.
But definitely try make sure you hit it early.
Also I've always turned off onto the dirt at Eight Bells so haven't had to deal with the flatter section towards Mossel Bay which is what @Smartie I assume is referring to.
Some pics I took on the Suurbrak to Riversdale route a few years ago: https://forum.bikehub.co.za/topic/178477-klein-karoo-bike-packing-trip/?do=findComment&comment=3384552
24 minutes ago, MongooseMan said:Thanks!
Will keep the N2 to a minimum (I do have a rader on the back, which gives some comfort, but obviously not complete safety).
Route something like this? https://www.strava.com/routes/2905836851678035402
Yup, that route is one option, you can also go slightly further south between Heidelberg and Riversdale. Both are awesome, the more northerly route has more climbing.
Southern option: https://www.strava.com/routes/2905842041087729098 — Buffeljagsrivier to Riversdale #NNMTourDay1
Routes in the area should all be 100% fine, just be careful of the white bakkie brigade speeding past.
Obviously stay off the N2, it's not the best place to be at any time let alone during the Dec craziness.
Pont should definitely be running at Malgas, unless someone loses the keys...
I'd suggest Suurbrak to Riversdale for your 3rd route. Beautiful, but tough, ride traversing below the mountain range.
in Events
I've used a Rapide hanger extender on my gravel bike, works perfectly.
3 hours ago, Andreas_187 said:Bloody hell, I go past there 3 times a week, alone. I always try to ride amongst the cars and taxis when going past the stretch from the N1 turn to Gympie Street. Easy to do later in the day with more traffic
It's potentially safer later in the day once there's some traffic around. Before 7am on a Sunday that section is pretty deserted.
Bikejacking on Albert rd Woodstock yesterday morning at approximately 06:55, corner of Albert & Railway rd, couple of hundred metres before the right turn to the N1. Bike stolen, rider sounds like he's physically ok.
I rode past soon after it happened, so this isn't a firsthand account, but how I understand it happened from mates that were in the group targeted.
Single perp was on the side of the road, he appeared drunk as he was moving erratically. Transpires he was actually preparing his move.
Sounds like he lay down in the road in front of the slow moving group, obviously hoping to cause a crash. Group avoided him so he got up and then repeated the action at the back of the group - sounds like they were a little strung out with a few stragglers off the back.
Single rider couldn't get past him and next thing 4 accomplices appeared, knocked the rider off his bike, wrestled it away from him and escaped with the bike down towards the railway line.
Lot's of conjecture on my behalf, but it seems they were actively targeting a group with the potential of being able to grab multiple bikes in one go. Another mate rode through the area solo a few minutes before, but he would've been moving fairly quickly, and didn't see anything suspicious.
Please make sure to treat the area with caution and try ride through as alert as possible and with intent.
If your fork has cage mount bolt holes then you could go the route I did and use dry bags attached to home-made brackets.
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1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:.. back in the day, all we got was a cloth badge to say thanks for participating.
I'd forgotten about those! Remember the guys who used to sew them onto their tracksuit tops ????
(...come on, share a picture...I'm sure you had your Mom sew yours onto your favourite top..)
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Can someone please explain why the team needs to be WT. Surely they could drop down a level to Pro-continental which would reduce the sponsorship requirements?
Obviously they wouldn't be guaranteed entries to the Giro, Tour & Vuelta, but wildcards are available. Surely rather live to ride another day than just fold?
Really sorry to hear about this. Hope you're ok physically.
Please insist that the police open a case. Without these events being officially recorded they're allowed to be swept under the carpet.
Note that 8wks after being hit by a potentially drunk driver in a hit & run incident I'm still struggling to get the SAPS station commander to return my calls, so I fully understand the frustration of dealing with our generally incompetent police force.
Try Anatomic for plain shirts
Seriously, contact BEN bikes (Bicycle Empowerment network). They have local container based workshops in a few local communities where trained mechanics refurbish and sell the exact kind of commuter bike you're looking for. Bikes are fully serviced and ready to go. Plus you're then stimulating a great business model.
Last year I organised 2 bikes for staff costing around R1200 each, helmet included.
DM me and I'll send you contact details for Meshack who runs the Westlake setup.
(I'd be happy to help but unfortunately am immobile with a fractured elbow after being the victim of a hit & run in Simonstown 2 weekends ago)
5 hours ago, dsw said:The ITT only starts at 5:44 p.m. (CEST).
Yup, but 5.44pm CEST is also 5.44pm in SA... hopefully someone at DStv figures out how to tell the time otherwise they're going to miss the first half of the field.
Not sure how tall you are, but warning that most of these tents are built for midgets...at 1.85m I found myself with my head against the one wall while my feet pressed against the other. The lengths quoted are floor length, but with such low head heights the angle of the walls mean actual length is a lot less.
Another thing to consider is the length of the poles. Depending on how you're intending on carrying the tent you might have limitations on pole length (when packed).
After returning my first purchase which was an Oztrail I eventually decided to go with the more expensive Naturehike Cloud Up 2:
https://www.naturehike.co.za/products/cloud-up-2-ultralight-2-person-tent-upgrade
5 hours ago, Stephan said:
- Instead of having only one pay point at Tokai office, allow people to buy permits at any bike shop in Cape Town.
- Instead of issuing a little pocket sized card, issue a colour coded board system, like many others clubs do, which is valid from Jan to Dec only. The board must be attached to your bike. It’s a self-policing system in that riders who try to dodge the system are instantaneously visible to other “legal” riders and/or SANPark rangers. I would bet that this system will also increase revenue to SANParks since more people will be forced into buying a permit.
I would love for those in the know to say if alternatives to the current system has actually been discussed with SANParks?
As mentioned by others, a level 3 activity permit isn't only used for biking. The card is simple, pop it in your pocket & you're done whether you're riding, walking your dog, paragliding, climbing etc
The real issue is that renewals should be possible online. However that would require a card that didn't expire, which would likewise require an electronic device to check it's current status.
Having said that, an easy solution nowadays would be for each card to have a QR code which could be scanned by any mobile device linking to a basic web form displaying basic card status (active/expired)....of course that still would require sanparks to issue all rangers with smartphones. Plus there's the connectivity issues in parts of the park...
In the end, sanparks is a government institution. Any solution they implement is going to be implemented via a tender process & picked on criteria not at all linked to actual service delivery.
56 minutes ago, PhilipV said:I like energy balls.
Looks interesting, will try them - thanks.
I make these chickpea balls as snacks but they're not great for on the bike as they tend to get a bit soft when warm. I throw in coconut & dates instead of the chocolate. Plus always use the no sugar, no salt peanut butter.
https://www.rhodesquality.com/recipes/chickpea-and-oat-energy-ball/
7 hours ago, J Wakefield said:Impey is very injured after his crash, hence no call up.
Any clarity as to the extent of his injuries? Hopefully nothing too serious?
I haven't seen anything in the media since the crash so was wondering what he'd injured.
Overberg Gravel Routes Sanity-check
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Aah, so it's the Rook Scout. Was trying to figure it out. Nice looking bike & very well priced.
I assume it doesn't have a bottle cage mount under the down tube? I run a 3rd bottle there which I then decant into one of my main bottles. Also if you get a side exit cage you should be able to run a full sized bottle even with the frame bag.
Enjoy!