Gunzo

The only place I know about: http://www.waenhuis.co.za/ I have not ridden there myself, but I know it's located on a nice "koppie"/"berg".

The guys in the Blue and Black kit is from the Lenmed Cycling Team.

You will be surprised of what roadies are capable off... Road riding isn't a soft sport compared to mtb'ing. In fact it's a tough sport in its own right. I do agree with some of the comment above. The mental capacity and fitness is already there. It's not that big of a jump to learn some technical skills. I know these skills come mostly with experience. Luckily, these pros have enough time to go out and put time in. I know a lot of roadies who does a little bit of mtb'ing in their off time. If you don't know them as roadies, you will believe they are hard core mountain bikers.

This is a discussion I try to avoid with non-cyclists. I've tried explaining this concept to friends and family. It's not so easy for them to grasp that even though someone, not in the elite's, may have a faster time, he will stil not be the overall winner.

Hoedspruit is not that far from Graskop and Sabie. Some if the best road climbs in SA!

I hope you're not serious?

Yes, but thats how far the tar goes. There is alot of gravel roads coming off from that road.

The relative safe road is the Twistdraai mine road. See map below. It's an out-and-back route. Link

The distance from your horizontal part of the handlebar (where the stem connects), to the bend where your shifters connect to, is called the reach.

I also changed to shallow drops recently and I find it alot more comfortable. I ride alot more in my drops, as it now easier to reach, and like Dewald ZA said, It feels if you have more control.

If asked why I don't rather ride MTB, I usually reply it is to mainstream. My answer is frowned upon. But truly, I ride both disciplines. And my first love remains the road.

You MTB'ers are so cool. We roadies wish we were like you...

I eat and drink healthy. Don't see any real benefit in using multi-vitamins. Vitamins and suplements are all endordsed by their suppliers. So most of the information circulating around is marketing, not medical/nutritional facts. Thats just my conspiracy theory. I do however think that Vit-C helps fighting flu and any "under the weather" symptoms.