tubed

that's a lekker part of the world Breezer

A few weeks ago I did the stretch from Upington/ Kenhardt to Saldahna. Bicycles are welcomed the entire route. Enjoy it. * edit: sounded like a grumpy sergeant, just do it and enjoy it.

Very interesting. I wonder if the Bikehub gear team would do a head-to-head comparison with this and say the equivalent from Signal bikes. Specialized are the brand, Signal are the pretender - would be keen to see which one offers which.

Nils at Woodstock is the right guy to go to. A couple of months ago I was cleaning out my garage and I decided to part with my two 30 year old Zini frames made by Gotti in Boputhatswana (they had some govmt incentive as an independent homeland, so he set up factory there), they were a Reynolds 501 and a 531, with a deep blue paint scheme. Such good memories of building them up and racing them. It felt wrong to sell them or even try, as its unlikely that one gets any decent price and it would have broken my heart to have some oke haggle over them, so I gave them to Nils to do as he thinks best, no trade, no conditions, simply to give them a new life. I have no idea what happened to them, but just in the way he took them made me feel like it was the right thing to do. Nils is your guy.

much appreciated - thanks for the heads up - I'll def have a look

I still consider myself primarily a cyclist who tries to run a bit, as running is way less admin than riding a bike and time wise its bang-for-buck. I managed to sneak a finish in this jogging race on the weekend UTCT 100km. Its a bit like the Epic early years vibe - loads of foreigners - but none of the corporate/ celeb entry BS. Really nice to jog along with the locals and visitors and see how much they marvel at our playground - we are really blessed to live here. Lots of serious looking runners there - at registration lots of people looked at me skeef at 95kg - like at the Argus expo when you dont shave your legs and you collect an A number. I guess like most proper endurance events - the legs are important, but the heart and mind are where the magic is.

this is why I still lurk a bit on the hub, pure gold comment, its simply not beyond the realm of impossibility to think that someone might fit a saddle back to front, I mean if they can go to the effort of fitting a front shock backwards, this would be 'way easier' I think I will go to Avron (see his new website cycle-traders.com) to have a look at one of these saddles, he has them for R280, its cheap, but if I factor into it the amount of biketalk time with Avron it would probably be cheaper to order it online

Not sure I can picture Cavendish on a Merida, he's picky about his equipment and has become attached to his BMC. Really must be last chance saloon if he had to ditch the BMC for Merida and got to take none of his entourage with him. I guess at least he still has the Monster flatcap and the Nikes to hold on to. I think NTT must be breathing a sigh of relief that they no longer have to tolerate his personal tastes rather than promoting the team. Hopefully I am proved wrong and the dog still has bite at BM - at least Ellingworth has hedged his bets. Good luck Brent.

Saw this - wondered just how Cavendish is going to help - Colbrelli normally features in the hilly sprints - cant see Cavendish near those hills. Cavendish likes to think of himself as a bit of a designer and technically astute - perhaps that's the role McLaren have him in mind for. But I don't think it will be anywhere near of the front of the bunch with the new crop - for that you need guys who can muscle with DQS. Bora seem to me to be the only other ones who occupy that space.

Ah thanks for that - I liked Lars as a rider and hopefully he gets the best out of some helluva talented Scandinavians in that lot. Holding thumbs he brings the good of the winning ways of Astana with him.

Was good to see Bak and Vermote animated at Paris Tours, credit to them for doing justice to Bak's last race. Cavendish, pffft, probably rolled along offering free tickets to the track event he's been promising to keep his form for. Good luck to Copeland and Hammond in 2020 - Maclaren gifted them a real problem, but hey maybe a new bike and familiar faces from the glory days will restore the glory days - I think not. Any ideas on who is replacing Aldag and if BMC is staying on?

Valgren without the DDT PR people around: "I saw on the screen that he'd won, and I was, like, '**** – that was incredible,'" said Valgren. "Mads is ******* fast actually. "It was so cold – one of the worst days on my bike," he continued of the conditions the riders had to endure. "I had a really **** day in the beginning, to be honest. After 120km, before we got to the circuits, I stopped to take a dump, actually, but then punctured when I was on my way back. "I was, like, '**** – can I get paced to come back with the new UCI rules, whatever they are?'"

Dennis = certain results + plenty media. NTT could do with both! Interesting that Dennis pretty much trained without a trade team since the TDF, although it seems he has very good idea of what he needs to win. Some nice insights on cyclingtips into his prep, but nothing speaks louder than the pic of him celebrating like a roads stage as he crosses the line, with his 3 minute man being none other than Roglic. Absolute domination. So much new talent and horse power around at the moment I can't even compare this crop to the bore of team domination we saw over the last few decades and in that I include the women's road race.

Seems logical, but two issues, they have already signed Campenaerts for that role and Dennis seems like hard work for management. Sure he guarantees you some stage wins and days in the leaders jersey at the start of races - but he's fussy in a sport which is predominantly about a team. Are BMC staying with NTT?, thought I saw somewhere that they were moving on. Would be nice to see Valgren turn his late season form into a win. Lombardia would be great.

Great interview and insights with Gilbert on Steephill.tv after the stage yesterday - very articulate, even Wiggins shut up and listened on what was regarded as one of the most extraordinary stages in a grand tour. He spoke of the team culture and confidence at DQS - a team packed with talent which goes out to win every race they pitch up for. DDD is packed with talent - but the winning culture and confidence are nowhere. Hard work, technique and talent at that level are non-negotiable, but it seems to me confidence is the deciding factor in winning. Hopefully the new performance coach at DDD and the rest of the team management and riders can build the winning culture - for that they need to shed people like Cavendish and tap people like Gasparotto. (Pogacar when asked what family background he had - "we work hard")

I was a big fan of what he brought to the team in terms of coverage and experience. But it seems each time something doesn't go his way he sulks around at home in the UK in his Nikes with his Monster flatcap with pics of his GB team kit and espouses the virtues of the Qhubeka campaign. Deliberate silence on anything Didata - pretty sure the team will be glad to see the back of him soon. So in my books he behaves like spoilt brat who thinks he's entitled to win. If Brent Copeland hangs around with the arrival of Ellingworth, then Cav may find himself answering to another saffa. Its actually embarrassing how the pro-conti riders boss him out of sprint in the last 2km - no fight left in him.

https://tiz-cycling.live

oops wrong thread, posted on TDF2019 rather

"This year it seems the whatsapp group was the go to place, and I agree that while it has obvious advantages in usability and it probably is a bit exclusive. I'm guessing the best is for someone on these groups to duplicate the interesting stuff!" and "I became a total addict from that stage" Can't think of anyone better to do this role than you. I look forward to the insights in 2020. Over and out from me.

Hi Marnitz and Maarten thanks for your contributions, they are always valued its been a fascinating year of FC, good to see that you are both well and still enthused by this wonderful event, for me its been a different year, it was always going to be, because much has and had to change, I am not one to simply dwell on the past, but rather to celebrate it for what it was and look forward to the new a big hole was left with the passing of Johann and the exit of Meryl and Glenn - like I said at the start, Chris and Julia had huge boots to fill and I think they have done a wonderful job and put in a massive effort - I'm very grateful for their stewardship of the event - one cannot take for granted that event such as this can just survive on its own - no matter how much we will it - it needs dedicated people to drive it and Chris and Julia have done just that - much strength and gratitude to them with a new team driving the event come the necessary changes and by virtue of the comments at the end of the live FB coverage, the gratitude of the racers should be the endorsement they need to know they are on the right track - they will make their own adjustments for 2020 whatever they do for 2020 - the actual event will dish up its own form of drama for us - just looking at the 'haarde baarde' we spoke of at the start when the race group and other fast groups were announced - those same hard men were reduced to beaten men at Diemersfontein - anybody getting windgat about what this event can do should just take a look at the last 30seconds of Graham Bird's interview - this is not a man who is unused to suffering - that spoke volumes to me about what the guys put themselves through. The pic of Jacques T sitting at the top of Swartberg Pass is another portrait of a winner being reduced to a survivor at that point, I haven't mentioned Martin's efforts - yes it was a huge and admirable effort - but so too those who chased him and paid a heavy price - I could mention each of those men and their ordeals, I am sure they have many stories to tell which brings me to another topic - I think the new writers did a great job this year - they seemed to kick in just when the photographers (who were outstanding), but probably had to go home and earn some money - all around a massive step forward for the event which lends itself to rich imagery and rich prose from the writers - well done to all involved in my view, this forum has been much 'thinner' this year, with far less people contributing - again, I think perhaps its just a shift and I surmise that the main reason for this is the move to Whatsapp groups - I understand that there is a main FC group and various others where most of the live info and opinions are now shared - in the past it was twitter and here - the times have moved on and either you do Whatsapp or not Ok thats me for 2019, I dont need to wish the last guys a good journey home - its quite clear that they are doing just that - and perhaps like Marnitz expressed - there are just as many ways to enjoy the trail as there may be with the fascination of a sub10 day finish - kudos to the guys still out there - 'livin large fellas, take it all in'

Steve Cummings in the middle - wondering to himself, " does anybody else here wonder what I am doing here or is it just me......." fake it until you make it Stevo!

The good Dr doesn't want to be zig zagging at the bottom of the Kloof at this time of day...….

I'd agree with this, there is a tendency to throw guys under the bus when they get to the end of their career. He's done a fantastic job and without the workhorses in the field guys like Cav would never see the last 5 km. Same for Cav, regardless of any results, DiData should be very grateful for the exposure he brought, certainly the rest of the riders can be thankful too, without his every movement being followed Didata would have had no press headlines whatsoever.

Martin's wife must be pleased that he is riding with a riding with a Dr and just up ahead is Dr Payne too - its a strange thing about the FC, there are always quite a few Drs riding, although you may need to get a 30 year ENT specialist to pop a shoulder back in. Just a comment on the Payne's, a very impressive ride under very tough conditions, huge respect - Nigel has several motivations for going under 16 days and for the one he is about to double the bets of his mates who supported the initiative he is riding for. He and Adi have ridden powerfully. Dr Ergee, another very solid ride, shows the intent of a veteran of the trail. Impressed.

Best decision imho to leave Cav out, it was a distraction. Finally the endless debate is over. DR has sent a clear message to the guys selected that they are there for stage wins and there is plenty of firepower in that lineup. Now we just need to see the confidence to win come through. Overall looks interesting too, I'd love to see Dan Martin or a Frenchman light things up. Hopefully Ineos and Movistar don't bore us to sleep.