Bike Whisperer

I don't at all feel I'm entitled to a discount. I merely put out an opinion for discussion. Even if it was half-price, or free, I wouldn't be riding the second lap. I agree that the organisers can charge what they want, it's a free market. Again, I am merely critiquing the logic and don't expect everyone to agree with my view. Good luck striving for that email. See you on the route.

Tx. Just put it out for discussion, not about winning or losing. It's merely an opinion.

I received an interesting email yesterday from CTCT indicating that we can ride a second lap for an additional entry fee of R550. I'm all for charity and contributing, but this is plain GREED... Oh, I wasn't intending to ride the additional lap anyway, but surely there needs to be a bit of fairness in the approach. I have no issue in paying an additional fee for a second lap if I were to ride it, but the second lap is far cheaper for them as they do not: 1. provide double hospitality2. print additional numbers and other registration material3. cater for additional admin at registration4. provide additional infrastructure is needed5. hire additional staff to cater for the second lap (since this is only open for relatively fast riders, so will finish within the normal cut-offs, which is a condition anyway)6. incur many other costs which are only incurred related to the individual and not the second lap Surely they should apply some fair play here and charge a discounted rate for the second lap and I am sure that they would get more takers. In this environment where event entries are on a serious decline (still available for CTCT recently, where in the past these sold out on day 1) and the premium price charged already of R550 per entry, this is plainly greedy. Maybe it's just me overthinking this...

Champion!

Great Marathon route this year. Tricky bits, but nothing extreme. And the tail-wind at the end was just what the doctor ordered. Some more of that this weekend...

I spoke with John at Cycle2U at VG and he says this descent is not in this year's race. But the route map on the race site still has it in... So it's going to be a surprise!

Yip, that'anout it. Last year seemed more loose and steep though

It's rideable, but tricky. You need to be awake and know what you're doing.

Yes, very safe. There has been the rare incident, normally near the Redstone area, but this is not really part of the VG trails. Still magnitudes safer than the Spruit.

Long enough to sing the hymn 'Nearer my God, to Thee" ... twice and recite 3 hail Marys, and make a call to get your will in order (if you're on hands free). It feels like eternity.

I live there and ride the trails all the time, early (dark) morning, weekends and the odd night ride. Very safe... BUT is any place in SA truly safe... I never ride alone. At least in a pair.

Not far after the brutally loose descent on the Gauteng side of the mountain. The one where your bike takes over control and you're just in for the ride. Brakes, no brakes... makes no difference

Yes... North-West Province. Gautengers can't claim this one as their own.

My local backyard race... Hope the descent before the bridge is a little firmer this year. Just spoke with Erik (Cheese Farmer) and there is a bridge, apparently a lot sturdier and faster. There is an option to portage around, but apparently pretty tricky trek.