Connection

My neighbour organises these rides in a game reserve with rhinos. The idea is to do some riding at night during the full moon and thereby discourage the poachers who use the moonlight to carry out their "hunting". During the day you learn some riding and bush skills etc. Sounds awesome. Unfortunately I'm away for the Cape Cycle Challenge the following weekend so cannot go this time. But perhaps some of you are eager. The next RHINO Full moon MTB weekend I am planing is for March 2018. Friday 2 March, Sat 3 March & ending Sun 4 March. Cost P/ person R2450.00 Includes all meals +teas & Coffee. Cash Bar available Regards Ettienne Soekoe 071 624 3628 Sent from my WAS-LX2 using Tapatalk

My view is that this is not a race to enter if: You haven't done enough training and You aren't seeded (so have a late start time) andYou don't enjoy sufferingFor an unfit person, 95k's is a LOOONNNGGG way to ride. Throw in some midday heat, maybe a thunderstorm if you're unlucky, the weight of a mountain bike with nobblies and it all turns into a bit of a nightmare. I have had a lot of people say that this is a TERRIBLE race and they don't know why so many people do it. This is because they started at 9.30am and due to lack of training, they spent 5 to 6 hours suffering and struggling to finish. If this is likely to be you, CONSIDER taking the approach of riding until you are tired and then bailing. Enjoy the spirit and the experience of riding. The first 20 to 30k's can be done by most people irrespective of fitness. Then spend the next few months riding a few other short rides and build your fitness. Get seeded so you start earlier! Then enter next year and give it stick. Then you have fun. Don't get put off cycling for life after enduring a sufferfest! That's my advice. Up to you now...

Hi all, this is very vaguely cycling related (as I will have a bike or 3 with me when we go on this holiday!) We are taking off a few days from 22 September. That weekend, we are staying at a place near Lothair with friends. They're heading back to Joeys on Monday but we've taken the whole week off. My question is does anyone have suggestions as to good areas/specific places to go from Monday to Saturday? We considered going to Kaapschehoop which I am lead to believe is a lovely little town. Graskop and the Blyde River Canyon area was also suggested. We have 2 kids - 5 and 8. We enjoy outoors, exploring, fishing, cycling (had to throw that in :-)) and visiting interesting shops like craft markets etc. If anyone knows the area and can make some suggestions on options, I'd appreciate the advice. Other towns: * Sabie * Hazyview * Dullstroom Thanks!

I enjoyed the letter sent in by some guy who said that he and his girlfriend have sex whilst listening to the Stages podcast! I put it on hoping I might get some but my wife isn't picking up the vibe!

Just seen a red specialised camber heading south on Beyers Naude drive in JHB. The rider was wearing regular clothing and a cheapie helmet (incongruous on that bike). Raised my suspicious-o-meter. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Eish I see its gonna be fresh! Maximum of 11 degrees and around 7 degrees at the start. Wear your fluffy underpant! Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

I got an 8.20 start. Where are you riding from? I also may ride to the start. I'll be coming from Randpark near Cresta. When doing a spruit ride I ride IP towards Malibongwe, then Mae my way to Conrad and join the spruit at the Trailhead. Riding from there to Mark's Park is a pleasant ride and won't be too taxing. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

I've entered for my first JUMA (I'm usually away this weekend for some reason) but ride the spruit weekly so not expecting too many problems. Should be epic! Woohoo! Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

You can absolutely ride a mountain bike BUT remember that the additional weight and extra resistance of the tyres make it harder. You can mitigated this by putting on smooth "slick" tyres which makes quite a difference. But many people ride and enjoy the race on a MTB. What you said about riding with a charity to get an earlier start time is valid. My advice is that unless you can get a start time before around 8am, think carefully about riding as you could be one of those poor suckers riding through the heat of the day suffering to cross the line in 6 plus hours. That's miserable and will probably put you off riding for life! Ideally you should start getting fit early, ride some shorter rides, get your fitness going and get seeded. Then you can get an earlier start time and your body is able to cover 100km in under 4 hours. You can do much or even all your training off road but ideally some on-road rides will be a good idea to get your legs used to the stamina required for on road-riding. It's not quite the same as the trail. If you get that right then the ride is great! Tough but not a sufferfest and you'll be coming back for more. To achieve this may mean considering only riding the race next year and focusing on getting seeded this year. But do NOT do what many people do which is pitch up unprepared on a heavy bike with knobblies & gel seat cover with a 9.30am start time and Oros in your juice bottle. You'll hate it. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

A short drive to Howick and you have awesome cycling around Karkloof Falls. Google Howick MTB and you'll find details. It's superb - take your bike. I am not sure about directly in Hilton itself. There is lots of forestry in that area so I'd guess there must be some cycling available. Not sure if you can ride at Hilton College which isn't too far. Oh and there's Cascades down the road in PMB too. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Hi all Can't make it to the Cape Cycle Challenge. Giving away my entry for a 6.53am start batch. If you're interested place call me so I can give you the details. Cheers Scott 082 876 6336 Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Thanks for all the replies! Will investigate.... Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Hi there My Brother in law and I have done the Berg and Bush descent (the tougher race oriented version) for the last 3 years. It's 3 days covering around 94, 60 and 50km odd. It's a great race and we've enjoyed it a lot. Beautiful scenery, some technical riding and great value for money (It costs around R6500 per rider). But we're thinking about mixing it up and doing something else this year. We would like: * A race of similar difficulty. Berg and Bush is tough but not silly hard (in my opinion!) * Ideally somewhere we can drive to from JHB in say under 6 hours. Ie Eastern, Western or Northern Cape is too far away. * Technical is fine. We like a bit of a challenge! * 3 days or 4 days is about right in terms of stages * The organisation of B&B is great so something with a similar level of slick and effective management What options should we be considering (or do we stick with what we know?) Cheers Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

It was this thread. I saw it several days ago whilst catching up. Sorry I cannot tell you where! Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Now I know why I don't ride elites! Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Did anyone see a pitbull running amok on Heartbreak Hill on the R55? Looked like it actually attacked someone! And it looked like the kind of dog that you REALLY don't want to mess with! ???? Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Hi all Keen to get AC Wide Lightning wheelset for my 2015 Trance. Bike specs say 15mm front axle and 135x5mm rear axle. The specs on the wide lightning say 15mm front (so no problem there) but 10 x 135mm rear. I am not clear on what that means and will the AC Wide Lightning work with my Trance? Cheers

My personal feeling on this is that white lightning and similar "wax" type products are well suited to riding on road, but that they don't give your components enough lubrication if you are riding through water and mud. So if you intend riding the rough stuff, try something like finish line or that weldtite stuff you used (not clued up on weldtite). However, I tend to apply this carefully and let it soak into the chain, then run the chain through a rag to get the excess off. That way, my MTB chain stays relatively clean but is still lubricated properly. If you put on too much and don't wipe it off, it does get very black and makes a real mess.

Thnks Slick. I was hoping something more useful than Cois and Dirtrider's comments might be forthcoming - not that I am not enthralled by the physical wellbeing of Cois' scrotum and the fauna that is found in his groin area. :-) Do others feel that there are too many areas closed off to cyclists? I am a bird watcher and I don't believe I would mind having the odd bike coming past whilst I am watching. I mean these are not dirt bikes/scramblers. They (should be) quiet.

Hello all Have started riding more regularly at Northern Farms and have a few questions: What time does it open and what time does it close?Is there somewhere that has a map of the rides and which routes are closed to bikes etc?Why are some routes closed to bikes? I can understand the horse trails area being closed to riders but for example, the dam walls seem closed off too. I used to love riding along there and checking out the ducks etc.On a related topic, for those that are into that sort of thing, some "cool" birds and animals i have spotted there in the last few weeks are: Black backed jackals and 2 pups (5 metres away from pups!)A HUGE leguaan - must have been close to 2 metres and seen quite a few smaller onesPurple GallinuleHalf-collared kingfisherGreat crested GrebeMaccoa DuckWhitewinged WidowFish EagleSpoonbillLots of other "ordinary" birds of course. Seen some big barbel too plus saw some kind of goose (not a Gypo) that I couldn't find in the bird guide. Looked like a Pygmy Goose in colours but bigger. What other "cool" things have others seen? Cheers

Make sure your rear derailleur is set up so as to avoid it catching your spokes on the highest gear. Expensive and usually painful. Often prefaced by an ominous tick tick sound as spokes strike derailleur.

Well I did a club ride with Club100 on Sunday and did feel much safer. The bus behind us and the group made it feel less likely that I would become road paste when the inevitable cars and bikes raced past. Group did ride as much as 3 abreast at times though but most of the time were 1 or 2 abreast. Surely being in a group like that is safer than being on your own or in a group of say 3?!

Hi guys I have been riding for years but never as a member of a club. Lately I have stopped road riding due to the fact that I never feel safe. I have decided that the safety (and motivation) of joining a club is what I need. I live in the northern suburbs of JHB (Randburg) and am trying to decide which club to join. As far as I can ascertain, I have the following options: Cresta WheelersCyclelabClub100I could also join Rockhoppers or JMBC but these seem to be only MTB orientated and since I do both road and off-road, I was hoping to find a club that might be involved in both arenas. I have 2 questions for you guys: Do you think that there is a club "ethos" for these clubs. Eg could you say that one is more serious, another a younger crowd etc? If so, describe the vibe...Do the 3 clubs I listed above offer both on and off road?Thanks for the input!