Woolf

First 94.7 for me and with an aim of raising some awareness and money for our charity bond "Cycling for pathways" I'll be doing the mtb, 40km and the full race on both weekends.

To answer the question then. I would go with the Pyga as the Cannondale is nice but as mentioned servicing the shock is not only finicky but helluva expensive too. Also ask yourself whether such an expensive purchase is worth while given the type of riding you will be doing (competitive top 50 or social top 5 amongst friends). Don't for one second think that the salesperson is going to give you insight into cheaper alternatives more suited to the type of riding you will be doing as he's earning a living off your cash. He also knows that come service time he can ask you a premium as you are cycling the premium.

http://images.esellerpro.com/2189/I/112/97/lrgscaleBike-It-Thermal-Cotton-Motorcycle-Balaclava-Black-5.jpg This would also work to keep your face warm

That's true , but I've found that for me coming from a old 26inch Cannondale with a headshock the Vida is like a softtail.

Why even spend so much? For R17000 you can have a Silverback Vida 1 which weighs about 11.5kg and has the best wheels and components for it's class. In my opinion if you tip the scale at 90kg plus then 500g or even 1kg is not worth the money. Did the 70km at Cullinan on my Vida 1 in just a bit over 4 hours and with a little more fitness I'm sure I can get close to 3.5 hours. I weigh 95kg coming from 110kg in the last year or so.

Was my first marathon today on my new Vida 1 and I thoroughly enjoyed the race. Well marked and laid out course with a nice mix of everything. Would have been much tougher if the wind was the other way. The worst sand for me was after the waterpoint at the lions. Trying to get the legs going after the stop was tough. Nice to have met Mtb Barbie albeit just in passing. Lesson learnt for the day: don't fiddle with your bike the night before!! Couldn't understand the funny creaking noise about 10km towards the end untill I lifted my bicycle up to have a seat on the grass after the finish. Quite surprised to have my back wheel slip out of the bracket. Luckily I didn't bunny hop anywhere

Have a chat with a ortho as the injection mine gave me is not your run-of-the-mill voltaren type.

First marathon for me too. Starting in E for Eish!!

Only thing that prevented me from having surgery was injections directly into the affected muscle by a orthopedic surgeon. Can't remember the name of the muti but one is only allowed 2 a year. Seriously long needle and the injection is made from the back of the shoulder. Pain gone after a few minutes and it lasts for months.

Has the seeding info been mailed yet?

First Monday of the week. Whooohooo!!

Until you moer off the machine in front of the whole class...

I've got two Prorides with the whisper bars and they are very easy to use. Bicycles on and off and prorides off and on the bars is done in less than 5 minutes. I've only used them with MTB's and they are kept very stable. A pleasure to use especially after a long and tiring ride. Must say that I had some issues with the installation as one of the Thule supplied bolts which connect them to the footpack snapped. My fault however as I didn't clean out the threads before mounting them. If your car has fixed mounting spots for roofracks make sure that you first clean out the bolting areas by using Q20 and screwing a bolt in and out in increments to get all the dirt out of the threaded areas. I replaced the Thule bolts with same length galvanised bolts which are much stronger. Also don't forget to grease the bolts to make removal easier.

Wifey decided to stay in bed this morning with the cold weather so I went on my own. Realized at the start that I had forgotten my camelbak at home which contained my pump and bombs. No problem I though just enjoy the ride and how many times have you needed a pump in the last year or two.... Was going nice and fast down the first hill on the double cement track when I buggered the weight and balance (blaming the lack of camelbak weight) and went off the track into a ditch. OTB with a spectacular headstand somersault which would have scored a 9.5 if it was in London in front of the judges. Up and pedaling without a hassle till the little bit of singletrack just before the second waterpoint on the other side of the freeway. Must have hit a rock with the front wheel and on the corner just before the little hill my tubeless deflated instantaneously sending me into the bushes for another tumble this time a 8.7 at least. On the bike again only to realize my rim was buggered which meant the end of my race for the day. Luckily I had a spare tube in the saddle bag which with the help of a fellow cyclist (Thank you very much!!) I could inflate and at least could cycle back to the start for a early day back home. As always a nice mix of everything in the course but in the end an expensive day out for me with a broken rim (second race only), helmet and ego

Wife and I will be there.

Thanks. My Polar cs300 shows 42.9km which I reckon can be slightly out due to the lower pressure of the tyres.

After last years race I did not want to ride a Nissan Trailseeker again due to the short cuts taken by others and the congestion. If this is anything to go by for the next races I'm in for all of them this year. Route was sublime with a decent mix of singletrack, jeep and cattle track. Congestion non-existent and marshalling was friendly and efficient. Well done to the organisers!! Anyone have a gps track of the 40km? what was the actual km's?

That is a serious issue as you are now out of balance. I suggest that you put a Power Balance bracelet over that hole immediately.

Sondela is a puncture haven with all the thorn trees they have there. Went there once with normal tyres on the kids bikes and spent most of the days fixing punctures. Last time we went not one of us had a puncture as I decided to put tyre liners and run slime tubes on the kids and moms bikes. Mine I converted to tubeless a year or two ago and (touch wood) haven't had a flat yet.

Apparently a truck swerved into the oncoming traffic colliding with them. Yes he was an ATC at JHB approach.

Robbie Bessell and Warren Mann. May they cycle endless trails and smooth roads. Taken on the way home from the Sani2C.

Should have a day at groenies where no-one is allowed to ride and everyone is forced to walk the trails picking up litter. That should end the madness for a week or two.

Thanks again Frail. Mail sent to race organisers.

Thanks Frail We would like to set it up that we cycle on her behalf and to possibly make entries available for other cyclists to wear the kit that we are designing. The main aim is to raise awareness of the school and the excellent work that she and the staff do on a daily basis. Later we would do some fundraising initiatives but for now I am only looking at how to go about setting up the entries for the challenge. Here's a link to the schools website for those interested. http://www.pathwaysroodepoort.org.za/

Doing my first challenge this year and was wondering how one goes about setting up a charity entry for the race? A friend runs a school for Cerebral Palsy children from various backgrounds in JHB and the wife and I would like to raise funds on their behalf. Can anyone perhaps help with the process.