buckstopper

Watching the weather and wind closely for a friend. Looks like Saturday will be a warm day, 29c, with NW headwind during the afternoon. Hopefully it does cool higher up on the climb. Not a pushover this one.

If you can get a top 20 in your group and your best/last/seeding time is within 15 minutes of your age group Vets winning time, then maybe switch. It's much harder and more fun. And if you can stay in the 3rd group till 75k you're going well. Eg the 70-74 age cat winning time at CTCT this year around 2h45.

Maybe one from like Science2Sport etc...

Normally 400 to 550 ish. This was my 'big week' 3 weeks out from RvS. This week was 503. Prob 350 this coming week and 《200 for race week.

My understanding is that heart rate is very variable (within a person), higher could mean you are 'fresh' or have a virus or another issue), lower than normal could mean that you are fitter - (larger stroke volume), or you could be fatigued, and can't seem to get your heart rate up like 'normal'. I would also take google with a pinch of salt. We are all different. And while we do lose max hr over decades, your wife's hr seems well within range of a race winning 51 yo athlete. Maintaining a high max hr as you age is, to my knowledge, not necessarily a bad thing. My max 20 years ago, at 44, was 187, and my highest ahr for a 2 hour race then was 173. Now, at 64 my max is between 175 and 181 depending on how trained or rested I am. This week I could only manage 173 in a 5 min max effort, but this after a 743 tss week, and my power was within 5% of my best for 5 years. 3 months ago doing a similar test I got to 180 but a lower power number. I was not as fit then as I am now. I do not believe that pushing yourself as you age is necessarily a bad thing. NB atrial fib, though, is another thing to be aware of, particularly as you age.

True that

What's with all the psi stuff. Is that like a prostate health indicator? FWIW I run 1.4b (20psi) in my Rambler 50s. Wouldn't go any harder. Terrain here often dry, stony with sticky-out rocks, Fortuner ruts and cow shyte. Maybe not the 'fastest' gravel tyres but you know, they don't break in my proper heavy duty rims. Got a pair of G one 45s and am vassilating between running the 45s or 50s for RvS - 70k tar 100k gravel. Thoughts anyone?

I'm in for RvS and was hoping to do Road to Desolation in June, but it's been put on hold till 2026. I'm in EC so logistically not a train smash. Every time I've considered ATP the stories just dampen my enthusiasm somewhat

Pass

Head East by car for about an hour and a half. Very scenic drive to a place formerly called Grahamstown. Proper gravel routes for days. You could do a week long training camp here and not repeat your route. Also ride inland from Kenton towards Southwell, Bathurst, and beyond. No issues.

Dryland are doing the Cape Pioneer starting at R22500 for a solo, no frills. I reckon this'll go at about R4k per stage just to ride, and maybe eat.R12k would provide good value I reckon, including tents. Hope I don't hurt any feelings. Whataboutish perhaps, just my thumbsuck. Unless of course the masses have to subsidise the rich and famous in which case it'll be more. Anyway, watching with a finger on the enter button...

Yes you can! 70 km tar, 100 km gravel on public roads. Surely somebody will step in. Why didn't they try and sell the event? Or maybe they did?

How wide? I run '28mm tyres' with a vernier measured width of 30.4mm on my rim brake Scultura size S (52 ETT) without any brake rub. I have a Lightbicyle wheelset internal rim width 23mm. Fits no sweat, no frame drag cranking it out of the saddle at 1kW+

You heard it here first, he's moving to Ineos next year to teach them how to explode like a Grenadier. The UAE king issued the 'no attack' decree. Brailsford overhead Pog grumbling about this and offered him €10m...

Sometimes athletes are athletes because they're not rocket scientists

You could boost your immune system by training right. Start with 30 min in z1 3 times a week. Then add volume gradually. Keep intensity low for about 3 weeks then add z2. Resist the temptation to train harder until you're free of symptoms. Then add 1 z3 session a week, no more. I have made the mistake of going too fast too soon and restarting cold etc symptoms

Nothing like a race entry and paid accommodation to get you motivated. I was also riding inconsistently and then entered for The Road to Desolation race in April. Training to survive...

IMHO, for age groupers, the incentive to dope has more to do with narcissism than money, especially when prize money often just about pays for your entry costs. 'Successful' cycling age groupers often are semi retired, or are in careers where they can put in the 15 hours+ per week needed to be at the pointy end of races.

Going with the Nick would be a no brainer if for nothing else he's local and needs to stand by his product to stay in business. I've got 3 tubeless wheelsets, AC Argents, Hyper 50C, and a set of Lightbicycle 56 with 23 internal width. They all do different things well and are difficult to choose between. Personally, I sometimes think the deeper rims are more about looking sexy than being faster (than my Argents anyway).

30 min Consultation R1350 in 2022. He sent me for a blood panel and emailed me the Ampath results and his report on the results. Good value for what I paid I thought. He imparted some general useful advice in his report. His main focus was on my health rather than performance as he's not a sports physiologist but he understands nutrition for endurance sports I think. You could probably get more in Cpt for 20 times the investment, or something

I once saw Dr Jarrad van Zuydam who had worked with the Di Data team as a Doctor. He also cycles. In Waterfall Midrand

I went to collect my forks after they were serviced at RBC yesterday. They replaced seals. Parts and labour R1120. Great people, got a tour of the workshop, met everybody. Happy to pay. I would send my Ferraris to them... 5 ⭐ Why is about R900 per hour at VW ok, but R450 a rip off at a bike shop? Are the mechanics more skilled, or what?

This is probably more about your back and the supporting muscles in your body (core) than your bike fit. Speak to a biokinetisist or physio, and you may get to the seat of the problem.

So I want to start cycling and have cool legs like my tjom. But I don't have a bike. My tjom says, "go onto the hub, you can get a good deal". So I join this thing, and nobody wants to deal with me, because I'm guilty until proven innocent. Why is this even a thread? Would the OP please just say 'thanks okes' I'll use BHP', already. Or am I missing something?

You NEVER do that. Let them ride their own race. You would appreciate this if you raced in elite or age cats