buckstopper

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

Don't wory be hapy

I think there should be a law against this. In Aussie or Canada they would have one

Still, as a wise man once said, 'It's better to burn out, than to fade away, hey hey, my my'

Absolutely, and our 'experienced temperature' in full sun would be higher than that recorded in the nearest weather station. Whatever, if you're exposed to temps like this for long enough, don't expect a long healthspan

First of all, Kudos to those brave enough to submit themselves to this torture. (Or maybe, as jy dom is, moet jy suffer). I doubt Garmin would make an instrument super inaccurate. I reckon the readings have more to do with the sun's reflection on the surface of the gauge, which may affect the relevant ic on the pc board. I know a nerdy someone in Garmin Olathe, have sent him the pic of the above gauge reading of 51.4°C and asked him about the gauge's accuracy...

Specialized pathfinders 42mm pumped to around 2 bar. Fast on tar but comfortable if you ride where the tar is bumpy like at the cradle. You could also go to road tyres but I wouldn't go less than 32 to 35mm. A good quality flexible tyre is worth an extra few rand.

Lap racing is the way to go for road racing but it needs local community buy-in, and this is not Belgium. But with, say, 16k laps costs would be lower than for the current routes I would think. There are routes in the South of Jhb and the Cradle in Jhb is not bad. Going anti clockwise on the Sterkfontein road, left into the kdp road, then left onto the R47, then left onto the Letamo road could be done for about a 15k lap, as an example. There are other lap possibilities in the area but they are longer, 28km for the main one, or more trafficy.

What size tyres you ride? That profile looks optimised for 23/24mm tyres

John I will always question decisions I find questionable. I'm not changing that because you know it all. I'm looking for an intelligent answer to my questions and I'm not going to go away because you and your chommas think we can't ask questions. Obviously no intelligence here.Beam me up Scotty

👍

Wasn't even near there. Just saw comments by a couple of racers who's views I rate is all. I'm really trying to understand (the mindset of the organisers of) gravel racing in SA vs say, Europe. If my fitness is at the right level I'll give my age group a go. I wouldn't ride a national champs race for a participation medal. Racing can be fun though, even when it's super hard. I recently did a mtb race on a gravel bike and I've done a Swartberg 100 on a gravel bike. There's a risk element to this and having done a pelvis and a shoulder, maybe my appetite for a big off is not as big as those a bit less long in the tooth.

@binxc have you ridden 100km+ on a gravel bike with only your 40mm tyres pumped to 2 bar+ as suspension at 80% intensity for, say 5+ hours? My interest in terms of this race (a race, as opposed a ride to finish), is that it is called SA Gravel Champs - ie a gravel bike race. Riding a soft or hardtail even is surely very different. Suspension, bigger tyres, steering, much easier I would say.

What bike did you ride mtb/gravel?

Was this race (135km + 2700m ascent and gnarly roads) just too hard for most? Apparently built by a guy who rode the freedom circuit on a bike with drop bars and who suggested people put big tyres on.... Probably a harder parcour than gravel worlds. Saw a comment by former pro about the mtb descent. 29/130 (1 in 4) non finishers on the 134km one lap circuit. I would agree that SA'S should be tough, the danger of crashing removes the incentive to ride (for me at least). Is there a CSA rep who knows what a gravel route should be who okayed the event. Would be interested to get their take.