Sid the Sloth

Unfortunately for me it’s become increasingly hard to win these races without a team, other strong individuals do not want to contribute to chasing so you have to make sure you get in the right move with the right composition of riders from teams. I had a few options to try and get it right but unfortunately they didn’t pan out. Nice work @DieselnDust for a solid result. From Botmanskloof onwards the convoy and lead moto played a massive role (negatively) in the race as they continually gave draft to either the bridging group or the main bunch after almost every effort to get away. There are also videos on social media of riders making it back through the convoy after Bots, which happens pretty much every time we have done that climb in a race in my 3 years of racing that climb. It basically became a pointless exercise attacking as cars or the moto would bring everything back together, and the rest of the race was history. I played one of my cards attacking with 2km to go as I didn’t want to contest that extremely risky right hander onto paving sprint for 150m and luckily it panned out as I was allowed a gap.

I’m glad I get to train with him, pushes the level up nicely. And always fun encouraging him to ignore @J Wakefield😜

just tell him to hang cable and don’t think about it. Easy.

Are you using a narrow-wide chainring? It helps with chain retention, other than that chain length and derailleur spring tension are pretty important - I am running 1x on my road and gravel and have noticed it’s exceptionally responsive to these things. Hope you come right.

ironic that the event organizer is a marketing lecturer at Stellenbosch… if I remember correctly.

The best I can do is roll a 56

It’s pretty crazy, even running events with much lower entry fees have way better prize money.

If I recall correctly, 100 Miler prize money doesn’t even break even with the entry 🤣

What’s the cash prize looking like for the 12h?

Yoh I bailed hard so hard. Still hurting.

Yo @Furbz if you haven’t come right swing me a message, if you still have my number from last year?

Might be able to help you out as those wheels are now using the xdr. I’ll let you know when I get in to work tomo

Same weekend as Ceder

I will cry tears of joy if they turn this into a road race for elites. I dream of 5h races and stage races where the longest stage is over 4h and 2000m vert. DC as a road race would be my happy place.

This is why I identify as a boy

That’s a bummer. Hard to justify a week of leave to go do a race which barely gets any coverage, on the same week as South Africa’s biggest road race. +paying for more accom and and and… Hmmm

I’ll be honest, I’m gonna put that down to freakish genetics, that bike was a hand brake in comparison to a carbon gravel bike with generous climbing gears, in my opinion.

Anything can be a gravel bike if you’re brave enough. Check out the rig Matthys Beukes just used at Swartberg! 28c front and rear, rim brake, down tube shifters, steel.

FULL FROTH

I ride here almost every day and have been for quite a few sunset missions here too. I was not aware of the muggings - I think many other people are probably in the same boat. It is also predominantly tourists, who we know do not take the necessary precautions - lots of Ubers and out of town number plates. I suspect the people taking a chance are not aware of the danger, especially on the lower slopes. I stick to the road but the sunset missions are probably a bit sketchy, especially if you like watching the night lights after 8pm...

I got chips which were donated to the mechanics 😂

If you have a saddle bag you’re not racing your riding 😜

Has she served a doping ban before?

Mate, if the top guys had previous doping violations the speculation would be justified. But they don’t… I ride with most of them, consider some of them good friends who I have spent a LOT of time talking about this issue with and I really believe they’re clean. Apples and oranges.

They have the funds to test some riders like 4 times a year with visits and then test after nationals and Herald. Maybe you just need to pick the right events.