Vaultboy

Yeah I only ever pay via the payment link on the Temu app. I never click a link in an SMS. @NC_lurker you can also track the package to double check. You will be required to pay the duties when the parcel is at customs on the export side.

I bought a ZTTO road cassette (not this one) on AliExpress a few years ago that I was happy with.

Did you get the Mini 4 Pro? I've seen the reviews, and that looks awesome. I would love one. Its collision avoidance software is particularly impressive. I'm no drone expert either, but I have seen surveillance control rooms, and I reckon its more than R3 million capital outlay, including the data centre, and solar (because loadshedding). I also reckon those little personal use drone won't do, given how windy conditions typically are on the mountain plus the limited battery. Aside from using bigger commercial drones, I would imagine they need a drone camera that includes a thermal imaging sensor, for wildfire detection (and for detecting criminals hiding in the brush). And nightvision too? So I reckon drones might easily cost 100k each? But I'm just guessing. SANParks would also need licensed drone pilots, who probably earn around R300k per year? So salary and drone cost will add up quickly depending on how many is needed. Plus at least two control room operators as well. Personally, I would want more SEAM and K9s stationed all around the mountain instead. They are our primary anti-poaching and crime defense.

The outlay for those type of operations is not that modest, judging by farming and conservation communities invest. And for Table Mountain it will be particularly tricky, given the amount of trails, and literally infinite amount of access points. At best, SANParks could monitor the most popular areas, which would simply shift the pressure. SANParks have recently doubled their SEAM ranger capacity, but it is not nearly enough. Even with drones, response times would still be an issue. But all of that aside, would you really want drones buzzing overhead every time you go hiking up the mountain? And how would you really know that drone belongs to SANParks/SAPS/CoCT, and not some would-be robber, casing you?

This is an open access mountain with lots of different users, legal and illegal. Not everything is about emnity for rich people.

I like these . Have you considered matching jockey wheels and casette?

If you do it on the side, you would need to glue it onto the shoe or thread it through the uppers. I considered glueing a velcro pad to the shoe and the boa, but I reckon that tension would peel the boa off. @ChrisF This is what it looks like on a kids shoe. works perfectly, despite the size of the boa. @betaboy I hear you. I considered that, then realised that as an adult I only tie laces for weddings and funerals nowadays. Otherwise Its all velcro, no-tie tighteners, loafers, neoprene socks, zips etc. and boas for cycling.

Good to know. Do you pay extra for the courier?

💯. I put Temu boas on all of my kids' takkies and schoolshoes, because I was tired of them not tying their shoelaces properly. None have broken yet. These cheap boas are durable.

I ordered from AliExpress years ago, and they were ok - I bought cassettes, chainrings, pedals, grips, tools. Not clothing. The problem was that shipping was via sea, and locally via SAPO, so I had a few long and nervy shipping experiences. I had hoped that TEMU would make AliExpress up their game and bring prices down, but alas. I reckon AE is obsolete.

I would add that you can simply also do an up, over and around Paarl Mountain for 50km and 750m climbing. The best, closest gravel is Klapmuts all the way to Riebeeck-Wes. Lots of options, mostly gravel. Durbanville has what...Spes, Occultdale and Capaia with lots of tar in between?

Sjoe, I've bought a ton of cycling stuff on Temu. All good quality, so far. Delivered on time. A few best buys below. The best deal has undoubtedly been the 'Boas', for R20, (Lake boa vs non-boa models is over R1000 difference).

I had a 38-36 setup and ran out of gears on road, and kakked on gravel when the climbing got steep, loose and bumpy. 36-36 will be bad at both ends, I reckon. @ALDiRTY, I'd go for this: TITAN RACING Switch Carbon Sport (2025) – Bike Addict. Its R5k cheaper than the alloy Comp you're looking at, so you can use the savings for upgrades. Fork will take a 48, not sure about a 50. Ask @Titan Racing Bikes.

Not a single gravel front tyre to be seen in the leading bunch. The rears all seem to be 44+.

Expecting a Dylan Johnson vid comparing this to the Conti Race King.

I think that Team Vitality is only active as a cycling club with regular group rides in JHB. If you're not in Gauteng then Team Vality's worth depends on how many Vitality sanctioned events you intend to join: Vitality Race Events Calendar - Discovery. You get 50% of your entry back if you finish, so you can recoup your membership fees relatively easily. But be warned that the number of Vitality sanctioned events has been decreasing year on year outside Gauteng as well. Team Vitality seems much more geared towards runners.

The Gravel Thundero? If so, what are your thoughts? Rode a lot of broken shale tracks a while back and I was sure that I would get a sidewall slashed, but it held up really well. I've been really happy with how it rolls as well, but my experience in limited to WTB, Vittoria, Panaracer and Tufo.

The pro teams are so well supported, but it didn't appear as if any of them brought mud tyres along, even though they knew weather was incoming. (Maybe Cannondale ISB? I didn't get a close enough look at their bikes). I wonder if any teams sent a member scurrying out to get some tyres yesterday.

Lots of complaints on the (free!!!) YouTube stream chat about the quality of the coverage, especially in comparison to the TdF. Mindboggling. The quality of the coverage has been amazing, considering they only have 2 choppers, and a handful of motorbikes and ebikes. The only thing that I've found grating are the interviews - too many statements and leading questions. I'm not interested in the interviewer's opinion. I also find it dumb when an interviewer asks questions about someone else. Too many questions about the riders' dad or other teams etc. Focus on the person you're interviewing!

I also did Intermittent fasting (16:8) quite easily years ago, on a high protein, low carb diet and lost 15kg in year, without doing any physical activity (post-op; mostly sedentary etc), and I kept that weight off for another year. It was very easy. I realised that to lose more weight, I would need to either start training again (which I needed to do anyway), and/or switch to 20:4 or OMAD. After starting cycling again and getting my fitness back up I realised that the new diet was limiting my performance (as average as my performance may be). I got dehydrated and also cramped easily - (actually that IF had led to a constant state of dehydration), despite taking a boatload of electrolytes and vitamins. I had to retrain my gut to run on carbs again, which was not a nice process, but yielded results. I also realised that I just felt a lot better in general. But the downside was that I gained back 8kg. I've tried to do intermittent fasting again a few times since, on my current diet, but its too bloody hard. I have also tried going on a low carb diet in general and then do carbs for long rides, but my gut vehemently disagrees. I know others who do this, so a big part of my story is probably that I also have IBS, and my gut can't handle that kind of shock.

Nothing yet on the official site, but media have the story now: ABSA CAPE EPIC STAGE 3 STOPPED EARLY FOR SAFETY REASONS – TREAD MEDIA

I can't stand heat on my back either. I've got the camelbak hip-pack, which is a lot better, although it feel like its dragging you down, especially when climbing.

I don't think that his ride last week, or the acclimatisation matters. He lives in Arizona, so used to this heat. Plus he was doing mega rides in Argentina just a few weeks ago. I reckon he's either unwell, or its jetlag. Whatever, he didn't do that well in his previous two Epic outings that I can recall, despite smashing the Lifetime GP in the same years, although I think one year it was Lachlan Morton that was the weak link. 🤷‍♂️

Also got this beauty in June. Been stuck on the trainer for the winter - will actually only get it outside from next week onwards.