kandui

Find a group and ride with them. If you're in the S'burbs, pop into Trail & Tar. They seem to be organising quite a bit of stuff. As a novice I think it's a bit early to get a coach, go out and ride the bike as much as you can. If a section looks a bit hairy at first , get off and walk (but always keep the trail clear for riders who can handle it). Observe other riders where you can and ask questions. Get the feel for your bike, and if you've got cleats, get the feel for when the shoe clicks out and practice getting in and out of your cleats (preferably on a flat piece of road at first).

I am going to ride. weather looks perfect. Slow is fine. Can tune the route to suit. Where do you live?

Now you'll have to wait for 4. So you might as well sign up. Or watch Star Wars.

I think this whole Plan is some Jedi Mind Training thing. If the Jersey cow believes it can win the July , it will.

I'd like to know more. The driver of the car calls you over to ask for directions , and then.......? Are there guys who jump out and try and take the bike? Do they have weapons? A gun? What's the full modus operandi? From the account given, it sounds like a car approached, the rider had an uneasy feeling and got out of there. In fact, no crime committed. I would like to know whether the car outside Peddlers and the Manor House was the same one. Description of the occupant or occupants. Numberplate details. Make, model and colour of the car. As a member of the NW in Tamboerskloof, we are always careful about what information we put out there. We check the facts to make sure we get accurate information to the public at large.

I leave home around 4:45 and get to the turn under the Blockhouse about 35min later.

Thursday is looking ideal for a ride at the moment.

Beer? I'll have one.

When you're in Cape Town, drop me a mail at ride@tablemountainbikers.co.za and I'd be happy to show you around Table Mountain. Judging by your avatar ,you have the right taste in bikes. I have Niner's too. Good climbing machines, perfect to Table Mountain.

To be precise. You can buy your Activity Card here too: Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000215 EndHTML:0000010257 StartFragment:0000002907 EndFragment:0000010221 SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/admin/Desktop/CAPE%20TOWN%20TOURISM%20SALES%20SITES%20FOR%20THE%20TMNP.docx CAPE TOWN TOURISM SALES SITES FOR THE TMNP ‘MY GREEN CARD’ & ‘MY ACTIVITY PERMIT’ CITY CENTRE Pinnacle Building, Cnr Burg & Castle Streets t: +27 (0)21 487 6800 • f: +27 (0)21 487 6859 <a href="mailto:central@capetown.travel">central@capetown.travel MUIZENBERG The Pavilion, Beach Road t: +27 (0)21 787 9140 • f: +27 (0)21 787 9150 muizenberg@capetown.travel HOUT BAY 4 Andrews Road t: +27 (0)21 791 8380 • f: +27 (0)21 791 8399 houtbay@capetown.travel KIRSTENBOSCH Gate 2, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden t: +27 (0)21 762 0687 • f: +27(0)21 761 4223 kirstenbosch@capetown.travel SIMON’S TOWN 111 St George’s Street t: +27 (0)21 786 8440 • f: +27 (0)21 786 8459 simonstown@capetown.travel WILLOWBRIDGE Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre 39 Carl Cronjè Road, Tygervalley t: +27 (0)21 915 4080 • f: +27 (0)21 915 4099 willowbridge@capetown.travel BLAAUWBERG 1 Marine Drive, Table View t: +27 (0)21 521 1080 • f: +27 (0)21 521 1099 blaauwberg@capetown.travel CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Visitor Information Kiosk t: +27 (0)21 934 1949 airport@capetown.travel SOMERSET WEST Southey’s Vines, 186 Main Road t: +27 (0)21 840 1400 • f: +27 (0)21 840 1410 somersetwest@capetown.travel

Mmmmm. I must admit that I am made of sugar

SMS me on 083 6319796 if you want

You still want to go or delay to tomorrow?

If you need practical, on the ground advice, let me know. Happy to help.

Weather is grey, but not wet, so I'll go. One other has announced himself

We all have our vies on the Epic. OP, you see it as a business opportunity and I have no problem with that. While I may need some help to achieve my Epic goals, I am not in the market for spending loads of cash for the tailor made assistance . But, that doesn't mean others aren't . We are engaging in healthy debate and that's cool. But , as others have asked, what do we get for your price? Break it down, I'd be genuinely interested. Perhaps you can convince me that what you're selling is what I need. Or even better still. Why not give me 6 weeks (August to mid September) on your programme for free and I will provide objective and regular feedback to this Forum, my mailing list of 250+, via the TMB Facebook page and Twitter. I have a solid fitness level and 6 weeks should show some tangible results? What do you say?

Trading off the hype of the Epic is something I don't really agree with. It's a far more intense experience than any other Stage race, no dispute there. But , just because it's the Epic, doesn't mean that your bike is more prone to damage or that you'll only get though to the finish if you follow a professional training plan. My wife did massage for teams in the 120's , in the 300's as well as right at the back. The back guys, one of them had only started riding a year ago and looked like a hooker, but he suffered though it and got his medal. It's about what you want from the race. The guy that finished at the back still gets the admiration from friends, family and riding pals. That, apart from self-satisfaction, is all he wants and needs. Enticement, you are defending your need to make money, hence your stance on preparing for the Epic. I think the cost of what you are suggesting is contentious in this Forum. You're basically offering a once-off insurance premium against failing at the Epic. Does a mid to end pack rider need to be over-insured?

sure thing. I am just keeping an eye on the weather. Windguru is predicting a bit of rain.

I guess the OP is aiming at the Corporate first time Epic riders who will spare no expense. Over 60% of Epic riders in 2011 bought new bikes for the race. You can imagine the average cost of those. What's another 10k to them? 5k for a mechanic package. Totally overpriced. I know a mechanic who does it for half the price and he had a the Masters leaders under his wing until they pulled out due to a fall. Put a call out for Epic training advice on this Platform and you will get hundreds of tips. Filter and you will have plenty to do for free. Go to the Daisyway website and you can get a free training plan for "Have time issues" and "Got to get a good result" guys. For Mahala. I think the Pioneer Trek site just put up a training plan as well. Live in the tents, they are fine. Save the B&B cash to take the wife & kids away for a weekend to say Thank You for putting up with my training.

Completed 2 Epics, 2011 and 2012. Rough Stats for 2012: Leaving out the entry fee which cost me less than full price. Mechanic package : Zero. Did my own basic work. Had no mechanicals, but the Mechanics at Epic ALWAYS take walk-in business. Learnt my lesson in 2011. You pay R 3500 over to ...... and get crap service. Nutrition Pre Race: 1 tub Enduren every 6 weeks (R195/tub). Epic training started proper in November . Cost : R 682,50 Nutrition at Race: R 195 (didn't use the whole tub). Don't use GU's , so no cost there. Cramp & Salt Tabs: R 150 CSA License: 0 Got PPA and that was enough. Plus, it's valid for 1 year. Training Plan: used Kevin Evan's plan from the 2010 Pioneer, plus got some free advice. Just need to ask. Cost: 0 VO2max Test at Sports Science: R 660 (voluntary, just to see how my fitness was a month before the Epic) Spares and Wear & Tear during Training: difficult to assess as I ride a lot anyway, but let's call it R 4000. If you put new tyres,chain , small ring and cassette on your bike before the Epic, you'll be fine. Training Time : about 10-15 hours/ week which went down to 8-10/ week, 6 weeks before the Epic. Intervals of an hour twice a week and normal riding for the rest. Massage: R 2000. We had our own Physio (Connections: she's my wife ). I got it for free, but add the cost, because that is the one non-negotiable to get a proper massage to get the legs ready for the next day. Cycling Tops: Sponsored, but let's add R 2500 for 5 shirts per rider. Bibs can be your own. Do you count other races such as Pioneer as part of Epic training? I think not. They are proper races in their own right and I would do them irrespective of whether I have entered the Epic, but give you good base training. Throw in the W2W or Knysna 300 and you have events which are great rides to do and give you excellent prep time for the Epic. And they test your team compatibility. I didn't buy a new bike for the Epic. I actually took a second hand Fox shock someone sold on The Hub for 2k and did the Epic with it. He bought a 10k shock for the Epic. Makes the point of potentially overspending for the Epic. If you maintain your bike , you will be fine . Nobody can forsee major mechanicals , crashes or sickness. My total is : R 10187,50. I'll add another : R1812,50 for sundries. R 12000 , excluding Entry Fee. I don't think that is such a scary looking number. Check my maths in case I made a mistake adding up. Just for the record, our team finished GC 170 in this year's Epic

Gloves, good idea. Get some full finger ones.

Saw this in my German Mtb mag I got in the post this morning. Probably old hat for all the Tech Fundi's, but I think this is a damn fine looking drive train. 11 Speed Cassette: 10-42 Big Blade: 28,30,32,34,36, or 38 Rear Derailleur: moves horizontally only Crank: 650g. No Chain Guide required

Thursday. 4:45pm from the corner of Ivy and Kloof. Same route and we'll throw in some Signal Hill for good measure. Just stay away from the late afternoon coffee!

yup

So, what was it like out there?