Li Mu Bai

Monster will definitely be the better of the 2 events. Just shows that the number of mtb events is diluting the race calendar - there are just too many. Not to mention the many clashes with road events. I have done several monster half marathons, good technical fun. This year the marathon is on the cards. Hazeldean just got a bit dull in the middle of the event this year.

love the way they spell 'Giant' hahaha

the Thule sit-on racks are awesome, no matter what distances you travel, definitely the way to go. Money is well spent with these, considering what you will have already spent on your carbon bike. Hanging racks are fine for very short distances, ie to the bike park etc, but the slight small movements in the clamp/frame connection rub wonderfully on your frame. makes no sense treating your bike like this, transport it properly with a Thjule sit-on.

pity that this does not take into account total entries in the field aswell as you placing within the field.

otherwise the shorts ride up your crack and give you a rash...

mmm no mention yet of the book or purchasing it on the above website, will have to wait for Cyclelab to get their copies next week.

what do you want to get out of a club? Do you want to make riding buddies, do you want to enjoy great hospitality after a major event (beers, cokes, food). do you want safety in riding in mtb in numbers to avoid hijacking, do you want marshalled road rides with people of your ability, do you want to race in the club race team, do you want to share coffee's after good hard rides with the guys your suffering with? Clubs are only as good as you make them, ie what you put in you get out. If you participate and get involved it doesnt matter if its big or small, although small clubs can be cliquey as there are less people to interact with. At least with big clubs you can find a clique that suits you, there may be many. My best advice, go along to several of the clubs' organised rides and see if you enjoy the safety, energy, organization, people, routes etc. Its about having fun isnt it?

Spitskop on stage 2 into Sabie, and then Long Tom Pass back to nelspruit. Jock isnt the Jock without Barberton. must be serious access issues.

mmm, I see entries have just opened. Price is up (R100 more than this year), completely new route, Roadworks causing havoc?? Nelspruit-white Rivier, WR - Sabie, Sabie-Nelspruit. No Fleece top. Pity, a little less for more money, but still a tough event it seems. Mbombela stadium start. cyclingnews.co.za Earlybirds could win a bike for the kids, enter before 6 dec.

for SA conditions you cant go wrong with the XT.

Well done for giving it a go Kosmo, I had a similar experience a few years back with an extremely sticky Hill2Hill, that started in the rain and had glue mud in the first 30km. not much fun, so glad I skipped it yesterday.

No Medal. thats a damn shame, considering the weather he had to endure. No medal and no odds n ends in a goodie bag, 3day stage race now 1 day event - jeez, seems like cradle quest organisers have really gone the no frills route, and for R180? more expensive than a trailseeker event. We watched as 30 odd brave souls set off on the 70km. The mud and rain just did not make it seem worth the wear n tear the race would have put on the bike and spirit. not sad to have bailed. We noted with smiles Roux'jies group enjoying their 7am beer under the start tent in the rain. crap day to race the slippery clay at Van Gaalens. looks like I will finally have my first race there next time.

carbon aero wheels will make the most noticible difference to your speed, the rest is just cosmetic

Might just not be the brand for you and your riding style. I have mates who swear by Giant and havent had problems, yet. So try out something else, and hopefully you wont be left wanting on a long ride with a bust frame.

Ive used it, it gets good and dirty, especially if your gloves are black. Plastic based ones(Ravx, BBB) clean easier than the cloth/artificial leather types(Fizik) or cork options. Matching your brake hoods makes sense to complete the detail. But, at the end of the day it always looks a little grubby, so no longer my first choice.

well, at the 2 day berg and bush, bike wash was free on day 1, and if you needed your bike cleaned before going home, you could get this done for a token payment. A lot will have to go wrong in the 2 day race to justify service plans. if you maintain your stuff and keep it cleam, it doesnt break down. Service plans make sense (perhaps) for the Epic, Pioneer Trek or Joburg to see, where its 8-9 days of hard riding...

yea, real pity that the Emperors has moved. Most folks take a break after peaking at the argus, and its on the same weekend as the finish of the Lowveld Quest. I enjoyed that race, dont think its going to be possible next year.

Argus is definitely harder to achieve a sub 3 hour ride. you will have to maintain a 37km/h average. If there is any wind, forget it. This year, there was little wind, but it was hot. there were only 500 odd sub 3's recorded as a result. The race is very condition specific, you need to have done a good base and intensity build up for the Argus. Start group is important. Next year will be slightly easier with Boyes Drive being dropped. Hold thumbs for a cool windless raceday.

My bike came with the 1070 cluster. The first race I rode with it, 2 of the cogs on one of the central sprockets sheared off. Whether it was a manf fault or just poor luck I am not certain, but I replaced it with a 1050 and no issues since. (15 races completed) 1050 and 1070 are different designs, spiders are not the same.

number collection at a shop in Harties. seems like I'll have to get mine at the event sat morning. First time to Van Gaalens after missing out on the Trailseeker because of kids stuff, looking forward to it.

you seem surprised... that seems about the time the yearly transport strike was on - everything ground to a halt.

bought my 800 edge locally at autostyle.co.za. worked out R300 cheaper than crc even with their discount.

wrong. you need to perform. no point starting A if you are out of shape...

Do more road races then. the two disciplines are not the same....

Not really, its a lot easier than cheating on the wife, and far les admin involved