MongooseMan

Safa Brian was out over December and filmed this of his Bains descent with some of the local lads

Slight hijack: how is that Bolany 60mm fork? I’ve got my eye on it for a gravel build later this year for Trans

Seems greyton is the place to be this week 😉

Hout Bay Engen saved me, that orange ice lolly had a bigger effect than most gels I’ve taken

I think it's gone, but I just ride in the red bus lane along that section.

Thinking out loud: Power meter pedals/power meter crank = your output Stick it on a smart trainer = total output Difference = Motor output (more or less) Of course, that requires access to power meters and a smart trainer.

Thanks! I don't think anyone here envies your task of trying to balance cyclist desires for routes with local authorities, traffic, etc. Looking forward to Feb, at least I don't have to keep a bullet in the chamber for the last 500m now 😉

@NicholasH without throwing you under the bus, are you able to add any colour to the route changes? 😉

The "crit" is an issue because A batch has it as neutralised, B batch doesn't. So last year, for 99er and Tour de PPA, B batch caught A batch before the 5km crit section was done, which lead to all manner of issues. Agree on Odendaal, it was a unique finish, it's now the same as all the other Dbnvl races.

Just had a look at the road route, 2 interesting changes: 1. No more crit circuit through the suburbs to start (this is good) 2. No more Odendaal hill to finish (looks like the normal Durbie Dash/Tour de PPA finish on Adderly, maybe a bit further down the road). Also means 94km instead of 99... https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/313014923

Just noting that sizing between brands (and often within brands between models, or even years) is a complete dogshow. Example, comparing 2 different years of Spez Diverge to a Trek Checkpoint, all ostensibly size "56" https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/specialized-diverge-expert-2022-56,specialized-diverge-expert-2020-56,trek-checkpoint-alr-4-2021-56-cm/ Geometry Geeks is your friend here, work out what your desired stack and reach are and then find the size that most closely matches that. If between, size down.

I had a moment after popping where I was quite happily drafting the remnants of team #33 (as a member of team #248). It was humbling moment 😂

2: Pure Average and Pure Savage Mixed. Renay was in Brendan's team (Pure Average). They were the ones in the "tri-colour" (red, white, blue). We (PS Mixed) were in the black kit.

My second DC, first time in the other @Pure Savage mixed team (ie, the one that didn't come 5th 😉) I punctured out of Ashton, which meant a solo ride in the hurt box to Bonnievale. Tried to draft the ECC/3PO train that came through. Nothing like sitting 24th wheel and being absolutely on your limit for 20 minutes, 130km into a race 😆 Popped at Red Bridge, and rolled into Bonnievale neutral 8 mins after my team. Downed a litre of coke and shoved ice in all the places it would stick before rolling out. At the right hand turn to the sisters I told the road captain I'd push a lady up the first one and then I was done. Did that, got to the top, somehow recovered on the down so did it again on the 2nd sister. Halfway up the third sister I realised there were only 7 of us left, so I kinda had to stick around. And from the top it's just the most madcap descent in a 50km/h paceline, screaming at each other not to back off. Finished in 5:44 for 6th mixed team. 100% recommended, would do it all again 😁

7:05 start? We're 2mins before you 😉 Don't forget to factor neutral zones in when setting your average speed (unless you're planning on doing a 4:30? )