MongooseMan

Appears to be more pessimistic than other forecasts which, as mentioned, have rain moving later in the day 🤞

Link is wrong. Correct link: https://capetowncycletourtrust.com/old-herman-gravel-ride/ Here's the 85k route, as best I can make out: https://www.strava.com/routes/3119282664141488346 I've done 90% of that on a gravel bike, and the rest was part of the race last year, so assume it's fine too.

If you believe there will be no rain before you get to the pont, then I assume you're starting on Friday night? 😂

The difference with gravel is that the forecast doesn’t have to be as accurate as tar. Any rain in the 2 days prior to the event and we’re in for a mud fest.

I run the 40mm version of that tyre, I'm 80kg. On tar: 40/45psi Gravel: 35/40psi Next weekend, probably: 33/37psi

Video from Rae, who filmed the race:

Such a rookie move 😂

I've got 5 long term Swellendam forecasts going, all different The more concerning thing is that all 5 forecasts have gotten worse (colder, wetter) over the last 5 days. Doesn't bode well. Oh well, at least I'm not going to be wondering if I should put slicker tyres on...

I'm getting flashbacks.... 🙈

Worth noting that on some stages the Lanterne Rouge guys are doing live watchalongs on YouTube. So you open that on your phone, mute the TV, and listen to them, which is generally good banter.

Chris Froome took yellow in stage 7 of the 2015 tour and held it to the end. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Tour_de_France#Classification_leadership_and_minor_prizes

Why not? If it turns out to be a massive issue, then 40T isn't going to help that much, rather go to 38T with a csixx version.

I have a 40T, with 10-50 on the rear. For gravel, it's great, though I'm very rarely in the 50T (but it's nice to have as a bail-out). Actually bought a 48T chainring to have as an option for when I do road, as I found I was spinning out on descents (like the back of Smitswinkel in CTCT). But that only applies if you're also using the bike as a road bike. My 2c, the 42T will be fine.

I abused my scout, it held up well. 100 milers, bike packing, arguses, etc

Except only "kids" over the age of 12 can enter...

Yeah, purely from memory, I have the sections as: Fast gravel road Tar approach to first climb Big tar climb (Bothmans) Fast tar descent Big gravel climb to first aid station Fast Gravel descent Tar, gravel, tar, gravel to 2nd aid station Tar to Tulbagh Rolling gravel *** sandy gravel Bains Half of Bains descent on tar Crazy (hope your brakes work) gravel descent ~500m of tar Rolling gravel to finish So yeah, it's never boring

From personal experience, I disagree. in the last few years, trail upkeep on Table Mountain has fallen to private groups (Friends of Table Mountain, etc). To the best of my knowledge SANParks has been largely absent in this regard. also, in 8 years of trail running all over Table Mountain, I am yet to meet a SANParks ranger patrolling.

Is there a particular reason you want to mount it on the saddle? (Personally that seems a bit too visible for an item that should be as inconspicuous as possible). I went with this (it's diverge specific, but could probably be adapted to any bike with downtube mounts). Plus, it doubles as frame protection, so that's nice https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5515628 On my bikes without downtube mounts I've gone with this, under the bottle cages: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4894455

Weird, let me try again. Stl attached. energyfunnel.stl

Got tired of spilling Cadence powder on the sides of my bottles every time, but didn't want a skinny funnel, so made this. Simple, but it works.

As someone who looked deep into his soul at Lords and came up empty (ie didn't do the final climb) I really enjoyed the race loop. Race pack was really good (nice non pick n pay water bottle, musette, bottle of wine, neck tube in gravel-brown, etc, etc) and aid stations were really well stocked (though some salt to dunk the potatoes in might have saved a few legs in the latter stages). I like underbiking, so my opinion is somewhat biased, but there was never a section where I felt underbiked on my gravel bike. Maybe with slicker or thinner tyres I might have, but for the most part it was nice to have the singletrack sections to give a change of scenery from miles of smooth gravel. With that said, 75km/h downhill on a gravel road with a tailwind is another kind of rush 😁

Disclaimer, I know nothing about mountain bikes. But: https://bike-addict.co.za/products/titan-cypher-120-limited-alloy-2023

Shot in the dark: is anyone going through from McGregor to lord’s tomorrow morning with space for a bike (and me)?