G Man

Stolen: Bianchi Oltre XR4 2018 When: 14/11/2021Where: Kenridge, Cape Town, Western CapeUltegra DI2 groupset, Token Ventoux Carbon wheels with GP5000tl tyres, ITM X-One cockpit, Bianchi carbon waterbottle cages, Garmin mounts, GARMIN Vector 2 power pedals.Get further details about the incident in the Stolen Bikes section.

Bianchi XR4 stolen from my garage in Kenridge between Wednesday 10th and Sunday14th November 2021. Black with Celeste color, 53cm, 2018 model with Shimano Ultegra DI2, Token Ventoux wheels with GP5000 tubeless tyres, Garmin Vector 2 power pedals, astvte sky carb vt saddle,bianchi bottle cages with Garmin out front mount and varia rear mount.

I'm still a laaitie, lol. My second bike from Crown was also a Peugot Le Mans with the brake lever extension, was hot stuff back then. This brings back some good memories, the freedom to cross the tracks, see new places & back then there was no lycra, sti's, gu, etc.. A trip over Chappies was a whole day event with the entire neighbourhood gang. Agree that Bridge is too crowded and very little space. Also get the feeling they just want to get a quick sale and get you out of there asap.

I too can recommend Crown. They've been my lbs since I bought my 1st Chopper from old man Cloete 35 years ago and have never once dissaapointed me. Great price & service and though I moved to the Northern Suburbs I still make the trek down south for any bike related service or supplies I need. Gary & Hilton will always get back to you on any request and Mark is great mechanic and always open to give advice on any maintenance I try to tackle myself.

Congrats to all the finisher's and especially those doing the 56km, respect. Managed to do a 2.05 for my first ever road race, pretty happy with that for only 2.5 weeks training. Great race, might be back next year for the ultra.

Thanks Meezo & SR. Will take your advice. Did a flattish 16km this morning in 1.30, though feeling a bit tender now, but not more than usual after a long run. Will just do 2 more 5km runs this week and a 50km slow leg loosener on the bike on Friday. Should be enough to survive the 21km on Saturday.

Feeling a bit nervous, my first race ever and only done 4 training runs this year, with max only being 12km, though managing to average a 5.40/km. Starting in E, lucky draw, so just going to take it easy and hope for a 2.30. Any last minute tips on how to survive with virtually no running training but good cycle fitness? Wishing all hubbers the best of luck on race day.

Having had the misfortune of hitting my head against a steel barrier doing 50km/hr and being knocked out cold from the impact, yet still around to type this and ride agin, I will personally spend more on my helmet than on any other accessory, there is no second chance. Had a Giro pneumo and replaced it with the Aeon. Very light, comfortable, well ventillated and most of all I have the peace of mind that it will keep my head intact in event of a crash. My advice is to get a comfortable and well ventilated helmet that fits and is certified by a reputable standards or safety organisation. Rather spend more than skimp on your helmet.

Was in front of L, no one jumped the gun. There was a delay in K for whatever reason, announcer got confused and started count down for M without L being sent off. We all went off together 3 minutes later.

Done and dusted, just glad I made it through safely, though had some close shaves in the front bunch of L as well. Was not aware of the big crash in the bunch till reading about it hear. Sure was a lot of accidents yesterday, a lot of it caused by riders who underestimated the strength of the wind and the power of slipstreaming. As soon as they left the gulley and faced the wind to overtake, they turned in way to quickly to get protection from wind and cut the rider they passing off, which to avoid contact had to brake causing concertina effect, and those not paying attention was caught out. Brother-in-law broke his collar bone in a crash up front in vets as well. Hope all will heal soon and will be back on their bicycles in the near future. As for my race, manged to do a 3.26 from L, was hoping for sub 3.15, but had no legs for the second half of chappies and suikerbossie. Also found that there was only a had full of us that was working up front which slowed the pace a bit. Happy though with end result considering the wind, now to work on the sub 3 for next year and my first half marathon next month.

Great event, organisation and marshalling. However I do agree with previous post with regards to gravel section being a dangerous inclusion in a road race. By the time we came through in H it was all soft sand, decided to hang back and slowly negotiate the left side. I have done this section a number of times previously and never seen it this bad, I was scared and the number of fallen cyclist on the road and verge justified it. I managed to get through ok, just couldn't comprehend why some cyclist would still try to race through, put themselves and others in danger to gain a minute or two and still be no where close to a podium position. Another gripe I have is the amount of cyclist littering along the way. Once you done with your Gu/energy bar, please put the wrapper back in ur pocket, an extra gram or two will not make a difference. Empty the sachet and there will be no mess. I took a recovery ride this morning and it was disgusting the amount of Gu and energy bar wrappers along the Philadelphia and Adderley Roads. Enough to fill a black bag or two on a section less than 10km.

"Even Jan van Riebeek complained in his diaries about theft." - Find that very amusing as he was the biggest thief. Hope Charlies bike is recovered and to all fellow cyclist, be careful out there.

RIP. Condolences to his family and friends.

I usually get mild sinusitis during the changing of seasons, however the moment I climb on my bike(irrespective of season) and slightly exert myself(usually 20 min into a ride) my nose opens like a leaking tap and I spend the rest of the ride with my hand in the back pocket reaching for the handkerchief. Do I have an intollerence to something in my diet, have cut out meat, drastically reduced my gluten and dairy intake to no avail. Any advice would be appreciated.

Did a detour this morning on my normal loop to include the last 3 climbs. It's a killer, especially if the south easter is blowing like this morning. Climbing up Vissershok into the wind is not my idea of fun. Average speed dropped by 6km/h in the last 16km. There is NO WAY I'm riding the gravel section in a bunch, much too dangerous the fast downhill with loose patches of sand, stone corrugations and humps/dips obscured by the early morning shadows is a disaster waiting to happen, especially in a bunch. Sincerely hope they grade the road as mentioned before the race and possibly give it a slight wetting the night before.

I second you on this, from personal experience. Two months ago I had a nasty fall on my road bike at 56km/h(gps) hitting a steel road barrier with my head and woke up being put in an ambulance. Thankfully no bones broken, just skin off the arms, legs, face as well as stitches in the face and whiplash for 2 weeks. The impact knocked me out for nearly 30 min. Could not remember a thing, my Giro took most of the impact and 'saved my life'( doctor's words), therefore replaced again with an Aeon, expensive I know, but there might be no second chances again. Accident took place R44 which I 've ridden hundreds of times, no cars, just took my hand off the handlebar to get water on a downhill and hit bump( obscured by early morning shadows) in road caused by a root. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that my first accident after 25 years(on & off) of cycling would take place so easily. Therefore I will never go on a ride without a decent helmet, think people who ride without are either stupid or just ignorant ( or both). All the best with the recovery, lots of green juice( sort of forced as I couldn't open my mouth for the first 5 days and had to use a straw to feed myself) saw me back on the bike after 2 weeks.

In the same boat as yourself. Come down with flu and hoping i feel better tomorrow, need this race for a good Argus seeding. My head says it a no go, but heart wants to get on the bike & ride like the wind. Going to take big dose of Vitamnin C, some warm brandy with ginger, lemon & honey and see how i feel at 4 am, start time just after 6.

Thanks for the replies guys. Finished the DC in 7.37, best ever and felt i could have done better, so definitely going to go for a sub 3.

After 2 years off the bike and just completing the One Tonner, got bumped upto D from a Q PPA seeding. What sort of time would you expect the average time for the D group to be? Just want to see if I'll be able to hang onto the big group or slip back to Q?

Done

Not quite the Alps, but pretty close

Not quite the Alps, but pretty close

Moringa - Miracle Tree, all the nutrition you need.

Not much can be done till new legislation passed. Could report him on www.roadhogs.co.za, not sure if that will help though. I had a similar incident this morning on the R304 where a farm bakkie nearly took me out giving way for a car passing him, shoved me into the gravel, luckily I managed to stay on bike. Couldn't get the number plate, shock, but it was a old white bakkie(the rear was brown from gravel roads). Getting dangerous out there.