Cactus

Windmill Casino in Bloem is fully booked - just on a week to go I guess it is what it is....spend the week ticking the pedals over and keeping the legs reminded of how to keep a bicycle moving forward. This race needs to happen now....its affecting my sleep already

It's just so lekker to ride Joburg's roads without having to stress about traffic. this is one of the few times in the year I take out the roadbike and really enjoyed the sojourn through the streets in just under 4 hours. The best part was seeing my daughter spectating - and having a serious jol after starting the day smashing a bottle of champagne and orange with her friends - and then telling me afterwards that she wants to stoke the tandem next year....now I really can't wait for 2020 :-)

Of the 15 I've done 2006 was one of the most memorable. Weird how suffering in adverse conditions creates the most vivid of memories....

28 days to the start.....Thoughts as to whether I've done enough training continually bombard me.....but I guess there's not a heck of a lot that can be done....in the irritating words of my boss,"It is what it is..." Can't wait!

....and to think the heat in the Karoo in November can be another 15deg on top of where Jozi is right now .........

My dream trail bike......Pivot 429 Trail, 130/120......not sure of local pricing but website pricing starts at US$6,100......ouch!

Tempting......gravelandtour.co.za has some attractive options.......

Thanks Albert - yup that was me - I remember stopping to ask if you needed help - glad you got going again. More reading material.....yay.....

I had GPS issues at the start of the 6-hour (glad it happened on a mini so I could figure what to do when the GPS freezes) so ended up pretty much on my own till just before the waterpoint....I try to ride these MM's at close to the max time - figuring my ass needs to know how it feels to be in the saddle for a really long time.....

Yup - definitely.....as usual i'll be at the back

58 days to the start.....or is it 'the end'......by now I've read Carlog's musings and Mike W's blog to the point where I can recite it by heart....I'm so tired of excel spreadsheets that my eyes hurt....my boss has given up on trying to get me to be productive and I'm convinced there are not enough hours in the week to do the amount of training I should be doing. I've rigged my bike up with extra bottle cages, tri-bars, light and batteries....everything except the bag that sticks out the back of the bike. Made the mistake this past weekend of riding without a Camelbak - oh wow, FREEDOM......now to try figure and reconfigure so that I don't have to take it with.....but what if....

OK - so maybe its the settings or firewalls or something at the office but www.northernfarm.co.za is a blank page.....but thanks for pointing me to their website.....

Hi guys, with the Sun making an appearance a little earlier these days - any idea what time the gates open at NF???

Not specifically cycling related but I've bought off wish.com before (mainly motorbike stuff) - like the previous post you need to exercise patience - it took nearly four months for the goods to arrive but when they did it was good quality and exactly according to spec.

Taking tough to the next level.....or is that hard-headed?

Lekker one Carlog - and let the 'Musings of a Novice' continue - your previous musings inspired me to enter Alex's crazy ride from Bloem this coming Nov, and maybe, just maybe, there's a RTR in the future.....lekker writeup - loved it

My 2010 Ventana El Rey. Absolutely love this bike. After two Epics and a host of other events I got Annette from Cycledelic to do the respray which came out much nicer than the original plain white. Did my first Epic on the 'El Saltamontes', which is basically the 26'er precursor to the 29'er El Rey. The abuse I took from riders at the 2010 Epic - 29'er Dual!!! Now everyone rides them....... Ventana are more widely known for their offroad tandems - the 'El Conquistador de Montanas' which I also had the privilege of owning for a while. http://www.ventanausa.com/

When do the big guns depart, the guys that are in it to win it?

See Carlog (of 'Musings of a Munga Novice' fame) in batch 2 RTR....good luck mate - can't wait for the story......

https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Cycling/2-riders-suspended-as-police-probe-austrian-blood-doping-ring-20190515

Hi guys, hope you can help. I've got a pile of old kit - cycling shoes, shirts, shorts, arm warmers, etc after clearing out the cupboards. It's not worth the hassle of putting up for sale and not so bad that it needs to be tossed in the bin - I'm sure there are those out there that are less fortunate who would still be able to get value out of it..... Is there a club or a shop that would be able to give it to the needy?

Evo - no question!.....If cash is not too much of an issue upgrade the wheels to the Roval Carbons off the Epic Expert Evo and then you'll have the perfect bike :-)

Thanks - that makes Google a whole lot easier :-)

The commentators spoke about Gilbert now having 3 of the big 4, still needing to win Milan - San Remo. Along with Paris Roubaix what are the other two? Guessing that L-B-L must be one of them.....

Brilliant race as usual - loved every minute - but i was surprised at the lack of Astana presence at the finish considering their prominence at the start of the race - they must have had a plan of sorts....well done to PhilGil, a deserved winner....