argie1

Penny Farthing wheel going to make a "comeback?" Asking for an old friend 😉

I have only had to visit Garmin once. My old Forerunner 645 screen went nearly blank, but the electronics were fine and would download to my Edge or Samsung phone. Dropped it off, waited for my repair quote, replace screen R 2 k, and it made me think. A new unit R 7 k less 30%? After a few weeks delay on my side, I paid for the repairs the Monday and received a brand new Forerunner 255 the Friday morning. This was way better than me being impatient and buying a new unit less the discount. Excellent, thank you Garmin.

Also in 1B. 😎

As a teenager I used to deliver the morning Cape Times before school and the afternoon Argus after school. What homework? Thats how I got into cycling. When we decided to enter the first Argus Pick n Pay cycle tour, (using money orders) we did not know much about cycling further than newspaper deliveries or to the beach and back, maybe 6 km. After a few years, that sub 3 grabs your attention. We managed to do all the detours over the years. I really liked the Boyes Drive part, the view over False Bay was great when you weren't watching the wheel in front but the descent was deemed too dangerous, like the descent into Kommetjie. I still train very hard, but not enough to make a sub 3, but I have something to dream about. My parents and little sister have supported me every year but they have all since passed away. I can't tell you why I still ride the Argus other than for me it is the excitement of the entry (I am in for 2023) the training with my club buddies (all the after ride "refreshments") the trip to Cape Town over the last 20 years, (locust swarms, tyre blowout, etc. for 2022) The hype of collecting my number and searching through the club 21 names. Saturday Camps Bay breakfast ride, will make you think its race day. Rising very early on "race" day for brekky, the trip to the start, the warmup ride are my lights working? the checking of all the stickers/tags, the long wait for the gun amidst other riders, hardly anyone you know, and WHOOPLA. And before you know it, it's all over too soon until the next year. But then I don't do many races anyway. I will be 65 one day, should I make it 50 tours?

I understand there are around 300 entrants for the ride tomorrow.

You giving me goosebumps with all this talk about the weather. Any day we can ride our bikes should be a great day. Lining up for my "mid life crisis" tour, 41st.😎 The weather can do what it wants, as long as the tour goes ahead. I haven't been this far up front in 1A since ..... the canon blasted off at the old castle in 1980.

Only 7 years old and parts have been discontinued they say, so why should one consider a cannondale in the future?

Thanks to you lot that took us down a virtual tour of the expo from memory. Used to get my BP, HR, weight, glucose, cholestrol, etc. measured each year at the expo until they stopped that for whatever reason. Last year's expo we watched a guy on an exercise bike linked to a juicer, spinning away to make orange juice.

Glad that you are okay and have recovered your bike.

I own both a scalpel and a defender, thought it was going to be about that oil leak ...

So why did a mountain bike come in first? One guy I spoke to that rode it on his gravel bike with "skinny" tyres said the corrugations, sand and ruts held them up. I don't have a gravel bike but if a guy who finished in the top 10 last year is doing it this year on his mtb then I think I will use his experience. Of course the mtb that came in first could have been wheel sucking the gravel guys along the way, who knows?

Surprised by Advendurance this is not like them but that doesn't help the OP. Doing my first one this year but have a lift to the start and back from the finish. May I suggest a search of Race to the Sun on YouTube and then after watching, those with gravel bikes can argue on Friday why a mountain bike came in first.

I used normal road tyres for a while and once I got to about 20 hours per month the tube would eventually wear through after 3 months. Even baby powder inside the tyre didn't help to reduce friction. A new tube would last a week then I would change the tyre. I don't have a taxc tyre but I do have an IDT specific tyre, think it is a conti but its at home and I'm at work so can't confirm. Been using that since October 18 so far so good, it is marked for IDT use only and feels more "sticky" than a normal road tyre.

Just as a precaution, don't leave valuables in your car, such as GPS, dash cam etc. No point in tempting fate. I travel from Fish Hoek and used to take the first train but the last time the driver never pitched up in Simonstown so had to leg it back to my parent house to get my car and fly over ou Kaapse onto Blue route to make my start in time. Had lost my start card in the process and was turned around at the entry gate to a tent where they printed me another card. Luckily I had time in hand. Now I leave at 5 am by car for a leisurely drive to Sea Point then that allows me time to warm up before going to sit at the start. 1F for me this year. might have to go 15 mins earlier.

I started 2B last year, managed a 3h06 but there were a bunch of guys that did sub 3, so not impossible that far back. Have moved forward into 1F. Will see what happens at Smitswinkel, whether or not we (1F) improve on that this year.

Well done David, quite an achievement. Incidentally, we have ridden together many years ago in the Argus and now I can add the 947 Kyalami lap to that. Guys I can add that while David might be able to cover all these kilometers he is by no means "slow". I just managed a 2h49 947 and he was hot on my cleats, for his second lap. Please do consider his charity.

EmptyB, I guess the lack of response means they didn't see anything cos they were too busy loading their dishwashers.

I was seeded C and started with them too, feels kinda strange now. BUT, in the second km I saw this youngster with a yellow shirt, number 8 thousand and something. I told him he was a touch out of sequence with his number, and his reply .... ja but I ride SAs! yeah right so you got seeded that far back. He had folded his group letter over so only his number was visible. (8739 I think but don't crucify that number, at my age I might have mixed it up by now) He was dropped before that long climb was over and I never saw him again, even after I had to stop to replace a front brake block. First time in 36 years that has happened, luckily I carry two spares on the back brakes.

I picked up 3 x permanent mtb numbers Sunday morning near Rayton so if you would like them back contact me, or I could use them for days when I really want to give you a bad finish. 68176 68156 24361 May I suggest to those that do have these boards that they use a permanent marker to add an alternative cell number on the back. I tested the sms response from SAS and within 45 seconds a quick reply which says ........no medical details. Brilliant that the system works, now the owner needs to ensure his details are uploaded. I will contact SAS direct, maybe that's the solution.

Alex if you are breathless after sucking on a nipple you must be doing it wrong. Maybe that's why we saw signs on the route that said ...... BREATHE

Well done to every one who finished and those who tried. My first monster and I cramped from walking in places up the "climb of the day". Then when you get to that water point you realise its not half way. Managed 6h40 with cramping. My hardtail survived with a loose bottle cage, speedo magnet came loose and I sort of have rear brakes. I did help a guy after he had tumbled after the radio tower, straightened his shades and he looked good to go. Next year again fellas?

My first monster attempt, maybe if I wear arm warmers for socks my knees won't get cold

We get wiser as we get older and then think about potholes and junk in the road but what's with no gloves ? I slipped a mobile crane the last time down Lynnwood road, had to give up at 70 when it started to spray oil out, what a mess it made of my bike so I won't do it anymore.

Batch B start for my first ever mtb day race but I got some tips from "Short cut Evans" on passing slower riders upfront.

They worked the best for me on climbs in the 80s but I just can't recall the name. That's when Ertjies Bezuidenhout (RIP) managed to beat me in the '86 Argus by only 10 mins and I was just a student. I still have them fitted to my old Tange 2 Peugeot Rapport which sits on the indoor trainer. No issues with shifting from the down tube in those days nor rubbing the chain. There might have been some rubbing but it would have been off the bike. I would also agree that you can't go for one ride but would have to train on them for a few weeks. In fact, maybe I should unhitch the old girl and take her out, just like under a Scotsman's kilt, nothing is worn it's all in perfect working order. Having said all that, I don't have them on my current road or mtb bikes ......... upgrades