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.

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

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.

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

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

With all the nite series mtb rides I want to get a second light, sounds like I should get one over the web then. Even the recent cycle fare was bit of a let down.

Hey, why not see how many peeps are interested and start selling 29er specific water bottles, can hold a litre instead of 750 mls......okay, they probably already have camelbacks .... But by the time all the 29er specifics are added I guess that could add a kilo or 2 extra weight as well.

MTB etiquette? After being a noobie mtber for 3 weeks I entered my first race, the ASG nite race and I thought you just blow past the slower guy on the side of the tracks once you catch up with him, or is that just GP mentality ... my mistake. I wouldn't bother the slow guy in front much, just warn them coming past right and go for it. I must admit though, I did have a flat 500 m from the finish so guess my first upgrade will have to be stans. Despite the slower riders and 1 fall, I enjoyed the ride so much I can't wait for the next one.

16 hours .......Geez what was the name of that energy drink? I also do most of my rides packed for a picnic and end up taking all the snacks back home, similar to ichops regarding the Argus and water consumption.

Hope you recover fully. I would imagine that the event organisers have a clause for any entrant, stating that they enter at their own risk and can't claim a sausage from the organiser, patrons, etc etc in the event of any incident, much like all the fun rides we do. That could leave you with having to identify the owner yourself and taking legal action against them. I can't recall if there is a sign at the entrance to the park about enter at own risk. May have been sold for scrap by now. Unfortunately, being so long after the incident would make it difficult but not impossible to track down the owner. As you may know in endurance events, there are vet checks after each leg so start with the horses that were disqaulifed and perhaps that may narrow it down as they give reasons for the disqualification. We haven't been to Fauresmith for about 5 years but generally all the results are on the Erasa website. You need the date of the event to get the results. Good luck, hope it gets resolved.

Well after 35 years in the road saddle, I crossed over to mtb and I'm just loving it. So this being my first week I have already had a flatty, fell over in thick sand, probably bruised my nether regions more than I expected but in doing this I have chased a rabbit in the moon light, nearly crapped my self when a duiker sprang from the bushes later, watched 2 vlak varkies running across my path and an assortment of other bokkies on the roads. Not the 2 legged variety. I stay out near Rayton so I have plenty of gravel to ride on but man I'm having fun. Hope I still think like this after I do my first mtb race.

Entered as well and confirmed. Last year I waited and dipped out but was very fortunate to get a substituion. I'm not so sure about waitng for the rush before entering. I think in 1980 my entry was a whole R 50 bucks and that was nearly 2 weeks of newspaper deliveries for me. In those days as a laaitjie, the bike did everything from the school run, paper delivery run, training rides & the Argus. Once I "shot" through from Fish Hoek to Muzenburg for a single ball bearing for my skateboard of course the roads seemd to be a lot safer then too.