sometime

My second year doing this race and just reinforces my opinion that it must be the most fun you can have in a 3 day stage race. Unlike Sani2C and Berg n Bush which have been sanitised to the point that you can ride a CX bike on the trail, this is real mountain biking with some seriously challenging but fun riding. Families are welcome in the race village which is not something you will find as easily in other races. Whereas I got bored with Sani and BnB as they got dumbed down year after year, I can't see myself getting bored with this race for quite a while to come. Highly recommended!

Been racing with Racing Ralphs for years all around the country with essentially no problems at all. Front Ron;rear Ralph

Condolences to the deceased rider The new route is fantastic; a real challenge in every respect. The water tables on the other hand are extremely poor. There were a few occasions where they either had no water or only water. They had no chain lube and the only effort at providing food were a few token bananas lying on the table. This is unacceptable for race of this stature. A few boiled potatoes, maybe some more fruit, some fruit cake would not cost a lot of money but would make a huge difference to the ride rather than expecting riders to carry piles of food in their pockets. If this was the case then tell the riders, that unlike pretty much all other MTB races, there is no food at all, so you need to make your own plans.

Says the man who no doubt has never attempted this event?

So after 5 years at last a 1x system offers the range of a 2x system but at what cost? This review is incomplete with no mention of what it's like to have an 8 tooth ramp between the 42t and 50t cogs and before that the 6 tooth ramp from 36t to 42t. This is one of the most obvious and serious shortcomings of any 1x system and too often I hear of riders complaining of being between gears.

I've done this event a few times and always regarded it as one of the better stage races on the calendar and a real challenge. The Lite version was introduced to cater for those not up to the challenge of 3 days of good, hard marathon racing so why they are now 'dumbing down' the real race is a mystery to me. I'll give it a miss this year.

No idea on this race but he is a podium contender in vets racing

Good to see them catching one of the many vet racers 'competing' at the sharp end of vets racing who are juiced up. Keep it up SAIDS - test more of the vets riders and I can guarantee you many more positive results.

Fit and forget. Worth every cent

It's only a good thing when brakes don't break. Your problem (apart from your spelling) as mentioned by others is those rubbish Avid brakes. Shimano SLX offer the best bang for buck brakes on the market. Fit them - you'll thank us later.

I've had two warranty claims on Giant Anthems and with the help of my LBS have had them both replaced within a week each. One of the reasons I will continue to support the brand.

So you can only cycle once you have paid something to someone - i.e. there are no free rides and there are no cheap bikes? It's a rhetorical question so don't bother replying...

Robyn De Groot has been riding Trek for pretty much this whole year?

I've been the same weight as an adult for the past 25 years. I follow this diet in moderation (unless I'm racing in which case I eat HFHC) purely from a health perspective and feel better for it.

For during the week when I don't have much time I typically have one of two meals for breakfast. 1. I heat up some frozen mince (cooked the way you like it) which I made over the weekend + a bowl of plain double cream yoghurt + a serving of fruit OR 2. 1 banana, 1 apple/pear/pawpaw, some berries, a few spoons of plain double cream yoghurt, two raw eggs - place in a blender and drink. It's very quick to make, tastes good and contains all I need. For something a little different try a Bullet Proof Coffee if you have time http://www.bulletproofexec.com/bulletproof-coffee-recipe/

Just entered - really looking forward to this. And as for people complaining about the entry fee - seriously? Do you think the organisers just have to set up the online entries and then they'll just arrive on the Friday like the rest of us and the event will just happen? Or that maybe there are hours and hours of hard work and organising (and related costs) that take place in the months ahead of the event?

Firstly refer your club mates to rule #5 and then tell them that when they should ride hard they should ride really hard; and when they ride easy it should be really easy. But spending hours on the bike each week doing neither is just a waste of time if you have any racing ambitions..

That's a cop out. Natural talent is what you need to be in the top 5% of your game. If that's not your objective then hard work, discipline and resilience will get you far enough. Trust me if you invest 6 - 8 hours in quality training and simultaneously manage your lifestyle (diet, weight, health) then a sub 3 hour is easily achievable. And no the bike doesn't come into it at all.

6 - 8 hours a week you should be well under a 3 hour race time. My 40-something year old wife did sub 3 last year on that amount of training after years off the bike and started from a very average batch. If you can't do it then your training is very poor, or you're not prepared to suffer enough in a race.

Nepotism, corruption, incompetence, hidden agendas, conflicts of interest - sounds all too familiar

I missed the original post in Oct '13 but my first reaction after reading the OP's first post was BS! I haven't bothered reading the rest apart from Joe's post above. Insurance fraud anyone?

Decent winter clothes are worth the financial investment now. You only need them maybe 3 - 4 months of the year so they should last you many years. You need wickdry base layers so you get the sweat off your skin so you don't get cold on the downhills. Cape Storm sell good base layers. Wear your normal shorts with full leg leggings- Anatomic's leggings are crap. I would rather look at decent European kit - Santini, Giordana, Pearl Izumi. Assos is silly money. Get zip up booties to cover you shoes (Anatomic is fine). A decent jacket is a must and once again the European stuff is worth the investment. Craft make a nice jacket that is good for winter with layers and good for Autumn and spring on it's one or just a vest. Don't wear the raincoat type shell jackets. You sweat too much in those, get wet and then get really cold. One buff around your head and ears, the other around your neck. Good quality winter gloves also NB.

I think just aout anyone who has ever ridden a mounain bike must have done Sani2C by now so the route from Underberg to Scottburgh is very well known and very well travelled. So whilst doing Joberg2C this year was fantastic, riding the last 3 days on a route I know so well, was a little 'boring'. Also it must be said that 9 days is a LONG time to be on the bike and away from family and work. I missed my family a lot and my work missed me. A 7 day race covering a new route will make the race accessible to many more riders, as well as creating what I think is some much needed variation in the route and the finish itself. Either way it's a must do event.

I remember Steve well from my early days in motor racing. He was a real character and well liked by so many in the motor racing community. This is so sad to hear. My condolences to his friends and family.

You say that without any hint of irony...