Joe Low

I always thought i'd have many sub-3s on this race; but am now glad for the near heart attack that got me 2:59:57 a couple of years back, and the only sub-3 out of 8 attempts.

Got ours for free - mustve been the 'after sunrise special'. Then again, there was bugger-all jaffles when we got to cp7.

Must've been somebody else - and anyway I was saying we'd meet again, not necessarily we'd ride again. There must be loads of reasons I could end up in the Eastern Cape and bump into a hubber.

Thanks a mil, but carbon fibre wouldve been better! Great meeting you and your other half; it wont be the last time.

Me and Nancy Drew finished in just under 21hrs. Highlight(s) - completing it & being a team Lowlight - hill past dilapidated buildings after cp7, thought it would be a breezr to the end.

I know what you mean but seeing the SABC forecast today you can see a clear split in the weather round about the Eastern / Western Cape border goin North - maybe its got someting to do with the meeting of the oceans. Anyhow its a lot better on the Eastern side of the line.

or on da udder hand Darren Slowbee, "Check before you post"

Why has the robber stolen a bike that he cant ride? carrying it in broad daylight with a mask on is a bit of a giveaway. Bloody amateurs

Aha if thats me then, lets make a well known phrase or saying using the words "blind" and "leading". Otherwise, I see the weather forecast has improved. Temps now 6 - 17; wind has changed from West to North, so still not bad; and only predicted to rain again on Weds after today and thats just a couple of mms.

Thats my inspirational team leader - you go Nance!

Some days you just want to ride - crappy people are around all the time, if you miss an opportunity to confront them today, there'll be another tomorrow.

I think it's a choice, not a responsibility and no need for others to get aggro about it.

hmmm dunno but i'm not taking them off.

Sure, but with sealskinz, take them off to cross just in shoes and put on again to keep feet dry in-between crossings.

I wear last year's if i'm running late

Gymnastics, boxing - two essential events in the Olympics for me, both have judges. And go easy on referring to yourself in the 3rd person, that way madness lies, Joe Low says

A comment in the paper yesterday is that the issue is bigger than the technicality of him being aided. i.e yes he does get an advantage, but it makes the world a better place that he competes with able-bodied athletes and we turn a blind eye* to the assistance. (*cool paralympic pun, right there)

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the OPs post, it brought out Hayleyearth's views which I thought were really cool, reasonable and specific. I went to Linden once to hire a Mtb. From the Hub i was expecting something special & it wasnt at all. Conversely, I go to my lbs & its really good because they know me. Most people going there get issues and a lot are put off. Because its at the end of my street i persevered and its been well worth the effort. Got a friend who loves Cajees Boksburg cuz he took time to get to know them. I go there and I'm not keen, but its ok to get a couple of things from them. Bottom line not all customers are equal in different shops.

That would be the fabled neutral zone; 0 - heart attack in 50mtrs.

Cyclelab also & the arse-creeping over Cajees is something else

Ahh didnt get that one, and the track opened at 5:30 so got in 90mins. AND I won the event, but there was no-one there to applaud or hand over prizes.

WW is a fine upstanding citizen and Hubizen with a genuine concern, she's not stirring. Stolen bikes is tricky esp if its been passed around a couple of times. The end-user wont know the origin, so be careful if you make an approach. Race is never far away, if he's legit you should feel like **** for accusing. Like I did when i mistook (assumed) a black customer for a waiter. We need to keep our assumptions under review; but if you feel moved to act, you should do so.

So where was everybody last night, not a single other rider there. It was just me and the bunnies singing: "lonely, I was so lonely, I had nobody, to chase round the track." Still it was for free.

The Mrs gets upset when i mace the kids; I do fart a bit though which keeps them back for a while.

I always put the fan on full in front of me on the trainer so that i get more of a workout riding into the head wind. And if I want to simulate a Jo'burg ride, we smash bottles on the carpet and get the kids to cross backwards and forwards in front of me; then one of them pinches my cellphone.