El Duderino

Yep. Have never had any issues riding past Masi. Have not heard of anyone having any issues either. Traffic can get busy on that stretch at certain times of the day.

Yep. It is Masiphumelele. Kommetjie comes after the intersection at Imhoff Farm. You have Heron Park, Ocean View and Imhoff between Masi and Kommetjie. Kommetjie is from Wireless Road to about halfway up the Slangkop climb which takes you past Soet Water and on to Scarborough. It's a small village.

There are no taxis in Kommetjie. No informal market either. Kommetjie only starts about 2 kms after you pass the robots at Imhoff Farm entrance. You might be referring to the taxi rank at Masi on your way to Kommetjie.

Okay.

You don't have to email anyone. Last year I was automatically re-seeded to a better group after doing the 99er. It was my first road race.

Also, get a dropper. You won't regret it.

Why you buying a 650B to do stage races? You better off with a 29er. Pyga seems like a better option. But I would not buy a 650B for marathon and stage races.

I did this race last year to get some road racing practice (I'm a MTBer) and to improve my seeding for my first Argus (CTCT). I got an improved seeding, but I won't be doing this race again. Did not enjoy it. The roads are not closed, and you have some sections where the traffic volume is quite significant, and you get passed by some heavy vehicles. The route is not bad, and if the roads were closed I would consider doing it again.

Trailseekers Race at Banhoek.

Agree, Paarl was my first enduro in the WC, and it was a blast. Could not believe all the negative comments I saw and heard.

Agree, XCO can be lank technical...just ask Mathieu van Der Poel!

I imagine Titan as brand appeals to people who don't want to pay the premium associated with top international brands. So, I want a top end XC bike with high end Sram of Shimano parts. If I were not budget conscious, I'd go for a top end Cannondale, Scott or S-Works and pay in excess of 200K. Or, I could be in the market for a mid-range XC bike with mid-range Sram or Shimano parts. I could go with the aforementioned premium brands, or I could pay 40% less and go with Titan because I'm budget conscious. People can be budget conscious in all ends of the spectrum. Just because you're after a high end product, does not mean you cannot be budget conscious. But, I get your point, R130K for a bicycle seems excessive. But, for someone not willing to spend R240K, it's the budget friendly option.

You must love shuttle days!!! 😁

Fair comment. S-Works is just one example. Be interested to see how much a similar-specced Cannondale or Scott costs, and what the weight difference is. I've never owned a top end XC bike, so not sure what's considered light. My bike weighs 12.4kgs without pedals and I thought that it was pretty light. 😁

The 2023 S-Works Epic is one of the lightest full suspension XC bikes you can get. It weighs just over 10kgs, and costs R240 000. The Titan costs R130 000. I know which one I'd buy. 1kg is not worth R110 000 to me. I don't think the Titan is competing with the best brands. I think it's for budget conscious buyers who want good value in a decent package.

I've done it. More of a downhill race. You'll need at least an enduro bike or even a DH bike, with full face helmet and body armour.

About to do the Ou Wa Pad descent.

Hi Johan, I think @ChrisF has done the CTCT on an E-Bike. He'd be happy to comment on your question.

Yep! Agree with this. The updated geometry of the new (2022/2023) Treks makes them a really capable allround bike. I've done Karoo to Coast on mine (2022 9.80, and did an enduro race on it a few weeks ago. Versatile bike.

Almost 2000 comments, @ChrisF , are you employed, sir?

I agree. I think the idea was to get more people into enduro, and that worked. Yes, there was a lot of pedaling, and yes it was hot. But, overall, I think it was a great day out. My mate who has never done an enduro absolutely enjoyed the experience and will definitely do it again. This was supposed to be a fun enduro. I think it was, albeit the tough climbs and heat made it a bit tough. I'll be back for the next one. Well done to the organizers. This one was not meant for the hardcore enduro bros. @Meezo well on the podium.