Azonic

Anyone who even considers spending R60+ on a bike needs their heads checked anyway...

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1867/caa52fb28bc4417da354e4a2affa88b4.jpg Oompa Loompa!

I've had plenty Schwalbes. If you watch where you go you're usually fine. I do find they slice pretty easy though, even on the running service between the knobs. Nothing a well placed patch on the inside can't fix though. I've cut them but fixed them a few times. My Rocket Rons has lasted for about a year now. Racing Ralphs, not really my fave choice. For me RR's have pretty good grip, they are fat tyres with nice open knobs.

R1799 is WAY too expensive. Like a grand too much.

Dangerous, but if you can find a guy that knows his welding, slot a tight piece of tube on the inside of the existing steerer, about 1 inch in, 1 inch exposed. Weld it. Slot an off-cut piece of steerer over the stub (most bike shops will have steerer offcuts, weld it again. I've done that to some of my frames, not forks yet though. http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-349076.html

CWC stock a cyclo cross tyre by Continental. Should also work.

http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/421122215/Powerful_Multi_LEDs_Bicycle_Lighting_30W_2700.jpg

That's 2700 lumens right there... They also come with 4 bulbs, giving 3600 lumens. Sick. With a light like this you'll blind motorists, melt tar and kill small animals. http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/455756119/High_Power_Rechargeable_P7_LED_Bicycle_Light.jpg

It doesn't come up immediatelly, but if you click Home again it shows. I rate its just the sequence that the site reloads that needs to be tuned.

Real Baviaans has plenty, but only one big one IF it rained allot. The rest barely make your rims wet.

My 26'er dual regularly smokes 29'er hardtails.

Cool, next time I want a car to drop me off 2km from the finish. Rules aren't relevant mos then?

Outside assistance is outside assistance. David and Kevin probably didn't want to look like complainers, but its not about that. The penalty should have been given without David and Kevin having to go and ask for it.

...and then whites are told we are not apologitic for the past, and "they" are the ones holding out the olive branches. Excuse me, what?

Punk, now it looks like I copy/pasted what you said!

The Magicshine 1000 lumen light is fine. Its nice to have it on full, but the battery won't last. You can and will get by by using low beam. I raced Trans last year with a 120 Lumen bike light, and another 120 lumens on the helmet. More than enough. You need a bike and helmet light, purely because the bike isn't always pointing where you are looking. It isn't 5 hours between Bergplaas and Komdommo, so leave a fresh battery pack there, or at the top of Never Ender. It'll feel nice to be able to blast the light at Full to the finish. umhlanga101, so as I stated, you can get away with less lumens, as long as its quality lumens, not manufacturer's claimed lumens. But with Magicshines costing less than R600 lately, rather save than sorry. If you ride in a group at night when other guys with stronger lights you'll end up looking where their bikes are pointing, not your own. Regarding the first aid stuff, In 7 years of doing Baviaans I've never seen or heard of them checking that you have a first aid kit on you. Honestly, are they going to be checking over 1000 people at the start? I rate its to protect themselves should something go wrong - so they can say they DID recommend people take one. Spares: Make sure you have tyres no lighter than 500g. Anything lighter isn't made for Baviaans (granted, I raced it last year on sub 400g Rocket Rons...). Make sure they are in good condition and your sealant is topped up. If that's looked after you should be fine in terms of wheels/punctures. And there is no need for you AND your partner to each carry a 250g multitool, seriously. Same goes for a chain breaker. And a pump. Do you plan to both puncture at the same time? Probably not, eh? Take 2 spare tubes each (super light ones if you want to spend that kind of cash), ONE multitool between the two of you, ONE chain breaker, and ONE pump. And listen to me, this is the best advice anyone will give you... Take half a roll of electrical/insulation tape with you. And also take 5 or so cable/zip ties. You can fix anything with those items. One year my brake lever clamp broke off, leaving the brake lever dangling. Couple of KM's later at the checkpoint, whip out the tape, couple of layers, and wham, back in business.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvuPiY29R7U

...and you can watch him smear himself in 1080p

This is probably a repost. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5PZfEDnvzM

Groupon and ethics shouldn't be used in the same sentence... My wife had a Groupon deal last week, so I know how they work. Lets say your product costs R1000. To get a spot on Groupon you immediatelly have to discount it with 50%. So now you're down to R500. From THAT R500, Groupon negotiates a commission rate with you, which could by up to about 40%. So from your original selling price of R1000, you end up getting R300. Ok, ethics might not be the proper word, it may be just be business, but my hell...

As Velouria says, communication is key. I raced the wet 2006 Baviaans with my wife, there have never been worse conditions. Even during the day, I made a habit of asking her every couple of km's, Are you ok? How are you feeling? Rather slow down a bit for a few KM that kill yourself and have nothing for when you really need it. Wheelsuck, DEF. And lots of it. Its super tempting to go to the front and lay some big ring down, but you are helping everyone except yourself and your teammate. At low water crossings most teams BLAST through, everything is wet, everyone next to them is wet, etc. WTF for? Slow down to a crawl, and gently coast through the water. You'll be 10 seconds behind the group. As they slow to wipe water out of their eyes you are back on and dry.

Get an Ironman style food box, the ones you put behind your stem on the top tube. That's where you'll keep your snacks between checkpoints. Sukkeling with stuff in your jersey pockets arent' worth it. And for flip sakes, if you are going to use a Camel Back, do not keep your food in it. Unless you aren't overly concerned for a good time. Stopping every 10km to get out a snack will destroy your time. I think there are 7 check points or so... Get little Jiffy bags and make up one for each check points. When you get to the checkpoint and fetch your crate, simply take out your half empty "snack pack" out of the food box and replace it with a fresh one. And take real foods. Too many jelly babies, chocs etc will make you puke. Ask me I know. Put two fresh bottles in each drop crate. Again, when you stop at the checkpoint. Check in. Put bike down, take out bottles (even if they still have something in them) as well as your half empty snack pack. Get your crate, and get fresh bottles and a snack pack. Bottles and snack pack back on bike. Check out of the checkpoint. Later on during the late afternoon/night, you WILL get gatvol of your sports drink, doesn't matter how much you think you like the taste at the start. So for the latter checkpoints, leave a 500ml Coke or something there. It works. And it goes without saying, no need to start the race with your lights strapped to your bike. You only need them 6-7 hours later. We always leave our lights at Bergplaas, if you have a decent ride you'll make it there during the day. I always use a helmet mounted LED light as well, its also a must as you probably know by now. If it uses AA batteries, do yourself a favour and get some AAA to AA battery converters. AAA batteries weigh half that of AA batteries. You can save about 60g on your helmet, and you can feel it. When you get to the checkpoint where your lights are, swap them out with AA battries. The AAA's are just backups incase you run into the night before you get your big lights. Tha's all I can think of for now

Just do as much as you can during the week. Work takes up allot of time. I do on average about 50km 3 times a week (2 rides road bike, one ride MTB on road), plus a night time time trial once a week. Solo in the dark, flat out. Fridays rest. On weekends a 140km road bike, and like today 100km on the MTB on the road. Average about 400km a week. My teammate and I will step it up a little bit soon. Apart from training, as a Trans novice, you should really think about logistics allot. I'm on my cell now, will give a few tips from my PC soon.

How many kilos are you doing per week?

I live next to a pretty poor coloured area. Every morning there is a oke that comes riding from that direction on an AMP just like that.