EddieV

... it's going to be a very hard last slog to the finish line this afternoon/evening .... .

.... I am looking at that steady last climb getting a lot steeper for Hansie near Matroosberg on Bo-swaarmoed rd... amply named/applicable for the Munga riders when they get there .... Hope they all make it .....

I've only ever done Ouberg going up, ... there is some nasty/technical slabs of rock which is especially slippery if there is debris strewn, or gravel over it .... Need to be careful descending, but some parts of it, to the bottom really great.

INSANE .... looks like he(they) only had an hour off the bike between 2am and 3am .... then back on? .

Eish, that was an hour ride out, .... so plus minus 30km to 40km extra all together ... an hour each way?

Where will Hansie stop to take a nap? ..... And for how long? He seems to have nearly 90km on Brian and Kevin(if the GPS is correct) ....

Looks like a titanium frame that hides under the there?

I see another one of the participants is Philip Boardman, he is 70 this year. What a guy!!!! Scratched last year, but back again and doing well this year.

I'm definitely doing this next year, the FOMO is unbearable .... I'll do whatever I need to do to get there

As if the race isn't tough enough ... Looks like Heinrich made it to Rest Village 1 after nearly 4 hours and 13km of walking. Hopefully he can get the bike sorted there .... I take my hat off to these guys for their perseverance and determination. .

eish ... just had a look at Heinrich's log ... looks like he has been walking for 2 hours ... hope he is up and running soon again? .

I was rooting for Heinrich Visser, ... earlier this afternoon he was still on the heals of the front-runners, but something must have gone wrong, .... see he is 50km back now, wonder if he also had a mechanical?

@DJR .... any update on possible manufacturer of this frame .... the seatpost clamp intrigues me no end

.

sadly neither ... it's just a dream for now ..... but I am currently in the process of building my own version of it .. could say the Road Logic was my inspiration

Ritchey Road Logic disc

I'm also not a doctor or expert on any level ... just talking from a personal experience point of view. About 1 and a half decades ago, after many years of letting my body go I wanted to get back into shape again, but as soon as I upped my program I got knocked with illness, sore body etc. time after time ..... I do not know if it is a real thing, but I found many articles on it ie. Toxins stored in the body over years and releasing at a high rate when losing weight rapidly might have been the cause of my roller-coaster ride then. It took about 2 years of intermittent illness before it got better for me .... This article touches on it. ref: https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/09/08/3005218.htm#:~:text=Long%2Dterm%20weight%20loss%20can,in%20the%20Republic%20of%20Korea.

I’ve always been a DIY guy … and the reason why I bought “donkie” (4.2D LC SW) in 2007. I can (and have done) the timing belt replacements, valve clearance disc changes, diesel injectors, bearings and major-and-minor services (oils) since the beginning. I think it’s the last vehicle in production/existence where this is still possible? She's been stolen-recovered, bumped, and scraped but I'm going to drive her until the wheels come off ..... ... a proper "blou-draad and pliers" kind of car? On my bicycles I have built and serviced them myself from parts by trying to stay true to some std's ... ie. 32h rim/hubs (so I can lace rim & hubs from diff manufacturers), std frames (27.2/30.9/31.6 seatposts, threaded BB’s and 1 1/8 steerers) but have ventured into the disc era now which changed so much. There is just so many variables now …. It’s getting more difficult to find/elect a standard to stay with to future-proof?

Not to mention the 2:1 spoke patterns either Now you need 27h, 21h etc hubs and rims on top of the old 32, 28,24 etc rims/hubs ... when it comes to replacement options

Thx .... Will send it back up to Citizen in Gauteng. It’s still the only watch I use for scuba. One day when I venture deeper than 20m I’ll upgrade to something more tech

Have used this many times ... the only tool I ever had to purchase for hubs was the "DT swiss ratchet lockring remover" .....

I love the look of aero wheels on vintage steel framed bikes

You need to be so careful what you buy ito future diy ... the proprietary components on bikes are now getting ridiculous. Specialized proprietary rear shock for many years now - (the yoke guys luckily brought out a remedy for some) The proprietary square-ish seat posts on new bikes. Trek's 9.9 supercaliber new sliding rear shock .... . The rear triangle also only have a single pivot/hinge/bearing at the BB, thus flex/movement of the carbon seat and chain stays itself? Will that become a trend too? .

The battery on my Citizen Aqualand Diver Depth Meter Promaster just went again. Used to hand it in myself at Citizen in Jhb, but I fly/visit Gauteng less frequently these days. Anyone know where in the Southern peninsula I can have it serviced with a pressure test? thx

You will get use to the distance in no time. Personally, safety (wide shoulder, clear road, lots of people, etc.) and scenery trumps distance any day.