EddieV

I've attached my route .... at the moment I'm working from home still but hopefully soon back at the office .... commuting again ... miss it terribly. I have on occasion gone straight onto Berkley rd ... I also mainly tried to avoid Voortrekker, but take it on occasion too. Voortrekker might be busy and "vehicle" dangerous, but on the flip-side having many people around deters hijackers ....

I was always under the impression that “Black Friday” in the US was a sell-off at discounted prices of items that is left in stores after “Thanks-giving”, much like the sales we have in SA after Christmas, the first week of January? It’s as if the world adopted “Black Friday” as a marketing opportunity …. but nobody other than the US consumers really seeing the discounts? ... I don't know? ...

I'm really keen to do this tour .... as a 50+ veteran (will need to buy a Cycling SA member/license again) Has anyone pulled the trigger on this yet, can we(public) enter as novice riders as we did in TOGH for the 5 stage race? Or is the 5 day stage race only for elites/provincial/prof clubs ... Any more info on the participation rules, the website is very vague?

That video brings back memories … I was fortunate to have been in the parachute battalion, and although I am in 2 minds about having those years over again, those were definitely some of the most amazing experiences I had …. especially the camaraderie that is formed.... the bonds formed in shared agony. As a teenager you don’t always realize at the time, but some suffering/torment goes a long way to preparing you for the future. I don’t especially like guns, still don’t own one … it wasn’t about that …. It was about the experience.

Not that I would ever be able to afford a Speedmax .... but I had a look at the gear ratios. A 50 x 10 (SRAM groupset) is thus equivalent to a 55 x 11?

.... my favourite for years have been a 150g Damascus Nougat bar cut up in bite-size pieces in 2 ziplock bags .... very unscientific I know ... but having something to bite-n-chew is great.

for sure ..... I did the 2015 Tour de Boland ..... I would grab an opportunity to do something similar again with both hands. It takes a bit more effort to plan when it's not a 'cloverleaf' stage race, but the event itself, and doing the stages as an eternal "wannabee" was out of this world ....

... from another thread, and media article, but maybe appropriate here too ... looks like the writing is on the wall: (ito future-proofing I think disc might be the appropriate choice?) " In 2019, disc brake bikes won just 19 out of 62 Grand Tour stages raced, 32% of the overall total. This year, 34 of the 60 Grand Tour stages raced were won by teams on disc brakes, accounting for 57% of wins. That’s almost double year on year. And to amplify the disc takeover even further, we can safely predict the disc brake win share to only increase for 2021 as Jumbo-Visma swap from exclusively using rim brakes with Bianchi to riding predominantly discs brake-equipped Cervelos. Bianchi will now provide its bikes to Mitchelton, beginning to supply its new disc-only Speciallissima in the WorldTour. Yes, it is true that increasingly fewer riders and teams are being given the option of rim brakes – hence the big shift in wins – but it certainly is telling that like for us consumers, the humble rim brake is being squeezed from existence. Wins with disc brakes: 34 – UAE-Team Emirates, Deceuninck-QuickStep, Bora-Hansgrohe, Lotto Soudal, Astana, Team Sunweb, Education First, Groupama-FDJ, Israel Start-Up Nation. Bahrain-McLaren, NTT Pro Cycling, CCC Team, Movistar. Wins without disc brakes: 26 – UAE-Team Emirates, Jumbo-Visma, Ineos Grenadiers, Team Sunweb, AG2R La Mondiale, Groupama-FDJ. " ref: https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/7080/which-bikes-groupsets-and-brakes-did-best-at-grand-tours-in-2020#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20disc%20brake%20bikes,almost%20double%20year%20on%20year.

Think you are right .... just a copy and paste error .... from an old rule-book UCI allowed disc brakes since 2018, and CSA have allowed it too ... 3.4.6 Disc brakes are allowed in road race and time trial training and competition. (Refer UCI Rule 1.3.025) ref: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53f5fb7ce4b0cab4a7fe8561/t/5ca233d3419202131e8ec6ac/1554133973849/20190401_CSA+-+Rules+of+Cycling+PART+3+-+19.02.25+%28Amended%29.pdf

Interesting: The rules states no disc brakes (for licensed categories - english version) 26. Disk brakes not allowed in licensed categories. 26) Skyfbrieke sal nie toegelaat word nie https://rapporttoer.co.za/reels-en-regulasies/http://rapporttour.co.za/race-specific-regulations/

Condolences to the family. This is tragic. Although it wouldn’t help in this instance, as it is a drunk driver, I think the authorities should limit the speed on the R27 to 80km/h from 120km/h, even if only up to Atlantis. There is simply too many cyclists and pedestrians using that road to allow freeway speeds (120km/h). There is no time to react at that speed, for either the driver or the cyclist/pedestrian. I’ve seen cars give way to each other, just to swerve violently back into the road as there was a pedestrian waiting for a lift on the side of that road. 120km/h is just too high for that portion of the road?

will do Was hoping it was just because I’m not in the habit of looking down while running, but you really have no choice when running on a trail. The shadows and light causing it? Thought it might get better with time?

I need some advice. I have mostly done road running ie. tar and gravel roads, but lately I have started moving more into trail running. I ultimately want to start doing proper trail running routes and maybe races. But if the trail bits go on for too long before opening into a road again - I get ‘vertigo’ or ‘blotchy’ sight? What is causing it?

I’ve had to pay more too once (maybe twice- price went up after initial post (alert)). I really wanted it – so I paid, I could have said no – thus was my decision. I’ve been offered more on occasion too, but once I conclude a sale it’s done unless the buyer pulls out, which is ok too. Sometimes people make mistakes, or change their minds, it’s life. How many times have we stood with our goodies in a queue at a shop and then decided to put it down again? IMO … As long as we don’t sell stolen goods or undeclared broken parts … .

.... washboard roads (sinkplaatpad) ..... Anyone that took part in the Karoobaix where no suspension components was allowed will remember these ..... nearly 400km (2017) and the majority of those roads were sinkplaatpad .... aaaaa ... but what memories ... thank you Stan for bringing us the Karoobaix ref: https://crank-communication.com/gravel-race-report-karoobaix-2017/ Any kind of suspension would have eased the pain ... ps. I've been looking at your tours too T-Boss .... as soon as I have enough leave built up I'd love to join you on a Rightersveld MTB trip too

I have 2 of these Cane Creek thudbusters .... one on my commuter .... and one on my Cotic BFE .... Has worked well for me, but the purists might disagree

there is one in the classifieds .. https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/seat-posts/425583/suspension-seat-post-for-long-distance-touring

Do the services myself. Fork oil is pretty cheap from motorcycle outlets. Luckily I don't own "lefty's" - but would probably be very cautious if I had to service one.

We usually do the southern peninsula, along the coast line on weekends. We leave pretty early .... wondering if it's worth it to try and open a thread where cyclist can specify an average speed, time of departure, and route ... and try to organize informal 4 or 5 rider groups? Anything is better than riding alone .... I don't particularly like riding in very large groups, but I'd rather join a set group/club alternatively than risk getting mugged. I just find that some groups start so late in the day, and eat into family time - we usually halfway back by the time they leave Simons Town?

It's virtually a sub 2 CTCT!!! .... Amazing (54.5km/h)

Love the aero crank ...

This might be schlep for most, but when commuting daily, and in the rain, I boil my chain in a candlewax/paraffin oil mixture every 3 to 4 weeks depending on the amount of rainy days encountered. I make big batches of it and store it It’s a 15 minute jobbie after that – heat up the wax, throw the chain in the mixture for 10 minutes, swoosh it around once or twice, take-out, one wipe, back on the bike …… get a Connex link, works great. No need to de-grease/deep wash it that often, as the wax doesn’t attract as much dirt, just give it a quick rinse before submerging it in the wax.

I have a much cheaper setup – Zwift, with Powertap powermeter on a resistance roller. I used to commute and race anything that moved in the same direction, so once stuck at home I had to improvise. I’m happy with Zwift, I have earphones on a selection of Industrial Dance/Rave music, laptop on Zwift, and TV(silent) on Netflix (comedy) – with subtitles. I then proceed to race/stay with any Zwifter that passes me in the region of 250W to 300W. Sometimes I’ll sprint at much higher watts for a while chasing someone, but then I’ll drop significantly recovering from the effort. 60min - 90min passes quickly that way. Most important is the music selection ... when the correct track comes on you can really smash it. I can't IDT at all without appropriate music (Disclaimer: not sure the Powertap measurement s correct )

If you aren't used to speed-work, take care in the beginning .. I had a training program last year which included speed-work, and was mostly injury free up to then. Ran a marathon 2 weeks prior, thus could have been fatigue too, but the speed-work resulted in a injury. Need to say that I'm other side of 50, thus my body doesn't like rapid change either .... It was a posterior tibial tendon injury after my first speed-work session. Needed physio and rest for a few weeks to heal.....

Also, for those with double chain-rings(road-bikes), stay on the larger chainring for longer .... the torque on the chain is less on larger sprockets. Sitting in 39T front and 11T rear, when you could be in 53T front - 15T rear, saves your chain and rear sprockets, as the torque is much less in the chain-pin-rollers (and sprocket) over larger gears.