Eugee

Got mine towards the end of last week. Maybe get him to phone the race office.

Kort andwoord is nee, jy gaan oor geseed word as jy n replacement entry kry.

So for the last 3 weeks it s been training, training and more training, like you guys advised me 6 days a week with a rest day. (well i had two rest days this week as i could feel the body begging for it.) I feel slightly less apprehension towards that first weekend in march which is only two weeks away now. The thing is Now i'm hoping you guys can help me on some of the more technical stuff. What should i include in my riding kit? What should I have waiting at the end of each stage? What running repairs should I be Able to do? I all ready booked the wash & service, will this be all I need?

thanks for the motivation tubehunter, but this brings me to a previously asked question, anyone heard about the cut of times? I cant seem to find any good information from the grape escape website

Thanks vanniri, That was quite humorous. I have to admit this has grown into more than just a silly bet with another buddy. I now have the will to actually do it. I think it has became a personal challenge. Have not had a ciggy since Sunday(lungs are loving it but the mind's complaining) I was wondering about the amount of dirt training compared to road training. So thank you for the advice. Since this would be my first event as well I have entered myself for the event at bridgehouse in franshoek this weekend and the 99er in Durbanville next weekend. Should give me a fair idea about timing chips licensing etc. etc.

Interesting observation vanniri, but no, I actually used to be the mountain biker. That is before the good wine and beer this awesome region we stay in got hold of me. That coupled with the fact that I started smoking again, had a way to EXTREME December holiday and my desk job made me gain quite a few unwanted kilos, in fact for more than a year I let myself go in the worst way (changing the channel with the remote and opening my next beer was the most physical exercise I ever did.) I use to do recreational riding and never more than 40 to 50km on any day. The good news is that after doing my 60 odd km's on Saturday i did some 40km last night with about 700m of climbing and I'm still alive and feeling well. Now I know this does not even come close to what I will experience, but it gives me a faint glimmer hope. Thanks for the advice joeyk and morewoodman, The massage sounds awesome Ill try and find a HRM as soon as posible. BTW has anyone seen any information on cut off times?

Climbing it is then, lots of it. Thanks for the advice. Ill ask the girl to let you know on which stage i kicked the bucket or whether i made it. Ill probably be nursing my arse back to health for a couple of weeks after.

thanks chubba, sounds quite hectic, but guess i did it to myself. In what ratio would you recomend toing the intervals, climbing and endurance?

Not quite the responce I was expecting. Is this silent treatment for a naughty boy or is the situation so hopeless?

haha, Thanks chubba, thats makes me feel a lot better. (kinda felt it after the weekend ride all ready)

Now I can all ready see people attacking me for even posting about this, but as I am pretty desperate with an ego on the line, so Ill go for it regardless. Now while turning the tjops, beer in hand and the ladies in the pool we got into the same age old (might I add senseless) argument : Road VS Dirt. To cut the long story short it ended in a bet. We got the laptop out and I entered the grape escape. Now this is where I hope you can assist me. i dusted of my MTB and went for a ride on Saturday, I managed 67.27km (on road) with about 460m of climbing. But that was it don't think I would have made 70km if my life depended on it. So any training tips, advice or even just "you deserve whats coming to you" will be appreciated. I have one month, is this even possible?

I'll be there, What time? and how do you get there (say leaving durbanville on fisershok)

Now that sounds awesome, Where will they be available or who can I bug to confirm the ETA.

how do I contact this mate of yours? sounds like a sweet deal

Sounds like a F*&^ing good Idea, I quite like my head where it is. Omega man, a neck brace it is then. Still having trouble finding a bike, guess I should be patient, right?

Thanks, lots of help indeed, Feel like an information overload but please keep it coming. can never know to much, can one. Now to find a bike, Anyone looking to sell one? Checked out the links but it seems like theres not a lot of people selling, but a lot buying indeed.

Thanks everyone for the advice, Id love to join you guys once I have my rig sorted out. I'm about 1.8m and weigh in at the mid 70's, I really have no idea as to the Size frame and Equipment I need, would definitely be interested in any advice and decent equipment. But bike first I suppose, tired of destroying my XC bike just because you guys make it seem like fun

No buying hints? Take it slow don't kill yourself tips? I've got about 20K to spend. should I save more or could I get something decent enough to start off with??

Been doing XC for a couple of years and looking to get into the more extreme version. Do you guys have any advice on buying gear, do's don'ts etc.