The Bull Shark

I have now chucked my Fi'zik Arrione for a Specialised Phenom.

Luckily I did not have many boxes ride with me. Just 3 riders that passed me on the outside on bends and then closed the bend on me. And one rider who rode so close to me that I felt his handlebars on my legs. But that was really it.

Mini Savage did a 3h16, although he says he had the potential for a 3h05 from 1G. But he says that he lost his group at 65km and that for some reason he felt a lot more tired that he should have. I know that he and a few other selected youngsters did a brisk MTB ride on Friday after their UCI do. They rode from Coetzenburg to Mont Marie and back, so maybe that was still in his legs. I did a 4h12, although my aim was a sub 4h00. I did the same ride on Friday afternoon. Also, that Westerly from Misty Cliffs tired me out a bit. So maybe next year the sub 4 is on. I rode from 3D. My wife did a 4h56 from 5B, and this was her first Cycle Tour. I am really saddened to hear about the loss of life on such a brilliant day. My thoughts are with their family and friends.

Just in. It seems the gentleman that suffered the heart attack, also passed away. https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Cycling/two-cyclists-die-during-cape-town-cycle-tour-20180311

The problems always seems to be the 1 - 2 bunches. And today I saw something I never saw before. Little groups forming around a tandem, riding at incredible speeds. Some of them with youngters as stokers. Bunches from 3 onwards are just as big, and I have seen none of these issues riding in 3D today. If there were, please tell.

I think one of the later 1 groups, or the 2 groups. I passed the scene as they were still treating one man. That was on the bottom of the steep descent down Wynberg hill.

I am sure all those 50mm and 80mm carbon rims are already fitted. Almost no wind to worry about.

I now have dust where I did not think I could get dust just from walking around at the race. Was there at the end. Gaze had Nino beaten, even had he not unclipped by accident.

I see that you are busy with preemptive marketing.

I played sweeper. We did a brisk ride from Coetzenburg to Mont Marie and back via G-Spot and Eden. Those damn youngsters were like a pack of dogs chasing a rabbit.

Weather outlook is getting better and better. Seems to be the most perfect weather, well the best we had in years. I trust YR the most of all the sites.

So, I now have a cap with Karl Platt's signature on it. Damn nice guy to boot.

My son and I get to ride with the pros tomorrow afternoon in a VIP event that ABSA organised for a bunch of kids involved with XCO and the schools.

At least the weather is well organised this year.

Seems to me more like a poor system architecture problem.

Just as well we decided yesterday to go on Saturday morning early. Tomorrow afternoon I have a VIP ride and photo session with my son and the XC pro's at Coetzenburg, so I can't go then.

I drank one bottle per hour. I am very rigorous about that. But I used only water on this race. For W2W I had 2 bottles, one with only water, and another with a Game/Rehidrat mix. My first move will be to see a GP, and maybe also a Cardiologist. Because I am a 1966 model, I just want to make sure I do not have an underlying heart problem. I am 1.82cm tall and my weight is 84 kg, so I am not exactly overweight. Just maybe by 4 or so kgs. Our family do not have a history of heart problems.

Exactly, and it only happens when it is very hot, and there is no air moving over my body, like wind or so.

I hydrate quite well. But, I might have an underlying problem where my body does not make use of the hydration that I provide. My mouth gets dry damn fast when I ride on a hot day in the mountains. I usually sip a mouthful every 10 minutes. Someone suggested that I might have an Iron deficiency.

I warned my son that most of the bunch craziness, as well as bad multi pileups happens in batches 1B - 2K. He will be starting in 1G. Luckily from bunches 3 onward it is everybody for themselves, each trying to out time trial the other riders.

Don't forget about Firgrove, Eerste Rivier, Blue Downs and areas around here. I believe the rentals are still good and low-cost labour is close.

I don't care for the Oscars. So much of it feels like a dog and pony show.

I concur. Have been a developer for the past 28 years.

Disastrous race for me. I must have some medical condition that I need to take action on (need to go and see the doc) that developed the past year. As soon as it is hot (30 deg +), I start to really struggle. I start getting dizzy, nauseous and it feels as if my body loses all its power. It was quite hot, but not that hot, today. Also extremely dusty.

I used to cry a lot in my car on the way to work when me and the wife was standing on the point of divorcing. No shame in that. In your case it means that you have moved on to the acceptance part of the process.