Mike Dewing

Evening all wheel guys.. I have a Scott Speedster 10 gravel.. it has the standard syncros wheel set.. my question is, how much do I need to spend, or what should I look at that will actually be an upgrade that’s worth it.? Carbon.? I fear I buy a wheel set (like 5k/10k) and there won’t be much of a difference between them as I don’t know much about wheels.. any advice is much appreciated.. baring in mind I’m riding road 99% of the time.🤷🏼‍♂️ bought gravel to keep my options open..

Absolutely agreed..! 🤣🤣 people need it, and make me look like an alter boy.. those people fight for the ones that can’t/won’t.. okay I’m definitely out now.! 😉🤘🏻

Haha to which part.? I am going to stop responding very soon.. you all must all think I’m some sort of morbid doomsday nut that’s house is surrounded by land mines😳🤣.. I have harsh view of the world, but it’s because of my work and the things I hear and see on a daily basis.. despite that I’m a very happy, very optimistic nice person to be around, (believe it or not🤣🤣)

However they want to.. they can leave, they can arm themselves(I know lots of woman that carry and are proficient shooters) they could take up a martial art(I know plenty of woman that would hand it to most men and even multiple men).. this scenario could easily apply to men in a car in a Dodge part of town.. my point is, harden the $&&@ up, realize that we live in a dangerous world and stop relying on others for your own personal safety, cos it is not reliable.. has nothing to do with being a hero.. it’s realistic to the world we are living in right now.. also too many people are not aware that they can just leave, if I truly believed I was going into a risky situation my first thought is my escape, those woman/men should leave if they are truly worried about their situation.. 🤷🏼‍♂️

On one of my earlier comments I stated that I heard the guy mumble R50 to park as he moved off.. for that exact reason I didn’t respond.. and the bollocking was saved for my return.😉🤙🏻 i do feel bad for these okes, and if I carried cash I would give to the right people.. unfortunately they often get pushy and threatening about it.. and that’s not right, so ill Push back..🤷🏼‍♂️

The cramping thing I don’t get much of, as I don’t really cramp.. maybe I haven’t pushed myself to that point🤔.. I’ve cycled a 100km a few times and resulted nothing but tired legs and sore neck, shoulders and ass🤷🏼‍♂️.. I’ve run 5km before in about 35 minutes and maaaate, I ruined my weekend cos I couldnt walk for two days🤣🤣.. that was just sore joints and stiff muscles.. no cramping.. my friend cramped on long rides, he got a bike fitting and that sorted his cramps out🤷🏼‍♂️.. My concern with running is the impact, like I said my joints suffered.. hips and ankles.. think it’s got a lot to do with skating as a youngster.. I did some pretty dumb things🤣🤣.. but I need to run this dog sometime soon..🤦‍♂️

I would also be interested to know the training differences between the two.. why do you say you are making mistakes with cycling training.? I have a young German shepherd that I need to start running soon(otherwise I’m going to start loosing furniture) and would like to know if a 5/10km run every other day would benefit or negatively affect my cycling training..🤔

That can go wrong though as well surely.. organizers can look at the figures and the risk of outplaying more infrastructure, temp fences around parking areas, more guards etc and just not think it’s worth it and then bam, that’s that over.. 🤷🏼‍♂️ there’s no guarantee..

Look you guys are right.! I’ve seen this happen before actually, if nothing gets done about security.. there’ll be no choice but to cancel it.. Im from Cape Town and we had a festival called obsfest held on lower main road observatory, and it just became too dangerous.. too many muggings and violent crime took place.. people stopped going.. the event was cancelled for many years.. would suck if that happened to this as well.. I live in joburg now and I believe it’s back on but it’s because the whole area has basically been gentrified..🤷🏼‍♂️

I agree with you.. desperation makes people do crazy things.. and when it’s you or them, they going to choose you.. just imagine this scenario though.. 2023 ride joburg, car guards come in to harass people and every single one of those people turn around and pull a gun on them.. they not going to stick around very long and prob won’t return the next year.. that’s wild and probably even more controversial than my first statement.. but it’s something to think about.. I shall also now bow out.. 💪🏼😉🤙🏻

You are correct.. it was condescending.. for that I will apologize.. I completely anticipated this response.. It’s the industry I work in.. I take my own personal protection very seriously.. because as I keep saying, no one else is going to.. unless I had hundreds of thousands a month to spend on private security that’s worth a dam.. these complex,car, shopping centre security guards are not paid enough to really care.. they are there for the insurance claims..

I’m simply saying don’t be a soft target.. I agree, more security to chase those okes away so we don’t get out in a situation we don’t want to be in.. just up the security budget.. but when that fails, then what, I’m not going to join an event that is really fun.. nah I’ll look after myself..🤙🏻

It’s not about being a wannabe hero.. why am I being referred to as a hero(in a belittling manner) for looking after myself.? And my wife when needed.. We live in a horrible world, why is it frowned apon to take your own security apon yourself.? No one else is going to..

You’d be surprised what could happen if the average criminal thought twice about attacking someone or entering a house because they don’t know what’s inside or whether they will make it out alive..🤷🏼‍♂️

Typical.. I simply tell people to stand up for themselves and take their security into their own hands because no one else will and I get flamed for it.. I’m not a violent person.. but i have learnt that if you stand your ground most of the time it can deescalate a situation real quick.. especially in the case of these opportunistic criminals..

Here’s a controversial statement.. handle your own $h&t.. you’re all adults.. yes security sucked but if you can handle yourself there is no issues.. I’m not a big dude, but I stern bollocking to about 3 “car guards” had them retreating with their tails between their legs.. and I was in no shape to start fighting after that race.. (although in fairness I have a big beard am covered in tattoos, I look way meaner than I actually am.. people don’t really mess with me..🤔) my point is, stand up for yourselves, get radical when someone grabs your front wheel, you don’t know that person, why are they touching your stuff, someone’s trying to grab something out of your pocket, start swinging.. criminals aren’t scared of security, they aren’t scared of being arrested, they aren’t scared of the justice system, they must come to fear their targets.. and yes, security is generally in on the hussle.. more security guards equal more hustle..🤷🏼‍♂️ they are not paid enough to really care about us that are rocking up in our bmw cars and bicycles worth more than they make in a year.!

The water points annoyed me until I needed one.!🤣🤣 filling up my bottles with ice cold water really got me up the last climb.and the lovely lady gave me a cup of coke, that was delicious.! without it I would have stopped laid down and waited for the roads to open so my wife could come fetch me..🤣🤣

I could not agree more.! I don’t want it to get easier, I want to get better.!! 😃🤙🏻

I saw that.! Like 35 minutes for the 35km.! 59km/h average 😳😳 that’s mental.. 🤣🤣🤣

I just was not even close to being prepared for those last two climbs after cycling that far already.. i managed it but I nearly stopped a few times.. big eye opener.. 😳.. But I’m excited to keep working and get stronger.. 🥳 it is soul destroying when you are struggling that badly and you hear that whizz of an e bike coming up and passing you with such ease.! 😭🤣🤣

Agreed.. I’ve been calling it the back 9 since yesterday afternoon.. back nines are always more brutal.. I was not prepared for those last two climbs.. they flattened me and I just had nothing left in the tank afterwards.. first 50km I was flying..💪🏼😃🤙🏻 my biggest gripe was people being stupid at water points.. just stopping anywhere.. the witkoppen water point I was pretty much brought to a stand still trying to weave through tons of people all over the road.. I had a great time riding though.! And the loop of kyalami was soo much fun.. 🥳

They also ran next to me to my parking that there was nooo ways I could have found on my own.! 🙄 nearly knocked over about three of them.. and then I heard him mutter “it’s just R50 for the parking..” I didn’t tell him to get bent till I got back..

Ride safe.! Have the best time and good luck.. also don’t forget to charge your things.!! 💪🏼🥳🤙🏻

I’m going for as close to 4 hrs as possible.. my 100km moving time has been 4:26 with similar elevation gain.. so anywhere around there and I’m happy 😬🤘🏻

I think I agree man, I think you’re a 56🙈