Anthem24

And EVOC https://help.evocsports.com/hc/en-us/articles/16377915222802-How-to-clean-and-take-care-for-my-EVOC-backpack

I don't suppose you tried Googling "Uswe how to wash", which takes you to the instructions on their website?! https://uswe.com/en-global/care-tips#:~:text=Cleaning hydration bladder,with mild soap and water. Backpack & Vests Care We want you to follow the instructions on the care label for each product. Care labels are typically found inside of the product. If you can’t see it, look again. If you still can’t see it, contact us. The following tips below are also good for keeping the pack in shape and increasing the lifespan of it. After every ride, empty the pack completely and brush clean soiled areas with soapy water. Never put your pack into a washing machine or dryer (only hand wash). The pack fabrics can’t be ironed. Zippers must be kept clean for improved lifetime. To store: close the pack and keep it in a dry, well ventilated place. AND https://uswe.com/en-us/hydration-packs How to clean A Hydration Backpack The packs are bound to get dirty; they are made to be used out in the mud and dirt! Sometimes you might want to give the pack a quick light cleaning. Just empty all your stuff out and use a clean, soft sponge to wipe the interior. When cleaning the exterior, add some soap to the sponge and then rinse it off. If the dirtiness gets out of hand (even we got our standards) you can handwash the backpack in 30 degrees warm water, and ad some soap or detergent if necessary. Try to not chuck them in a washing machine or a dryer as the inner lining protecting the inside of the pack from wetness will get damaged over time. Just hand it upside down and let it dry.

Don't know about the Mayco member but the Premier was checking out the province's gravel offerings over Easter: https://www.facebook.com/windealan/posts/pfbid02TPN5QDywhzstZ9Fnp1jty6tFGLgwtj8uMAfmCyU7L9XUGL2QRUYPQXEBgbwAS2D5l

Great video from Annika Langvad

Highlights on YouTube as of Saturday night, Mens: Ladies:

Nice! English captions need to be turned on obviously for the YouTube video link above: "Bikecheck: 7 pro-bikes from the Cape Epic 2025 – from Nino Schurter to Speed Company!"

Bianca is not tiny -- she's 1.7 m tall. Are you not confusing her with Hayley?

Very interesting, along with those of international riders here, for those who haven't seen it: https://youtu.be/e4kGT47RThQ?si=fU4XHIY11GkfzkLG

Always had a slightly tilted saddle, but have been experimenting with flat due to one hand going numb. Since this is now occurring on 3 different bikes with different set-ups and handlebar rotations, I've realised the problem is likely in my neck. And yes, I've had plenty of bike set-ups! Just watched this video of Epic pro-bikes though and surprised by the radical tilt on Lukas Baum's bike: https://youtu.be/e4kGT47RThQ?si=fU4XHIY11GkfzkLG

Agreed, if it's tilted more than that you'll probably get sore hands from sliding down the seat. If you're sore on the soft bits, try dropping the saddle slightly or changing the fore-aft position.

Banhoek is nice, so is Muratie -- non-technical and shady, with an easier climb -- or the Fish Eagle loop at Bottleray Hills Conservancy, starting at Devonvale Golf Course (permits available from the golf shop).

South African Citizens must provide proof of South African ID, South African Divers Licence, or South African Passport on arrival. This proof is accepted in original, electronic or certified paper copy. Also accepted to claim the South African rate are Foreign passports which have a valid visa/permit from home affairs to be in the country inserted onto one of the pages of the passport: Spousal / Work / Study / Retirement / Volunteer / Diplomatic visa. Also accepted is an electronic or certified paper copy. Alternatively proof of permanent residence as issued by home affairs, or a certified paper or electronic copy of any of above provided it is copy of the page of the passport indicating who you are and the visa. All South Africans over 18 years old will be required to provide proof of SA ID to qualify for the local rate. From: https://www.sanparks.org/travel/book/useful-information/rates-fees BUT come to think of it, if you're cycling in, you only pay the cycling activity permit as far as I'm aware

MASI -- I used to ride it regularly on my own on weekend mornings, moved away for a few years and heard of a few muggings there. Since I've been back, the poor state of the road, the number of pedestrians and the chaotic traffic has kept me away.

Definitely worth cycling to Cape Point and as many of the side roads as you want to do if you can find a relatively wind-free day, bearing in mind that Kalk Bay is very sheltered from the south-easter, and Cape Point is the windiest site in SA. Check out the wind before you go on Windguru Cape Point. Take your ID to get the SA discount, and a day permit for cycling will cost you R105 or a bit more for this year (I think they are cashless).

Road bike. Dodgy areas you should avoid for the mugging risk if you're on your own are circled in yellow on the map. For the Ocean View and Red Hill sites, you're probably ok on the downhill because you'll be on the opposite side of the road from the settlement/suburb and can outride people on foot, but maybe a a sitting duck on the uphill. Hout Bay is a concern along Main Road past Imizamo Yethu, but you can take Valley Road instead.

Does anyone know if Yves Kino's Youtube channel is real time? If it is, he is due to ride from Melkbos to the Waterfront today. He's going to need an escort over the dodgy bits...

The Marvel Cadent is listed as a hybrid bike, so apart from having a rigid fork, its tyres may not be as knobbly as the Titan's, and tyre rolling resistance can make a huge difference in the feel of the bike. Coil forks are not great, but many of us started on those! If it has a lockout, try using that on the climbs to see if you're losing power by bouncing up and down. Did anyone set the bike up for you?

I see an Instagram video from November with a guy on a gravel bike, so parts are do-able.

It's jeep track -- road or middelmannetjie -- all the way to Stoekoe bridge but the upper parts were very eroded in places, with dongas, rocks and sand. Perhaps they have kept up with repairs and maintenance, but a mtb would be better.

I should add that we used to ride in from Bettys Bay and then buy the permit at the offices -- someone here can hopefully say if that's still allowed.

Haven't ridden there for well over a decade, but the roads were always rocky in places. The map is here and it's straight forward enough to follow: https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/files/Reserves/CapeNature-Kogelberg-2025.pdf "A moderate 22km ride along the jeep track through the Kogelberg Valley starts at the reserve office. The route should take between 2-4 hours. Please use sunscreen, protected riding gear and make sure you have plenty of water on the trail. Permits can be purchased from the reserve office. Please note mountain bikers must be wearing helmets at all times." The route from the N2 from the Eskom hydropower office was closed many years ago because mtbikers were rude to the farmer.

This would be 99% rural though -- the old line between Touws River and Ladismith is at least 140 km long. The municipalities would be the least of the problems, and would probably welcome any event that fills some beds. Would be interested to know if Anthony has ridden the route? Since the line was closed in 1981, there would have been many other washaways in more recent floods -- clear from following the line on Google Earth. There are adjacent roads in some parts but not all. Nice for an adventure tour.

Your first step, surely, would be to figure out the land ownership. If the land is still owned by Transnet, their permission would obviously be needed. If the railway line has been deproclaimed, the land may now be owned by a large number of local farmers, so that would involve a lot of negotiation. Unless you plan to follow public roads in the general vicinity of the line, and I imagine some of those form part of the Klein Karoo gravel corridor that Makadas Adventures developed.

You can download it as PDF, gpx, kmz etc here https://capecycleroutes.co.za/route/cross-cape-route Oh, broken links...

Sympathies for your injuries. I have a soft spot in my heart that inhibits my ability to do out-of-town events that require an overnight stay.