tombeej

The guys doing the road race will benefit from being in the TDF as long as possible, esp. the light climbers. It's a long, hard, very hilly course. The 'racing legs' they'll carry through from the TDF should only help them. But the track is a completely different discipline. Cav has to get back to his track-specific preparation. Super hard endurance work will only take him backwards - definitely not what he wants to be doing in the lead-up to the Olympics. He needs to be fine-tuning with the relevant speed work needed for the Omnium events. The TT guys... well it's 50/50 whether to stay or drop out, I guess. Cancellara is an old toppie and these big efforts in very high temperatures just take that much longer to recover from than a youngster like Dumoulin. The ITT is exactly 3 weeks away. I understand that he feels he needs to leave now for a bit of recovery and then to get back into TT-specific training.

So instead of all this whining and weird self-righteous anger at Cav, how about we recognise his achievements in this years TDF (exceptional), what he's singlehandedly done for the Qubeka charity (massive) and the exposure he's given DD (hugely valuable) and his support of cycling in Africa (so appreciated). And how about we recognise that he's got an Olympic Games to prepare for in just a few weeks FFS, that he originally signed up with DDD with this explicit understanding, and that everyone involved in the sport (including us, the supporters) always knew he was never going to get to Paris for this reason.

To start off (and to help you understand a bit better), you need to understand that the Tour de France is a tour of individual races linked together under one larger umbrella event. In other words, each individual stage is recognised as a separate race in its own right, with its own victor who can then claim a 'World Tour race victory', its own UCI world tour points, etc. Getting upset about Cav leaving the TDF 'early' is like getting upset with a mtber for not entering all events in the MTN national mtb series. Or getting upset with Federer for not competing in every single event on the world tennis tour, etc. So imagine you hear someone say that Nino Schurter should have his World Cup XCO series wins taken away from him because he didn't enter the final 5 races in the series calendar, and therefore also lose his UCI points in the process, thereby dropping is world ranking (like some fool said earlier in this thread about Cav). Would that not sound completely laughable to you? This is exactly the same thing.

Maybe just had enough and walking away from the sport? Often happens (burn out).

Well done Ashleigh ????????????

Oh damn, now I know what my next n + 1 purchase is going to be. Can see the wifie throwing her hands up in despair. Probably the only event these days where a modern helmet is actually properly frowned on!

Will try it out, thanks Wendy

Bonus, this blog of yours has not only been great to read, but I'm actually using it for a bit of my own research. The missus and I have been wanting to leave for some time now, and after our recent holiday in Catalunya we've fallen for the country and have now decided to start making active plans. First thing will be to learn the language. So from next Tuesday I start my Spanish classes . We are looking at the Girona area, but anywhere in the Costa Brava will be perfect. Once we are eventually ready to take the plunge (10 months to 1 year from now) I'd like to get in touch with you and ask your advice on all the steps we'll need to take (permits, legal, financial, etc) if that's ok?

Part 2: The M4 Highway: Once you've bombed down the M19 back into DBN you then go through the very flat industrial area along the river, and finally onto the M4 highway. For cyclists this is a thing of beauty. Brand new black-top. Not a blemish. If you go over a leaf you'll feel it. And it goes on and on. No big climbs - just the climb up from the Umhlanga river heading out to watch out for. And then coming back there's the climb up past Umdloti. Besides that, it's fast and straightforward. Magic, magic conditions for bunch racing. You're racing along the coastline with the warm morning sun on your face and the sound of the waves drowned out only by the whirr of wheels on the peachiest speedway you could ever hope for. And that's not even the best bit.... When you cross the line and you've collected your finishers medal, it's off to the beach across the road - just dive straight into the waves with your kit still on. And then soft serve ice cream on the promenade while the sun dries you off.

As I said, the M7 has a number of spots to rest as you go up. But as Gerald points out, it's all relative. It might be a relatively chilled climb in training, but for the racing bunches it really is full gas. So this is for the racers: Everyone knows that this is the only place (except the small Umdloti climb towards the end of the race) to get rid of wannabes and wheelsuckers. The organisers send off very large bunches of (a couple hundred people in 'A'), so the bunch is still big as you head to the approaches of the climb. Then as you hit that first ramp it all explodes. If you have any intention of racing this thing with a good time, then you have to be in the front there. The okes are will start going full taps as soon as the climb starts and everyone gets strung out in a long line. Before the top of that first ramp there are little groups of 5, 10, 15 riders splitting from the bunch. Some then come together to form larger groups over the next easier bits, but that first ramp basically determines your whole race. For the racers, the M7 climb is fast. It's going to hurt. Just accept it, embrace it, and look forward to it . In 'A' last year two breaks managed to get away. I was in the second break and we arrived in Pinetown with an ave. speed of 33.5 km/h. Don't take that last bump to the top (Otto Volek) for granted. With your jelly legs it can be another little challenge. But to be honest, by then the bunches have already been decided and you shouldn't be dropped there - because guaranteed, all the okes around you are all feeling just as *** as you are .

Part 1: The M7 climb: This is either 11 km or 15.5 km long, depending on where you personally view the climb to end. For me, the climb ends when we reach Pinetown after 11 km. For others, the last 'bump' from the Otto Volek bridge to the top is their summit. I wrote the following piece for last year's thread: To people who have not raced Tour Durban before and are looking at that big climb up the M7 with a bit of trepidation, look at it this way: It's not a solid/sustained climb, more like a series of smaller bumps with lots of opportunity to take a breather in between each one. It really is not as bad as it looks on paper (there are even a couple of little downhill sections). NB: There is one sustained section that you need to plan your race strategy around, and that is the very first 2.5 km of the climb. This section is a steady 6% ramp that doesn't relent. But there's relief at the top with a flat section where you can recover before the next little kick upwards. That's were you need your full focus. That first ramp. Be willing to dig deep to stay with the bunch there and keep telling yourself it's only 2.5 km long and then it's over. If you are still with the bunch there, then 80% of the job is done for the M7. You just need to properly commit to that first ramp, that's it. Yes there are more kickers after that, and the last ramp into Pinetown will hurt, but if you're still in reasonable shape then you should be just fine for the rest of the way.

I haven't yet decided to enter this year, but it's a brilliant event and you're going to have a blast! I'll bet it will become a 'must do' on your calendar in the years to come. To break it down for you, the race can be split into two parts: (1) the M7 climb and (2) the beautiful M4 highway. Edit: you'll need to click on the image to enlarge.

Sorry I don't believe it. Because I've been told too many times here that mountain bikers don't dope - it's only the roadies.

I had a long chat with myself yesterday. I said, "Self, get your head back in the game". After sleeping on it, I'm happy to report that Self has agreed. So we went for our first ride in 2 months this afternoon. Just 2hrs, and nearly pooped on someones doorstep I was so unfit. Baby steps. Won't drive up for the Macsteel race, but keen to try and get (kind of) in shape for Tour Durban - if anyone is keen for a kuier by die see in April....

Ja folks who don't live by the sea and spend a lot of time on/around the ocean just don't realise how much salt Eats Everything. And in double quick time. Add beach sand to the equation and you've got about the most corrosive environment you could possibly wish to expose metal equipment to. Those of us who work/play on the sea soon develop an attitude that everything is disposable. Metal, wood, all electronics. Use them, enjoy them, but you'll soon have to toss them. No matter how diligent you are about maintenance. And washing stuff in simple soap & water aint going to help much. There are special anti-corrosive solvents you need to spray on to everything after a proper cleaning. Including all your electronics. So if you're going to ride your bike on the beach that's fine. But just go into it with your eyes open.

That's great news re. the change for the finale kays to the finish. The racing in the last 20-odd kays this year were hairy with the whole road filled with swerving short lappers and nowhere to go on the right. New route looks even flatter than last year. A perfect race for getting used to racing in big tight bunches. I might even come out of retirement and put my fishing rod down for a sec to do this race.

This is the ideal race to get a proper I-Team train going. Event: 2016 Emperors Palace Classic Date: 10th April 2016 Distance: 98 km Timed by Racetec. Fast and flat (just one little 2 km-long bump just before halfway). Entries are now open here.

Thanks, fixed it.

Tim Noakes and legal dream team helping him survive ‘trial by ambush’ Curiouser and curiouser. Just when you think the Health Professions Council of SA hearing against a world-renowned scientist, Cape Town University emeritus professor Tim Noakes, can’t get any more peculiar, it exceeds all expectations. Here are my impressions of what went down this time round. It’s another long read, but like all good whodunnits it’s worth it. So make yourself a cuppa and read it at your leisure. Full story here.

Sorry, would love to join, but will be doing a bit of this instead...

Tim Noakes: why I've been waiting for this trial for years Cape Town University emeritus professor Tim Noakes has explained at a media conference why he welcomes the ‘nutrition trial of the century’. and in fact has been waiting for years to present the science on an international platform. So far, the hearing against him by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) on behalf of dietitian Claire Strydom, former president of the Association for Dietetics in SA (ADSA) has gone well in his favour. Read the full story here.

Nearly 2 weeks later I'm still coughing and blowing up all sorts of colourful stuff. You could stick up posters on walls with this s~~t, I swear.

https://www.strava.com/segments/10816642

Why not hook up with Geraldm24 and his crew from Germiston.

Just your bike. You can rent your board on the beach