cheesey

@Honkdonk - it didn't last year. There was a guy with a mobile coffee stand though, nice caffeine hit before the start

For all Cyclelab's faults, at least they open at times people with jobs stand a chance of getting to. 10-4pm? Really?

I have a great CO2 cartridge adaptor - problem being that it only takes threadless cartridges. Anybody know where I can get these? Scratched out on Sportsmans/Cyclelab/FPC Paulshof.... Thanks,

Would have liked to have helped out, but there was no way through the pack from the rear half of it. Plenty of amateur moves being pulled and half a dozen crashes as a result so my priority adjusted to staying safe until things opened up. But I lost the front bunch in the confusion of meeting D/C back-markers at Chapman's. Still, enjoyed my first Argus and the last 10km was good fun, at the front of a sprint line, Lost out on the dip for the line to a guy wearing a Vodacom jersey. 3.08 for me.

yep. Did it a few years ago from Gap to l'Alpe d'Huez via Col d'Izoard, Col du Lauturet. If you can do it, I recommend it, though it is a long and hard day in the saddle. Difficult to train for in ZA as most people don't have big hills on their doorsteps that they can train on each weekend - welcome to the world of hill repeats.

I thought the race was very well organised and second the comments above, and the observation of the necessity of motorbikes. It can't be easy marshalling a race with the driver behaviour I saw while waiting for my wife to finish - 4 cars drove down the finish chute ignoring the marshalls - INCLUDING A COMPETITOR'S CAR - a white Audi Q7 with three bikes on the back - FFS! I was in BL and I saw 4 crashes. Got to the start pen late, therefore at the back. There was some desperately average riding skills on display - causing all four crashes. One guy with a camelbak on changed his line without looking in the first 4km causing all to brake around him, I think "this one's trouble". Sure enough another 5km on and he is on the deck having brought another 3 down with him. People riding like they drive - spilling across the white line on blind corners/rises then having to jump back across into the pack where there is no room, so everybody has to brake to let them in. The motorbike marshalls should be able to issue 'stop and go's' or DQ for such a basic safety issue. While I am ranting - take your frikking gel/bar wrappers home with you. Who is going to pick up your non-biodegradable litter? Or are you such a fast rider that those 10gramms mean the difference between first and second (I think not - otherwise you wouldn't be in BL) - and that includes you BL2077. Can't say I enjoyed the race, per se, as it was so tense after the third crash - my primary objective was to stay out of trouble. Still, pleasantly surprised with my result.

First Argus, starting in E. Not sure what a realistic expectation should be on my training volume. Doing the Macsteel Classic on Sunday so will use that to inform my expecations!

I've entered. Debating whether to recommend my wife to enter - she has entered the Argus and riding every weekend with increasing KMs around the Cradle. She is keen to get mileage in, but worried that cover is removed before she finishes (94.7 in 5 hours) - is this likely to be an issue? Or does the race have a sweep van that follows last rider?

On a ride in the Surrey Hills (UK) once. Descending at pace, and something goes into the rear tyre causing catastrophic deflation. Rear wheel fishtails wildly and I somehow come to a stop without coming off. Take the tyre off (realise I've packed tube with standard valve stem, when wheel required long - d'oh), find hole, repair hole, inflate - no response from tube, look at tube, find another hole, repair, reinflate, no response from tube, repeat.... After the third repair, me and my riding buddy take a look at the tube, and realise there are snake bit punctures at 15 locations (we gave up counting). As the tyre had run flat, at pace, the spoke holes had chewed the tyre. Had to phone for a lift from girlfriend - oh and it was all of 4 degrees that day - was properly cold by the time the car arrived.

Went to CTA for December break on Kulula and over half the checked baggage was left behind. The excuse was Lanseria is short and high and it was hot (30deg) and the flight was full with lots of checked baggage, therefore the carrying capacity of the flight was significantly reduced. I am doing the Argus and flying in an out on the weekend - not sure I want to run the risk of the bike only appearing the following morning....

I used to commute LOTS when in London, but now rather ride a motorbike in, here in Joburg. I considered cycyling in, but got chicken as I can't see a sensible route in. I live in Broadacres and work in Parktown - so have to traverse the N1 some how - but going down William Nicol looks to me like suicide. Does anybody have a similar journey? What route do you take?

Hi, Does anybody know if NF is open tomorrow (16th Dec) and other days over the holiday period?

....just a shame it was so short - we need a 'director's cut'...

I've seen both groups run red lights - but I've seen plenty more cars do it at 6am on a Saturday AM. I'm a member of Club 100 - and joined after my wife had a very negative experience on a trial run with Cyclelab when she was dropped off the back of the last group, and nobody looked out for her. She has never had that experience with Club 100. That may not be an issue if you are moderately quick - but to me it spoke volumes of the attitude of the club. I don't use the membership as much as I could, but I enjoy the odd ride out with the Club, and the MTB long rides when I do them - you see trails/routes that you would probably not find on your own.

You can, but it is pretty hit and miss in my experience. Tapes you save time on the initial mounting, but when you flat you have to be very careful when pulling the old tube off. Glue is a right faff to initially apply, but when you flat you will have sufficient tackiness left on the wheel to get the replacement on and get home safely, so long as you don't corner too hard.

Hi, I put some Specialized 2bliss tyres on my Fulcrum Red Metal hoops. I initially fitted them with inner tubes to push them into shape/ease out of their folded state. A day or two later I pulled the tubes out and pumped them up and heard the bead clicking into place. I initially inflated them up to 4 bar and left them overnight. Next morning the tyres are soft, and following day fully flat. I reinflated them and checked for any air leaks around the rim with some soapy water, but couldn't see any obvious air leaks, they are soft again now. I cleaned the rims before I initially mounted the tyres. So: Are tubeless tyres only fully airtight with sealant in (I haven't put any in yet)? Should they hold air pressure just on the basis of the tyre & valve seal? Jon

D'oh! Road. c.30kmh

I would like to get a couple of early morning rides in during the week - an hour max (30 min out and back). Does anybody pass by Broadacres at 5ish that wouldn't mind some company?

Hi, Can anybody recommend a sports physio in the Fourways/Broadacres area? My dodgy knee is acting up again... Thanks, Jon

You can buy direct from On-One in the UK - I did so a few months back (ScandAL 29er). Arrived very well packaged and better yet, without duty applied. They were very helpful, and expedited the order to ensure it arrived in time for a race I wanted to do. Bikes/bike parts retailed in SA appear to be priced to market, rather than priced to cost+margin. Meaning they are much more expensive. If you value price over convenience/service then I suspect direct importing will remain cheaper for On-One than going via a local retailer.

The problems were not confined to the A and B batch of the long course. I was in the D group and the whole group missed the turn to head across the road onto the other side. Now the group was at fault for following like headless chickens (I'll count myself in that). But: The signage should be completely unambiguous, which it wasn't. At route splits you should have a marshall The signs should be pegged into the ground so that they can't be brushed aside/rolled over. The signs should not say "1/2 marathon" when they are pointing direction on a 70km route, just an arrow will suffice. When you get tired seeing "1/2 marathon" on a sign starts sowing in doubt in your mind as to whether you are on the right track". It's all very well to place the onus on the rider to know the route - but you do need to provide them with adequate information about the route in advance - there was nothing handed out at registration about the route, no detailed route description - so all you are left with is the occasional 30cm red square to look for. I did enjoy the race, but I wasn't really racing. I had a cold so I just wanted to turn the pedals to km's into my legs. I would be really ticked off with the organisers if I had been racing - it's just so easy to get right with a bit more preparation.

Plenty of amateurs have ridden those routes. The Etape follows an "interesting" stage each year, this year is Stage 19. La Marmotte runs every year and goes over Telegraphe/Galibier, Croix de Fer and Alpe d'Huez. The difference for the Pros is that it is today's stage comes after they have raced for two weeks already.

@mampara It entirely depends on the rider - you are a climber and <just> want a moutain-top stage win - go all out and get the win - you will probably bury yourself in the process and not sign on the following day You are a climber and want the King of the Mountains - then you are going to have to process with the peloton on the sprinters' days. You are sprinter, your focus is the Giro and don't care about the Tour this year, and fancy the points jersey? You're going to have to suck it up in the mountains. the hard-nosed realities of professional riding. The Tour is the foremost race - the Giro organisers know that and know that teams will make calls accordingly.

They are professional riders, with a whole season (and career) to consider. It has been shown again in this Giro what risks are run by all riders every day they compete. As a sprinter in the team your role is not to get high up in the GC, it is to win stages. As a team manager I would be pulling my sprinters out now too, to ensure that they stand the best chance of winning further stages (and money) for the team in the next race. The domestiques need to stay in and last the course to support the team's GC contenders - not the sprinters.

If you have purchased from CRC recently you would be well advised to check your credit card statements carefully: transactions most at threat are those between 4-12 March http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/17/cc_fraud_follows_bike_store_purchases/