Skubarra

Not a particular big fan of technical stuff on gravel races but that jeeptrack next to railway wasn't too bad... Rode that road from Delico to town a few weeks back and it was rutty as hell, think its quite a busy road, but maybe the ruts would have softened up a bit with all the rains...

For a slower rider probably around an hour + the stretch from McGregor to Lords is another 30min drag/climb

Cannot say I particularly enjoyed the singletrack on my gravelbike, worried that idea might catch on with other gravel organisers 🤣 But yes, unique and challenging route, definitely one of the more interesting races around. Also, weather was kind to us...

There was also a cut-off at 14h00 at Lord's Wines, they didn't allow you to attempt the climb if you arrived after the cut-off. We saw a number of riders still riding towards the venue when we left just after 14h00

Don't quite follow your thinking - 360km route, the sketchy river sections you mention maybe 1km of the route? You will maybe lose a few minutes compared to the mtb on those short sections at most? Just to clarify - I dont think the short sections where you will be faster on a mtb outweigh the rest of the route where you should be faster on a gravel bike. And if its really bad on those sections you will be slow there on a mtb as well. In my limited experience of riding in mud (limited because I really try to avoid it if I can 🤣), thinner wheels just deal better with mud & water so if I know its going to be muddy I opt for the gravel bike.

go to the website, the annoying spinning wheel is only on the app

eish thats scary - seller with lots of 5 star ratings - would not expect that... So the bike "hasn’t been ridden much." part of the sales pitch also not true?

good point!! In my mind the climb only started at lord's but I remember now that section - quite a few wheels came off there last year...

The gravel section from Lord's Wines to the start of the tar climb long but not particularly steep. The tar climb to the finish venue is shorter but steeper than Hans se Kop, you'll be pushed to your limit there...

Slippery slope that one, just because one person associated with a business or brand is a sadistic troll on social media doesn't mean the other people in that business share that stance. Can be counter-productive.

I see they changed the first part of the route, we dont go through town anymore, now basically an out and back on the Piketberg gravel road. Pity 😞 the part they cut out is a lekker road. I assume it was difficult to get traffic permission to take the starting groups from the venue through the whole town.

where did you see that? no updates on website or social media that I have seen?

No I actually agree with you (except maybe for Swartberg which is about 40% - 50% tar?, for me only the Swartberg downhill at the end was nasty on the thinner tires) Think we are lucky that we have good gravel surfaces around CPT and for most nearby events 45mm would be perfectly fine

That is like 90% of the races 🙈

honestly not that close to the SAPS that it would be a deterrent, closer to Morningstar which have seen a number of attacks on cyclists over the past few years. With the benefit of hindsight an incident that maybe was waiting to happen, though I don't blame anyone involved for thinking they were safe inside the shop.

Their shop is at Spiros Corner in the centre of Durbanville, if its an expensive item and you need some peace of mind might be worth visiting the shop in person? Edit - Assuming you are a Capetonian

They are a legit shop yes

from past experience usually around the time they need to do it ie in the week of the next race where seeding is needed

I can only hope that if this is the case for 2026 they have the opportunity to choose a better date for 2027, would love to do this ride again.

On the same weekend as Double Century - how daft is that? 🤦‍♂️ Do the organisers not watch calendars? Was planning to make the trip from the Cape this year but DC not an option to miss out on - meh

If he was on a 32" he would have had time to fix his handlebar before he hit the ground..

As long as you can get where you need to be without interfering with the Epic riders - yes.

That is your right, you can choose to who you want to sell to. But if that is your standard then just communicate clearly, don't string the potential buyer along and then blank him and move on to the more "deserving" buyer with sober habits? For me the bad/lack of communication here is the bigger issue here.

A bit like that fist reload in the Mission Impossible movie

I have been cycling for years and never knew about that signal, but now that you mention it I have recently seen guys do it in the group just before they put in a big attack. I naively thought they were psyching themselves up for the effort or subtly warning their buddies to follow...