NotSoBigBen

[ I agree, if you take one bottle less you would already save 750mg. I would much rather race with a heavier tyre then getting a puncture... Yip Duathlete, you lose less time with the extra weight than it takes to fix a puncture, nuff said! (That is unless you don't get a puncture but hey you takes your chances!)

Those Cane Creeks are very naas but pricey! I use the 'equivalent' RAVX (Ergo X I think?) ones, always used bar ends and like the extra position it gives my hands when riding long rides. Use them often on tough climbs! My son on the other hand doesn't have them, doesn't like them and tells me they look nerdy but hey I'm old and I can do what I like!

I agree with the 'lose weight elsewhere' and go with the protection option! Wear only 1 sock perhaps?

DR - I know that 'classics' comment was not intended for me! Or am I wrong? Surely not!

Does a Thomson Elite seatpost on my MTB qualify?

You're a strange lot but hey here goes, excuse the quality it's from my cellphone! The 2 stitches are in the eyebrow. The chin doesn't look bad! Amoryn - Didn't know your partner was not exactly being helpful! I feel bad now as we could at least have offered some more encouragement had we known. SORRY !!!!!!!!

It was absolutely awesome! Finished 61st overall and 19th in Mens category. Like Amoryn says it is flippin hard and the right partner is crucial. Byron (new nickname CAT, Diesel engine!) pushed/pulled me up the big hill in the TT. Not cause I couldn't ride but just to keep his pace! When I was riding near Amoryn (a few times over the 4 days) she looked strong! Well done! We'll be back again next year for sure.

Amoryn - Byron rode it but I didn't, thought I've got enough stitches already!

Hey all, much better day today. 4:45 63rd (72nd yesterday). The eye is very black and swollen but was not a problem. Couldn't wear glasses though. Flippin hot again! So here for those who needed to see it (Daemon!). Oops no can do! Access Denied The Hub SA : Access Denied ErrorOnly members with sufficient permission can access this page. Admin what's up?

Dick - Come give it a go mate then comment! Thanks to the rest for the good wishes, gonna take it a bit easy tomorrow. Man with no name - Byron also had a puncture but we fixed it in no time, what kit you riding with?

Flip okes (and dudettes) I fell hard at Sabie today! Just got back from the doc, 2 stitches to the eyebrow and 3 to the chin. Finished in 4:45, happened at about 20k's on a fast down with a loose righthander. Luckily Byrons' first aid course (which I paid for!) came in handy. He bandaged me up and I managed to continue, bit blind in the left eye from the blood but ya ......... I look like a flippin heavyweight boxer after a bad loss! Yip we'll be out there again tomorrow! Legs and arms are good (no comments about any other parts of the anatomy i.e. brain etc. please!) Hope the rest of the hubbers went well.

MichH - hello from Sabie! Sorry to miss this but hey there's a small matter of 4 days of racing here to be taken care of! IanJ - Byron was a bit ahead of himself with that time he 'quoted' at the beginning. My best was just under 28 somewhere there.

Last year we ate either a gel or energy bar every hour (mixed Jungle ones with PVM ones so as not to get to monotonous). At the watering points had a banana/piece of chocolate just for variety. Took some jelly babies and ate them now and then just for sommer! Took 1.5 liters of FIT Carbo Supreme and then filled up with Powerade at the last watering point each day. This made sure we had enough to drink till the finish and also gave some variety cause even FIT can get a bit much after a while. Also ate a free 'Chelsea bun' at the finish! Used a recovery drink immediately after finishing (FIT Dura Train in our case). My opinion is to make sure that you start eating relatively early and have a routine of eating something regularly throughout the ride. Helps not to suddenly run out of energy just cause you weren't hungry the first hour or 2! I have it on good authority that there will be watermelon available at the watering points. If the weather is hot it's the best refresher! Does it help?

My 5c! Also always just went out and rode, rest Monday, Roadbike Tuesday and Thursday (+- 30k's relative effort), MTB Wednesday and Friday (+- 15k's relative effort), Roadbike longish Saturday and MTB longish Sunday. Never worried to much about speed or why we were out there, just went out. Since Jan this year decided hey if we expect different (better!) results perhaps we need to do something different. Came up with our own plan:- Monday - Rest Tuesday - Roadbike alternate 1 week long hill repeats (Comaro for those from the Souf) next week short steep hill repeats (only about 22k's but much higher effort!) Wednesday - MTB with a mixture of technical and 3 or so sharpish hill reps Thursday - Roadbike sprint intervals (only about 20k's but much higher effort!) Friday - MTB with a mixture of technical and 3 or so sharpish hill reps Saturday - Long Roadbike ride (100k) through the Suikerbosrand Nature reserve Sunday - Long MTB ride (70k) not technical nor hard! We do take it easy the week before important races and don't do the repeats (in fact go back to the old options!). Has made quite a difference in my strength and ability to keep up with breaks in the bunches as well. I was also able to climb all the hills at the Sabie Experience pre ride, last year I walked a lot. The 13 kilos down may also have helped of course!

Don't run with scissors!

Hey Buff / Mampara - my son rides one of those Orb's! He loves it (will post a pic tomorrow). Has SRAM X9shifters, X7RD, XT cranks and FD. Fox fork, CF bars and stem. Been riding for a year no problem, also loves the lockout on the rear.

5 buddies and pepper spray? I scoff at that! You should have seen us last week 2 against 8, and did we stuff those 2 up! You better believe it.

Mampara - I read this post sitting and standing but no bob, am I doing something wrong?

Amoryn - I am off to Dubai next week! Care to send something with for the old man?

Very very naas!

Cherry - aint seeing no pick, just lots of gibberish! I wanna see, I wanna see. Mampara - sorry mate, no idea!

En pret gaan daar baie van wees! mampara - Ronel's team will start in A (saw her seeding on the Sabie website). That's valid for day 1, after that it depends on your finish from the previous days!

Amoryn like I said to wannabepro, check out my pre ride report, I did write a bit about the route besides all the other crap I spun!

Cherry - Well done at the CGC awards evening last week, looking mighty fine the new slimline you! My son's only 16 but said 'hey who's the babe with the red hair', that should tell you something! Did warn him against babe's with red hair, heard they are so vicious they eat the first baby! I'm sure you will enjoy Sabie and no I won't laugh but then again I won't be anywhere near the front where you will be! Enjoy !!!!

wannabepro - check out my report of the pre-ride (if you haven't already!) on www.sabiexperience.co.za . We always stay at the same place (Gecko Inn) but I booked it quite some time ago! Sorry can't help with more info!