NotSoBigBen

Gonna print me one of those fork seal drivers ????

As a matter of interest what material did you make the BB tools and mounts out of?

Front derailleur covers, Shimano pedal service tool the useful and successful one's Garmin mounts tried a few different designs and materials but they haven't lasted ... the like 'top layer' where it turns into the quarter mount comes off Tried one of the chain quick link 'pliers' things but it isn't strong enough, will try another sometime Button for a Garmin 810 worked as well A cool thread, will be interesting to see what has been printed and if it was successful. Advice would also be welcome

I think I've said it before ... I only look at the weather on the morning of the race and best to just look out the window IMHO

Ever wondered if red is really faster? Some empirical evidence ????

That's what happens when you start your ride after the kids have gone to school mate!

A ride with almost no wind ... mon dieu!

The blue train ... ma se hare the wind is flippin relentless lately ????

As a matter of interest are you using a road or MTB crank? I only ask because I have MTB front derailleurs on both my gravel bikes but I'm running MTB 2x cranks and have no problems with STI shifters

I'll just leave this here ???? Removed all the cable stops, cleaned up where the front derailleur mount was all messed up, closed up all the holes (bottle cage, brake mounts). The decals are painted on not vinyl, pretty fiddly that and took some time, doubt I'll do it again but it looks cool ????

The less said about today's ride the better as Frosty has alluded to ???? The loop through 'Suikers', as the cool kids call it, was the easy part ????

As much as I sometimes get a bit sarcastic about the exchanges between chaps here on the hub there is a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the bike business and technology. That's one of the biggest things that keeps me here! Keep on keeping on chaps ????

My 17th ...

Gotta love summer rides on the Highveld ???? Luckily my skin is not as fragile as that limey @Pikey ????

Look I don't know about sponsorships, feel good and all that stuff but clearly on the hub WINATALLCOSTS is the only thing that matters ????

#NoGearsNoTears

By this exact analogy my brother and I got a 'free' entry in 2011 just a month before the event ... we hadn't been training for it but had been riding our normal 3-4 days a week as we have been like forever (ok since '89) We took the entry and decided to just aim to finish every day nothing more (no position/speed targets if you will) I'm not going to lie there were many pretty tough days and lots of f'ing and blinding as my wife calls it but we did finish. As far as bikes go we just serviced what we had, took some consignment bits and bobs from my son in laws bike shop at the time and hoped for the best. I well remember a spectator saying as I went passed on the prologue 'daai groot ou sal nie klaar maak nie' ... vat so ou!

Started with my wife saying 'you need to be back by 9:30' for a birthday breakfast ... left early then got a WhatsApp at 8 to say 'it's cancelled no more rush' so just kept going ???? Before I knew it a ton was done! Love how miles just pass on a gravel bike ????

That's why I generally start at the gate nearest to the circus ....

I've ridden on the road from Alberhoughton to Parys and back on most of the little 'back roads' and you need to clearly be cautious but I managed ok and would do it again anytime but that's maybe just me?

Thing is leaving that early then being lumped with lights and stuff doesn't really appeal to me ... thinking to get a lift there, ride back home after the event rather

Like already mentioned take the right tool for the job, its way more fun! Just to reiterate that you make sure the road bike is setup properly for you and do try do a few rides on it before the time.

You just don't get that green here in Gauteng, especially not on the Highveld