Velouria

Forget flagging, next time someone steals a KOM by a ridiculous margin, I'm using Digital EPO: http://www.digitalepo.com/ http://www.digitalepo.com/images/texta.png

Certainly not voluntarily. They need a section in the hostel for first timers, and another section for those that have done this before and like our beauty sleep.

And if you do decided to get up, don't put your cycling shoes on and make a noise like a stampeding herd of wildebeest. Some of us like to lie in

And just to make things worse - the new DC route with a half way timeout changes things completely. It's a godsend for everybody as it allows teams to regroup. It's now like doing two laps of the Argus with a nice cold coke in between. Last year 206 teams started, 13 went under 6 hours, 54 did between 6 and 7 hours, and 29 snuck in under 10 hours (3 didn't make it). I'd say an Argus sub 3 here is the same as a sub 7 DC in terms of the level. That's not to say that a guy who gets a sub 3 at the Argus will get a sub 7hr DC. This is a race for the diesel engines - the guys that get abused week in and week out up the climbs around the peninsula

That water crossing at Kondomo has only been flooded twice in the last 9 years. Same for that water crossing just before the climb at Suurbron (used to be the last unmanned checkpoint). If it's dry, a fast rolling tyre is ideal. If it's wet, and I'm talking 2006 wet, it gets super muddy, so make sure your tyres clear mud quite well.

Where the attack occurred

Contacts as in a bike shop where he can buy a new frame? Or a shady black market 2ndhand frame? Or a cheap import from China? Unfortunately, bikes don't usually just crack near the seatpost. Someone did something funny.

Yesterday, two British Capetonians riding in Tokai were attacked by men with wooden sticks and had their bikes stolen. They suffered some minor injuries, including a broken helmet and some aches and scrapes. The robbers were only interested in the bikes, and weren't after phones and other valuables. I know a lot of people consider Tokai as a safe spot to ride, often alone - just beware of any suspicious characters. Looks like the second hand bike industry is quite lucrative.

You've forgotten about the 2006 TDF already? Or 2010?

So many high horses, you'd swear The Hub was the Moral Capital of the internet. I'd rather have Tyler telling his story so that we can question, recognise and prevent it happening again in the sport that we love. He's part of the solution along with teams like Garmin, while Lance has done nothing to move the sport forward, and teams like Sky remind us of the recent dark past. My dream is to be able to watch a bike race and not have my suspicions raised, and hope that we never have another Michael van Staden situation.

Stage 9 after party. Most important stage of the whole race.

Ride the Prologue as you're going to ride the rest of the event. Don't do anything stupid. Don't worry about seeding (unless you're racing for a podium), you've got 8 proper stages to sort that all out. Stay safe.

Let me know when the next one is planned, and try to start a little later - I hate starting off in the morning wearing all my kit and then having to find pockets etc to stash it in. I've a 6-7hr LSD on the cards for next weekend...

The guy who rides to work everyday, come rain or shine, because his bike is his only means of transport, and he is the only breadwinner in his family. For him cycling is not something he does for fun, it's a means to improve his life. That's the most committed rider. Whizzing along a tar road in tight lycra 5 times a season and then demanding prize money and a percentage of the entrance fee of the rest of the participants, all in the name of fun, isn't committed - it's poncey and brattish. When did we go from a slap on the back, a handshake and bragging rights to demanding prize money? Do you honestly think that the other "recreational pro's" who don't finish on the podium race for prize money at a league event, or for the thrill of just racing each other? No wonder mountain biking is doing so well in this country - people just want to ride their bikes and have fun. Sani2C attracted 7500 riders, of which maybe 40 had aspirations of prize money. Win a 24hr race, and you get a bottle of wine and a pair of socks, but it's the experience we take away that's priceless. And I'll bet this - PPA will find the (directly or indirectly) the next Burry before CSA does.

I just want to ride my bike - safely - on the roads and trails around the Western Cape. I want to do the odd race here and there, occasionally venturing upcountry for something different. At least I see PPA standing up for me as a cyclist with City and Provincial legislators, the most recent example being the rather ridiculously titled "Safety of Cyclists" draft legislation . I see them handing out lights and helmets to cyclists that aren't as well off as me. I see them investing money in new trails and campaigning landowners for access. I see them growing the sport and at the same time making a difference to those less fortunate than I am. PPA, through their up to date, current seeding system, also gives me the opportunity to recreationally race against my peers - to all the other "racers" out there - get over yourselves. Unless you are earning a salary from cycling you're still just recreational cyclists, you just go a little faster than the guys behind you. The one time I've ever actually wanted something from CSA, after paying fees and subs for years, they didn't even get back to me. I realised that day that they need me far more than I need them, and I'll rather spend my money on an organisation that makes a difference. To all our pro's that have made it overseas I think they made it despite CSA, not because of them.

Depends how fast you plan to ride. You can almost make the last water point in the light, in which case you don't really need anything if the weather is fine. But make sure the weather is going to be fine. If you're a little slower, and the weather is fine, arm warmers and a jammer at Doornkraal or BergPlaas (depending on your speed), along with lights. If it's wet and cold and windy and muddy, start in all the kit that you own and don't take any of it off until you're in your guest house in JBay.

My Sani2C race report: http://www.velotales.com/2013/05/sani2c-2013.html Farmer Glen and all the others involved once again out did themselves.

Give Brett and Lesley from The Swazi Frontier a shout - they'll be only too glad to hook you up with some trails. info@theswazifrontier.sz

Some cool tips for Strava KOM Whacking: http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/05/strava-strategies/ Start the segment fresh Go for low hanging fruit The Leadout Start at the back, finish at the front Stay away from the PRO’s segments. You don’t have a chance… The comments provide some of the more sneakier options (like wait for the wind to blow, or define private segments...)

Patensie and possibly the climb up Berg Plaas. You can do most of the ride on dirt...

There's also: Thandi New Hermanus trails Eden

I agree with the other replies above. They roll nicely, have decent enough protection, and wear quite well. I had one bad week where I got 2 side wall cuts on the rear (you know how hard it is to throw away a tyre that is only a week old!), but otherwise I'm quite happy with them. I'm close to 80kgs, and have done almost 10 000kms on the road bike this year with 2 side wall cuts, and 4 other punctures. Not bad going...

Yeah - Riis and Tinkoff. Not the most ethical of team managers, apparently. Maybe the UCI are scared to upsetting those two, as they probably have quite a bit of ammo to fling back at the UCI. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer... ??

I rode the new PPA funded trails in Hermanus yesterday. The routes start at the Wine Village (Euodia is in there) and head up the Hemel and Aarde Valley. There are several routes depending on your fitness level and technical ability. We did the 33km Black route yesterday in just over 2 hrs, while the ladies opted for the 25km Red route, and took them around 2h30. For maps and profiles, check out: http://www.pedalpowe...-trail-opening/ Another option is to head off towards Stanford and Salmonsdam Nature Reserve: http://www.mtbroutes...n-stanford.html As mentioned - Oakvalley, Thandi and Lebanon are all options too.

Said it yesterday on the other thread: Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.