Velouria

While I am a big Tim Noakes fan, this is journalism for the sake of filling a blank page. Words like "believes" and "untested" and anecdotal evidence shouldn't be used to convince people to change their lifestyles. Ultimately, what he is promoting is a balanced healthy diet, with sufficient exercise. Now there is plenty of evidence for that.

From http://trevorseinen.com/ The Biggest Cyclist in The WorldTM (look how small the bakkie to his left is!)

My LangsBaviaans race report. Looking forward to 2012 already.

What is the question? If you want a longer "top tube" length, get the layback. If the distance is fine, get the straight. Or get a longer stem.

Why should the top guys get preference? Sani is the very antithesis of top guys and racing. It's all about the back markers, the water points, the pampering, the awesome scenery, the fast manicured single track. And as for the people moaning about the cost - stop. Not for a single second do you feel that you are being ripped off at Sani. And to see the impact this race has on the communities that it passes through is worth the the price tag. It's not about what you get, but what sort of difference something as simple as cycling can make to the lives of those less fortunate than us. There just happens to be some fantastic single track along the way and a very nice goodie bag.

You have to feel for the Merrell teams - car got stuck in the mud after checkpoint 3 and they had to bum lights at checkpoint 4. All this while sitting in 4th or 5th place overall. Doubt they're going to send their backup vehicles along the route again.

I had stomach issues (but I always have stomach issues) on the climb up to Checkpoint 3. Nothing that a quick vomit in the bushes couldn't solve. That soup is a life saver, along with the litre of coke I drank. No other issues after that. I just walked that steep section after Checkpoint 3 - 100m.

And from the sound of things - 230kms on a bike certainly beat the pain of watching the Springboks.

I think it was tougher - even with a STRONG tailwind. Those rolling hills after the second checkpoint soften you up nicely for the big climb, and the bottom of that climb is pretty darn steep. Certainly not as scenic as Baviaans - I got a little bored of staring at Karroo bossies for hours on end (and my partner's bum!). Biggest let down - the descent into Patensie - drop 100m, climb 50m, drop 100m, climb 50m etc...

Sounds like fun. The good weather for the past couple of years has made everyone soft. About time we were made to work for the finisher's medal again!

For the fast guys it's 3 hours from Bergplaas, and for the slower guys it can be upwards of 6 hours. That's a long time to sit in soggy shorts and wet feet.

So glad I am not alone. After Sunday's ride I was ready to give up cycling!

Just got back from a holiday in France. Took my bike with and did some fantastic riding, including Mont Ventoux (what a mountain) and some of the climbs in the Pyrenees. I can't recommend such a holiday enough. Blog post here

There are a couple water crossings after Bergplaas, but they only really show their true colours if it has been raining. Lots. When we crossed the concrete bridge at Kondomo at the bottom of the NeverEnder during the "Wet" Baviaans, we had the water up to our hubs. Also - nothing like a pair of fresh cycling shorts with some clean bum cream. Arm warmers and gloves (and a wind jammer if it is cold) are a good idea for the top of BergPlaas.

I'd bonked halfway up MAC, so all I can really remember about Bergplaas was bum cream and the coke I had. The rest is all a haze of cramp, hot soup, and a chilly breeze. My teammates were taking turns babysitting me... I did pay them back on the road to Kondomo once the coke had kicked in though.

I'd even recommend popping the tub of Milko Balm in the Berg Plaas crate and reapplying on top of the mountain. It's also a good place to change your kit as the rest of the route is dry (depending on the overhead conditions). The only downside is the lack of privacy, but by the time you get to Bergplaas, modesty is the last thing on anyone's mind.

My rather late race report

Well done to Fiona and her team for making the pot hole issue a total non-issue. Sure - we had to dodge some bad bits of road here and there, but they did a good job of filling in what they could, and pointing out the ones that weren't filled.

Feeling kinda left out myself. Deep down, I am still a roadie...

Cycle Addiction have some demo models - nothing fancy though, but if you ask nicely maybe you'll get to ride some of the staff members' bikes.

You aren't by any chance my neighbour are you? Says the reason his stoepk@kkers bark all day long is because of the cats in the neighbourhood. Funny how my dogs don't bark all day long.

Any news or updates?

I thought the same thing - kept thinking I was seeing the same guy on his pimped out Giant 29er all over the place. Until I saw two of them together. So glad Giant has joined the 29er trend - every second person has a Niner and I was beginning to think the that Niner was the new Giant. Back to the topic - value for money I'd go for the Silverback. If you don't like riding the Silverback because of the name, buy the Silverback and a frame of your choice and you'll still come in cheaper than the Giant. (You could go one step further - get the Silverback hardtail 29er for R15000, and your frame of choice.)

Never - a bad day on the bike certainly beats a good day at the office.

There is some stuff right near the shop, as you go up the Valley on the left hand side (starts to the left of the crash barrier on the first corner). It's nice riding, not so much downhill type single track - more like twisty turney XC single track through trees. There is some further up the hill (after the big climb) on the right hand side that could be quite fun, and is more downhill like.