typhoon

This popped up in a FB ad yesterday, anyone looked into it? Another Zwift? Still in beta but free at the moment. "BETA wanting to be BETTER Please note that VirtuGO is in the BETA stage of development. You WILL come across bugs,graphical issues and missing functionality. In other words, VirtuGO can act like a teenager on occasions." https://virtugo.com VirtuGO is lead by former pro-cyclist, Michael Rogers (CEO). His goal is to bring the joy of cycling to all, regardless of their level and to provide them with easy access to targeted world-class, science-based coaching to help them reach their individual personal health and fitness goals. VirtuGO positions itself at the intersection between the virtual world experience and the demand for credible high-quality health and fitness coaching. Together with Daniel Healey, former Sports Scientist for Team BMC and Tinkoff-Saxo, Michael Rogers aims to bring the knowledge and science from 20 years professional cycling available to everybody. From the outset, VirtuGO has three virtual worlds for users to choose from. The well-known Mallorca climb; Coll de Soller, Willunga Hill; known from Tour Down Under as well as a virtual world, called Pulseville. Additionally, more than 100 training sessions, as well as a large number of customized training plans can be found within VirtuGO. For those who want to target training on improving their cycling fitness, there will be no better way to reach their goals in the shortest most effective way possible.

For the last couple December holidays, we've been at Kayser's Beach, about 30km south of ELS airport along the R72 and depending which way the wind is blowing, i've either ridden to ELS and back or head the other direction towards Port Alfred, usually 40-50km out and then turn around. Last year there were roadworks around the Keiskamma River area and climbing up after the river wasn't much fun with very narrow roads and trucks, so the river became the turnaround spot. I found the R72 wasn't bad to ride on as it's a fairly wide road, with a slight shoulder and a full shoulder in some places. The tar is quite rough, so make sure all the fillings are secure https://www.strava.com/activities/1328873352 https://www.strava.com/activities/1327610429

Yeah i've probably done it a few times, but not recently. Apparently it's quite eroded these days. This wasn't only half way down the back https://www.strava.com/activities/722935589/ Another https://www.strava.com/activities/248988771 This was a solo ride to Mountain Sanctury (122km), GF was camping there. https://www.strava.com/activities/275252274/

That particular ride yeah, turn around at the top of the Nek, I missed the left turn going back, which is why the end is different. it's basically 100km to the top and back and about 110km if you go down the other side to the shabeen.

Would have to check when I get home, can't recall off hand, but i think as a sensor, the KickR is still there but in the Indoor Trainer options on the Garmin, it's disabled.

Just adding to this... Setup: Garmin Edge 520 with ant+ connections to Wahoo HR, Duotrap cadence and KickR power sensors KickR 2 talking bluetooth to the iPhone 7 to control the power with TrainerRoad, Same Wahoo HR but BT, same Duotrap cadence but BT. One thing I noticed was constant power dips, this was because i had both the Garmin 520 and TrainerRoad on the iPhone linked up to control the power on the KickR. As soon as i disabled the Power controller sensor on the Garmin and left TrainerRoad to control it, there were no more power dips. The Garmin still has the KickR as a power sensor for recording power but not the power controlling sensor (they different). Also read the articles about wifi interference when trying to troubleshoot and went through many settings on the wifi router but nothing worked, until disabling that sensor on the Garmin.

As usual, the Monster Marathon doesn't disappoint... You never get free miles, which is what the Magalies Monster is all about. The main climb is just about a steady slog to the top. What the Monster is really all about is wearing you down bit by bit, each grassy or rocky section plays a roll, until you are completely broken, which is hopefully as you cross the finish line but it's usually at the point which catches up to you as you were telling yourself in the beginning "you're going out too fast..." Had a pretty good ride with a 3h40, definitely felt a little beaten up on Sunday morning with aches and pains not in the usual places. Organisation was great, route always "fun and challenging", glad they changed the end, so that the different distances only merged pretty close to the finish (last year it was a nightmare all joining with still a few km's to go). Back next year for sure! For those that are wanting photos, they are starting to load them on: https://www.jetlineactionphoto.com/

They've always provided boards and cut them off at the finish line.

Can't remember if you get sent your batches, but they'll be with your number board when you collect in the morning. Last year it was seeded.

Looking at http://www.gravelcyclist.com/bicycle-tech/exclusive-shimano-xtr-gets-12-speed-for-1x-single-chainring-with-two-cassette-options-and-more-good-for-gravel/ with their image: 10-51...

Can't wait!!

You don't really go to Avianto for distance, 32k's and you've ridden everything. 18 Feb 2018 - https://www.strava.com/activities/1413203020/ So if you want more distance, you're going to have to do it more than once, or head out and do the Cradle mtb loop. Cradle Moon is awesome, game drive by bike, all routes make up about 45-48k's, with most the climbing in the red route, yellow route has been extended a little. Again, if you want more distance, pop out and do the Cradle mtb loop. Just make sure you check their or Redhub's Facebook to make sure there isn't an event on, they've been having a few recently.

9 outta 10 times i'm alone at VG (at least 3/4 times a month), so I don't have a safety issue, though i do know all the trails around there pretty well. Suppose the best advice when riding solo is don't take unnecessary risks... and just greet and be friendly. There has been the odd issue, but they are few and far between, can't even recall when the last one was.

Josh at Cyclists Workshop in Northgate had my GF's seat tube repaired, perhaps give him a shout.

Last years Van Gaalens permit boards had two pieces of velcro that strapped around the bars. Cut slots into your permits and slide some velcro in?

Mini oom piets is still open, but as you cross the district road, that section is closed. On that map, it's the green section below "Benburn". So to get back to the river, you need to go around on the district road and jump in at the bridge just past Greek Church.

Could it be this one? https://www.strava.com/segments/5749121 I see i did it when i was doing the concrete strips area mapping (below) Haha, umm i did this a while ago (Jan 2016) with most the trails around the concrete strips... There are new trails around that area, so i'll probably need to do this again. https://www.strava.com/activities/476313605

LTG, maybe this should go into the first post of this thread?

Couple things with your routes: 36km one: the "River section 1 going east" after mini oom piets isn't open anymore, you can go into it for a few hundred meters before it's closed. the 45km one: Going up Oom Piets now is a little different. The climb to greek church has also changed, you start about 50-100m before the old start if coming from Oom Piets side because of buffalo now on the farm the old route went through.

Think it had a space behind it and added some arb characters... https://www.strava.com/activities/1165952178/ www.strava.com/activities/1165952178

but but, you ride there so much, you should know where everything is... Which part are you looking for a file for, from Chicken Pie or the enduro? Isn't the enduro just the rocky descent down Pofadder? Chicken Pie, you basically ride next to the R512 until Nikita, hang a left up and over, cross the tar road, right at the 4way intersection by Ale House, go around the hill until the tar road that Peaconwood total is on, when you get to the total, ride next to the tar until at VG. I often ride from Nikita, it's closer to home. Chicken Pie to Nikita is about 10km's, Nikita to VG is 24.5km. Here's a ride from Nikita to Pofadder and down the other side: https://www.strava.com/activities/1165952178

She's planned and trained better for this years Munga, made 3 Towers interesting as her engine was only just getting warmed up at the end of each day

Looking at the racetec results for G last year, the first 46 people did sub3.

haha... they say 24... umm i think last year we were closer to the 30 mark... I think i saw that this year they say you need to be in at least the first 10 or so batches.

Hope Erik makes a speedy recovery! Such sad news to read this morning. We had a great ride on Saturday recce'ing some of this weekends marathon.