typhoon

Mumble... Dropped a batch C for me, suppose more SAS races would help...

if you zoom in on the map and change it to satellite, you can see the floating bridge / water crossing... it's about at the 42km mark.

2012's satellite descent was bad, had to portage it, last years was all ride able... albeit i was on my dual... this year, hmm... better start talking nicely to the HT to make it believe it's a dual.

ja... it's sad... Swift as well...

Pity you chickening out of the marathon and riding as domestique for the girls...

Comments on Mr Treads instagram say it's not gonna be part of mtn This was MrTreads ride http://app.strava.com/activities/149364142

I didn't get my seeding email... oh wait... I didn't enter gf moving in this weekend Good thing i'll be playing at VG

ooofff... i'm gonna miss my dual at this one! That descent was errmm... "fun?", well sort of, maybe. Make sure you've got working brakes or you'll run out of brakes and talent VG climbs are definitely more technical than Monsters were. smallish/medium lose rocks makes the concrete strip climb tough. but ja... only once you're in the river section can you sort of breathe (a little) easier, although it's a fast dash along the river to the finish. Hopefully they still have that floating bridge again... just be careful when getting off it, wheels wet... up over a rock... As VG and Monster share the same mountain range, expect the terrain to be similar. riding from VG to the Monster KOM (top of BreedtsNek) is 50km.

Yup, I do the fold seats down and slide the bikes in through the boot. A Megane RS250 Sport isn't the best car for mountain biking... But I manage, Seats down, sheet down, take front wheels off, slide GF's 650b in, put cushions over it (3 outside furniture ones), slide the 29er in, pack wheels into spaces with bags with helmets and stuff around. Going to 3 Towers, both front and rear wheels come off, so that I manage to keep one of the seats up, so that our bags and cooler box fit too. Problem with the Megane, the center exhaust doesn't allow for a towbar and there isn't a place for a roof rack. I'm not overly a fan of the strap on racks.

This was last years 70km route http://www.strava.com/activities/82356355

Starting the race still with a cold and snotty nose wasn't the best idea... Was fine till half way up the Monster, then no power or energy. Lost sight of Swifts wheel, Mike came past, then rode with Ross a bit. Little while later Jc came passed too. Was suffering badly with nothing to give and just plodded to the finish, last few km's with Routjie. Just under 5h is the longest time on a bike during a race, previously held by my first race Rooiberg 75 in 4:45. Great organisation and route, although it did suck badly for a first race on a hardtail.

Jajaja... you look like a racing snake now! make sure to put extra stitching on your pockets...

4:39 for me last year with seriously bad cramping going to the cell tower all sorts of verbal abuse caught on the GoPro Hoping to hang onto Swifts wheel (pocket) for as long as possible.

Here's a vid I did of the downhill from the top of the Nek. Was done a year or so ago (Jan 2013), so the rocks have probably moved a little... Following Swift01 down, until he wasn't going fast enough Back when you still had your Merida 26 HT, me on a dual 26er https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AgmXrAPEqM

Shame man! You always leave off that little bump going to the cell tower... It's gonna start thinking you don't love it. near the end, legs are usually almost finished by then... must remember to mute the GoPro this time...

I'll be holding onto Swift, so don't mind pulling you along at the same time, pretty sure he won't notice

mmmm! Will try, but we both know what Gords "I'm unfit" mean... Will catch him on the descents, his ol bones don't handle the bumps too well

waahaha!!! exactly! And the first race on a 29er HT from a dual 26er... it's gonna hurt bad!

jaja... I'm the one that's under prepared and been sick since before Cradle Trophy *sniiiiiff* I'll try hang onto that wheel of yours for as long as possible

looking forward to it!

2013 Route off Strava 2014 Map ROUTE CHANGES FOR THE MAGALIES MONSTER 2014 At this stage there are three essential route changes required. Route Change 1 The section from the turn off at the “horse shoe” leading to the tar road crossing at Protea Ridge and then continues through the Mabela Rantjies farm on the way to Ilhanti is no longer accessible. Route Change 2 From a turn off halfway along the “horse shoe” the route will make a loop through a picturesque fruit farm (Overvaal Protea Products) and then rejoin the “horse shoe” road further on. Route Change 3 After proceeding along the “horse shoe” road the riders will be crossing the D344 tar road at the Rietfonteirn School and proceed along a gravel road past the Sugar Bush estate and then ascend up on an old Vortrecker wagon trail until joining the existing Monster Route leading toward Ilhanti water point. General Please note that with the 3 route changes the distance has increased from77 to 82 kms. http://www.stillwatersports.com/event/fnb-magalies-monster/

and the little rolling bumps after going up the monster can take their toll... that climb up to the cell tower...

Having a cold did not make the 2 days any easier! So quite happy with my times Day 1: 04.06.58, Day 2: 01.54.39 last km's of each day saw me fade quickly and got passed quite a lot. the river portage was nasty, thankfully i think it was only about a 10min wait. The final climbs up next to the road weren't fun, day 1, seeing the big concrete pillars was like dangling the carrot in front, until you got there and sent further along, much mumbling! The grass sections were bad, thank goodness for dual sus, albiet a 26er, made it a little easier. As for those muddy sections! chose the wrong side of the last one on day 1 and sank to a stop. otherwise thoroughly enjoyed it.

Shew! That was a toughie!!!

hmmm.... i only got into C... eish... last race was VG Nissan... 3 Towers doesn't count as racing. So this should be fun.