typhoon

For those interested... Mike Woolnough's Strava https://www.strava.com/activities/445533006 Max Temp: 51'

Here's a Vid i took a little while ago of Oom Piets descent, sorry for the dirty GoPro... First half of the descent is pretty rough but gets smoother the second half. I see i'm still on top... woohoo... and on a hardtail... https://www.strava.com/segments/1572635

Pretty sure someone posted about Mike's blog here before http://www.mikewoolnough.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/munga-ahoy.html reading though each entry, he explains a lot about what all is needed, bike prep, etc. Mikes running a dynamo hub for power, he also says that they can swop out power packs at rest stops.

Thanks TP for the plan that I won, I'll definitely start playing with it soon! Wasn't too sure if I should start it now or wait, with the holidays coming up and going away, although it's with the bikes, so there isn't any reason not to start now. There seem to be quite a lot of positives coming out of this thread!

For my only roadie event of the year, had a fairly good CycleChallenge, my 4th since getting a bike in 2012... So far it's been I, D, C, VB... VB i though... sheesh that's probably going to hurt... a lot... (i'm not licensed) Hung with the group up Pooks hill, unfortunately a gap appeared a few riders up going along Summit and we lost touch with the front of the group. A few of us worked well together past Kyalami and along the M1 but we just weren't able to get back. Coming off the hiway, the first of the VC'ers came past... man were they motoring! As soon as the rest of VC caught up, was able to hang with them most the way until Malibongwe. Again there was a few of us that stayed together from there until the finish. Wasn't sure how I felt having my name on my back but in the end realised it was a good thing. Going up the last few climbs and having someone from our little trio calling "come on Derrick, you can do it, we're nearly there" was quite motivating! Thanks! Ended with a 2h37, 9mins quicker than last year, so i'm pretty chuffed with that. Maybe next year 2h30... Will have to see...

can't teach an old oom new tricks...

Just don't get dropped by anyone from the group behind you... No Pressure...

aaah cr@p... sounds like VB is going to hurt a little bit...

Which is always easier said than done... Started in C last year, but lost the front of the group up Pooks hill (start + hill + cold legs = not happy campers), by the time we got onto Summit, it couldn't have been more than a couple hundred meters. If i remember correctly, it was into a slight head wind on Summit. Tried to bridge the gap to the group but just couldn't, the guy sitting behind me eventually said it wasn't worth it and we should sit up and wait for the next group. ended up with a 2:46, which was 59th in C group. VB this year... eish... should be entertaining...

thanks!

You mean we're seeing you there?!?!

Gonna be awesome as usual!

Will do later when I'm home.

You riding your bike again...???? Look on page 1, i put Mr Treads Strava ride there.

This isn't mine but remember seeing it. (Danny Fowler) http://app.strava.com/activities/296586766 Started at Peaconwood total, turned left and by the looks of it, turned into African Swiss or somewhere around it. Looks like quite a climb.

Here's the route we did, from Chicken Pie to Oom Piets (at VG) http://app.strava.com/activities/150487582/ We've found a better route where you turn right just before the Ale House, on that ride above at about the 15.7km mark, you turn right and go around the hill to the tar road the Peaconwood total garage is on. Here's Saturday's ride http://app.strava.com/activities/343680632 From Nikita to Hekpoort, where you can see where we go around the hill. From Chicken Pie, you're basically next to the road on the right, until you get to the top of the hill, where you join the single track they use for route66 race marked with white arrows. it's about 10km from Chicken Pie to Nikita, where you turn left onto the dirt road opposite Nikita, keep straight on that until you crossover the tar road, go straight over. maybe a km further is the 4way intersection where you turn right (as above), go around the hill, blast down the concrete strips, onto the dirt road which leads you to the tar road that goes to the Peaconwood Total garage. We usually just crooz down next to the road until VG. On the first ride above, at 25km, we turn onto the dirt road that links up to the usual VG train, where you ride along the old railway track stones. Follow that all the way to VG, Pay if you plan to use the VG trails, and then head off and ride VG and follow the same route back to chicken pie. Some stats: Chicken pie to Nikita about 10km Nikita to VG parking (around the hill) 25km Nikita to Total around the hill is about 14km Nikita to Total going straight passed Ale House (NOT around the hill) is about 9km. it's about 10km from Total to VG parking. We've done it a few times, varying it quite a lot. Nikita - VG - Hekpoort - Nikita - 110km - http://app.strava.com/activities/343680632 Nikita - VG - Nikita - 50km - http://app.strava.com/activities/324416847 Nikita - around VG - 101km - Nikita http://app.strava.com/activities/292916642 Nikita - around VG - 96km - http://app.strava.com/activities/278456257 Nikita - VG oom piet & greek church - Nikita - 83km - http://app.strava.com/activities/271641818- We figured out the way around the hill on this ride. Nikita out towards Breedtsnek (not around the hill) - 122km - http://app.strava.com/activities/254682296 Nikita - VG Oom Piets - Nikita (not around the hill) 64km - http://app.strava.com/activities/242627915 Chicken Pie - VG Oom Piets - 87km http://app.strava.com/activities/150487582/ Hope it helps...

Had a few people tell me PG Carbon repairs. I have a set of 50mm Equinox full carbon road wheels, there is a spot on the braking surface that is lifting, so it sounds like an untrue wheel when you brake/spin the wheel... anyone know if that if fixable / had a wheel repaired?

You missed an awesome one.. oops, I meant you were missing at this one...

Conrad Stoltz ‏@ConradStoltz Pulled a calf muscle at km 1 on the run. Didnt even get to the bike. Super disappointed. Such a fantastic course Probably on www.jetlineactionphoto.com they did Hakahana, but there no photos yet.

As usual the Monster doesn't disappoint! shew took quite a lot to regain composure once finished the 80km in 4h20. The new start was tough, gaining 400 odd meters in the first 12km. Did miss the cell tower climb, was expecting it but never showed. Beers and burgers afterwards was awesome with quite a few people while waiting for people to come in. back next year... of course!

Don't drink all the beers A-batcher

Batching: http://www.saseeding.co.za/pre-race-batchings/?batching=84

B for me too, make sure your pockets are nice and strong!

and that's why some of us keep going back each year...

yeah, did it last year with a cold... definitely not fun, limped home in 5h. so it's do'able but you end up being sick for ages afterwards. also first race on the 29er hardtail, from a 26er dual, not fun either.