Batmanza

We woke up to grim weather this morning, not heavy rain but a constant light rain and cold. Click here to view the article

Thanks for all of the support guys, day 2 coming up shortly.

It was all nervous chatter between partners and teams on the line in C/D group today as we waited to be let off on the first proper day. With rain threatening, even teasing, jackets were on then off then on again. Click here to view the article

Thanks, me too :-)

Waking up this morning was surreal. Everything that I had done over the past months was in preparation for this. Today was the start of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic. Click here to view the article

Hey, there seems to be a few conflicting weather reports, just checked windguru again and according to them Sunday in Durbanville is dry with showers on Monday and rain missing Robertson until Wednesday. Being Cape Town you can never be sure of the weather until you look up :-)

Thanks Pusher, going into the event using GEAX Saguaro 29x2.2 TNT.

It is just a few days before the start of the 2014 ABSA Cape Epic and preparation by the organizers and sponsors is well underway but the riders too are going about their lives with tunnel vision focusing on the last few days. Click here to view the article

KTM Myroon Shimano M540 Pedals GEAX Sagauro 29x2.2.

Slowbee, Ive been doing it all wrong the past few years. Im riding with you next year !! Maximize my value for money.

The new venue for the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum MTB Challenge drew a sold out field to the Le Bonheur Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, and a host of world class riders littered the start line for the 55km route. Click here to view the article

Hey Big J This can depend on your cycle strengths and preference, do you like to grind out the big gears and ride a standard crankset or are you high cadence and prefer to use a compact crank. In my opinion a 53/39 chain-ring with a cluster ratio of 11-25 should give you a broad enough range to cover the course comfortably.

Tri shorts are designed with a much thinner chamois so that there is a) little to no water absorption during the swim b) more comfort for the run leg of triathlon So it is in general a lightweight chamois that I probably wouldn't want to do a long or multistage mountain bike race in. That said I have done 3 full Ironman races in Orca tri-shorts and have never felt any discomfort. You mention chaffing, if your regular cycle shorts are chaffing then they might not be the correct size as this indicates there is more movement than there should be or the shorts just don't suit your body shape. There is also definitely merit in purchasing a really good quality pair of shorts, unfortunately this generally translates to a slightly larger price tag. Chamois cream is always a great help on any pair of shorts too.

Seems there is a slight difference with the rules on this point : KONA b. Athletes must keep 7 meters (4 bike lengths) distance between bikes except when passing. Failure to do so will result in a drafting violation. IMSA 5. Absolutely NO DRAFTING of another bike or any other vehicle is allowed. The drafting zone is 10m x 1.5m (10 metres from your front wheel to the back wheel of the contestant in front of you). Contestants must ride single file on the far right side of the road except when passing another rider. All passing is to the left. Not that this is too relevant but come on...... if you have done an Ironman or 70.3 then you have seen drafting, it always happens. I was fortunate enough to do IM70.3 Worldchamps in Clearwater a few years ago and there was not just drafting but there were peletons that formed. I guess its up to each of us to decide how guilty we feel if we get pulled into this. Race day is always different too, the red mist takes over, you're sucking air as you battle into the wind and hey maybe I will just sit here for 30 seconds to recover before I pass the person in front.............. The was an "unquote" from an unamed pro a few years ago where they said it was worth the risk of a penalty to save on energy and tuck in behind someone over 100km. Its up to the individual to take the spirit of the event into consideration and have the confidence that when they cross the finish line that their conscience is clear.

The official rule sets from the races below : KONA 13. Athletes must be individually responsible for repair and maintenance of their own bike. Athletes should be prepared to handle any possible mechanical malfunction. Assistance from official race personnel is permitted. *Note: Technical support vans will be on the course to assist with emergency repairs whenever possible; but athletes are expected to be able to handle basic repairs (changing a flat, basic adjustments, etc.) themselves. Technical vans will be on the course throughout the day, but are limited in number. Please be self-sufficient. IMSA 19. Each contestant is individually responsible for the repair and maintenance of their own bike. Assistance by anyone, other than IRONMAN technical support officials will be grounds for disqualification. Each cyclist should be prepared to handle any possible mechanical malfunction. Technical support DOES NOT include the normal changing of flat tyres. So assistance from "support Officials" is permitted on both. I am sure we can all appreciate that anything can happen on the day and no-one wants to see anyone's day cut short by a broken spoke or wheel.

Only gripe of the day : Please everyone thank %400 for very purposely spreading his filth over the Cape by littering. YOU SUCK !

To all those who did this race ...... well done ! What a monster of a race, very very tough but awesome. I think a couple of people (myself included) under estimated the route based on profile and suffered. 180km of hard work to get to one of the hardest climbs I have ever done. Great work by the organisers too, definitely back again next year !!!!

Hi Helloise 310xt is sooo awesome but takes a while to get used to. To separate your sessions you need to press and hold lap/reset after your session until the countdown finishes and device beeps, this ends the activity and resets the device. Ciao Rob

I wouldn't worry about the altitude, you are only going to benefit from being at sea level. With the 70.3 in EL dont let the bike route profile fool you, its 45km rolling hills up to the turn around and a tough rolling hill route all the way back and generally into the wind so save some legs for the return, particularly the last 10km on the bike. Also what I have done going from the swim into the bike is to rinse your mouth out with water as soon as you are on the bike and spit to get as much salt out of your mouth as possible and then take 2 mouthfuls of water after to dilute any that you may have swallowed during the swim. Then only take carb drink or whatever you may eat about 15 mins after that so the salt water doesn't effect it. This seems to work for me. Hope you have an awesome event, so bleak that I am missing it this year. :-(

To the guys and girls in Fish Hoek this morning stopping cyclists and handing out luminous body strips and helmets to cyclists that werent wearing ones.............. BIG UP !!!! Great initiative by I assume PPA, the traffic department(they were there helping) and I saw helpers wearing B.E.N. shirts. The biggest impact in my opinion is to those motorists who passed the cyclists and saw the traffic department involved with them and made them aware of the cyclists. Good work guys.

I get GoMulti now too and I agree they are awesome. There was one small admin issue which Deon dealt with super quickly.

Does anyone know if the magazine is still around ? I'm wouldn't be surprised if they are not, I have had issues getting anything out of them since the day I subscribed (Sept '09). a) No confirmation of subscription that was done online b) Never received my subscription gift c) Never received the apology pack that was promised by the Editor because of above d) Never get a response from the mag when I email them asking for a response on the above. e) Still waiting on issue that was promised to all subscribers beginning of Feb f) never get a response from the mag re: Feb issue delivery. Just utterly poor service and a sh*te experience with the mag from the beginning. I really wanted to support the magazine(hence my sub) as the content was great in the previous issues, now there seem to be more "issues" than issues !!! Marius(Ed), pls can I have my money back. Everyone else, dont waste your time or money.

Wonder where this bike has its roots ?

After that list you need a wetsuit, there are a few good brands available in SA, I personally prefer Orca and the prices are good on http://www.fluidlines.co.za/ . Not sure if you have a tri bike or a road bike but tri-bars make the day alot more comfortable. Also not sure if you have done any tri's before but it would be advisable to do 1 or 2 short distance tri's just to find out how your body reacts to each discipline. Brick sessions in your training (running off the bike) are essential. Im sure you're going to get a world of great advice from the guys on this forum but just PM if youre stuck with anything. Good luck and see you on the line April.

Ooops, see Mampara already said 7.2 . Um...... 7,25 ?