sluiper

Perhaps you scratch riders should have caught us plus 1's earlier...

That was a lot of fun. And so many guys (and one girl, I think) pitched up. Thanks for a great time.

OK, I've added an event registration thingamijig by shamelessly ripping off the the idea, text and content from KancMan. If you feel like it, you can register here: http://fynbosman.eventbrite.com/ Registration isn't needed or compulsory, but it would be nice to have an idea of how many people are going to pitch up or are thinking about going. I've also changed the run course, mainly because I like Boyes Drive and think they should have kept it for the Argus. The run is now 18km and goes over Boyes Drive: http://bikeroutetoas...x?course=463576. To be honest, I don't think it matters what happens in the middle on a course that begins and ends with Ou Kaapse Weg. And... I've added a site: http://fynbosman.wordpress.com/ and also registered it as an event on this site.

I'm doing the Slanghoek race, even though I feel ±R400 entry fee (excluding petrol to get there) is a lot of money for a small triathlon. I realise that putting on any event costs money, but I don't see why it has to be outrageous. In my mind the half and full IronMan events are very expensive. R2000/R4000 for an event is a lot of money, and that's before you even start factoring in travel and accommodation costs. The FynbosMan will cost whatever you want it to cost: A sixpack costs about R50 these days, Energade concentrate about R30 and a few bananas about R10. If you're really on a budget you can bring returnable quarts (Castle Milk Stout) to cut costs even further.

Yes. And a cooler box with some ice in to keep them cold for the end.

So, seeing as there's no one who can plan a triathlon in Cape Town, perhaps we should just make our own one? I really want to do a triathlon, but I don't feel like spending loads of cash getting to some far off place when I can just do it in my own backyard, so to speak. I also don't feel the need to have some huge sponsored thing just to go do a swim/bike/run. Please check out this link before commenting to get an idea what I'm talking about: http://kancman.wordpress.com/ The KancMan seems like an awesome idea and I can't see why we couldn't do it in Cape Town? I'm thinking a 2.4km swim, followed by a 100km bike and then a 17km run, but I'm open to suggestions. Those are just the numbers that came up when I was plotting a likely course. My proposal for the courses: http://bikeroutetoas...x?course=463508 (swim, 3 laps, use the Satellite view) http://bikeroutetoas...x?course=463504 (bike) http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=463576 (run) Obviously this won't be a sanctioned/sponsored/supported event, just some people who want to swim/bike/run for a day in Cape Town. There won't be any road closures, aid stations or a medical team (unless you organise it yourself). Also, no one will shout your name as you finish and the chances are there will be no spectators to cheer you over the line (as there probably won't be any line or, for that matter, spectators). You also won't get a medal, but you're welcome to bring one with from a previous race and pretend you got it for finishing the course. There won't be any T1/T2 rubbish, you can just use your car to get changed and store your bike. The bike and run course both go past some shops where you can stop and buy some Energade and bananas, should you run out or feel the need. Maybe we can organise a car guard for the day to look after the cars and bikes parked at Silvermine, but that's about as much organising as I feel capable of. Afterwards we can have a beer and go home, maybe post a few photos on TheHub. My idea is to do this on the 13th of October, starting around 7 o'clock. I chose this date because it's less than a month away, I like the number 13 and it's on a Saturday. I might set up a site or something, depending on the response. If it comes to that, I'll probably just copy most of the stuff off the KancMan site and change the relevant bits. Feel free to flame away/comment/agree/disagree/do nothing/read another thread/make suggestions/join in.

That's what she said...

I've done that route multiple times, but always in a group. Never felt threatened. Might have to gear up with some pepper spray, though...

Could have been this guy: http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Sports-Leisure-sports-bicycles-fitness-Stolen-Schauff-silver-and-grey-W0QQAdIdZ414169738

Thanks, didn't know it's a weekly thing.

Any idea when the next one is happening?

Very boring, but if you're pressed for time or don't like the weather, it's great. I find an hour on the trainer is about equal to 2 hours on the road in terms of effort/gains. Go to http://www.thesufferfest.com/ for some great videos to watch while training.

, they do seem to be quite rare. I've called a few LBSs and none seem to have one. I'll start the bidding at $1 billion Zim Dollars.

Does anyone have an idea where I can get my hands on a stem shim adapter? Or maybe have one lying around that they're not using? Its a thingamabob that allows one to fit a 1.1/8"(28.6mm) stem on a older 1"(25,4mm) steerer, like so: http://www.parker-international.co.uk/5097/MPart-Threadless-Stem-Shim-Adapter.html) Thanks for any input.

I wouldn't pay that much for a tyre I see they're R400 each at Chris Willemse as well: http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/continental-gatorskin-tyre

R800 for the set. I could probably have gotten them cheaper, but I was so p*ssed off after my ride I went to that LBS in Canal Walk and bought them there.

I actually stopped to check a few times myself

Thanks for the responses. Guess it must be the coating on the surface. Hopefully they'll start gripping a bit more after a few more rides.

After a Saturday ride which yielded 3 punctures and 15 minutes wasted patching a tube next to the side of the road, I chucked my Grand Prixs in the bin and bought myself some GatorSkins. I'd read so much about how bad these tyres were in terms of rolling resistance, weight, etc. etc. that I'd always resisted the temptation to buy them, even if most people swore you would never get a puncture riding them. Well, I didn't get a puncture, but I almost lost my bike and most of the skin on my legs around the most sedate of corners. It felt as if I had forgotten to mount tyres and was riding on the rims. On more than a few occasions I felt the bike starting to slide on corners I would normally take a much more aggressive line on. Now, admittedly, it was a bit cold here in Cape Town yesterday and there was some moisture in the air, but I'm struggling to believe that the R800 tyres I just bought have so little grip I might as well not mount them at all. Anyone else experience this? Am I expecting too much on the first ride?

Supposed to be on Sunday. Most weather sites predicting a high chance rain and wind for Sunday (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=-33.924869,18.424055) I can kind of understand their thinking, as the ferries stop running at the slightest hind of waves/rain, but it's still pretty disappointing.

Looks like everything's going ahead. Got a long email/pdf yesterday explaining the whole process and schedule. Also seems as if the Cape Town weather is going to play along. Looking forward to the weekend!

Yip, that's what I do. I shortened my stem and moved my seat forward. My position is not completely over the bars, but for my purposes it's fine. The bike is a bit more twitchy, but not unmanageable.

I got clip-ons from Chain Reaction Cycles. I did a lot of reading and research, but my opinion is that in the end the main difference is in what you think looks pretty. I got these: http://www.chainreac...x?ModelID=26976 (Profile Design Carbon Stryke Aero Road Bars), but in retrospect I could probably have gotten a cheaper set. If I was buying right now I'd probably just get these: http://www.chainreac...x?ModelID=78776. They're on sale at the moment for less than R400, which I think is a pretty good deal. Oh, editing to add this: if you want to be able to do a ITU triathlon, the type of tri- bars you're allowed to use is limited. Iron Man is not ITU, so the limitations don't apply.

A tri-suit you can get away without. A wetsuit is pretty much a necessity. You'll be putting yourself at a big disadvantage if you don't get one. There are a multitude of brands available, but you're probably looking at about R2000 for a entry level wetsuit, maybe less if you manage to find one that fits you secondhand. You don't need tri-bars, but they're the cheapest way of getting more aero on a road bike without buying a time trial bike. I can attest to their effectiveness, especially with the wind we have down here in Cape Town.

I just bought the Zoot Performance Tri Suit from ChainReactionCycles (http://www.chainreac...x?ModelID=81508), but I got it for R500 on their last sale and I see it's over R1000 now. Agreed, these things are stupidly expensive.