HomerSimpson

Ag nee bliksem man!

how reliable is your source? i was told they've gone for the one lane on main road option. either way' date=' there will be some blood on the road. That's the one good thing about hospital bend. Suppose the boyes drive option means there's a clear path to constantiaburg mediclinic for the ambulances[/quote'] It's definite. Steve Hayward (chairman of the PPA) told us this before the start of the Paarl Ride on Saturday, and David Bellairs said the same thing during the previous week (although at that stage it was not confirmed as yet)

Slight hijack....just before Xmas I was on my way back from Jonkershoek (by car) when we encountered three young pro cyclists (all CT locals on upcountry teams) cruising along on their roadbikes. Never mind three abreast, they were taking up the entire lane. So no prob, cruise behind them for a while waiting for (a) a chance to pass or (b) for them ro make some room for me to get by. The latter never happened, and when I eventually passed them, for some obscure reason one of dimwits gave me the finger. As I was late for a beer I did not bother to remonstrate. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. This time I'm on my way TO JH (again by car) when I come across three MTB riders riding three abreast. Sauser and two others. They hear the car and zip into single file. I pass, say thanks and get a friendly wave in reply. Class remains class, assholes will always be assholes.HomerSimpson2009-01-26 04:23:23

That's apparently the problem; they are around two months behind schedule and there will only be one lane open on Main Rd for the Argus....narrow pavement on the one side, concrete barrier on the other, manhole covers...

At best Chappies will be open just for the day of the cycle tour (so I've heard, not confirmed). The cycle tour trust is planning for Ou Kaaps as well. There is apparently still one section of Chappies which the provincial engineer is unwilling to "sign off on" And strong rumours doing the rounds that we will be going over Boyes Drive as well (just rumours, nothing confirmed!)

I think it occurs randomly (we were just unlucky I guess), but have spoken to people that have had the same problem two or so years ago: there just seems to be a lot of it happening recently (could just be because more people are riding tubeless).

has burst? W.r.t the other thread (Kenda tyres and sealant): we have had issues twice with Maxxis tyres (tubeless) and "blistering" on the tyre (looks like the tyre develops a growth). Sent tyres back to Maxxis via bike shop and was given a limited refund (dependent on tyre wear), The official word from Maxxis was that the problem was caused by the ammonia in sealants like Stans and Joes, and that in the future the tyres would (like the Kenda, and apparently also Hutchinsons) will carry a warning regarding the use of sealants containing ammonia. So basically you have people manufacturing tubeless tyres and then telling you that the use of commonly available sealants is not allowed and will void any warranty on the tyre???

Meurant is building it. More photos at www.flickr.com/photos/amarider. This one will still be a while before it is completed. You can get a map at the gate which shows most of the ST. Also go check the new downhill on the north side. Rode the bottom section on my HT. Should be a nice bit of DH ST if they leave it there after the January 11 SA Cup event in JH.

South side (under construction)

You obviously have not driven in JHB lately; I've also been travelling to CT from Stellenbosch quite a bit this week, and while the traffic was a bit slow on the N2, at least it was mostly moving; there was a congestion close to the M3 junction, but that's only like 1 km of frustration? My last trip to JHB (that was in August) made me realise that we have no real conception of rush hour traffic down here in the Cape I quite honestly don't know how people can do that every day! HomerSimpson2008-12-05 05:48:55

As has been mentioned; this has been discussed before but.... This is a (bad) pic of my chain/front der after this year's Stellenbosch MTB mudfest. With the chain lube I use I got zero chainsuck (as did I the year before and the year before that under even worse conditions) Oh yes, the lube was WD 40. Have used it on my road bike and MTB (in all conditions) for the past 4 years.HomerSimpson2008-12-05 02:25:44

As a scientist I understand things that follow the laws of nature and physics...so I have no clue about economics. However, the one member of the household who supposedly knows more about this stuff tells me that it seems to be generally accepted that the global economy will only bottom out in 9 months or a year from now. The low oil price is simply a question of supply and demand; OPEC cut production when the price was around $80, had no effect. What worries me is that we have seen little real impact here in SA compared to the rest of the world...yet.

The most profoundly true statement on The Hub for the year 2008.

Raleigh MR 5.0 (full susser) is specced similar (but IMHO lower) than the '08 Giant Anthem 2. My LBS still has the 08 Anthem 2 for about R 15.5 K, and reckons the '09 equivalent price should be about R 20K. Now ask yourself: R20K for a better-specced Giant or R 25K for the Raleigh..mmmm...

My last three 99 ers: 1. Heatwave + block headwind: abandoned just outside Malmesbury (the first and only time I have ever abandoned a ride) 2. Freaking rained cats and dogs when we started, then rode the entire boring 120 k's cold and damp. 3. Last year: howling gale out on the route (I recall sitting in a bunch, hiding out of the wind and doing about 14 km/h) Probably my least favourite ride by a long shot. At that price.... forget it.

The increase in numbers has certainly put a different complexion on some of the MTB rides...even in my short MTB "career" congestion in the mid-pack of the more popular MTB rides (Argus, Knysna) has increased significantly. This does not bother me too much, as I am mostly instrumental in increasing the congestion rather than being adversely affected by it.

My gut feel is the best advice is to listen to your body. Take it easy, stay off the bike.

Ones I am planning on for next year (other than the ones down here that I do every year like the Argus and Argus MTB etc) are Knysna MTB Seweweekspoort MTB Hell and Back (MTB) 94.7 (I have to do this at least once, and if I have to travel all that way I might as well do both the road and MTB events)HomerSimpson2008-11-27 03:10:53

True...walked into a testing station in Mississippi to find out when I could do the test...they said how about right now? Did the test (written and practical), had my photo taken and the license issued, all in under an hour.

System is driven (pardon the pun) by incompetent admin, exacerbated by underqualified testing officials failing people on some weird whim thereby causing more people to have to redo the test....figures show that 3 out of every 4 kids fail their first driving test in the Western Cape. Do the math and you'll see why it is becoming virtually impossible for people to get a driving test scheduled. Also, bacause the failure rate is KNOWN to be so high, some people are booking at up to three testing stations simultaneously. As one driving instructor put it: the ability to drive a car has nothing to do with passing the test.... HomerSimpson2008-11-19 04:55:39

Its actually under water, so it should be clean....just thought of something. Wasn't Popeye looking for a cheap MTB yesterday?