Honkdonk

Number collection was piss easy - was there at 9 and out by 10 after wandering around the expo. Bought some new shades and a kief shirt. Better venue than the SCC, but then I have soft spot for the Dome after al the shows I have done in there. Come this afternoon and tommorrow its going to be mayhem Looking forward to Sunday - been sponsored a killer Scott Foil and have decent start time in K

What the other bloke said - it started out as a add on to the main event. It has now grown in size that is an event on its own, and either it gets treated as a family fun day ride with a few pro/elite groups thrown in at the front for pro value or it moves venues and becomes its own fully fledged stamp its mark on the annual calendar event. That will then disassociate it from the main race - new venue, additional venue hire, logistic etc etc so that comes with its own challenges which then makes it a business decision. I would bet that right now if they look at the admin - amount of entries vs whining sods, then the amount of entries and therefore the revenue generated wins hands down. The main race is also not without its challenges either as the finish venue will only be a viable option for maybe another year, so when that change happens we will see which way this goes

I am also going to be riding it on a road bike for the 1st time. Only getting the bike this week so will have min time to prepare and get used to it. What i will do is do a few laps round Kyalami next week to get the feel of things, and then keep to the outside of the madness come the 07h15 start next Sunday.

If you dont come right, can I use your bike for a fee?

My point exactly!

There is so much more to life in SA than JHB. I need to hatch a plan to escape...

I have spent the last 3 weeks doing a roadshow in the major centers around the country. Not being able to take the bike, i have resorted to the next best thing - running. Sea point to Camps bay and back, Ushaka to Moses Mobida and back, Summerstrand to Kings beach and back. I can honestly say that you buggers who live close to the waters edge have got it nice. Morning rides along routes like this are true bliss and i hope you realize what you have going and take as much advantage as you can. How can you NOT want to ride/run/walk/swim when you have this at your disposal I hope you value it for everything its worth and count your self lucky #coastalboyatheart

Sad fact of the matter is that this kind of thing is like your schools PTA, or local residents committee. Everyone wants to get involved, but when it comes to the push you can hear the back peddling from a block away. Folk get all vocal and rough and ready, but when it comes to mobilizing the masses reality paints a different picture. Awareness rides and critical mass events are a great way to raise the plight, but when it comes down to the work and effort required for this to actually be effective the whole thing generally falls a bit flat. Ask anyone who serves on a residents association for which they donate their time free of charge. Don't get me wrong. I would love to see something done about this, so that I too can ride in the safety of my area without fear. Been down this road so I know all about it. Wyatt aka Dangle spearheaded a similar thing a few years ago which got the Carte Blanche coverage, but then everyone rolled over and went back to work. I am sure the problem still exists in the Midrand area, but it does not seem as prolific as it was a few years ago. Perhaps its because the crooks moved on and folk took heed of the dangers. Its a symptom of the South African way - we all live in isolation. We get together and rally at opportune moments and then retreat the minute it all becomes too much like hard work. I call it Camera Hysteria - point a camera in the general direction and see the results you get from folk. Switch it off and its like you never existed. I also think that we shouldn't look to hard for where the bikes are going. I reckon its pretty simple. Bikes gets stolen and redistributed for a pittance of what its actually worth. Whether it goes to some chap in Diepsloot or off to Mozambique is really neither here nor there. Its informal and is not very complex. We are easy targets with luxury items that present a short term fix for the opportunist criminal. Its easy to spot patterns and routes and come up with a plan of action until it becomes too hot - like now. Its all over the news and guaranteed they will back off and then find somewhere else to target. Midrand, Irene, R21 area, the Spruit and now Pretoria East. Each has had its turn. The solution? Patrolled routes, marshalled rides? But this addresses the symptom and not the cause. The cause is deep and complicated. A dedicated task force? A good start is to follow the right channels. SAPS, local ward councilor etc. Its a long road and I wish that I had the answers. Be safe and smart

And that other chop from the Breakfast Xpress - Whackhead Simpson. What a nosh..

You can download your details off the website. Or search off the FB page. Got myself a 07h15 start. K batch. Just need a bike now

1100m climbing in 12km! Ouch

Oh dear.. Took my front wheel in to have the bearings replaced. When I got it back it looked like they took a big moering tool, placed the wheel on a bench of sorts and beat the **** out of it to get the bearings out. The front hub has some lekker ding marks for added houding. I was not impressed Not much in the way of applogies.. Nice guys, good shop and all, but I have since found another home

i just wish they would clean up all the bunting tape and route markers and return the farm to its pre race state. Was there yesterday afternoon and there was crap all over the place. Cant be that hard after the race to go round with a bakkie and remove it all?

Nope.. Different spots each time. Needless to say I am very wary of where, when and how I ride these days, if its not a dedicated bike park

If you new it was a hotspot how come you still rode there? Glad to hear all ok. its not a nice experiance. Been there... 3 times

An emotional topic to say the least. While I am no fan of the Spruit it has its place and deserves the attention and upkeep in order to remain an asset to the city. Its mostly a public space where folk are exercising their right to use for recreational activities, and given the amount of urban green belt that we don't have in Jhb it is in everyone's interests to make sure this facility is well looked after. The state of affairs of the country has unfortunately meant that certain areas have attracted vagrants. Simply put, they do not belong there. While its unfair to paint them all with the same brush it remains a fact that some are innocent humble folk and others are more deviant.. Look at us as an example - some of us are pillars of the MTB community and others are the total opposite and give us all a bad name. Desperation will bring out the worst in mankind.. The simple fact that the Spruit has FREE ablution and washing facilities is the reason why these guys congregate their in the first place. However there is that good old thing called human rights, so in keeping with that the city needs to provide them with an alternative place of refuge and this is where it all falls flat. Petitions, protests and occasional clean ups, forceful or not, wont make the problem go away UNTIL such time as the council provide these guys with an alternative. Until then safe cycling along the Spruit.

Entered. Second one this year. Hoping to go sub 3. Did a 3h20 last year on my MTB. Would love some help by way of a carbon road machine but I fear that it will be slicks and my dual KTM again.. Now to put some miles in legs

KuKu Penthouse? Really..

Enjoyed it plenty last year. Alas this year I will be finishing up some big all dressed in white dance party at the Dome until the very wee hours..

Not tech at all.. Just adds in a nice 5km or so to your total. There is a water crossing then you ride along one of the dams then into some arb single track and then some even arber single track towards the end, and then you pop out below the barns by the highway and make your way back to the car park. If they sort out the arb stuff it will make the ending of the blue route a real pleasure.

YA, interval hill. Not a monster, but if you are in the mood for intervals, do it once, than at the top turn left, make your way round to it again and repeat ad infinitum. A few of those at max HR and you will be blowing chunks.. The other one is that newish section that turns off to the left as you make your way back to the parking lot along the home straight. it takes you down a fairly long section. If you do that in reverse it will also raise the HR somewhat.

+1 I think they are having some drainage issues. It is a waste water treatment facility after all. You will see further towards the top of the farm they have been dredging some of canals, and I think it has caused some overflow that has seeped into the ground and as a result is finding its way to the surface in the areas down by the Jukskei. Nasty stuff.. I like doing the long route with a few additions thrown in to get a good 70km in. Not the most technical but its a good enough test in a safe environment. Nice one on the new route markers as well!

There is soooo much out there to watch, so need to display disciplined selectivity Dexter S4 Castle S4 - she is smoking hot! Fringe S2 - Olivia Dunham is interesting looking Suits S2 Continuum S1 Carnivale

Not cheap I may add. Started seeing her earlier this year. I only have hopsital plan so i pay for all bloods, consults and meds, but its still cheaper than what I would have had to fork out if I did not get diagnosed in time and the infections went all the way. Kind of like a cycling habit - cheaper than a coronary.. My diagnosis: Rickettsia Q Fever Mycoplasma Chlamydia Helicobactor Pylori She will help you with EBV no problems. Its a long road.. Fact is that the blood results don't lie and why more modern medical practitioners don't request blood tests as opposed to treating the symptoms is beyond me.

It is Dr Cecile Jadin. She is based out in Chartwell - Check the interweb for her practice number Chronic Fatigue, Rickettsia and all sorts of other bacterial infections that bring your immune system crashing down..