PeterM

Don't forget the Oudtshoorn road cycle tour (its an Argus seeding race) on the 9th Oct2011. It is one for the mauntain goats. 1st half of the race goes mostly uphill; the 2nd half goes back to the start with a slight (KOM) detour. Did it last year - great race, stunning area, 5 hours from CT. Took my family there and they had a great time. Our accommodation was 200m from the start.

See you all tomorrow. May speed be with the M bunch!

Aim for a sub 3h10. Jump groups, but also wait at times to join a small but fast group. They do still come from behind (only at the Argus). You will be surprised how many fast guys come from the back - like yourself or MBT'ers or overseas's guys.

SRAM is south african owned, in a way. J Rubert's invesment company bought a "parcel" of investment products from Lehman(?) Brothers when they went down and SRAM was part of that.

I most properly will ride in my blue/white The Outriders kit.

Thanks for reminding us! Also - if the cyclist/car/bike is in front, normally, they have the right of way and the one at the back has to wait their turn. It is a matter of law enforcement, social norms (it still is ok in SA to be an @ss on the road), and we need some convincing court cases.

Yes, i think that it could be argued that way. That is only one legal position. I can see where they are coming from and what they want to do. On a business level – it is just bad business practice to bully your potential client when he/she is just starting to show interest. There is no willing buyer / willing seller situation, hence not sustainable. Don’t make the (not yet) client/consumer defensive! On a personal level – the photos were not good. I looked at them on the internet (ActionPhotos main sales and marketing tool/process) and decided not to buy them. I have purchased from them before.

Sounds good. Jump to the back of the other bunches. But we must hold back, a bit, and keep our legs for after Smithwinkkel. Most time is lost by a slow Chappies/Suikerb. I think this is where the real race is - the last 40km or so. What kit will you be wearing? It will be my 4th Argus

He he, from M? With Boys drive, maybe not. Maybe from E-G ?!? But i will aim high as i had such bad seeding races (i need to learn how to peak for certain races...) Anyway, Niklasvm, have a blistering race! I hope you get a sub 2h45! You had a good season, i think.

Eish - so i got it all wrong. It's a freebe.

saaymac - rather stick with the bike you know; your body knows it and it will be more comfortable, plus the gearing is milder. After the Argus, there are great "end of season sales" so you should be able to make a good buy if you still want a road bike.

Aghh, you are most proberly right - regarding Sunday, i mean.

YES i am in M too. I am very keen to join a good group that works well. What did you have in mind?

I will be returning my Action Photos to the company at the Argus Expo. Them sending the pics to me without me requesting any of them is not cool. Too much ambush selling! What I will do is: return them, take a photo of me returning them (record the transaction) and tell them . . . . good luck with their business model ;-)

I am one of those road cyclist that does not shave. Have never found a good enough reason. I mean, you start with shaving your legs - but where do you stop ;-) (PS - i don't know why, but i think that i might land-up shaving my legs, sooner or later. Getting too many comments form the other cyclists while I try to concentrate on my racing. I know that this is not a good reason – but neither are all the other reasons given up to now.)

Hi T Thanks again for all the info. I am also fairly new to cycling and the Argus. I started cycling fairly late in my life (am 47 now) but I have the strong urge for competitive cycling; but progress is only step by step. There is so much to learn about cycling, reaching a higher level of fitness, etc, etc. I am lucky to ride in a club that has quite a few league riders/teams and one learns a lot from them. Especially when they put the hammer down ;-) Regarding your Argus – with the limited knowledge that I have - it seems that the trick for a fast Argus is to pace oneself until one is past/over (!) Smithwinkkel. One should not push oneself too hard (+-80%), then one should feed well, and the real race only starts at the two hills (Chappies, Suikerb). It seems that one really needs to safe all your energy and legs for those two climbs to do a good time/race. A few of my mates will ride in E as well. I will be further back. Good luck and may speed be with you.

* * bumb * *

A1 to that! In the past i messed-up many races by doing too much special eating. Now i just keep the eating simple and lean. Ranrock - have a look at what worked well for yourself in the past - and use that. Avoid all "magic" stuff.

Azikara - wow that was usefull info, and firsthand insight too. When did you start racing? In which group will you start your Argus, and - if it's okay to ask - what is your surname? PS: my youngest brother in law also just moved to Chicago, bought a house and got married (Chip/Chris & Sam)

Good luck to the F group - it's do'able but will be hard. If you work together it is possible. The wind, Boys drive, and team work are the critical elements.(my2c worth) Last year i checked out the past sub 3hours data. We are due for an easy'ier Argus. Have a look at the past stats: Sub 3's Argus finishers: 2010 - 138 (?) (very windy, boy's drive, 110km) 2009 - 111 (storm, boy's drive, 110km) 2008 - 1781 (no boy's drive) very good weather 109km 2007 - 1340(+-) (no boy's drive) perfect weather 109km 2006 - 815 (no boy's drive) cool weather 108km 2005 - 237 (very windy) 108km 2004 - 936 (good weather) 108km 2003 - 810(+-) (De-tour, very good weather) 109km 2002 - 315(+-) (De-tour, part of the Argus was stopped, HOT 42C) 109km 2001 - 460(+-) (De-tour) 109km 2000 - 384 (first De-tour – 109km) 1999 - 1225 (105km, Maiden Cove finish, Chappies) 1998 - 323 (105km, Maiden Cove finish, Chappies) 1997 - 449 (105km, Maiden Cove finish, Chappies) 1996 - 487 (105km, Maiden Cove finish, Chappies) 1995 – 1654 perfect weather, (105km, Maiden Cove finish, Chappies) 1994 – 1414 good weather (20 000 entries, 105km, Maiden Cove finish) 1993 - 1051 good weather, (4 seeding races were used, 105km, Maiden C.) Take or leave a few... Apparently, out of a total of 165 000 individual Argus entries, 7900 have done one or more sub 3 hour finishes. Peter Müller

I have oats mixed with Future Life. First boil the oates, than add milk and then add the FL - it gives it a nice creammy taste. 50/50 It's great!!! PS - PnP in Claremont/CT has FL on special - R19,99 (Friday when i was there)

The correct and confirmed starting times for the Junior / Tricycle Tour: Saturday, 12 March 2011 07h30 – 08h00 Late entries & Registration – Trike Tour 07h30 – 10h00 Late entries & Registration – Junior Tour 08h30 Trike Tour: 5 – 6 year olds (1.5km – I mini lap) 09h30 Trike Tour: 2 – 4 year olds (1.5km – I mini lap) 10h30 Junior Tour: 6 – 12 year olds (5km – 2 large laps) 11h30 Junior Tour: 6 – 12 year olds (10km – 4 large laps) Wrong starting times were given on the (Argus) Cycletour.co.za website. I just phoned the Junior / Tricycle Tour organizers and checked with them – the staring times on the Junior / Tricycle Tour website (juniortour.co.za) is the correct one (as above).

It is not a certainty that the beta is linear.

Maybe it boils down to why we race. Is it for bragging rights or is it because we just want to cycle competitively?!? Sometimes when I had a bad race (twice in 2010) I seriously consider not riding over the timing mats. To-date I have always done the mats – I just must live with the bad results as well.

+1 If you think you can, or you think that you can't - either way you will be right.