jimmycool

My race panned out almost exactly the same as yours. I managed to stay with the bunch that picked me up at the bottom of the M19 up until Durban north and from there I was on my own all the way to the circle and then coming back into the wind was a killer as I could see a bunch about 250m ahead of me and I burnt all my matches, the match box and even my finger tips trying to get back in touch but to no avail. Finally with 8km to go the next bunch swept me up and we all whizzed along to the finish in a 3h20 time. Having started out in mountain biking 2.5 years ago I must admit that I am really enjoying this roadie thing a lot! Don't get me wrong, I still love the dirt but there is something special about the speed and the sound and the rush of the group that I love about riding on the black-top.

To me the climb was actually a lot easier than I had expected. What got me was the fact that it is so flat you end up pedalling continuously to maintain a good average speed. I found it tougher than Amashova even though Amashova had more climbing it had more downhills so overall less time spent pedalling.

Yup, that wind yesterday would have blown us all over. We must have finished together but I can't seem to remember seeing spiderman?!! I had a Ride for Rhino jersey on and I was on an old Raleigh RC3000.

Well done FRAIL. 3 hours for the race after doing 1600+km the week before is an outstanding achievement - and on a bike you aren't used to.

First time for me at the Tour Durban. Started in BL and really had a fantastic ride - did 3h20 (better than I had expected with my 106kg load on board!). What a well planned and well executed event. Definitely one to do next year. 2 thumbs up! :thumbup:

That's excellent! Hope to see you there tomorrow.

Did you come right yet?

Eish. That's cutting it fine. If I had a spare I would gladly let you use it. Will you ride your cracked frame if you can't find another one?

Have you found a bike frame to use yet?

Looks like you made it just in time :thumbup: 30 minutes before the cut off for registration. You sir, are a legend!

According to this it says he is still banned? http://www.thehubsa....p=members&st=25

I am in BL but I'm not too sure what that means. My start time is 07h05

I am in BL. It would be nice if they published a batch start list as is done with other races.

Claudio is always so entertaining!

Is there an enterprising, fearless hubber out there who would like to try and build one of these? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKHz7wOjb9w

Yes, it can be quite sobering when you log into online banking and it tallies up all your accounts, including your vehicle finance etc and there is a massive minus at the bottom of the page.

Pitty about that but it's otherwise a fantastic performance!

Yup, that is a good tuning, although the tone does sound a bit nasal for a Steinway but perhaps that is more a product of the microphone than the preparation of the piano's hammers.

I'm not so sure about that figure for the climbing - my guess would be more around the 900m - 1000m range. Anyway, the weather is looking perfect for race day:

The trouble is that no matter how fat you get you will never set off the "pressure plate". As far as I know it is simply a loop of wire embedded in the road that detects the electro-magnetic field of a large metal object. I suppose you could carry a roll of tin foil and then when you get to a red light just stop and unroll it over the sensor area and then the light will change. Hopefully you can roll it up and put it back in your jersey pocket fast enough to set off before the light changes red again, all the while making sure your bike doesn't get stolen as it sits to one side while you do all of this.

I see that the bigger cogs on the cassette are dished to follow the shape of the spokes thus being able to squeeze the extra ratio into the cassette without making the chain too much thinner.

Eish. If that was implemented across all government departments we would have have national mass protest action due to unfair working conditions.

Crazy Russian cyclist!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW7pgy__xLY

Sheesh, he makes it look so easy - I'm sure there's something fishy going on there....

Thanks tombeej. I have often wondered about that.