capediver

No i didn't, but picture the scene, there I am in the middle of the climb up Smits, the S/O hears a commotion and walks in and sees me sweating away on the treadmill, with a stranger dressed as Borat jumping up and down besides me!!!

Juice, NO! Unfortunate changes to my schedule had me out the country this year so sadly I had to skip...however, I made up for it ..... Saw Argus organiser Dave Mellors with this one: And then because I was there..... Forgot this one..... And off the bike:

Neville! Great ride....bad timing for posting though! In middle of a Pre-Friday heated discussion...unless of course you were on an e-bike and deliberately posted to show you followed the rules perfectly with that time!!🤣

TBH the whole e-bike thing and the limits imposed by the organiser is all a bit pointless as it seems e-bikers are still dashing to the end then hanging out near the finish to come in under regulation time....but I guess that's at least some semblance of control to allow for a range abilities of e-bikers to enter...

I think you may be too late....apologies have been offered and order is about to be restored!!!

Easy answer...not sure why everyone's missed it....bring a gravel bike!!!

Unfortunately, what you and others that similarly got DQ'd actually did beside obviously enjoying yourselves ...which is great and the aim of most participants I imagine...was also provide ammo for the anti-ebike crowd as well as maybe the organisers to clamp down on e-bike entries to events such as this...thereby removing the possibility of those that actually struggle to cycle a "natural" bike due to a disability, from also enjoying themselves.

A big ride for 2 days!!!!! Which route did you take from Apollo back to Bike X?

Excellent thanks! Was hoping there was a way from Gannaga Lodge direct to Ouberg Pass via that Northern Plateau skipping the R354....there appears to be a 4 x 4 track that starts after you climb out from Gannaga Lodge....about halfway to Middelpos..but it looks pretty hardcore....can be seen better on Komoot..runs along that plateau and meets the R354 S of Kompromise, turn right down the R354 for a few k's then left back onto a gravel road that eventually either loops around to Sutherland or goes to head of Ouberg Pass??? Anyone know of this route? PS tried to create a route this way on Komoot but it rejects it...will only go via Middelpos then just past Kompromise then to top of Ouberg...so maybe its a no go!

This sounds awesome, do you have a GPS route for this...I get lost plotting from Gannaga Lodge to Sutherland and beyond trying to stay off the tar!

Last race of the season before it starts baking!

Just saying....

Another useful for bibs...when its muddy, gravel cannot get down your back to your delicate region to create a grinding paste the likes of which you will never forget...😔

Dramatic Jonkers!!! I think? Great pic!

Shorts over bibs, no extra protection but nods of approval for the MTB community, cause they won't see the bibs!🤣 Edit, can't quite make out if you already got knee/elbow pads...but anyway...2cents: There a wide choice of good knee pads...Fox/ION/POC, try to get the zippered ones, they great for putting on and taking off without removing your shoe...stay away from G-Forms and their useless gel pads...junk and don't work Elbow pads...hmmm...ja, if you insist make sure they fit snug and don't slide down like 99% of them do given that you riding a bicycle down a bumpy gravel track...most irritating...choose well

Highway racing...TDF L'ETAPE - Dubai edition

Desert winter rides and a not very happy beach radar!

Definitely not allowed on any greenbelt trail, be it bicycle, walking, hiking, horse-riding trails but let us know exactly where this happened, so users can be warned to lookout for repeat offenders.

Spectacular morning with the kids on Clarence Drive....

Shaking off the pudding....

Magura Blue Blood (as rare as hen's lips and usually requires a trip to the French Alps for re-supply) is same as Shimano mineral fluid, just different dye added...but same same...

Kale Bay Salt coffee run.

BTW, if you thinking of road riding, the most popular route is round the "wild side" along Marine Drive from Summerstrand thru to Schoenies via Willows and out at Walmer. There are some challenges though: The start at Summerstrand will be littered with glass from revellers as you leave Summerstrand at the start of Marine Drive just past the turning to the Uni.... The Walmer exit of this route is proper dodge so make sure you don't go all the way up Victoria Road from Schoenies to the junction with 10th Avenue and Heugh Road...rather turn off at the Glendore Road and ride through Pari Park up to Buffelsfontein Road. Another route is from the above Buffelsfontein Road down to Seaview and Maitlands River Mouth and back road via Coleen Glen. Best contact one of the local bike shops to hook up for a mass ride...Wayne Pfeiffer has a shop in Humewood, or call Action Cycles Heugh Road

Not strictly gravel but...as you say, given enough motivation...

Winding down the year.....