Rowl

Their standard approach is to offer half from my experience, and rounding down. Wanted to tell them to go jump, but not worth the effort.

For interest sake, does anyone know why Vera and Alexis are not up there? They don't share their Strava rides and I don't have other socials.

Allow me to ask the question, you took delivery of the bike with what we'll call lower spec parts. Did you not inspect and note at that point that the bike is not the same spec as advertised and raise it then? Then the freehub etc has been/will be replaced under warranty? And you received good service from CL? You mention you ride Pta East, has the bike been up to spec? Shifting/braking/etc? My opinion, I wouldn't expect for R8k new to get anything but entry level and if things break, then just happy to get them replaced under warranty. Yes things are not supposed to break, but free of charge replacement addresses that. So your R8k investment is still solid in my mind. But we may feel different about this🙂 FYI many 2nd hand wheel options available: https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/c/mountain-bike-wheels?meta_brake_type[is_multi_select]=true&meta_brake_type[value]=29"

Side note: Gerald and co noted earlier they were struggling with image quality, but attending to it... Matt punctured a couple of mins ago, as did Candice.

All in comic sans: What you mean to say is, Okes are upset. And angry. And in a rush. And so on. Just be lekker boet.

Also saw that. Grotts seems like a nice/composed guy. Interview didn't give away much, only Matt saying he likes to stoot it in the rooi and Howie pulls him back.

Matt had a 1000 yard stare on the podium.

Maybe try Pulse, haven't checked their options yet, but an alternative view also: https://pulselive.tv/events/capeepic-stage1

Also need to consider this, will follow Le Hub's advice.

Just to add another nail to the DSTV coffin, MSR is not being broadcasted this weekend???😶

https://velo.outsideonline.com/mountain/mountain-racing/for-these-athletes-the-cape-epic-is-the-perfect-kickoff-to-the-life-time-grand-prix/

Couldn't have said it better... So many options to choose from to make up the series with at least one gravel event every month from March through September. (Both Houwhoek and the extended Pie Run are 'newish' events if that counts for anything) I'm not a WP cycling official but can't imagine why they wouldn't have considered your/or an individual's cost point of view. But great to also have a sponsor onboard in Cannondale. Did a quick take on the form, but couldn't see an amateur/open category championship?

Some obvious ones missed imo, but nice to have something like this going again. Edit: Would have been great if they could get the same hype going as what Lifetime does in the USA (better communication would be a start).

(An aside, Tirreno is also forgotten by Supersport...)

Ellen de Gen is a hellava bike rider...

Nope. Massive let down on their side. They are starting with Paris Nice tomorrow though.

Trying to reinvent a gravel bike from an old road bike is going to cause you headaches in other areas, like rim strength and width, brakes, groupset etc - imo. Your budget is R15k, buy a second hand gravel and use it for what it was built. The below would be my choice, size and those things dependent obviously. You have smooth gravel roads in the area, but the 2nd half of the R2tS is no easy ride, you'll probably be dropped on a converted road bike competing with gravel weapons. A hardtail with fast rolling tyres would be better suited, again all my opinion. Edit: Sourcing the right gravel (carbon?) fork with the v-brake setup might be an issue, likewise you'll be very compromised with what you can run in the rear. Are you referring to 650lb wheels or 750d?

I agree about the heartbreak re Knysna's current situation, but wouldn't boikot the event due to the municipal failure. I feel the organisers and area would need the support now more than ever. I would not discourage tourists from visiting SA due to the governments failures, oh and please go vote...

Had the same thing happen to my Garmin mount, can potentially help you if you pass through Swellendam. Edit: And following on Strava, enjoy!

Some nice photies!

I see Hayley Preen is part of Lifetime Grand Prix 2024 list, but surprised to not see Vera Looser given her 3rd place last year and Konny racing (maybe she didn't enter or not interested). Very cool series, thanks for sharing. Though I would say some of the riders could be a bit more down to earth, but just my take.

Too funny. Thanks for the thread and congrats @bleedToWin. Following!

Forgive me for saying this, but I thought this was discussed ad nauseam with the actual cancellation. Trust me when I say they were ready to stage the event and did what they could to have it go on. Yes the weather wasn't actually so bad on the Sunday morning, but given the warning and floods across the province, this was the right choice. The roosterkoek was made and ready to be served at the waterpoint (and was ultimately donated), the medics were on stand-by, etc. It's like saying that you want the roosterkoek to be unmade or the medics to give back the money. I assume the organisers take their cut, but do you not want to pay them for all the prep and time spent on actually getting ready for staging the event and/or ensure that a next event is staged. What is a sufficient discount for predicting the weather 6 months ahead of time, wrong, and having the provincial disaster management call the race off? An entry costs just about R1k, the Prince George double that, go figure. I understand you incurred a lot of cost, at what point should they have cancelled / how much discount do you want?

(We had to pay for the Trail Meraki shirts a few years ago...)

Thanks for sharing!