Perico

I did the race last year, after having done no training other than cycling. Best advice I could give is DO NOT get stuck on the inside of the buoys, the guys are merciless and will swim over you without a care in the world. Had to give a few guys a kung-fu kick to the face to stay above water I will most probably do the race again this year. Just watch out for the crappy road conditions on the bike as you head out and back into the transition zone.

Grapkas, we drove past the park after a meeting in Midrand last week just to try and get an idea of what the finish will be like. It is not much of an uphill, more like a gentle rise. However the road passed the main entrance to Kyalami is a pretty steep downhill so I think it should be a fast finish for most of the bunch finishes. Unless of coarse we need to make a turn into the equestrian park to cross the line... then all hell could break loose!

Can anyone confirm where exactly the finsh line is going to be? On the R55 before you turn into the equestrian park, or will it be after a right turn into the equestrian park's grounds? (Sorry if this has already been discussed, but cant seem to find it on any thread) Thanks in advance!

Tim Brink is the new editor of Bicycling magazine, any idea where Sean Badenhorst is off to? Perico2006-11-02 04:19:31

This weekend is about getting the distance in the legs, with a moderate to high intenisty. Intervals during the week (4 days). Then next week drop the duration and keep the intensity, 80 or so kms on Saturday and only 50km on Sunday at close to race pace. Then 2 short high intensity rides in the last week (Tues & Thurs), rest Fri, 30 - 40km race pace on Saturday.

Where you planning to traing on Saturday epoh? I am planning +/- 120kms in and around the the north west of JHB - some hills in Northcliff then out towards Krugersdorp and back through Fourways/Bryanston.

I will be in Hermanus for 10 days definitely taking the bike down...

Adidas sunglasses, such as the evil eye range, have a clip on attachement that helps keep sweat out your eyes. Haven't been able to hang onto a pair long enough to find out if they really work (on my 6th pair of adidas sunglasses in 5 years!)

This really is rather pathetic, I mean who really cares????? Valentino Rossi is probably the biggest raging closet homosexual in the world, but he is by far the greatest athlete to ever race motorbikes. Does that make him any less of a champion. Not in my book. Go LA (and go Rossi for that matter, kick Haydens ass!)

I think just about every road race I have done recently has gone passed Harties at some stage of the route this year... defintely a popular area for race organisers it seems... Perico2006-09-22 09:01:30

Hey epoh why dont I hold your back wheel in the air while you pedal like made in the start pen, that should get you warm!

Damn epoh hope you get better dude! I think you should change your nickname on the Hub to 'sick boy' though with allergies like that Just kidding... hope you can make it though, the race wont be as competitve without you! Someone needs to give the boys in orange a run for their money!

I had to drive along Hans Strydom this morning to get to a meeting. The road works on that road are really going to pose a problem for such a big field of riders. I know that people have already mentioned it on other threads but be careful everyone! As for k-hill I think the worst part is that the hill starts on the N14/R28 when you pass the Muldersdrift turn off. For the un-informed it adds a good km or so to the climb. I must say though that I always found the gradient of the first section not too bad, it is always the bit after the Robert Broom turn that killed me (it still does) Luckily we miss that part. Anyways looking forward to it. GO TCS! Epoh have you been re-seeded into your rightful group of A yet?

I'm still in... See you at the start line. This race is going to tear me a new one, I can feel it!!!!

Anyone got info on how the ladies are going on the Euro circuit. I see at the Sparkassen Giro Bochum they placed from 44th up. Lynette did really well on stage 3 of the 5 day stage race, Trophe'e d'Orminine, placing 10th. Then it seems only Anriette and Marissa finished within the time limit at the world cup race on Saturday, placing 34th and 48th respectively. Still haven't heard anything from the other races in August, namely the Criterium international Paris and Criterium international De Val De Fensch. Anyone got an update. Thanks Perico2006-08-31 04:36:40

Sheesh epoh! Getting up at 3h50 to cycle in the week. No wonder during races you drop me like a bran-filled turd in a porta-potty! Ouch! I feel tired just ready about it...

I also just got the sms. Also starting AL at 6h50. I am 8km from Monte so was also thinking about a short warm up ride, but I could be commiting serious Hara-Kiri if I do that. More worried about the 8km back home all the way up Witkoppen after the race. Anyways I will see you at the start - nice and early! Maybe I should invest in joining TCS as well, then we can start a gang of sorts!

Thanks Cycle events Makes sense! And thanks for all the info re the race, really helps!

Anyone know when we should be getting our sms's to confirm our group, race number and start time? Epoh I will be there, hopefully in time to start with the majority of A bunch this time and not get left trailing at the back. Sounds like a killer route so can't promise I will at the front the entire time, but if I make it into the start pen on time I can hopefully do a few turns and help you out! See ya'll there

Hey epoh Good ride dude. I had a nightmare of a ride. Firstly I was late, so I had to plead with an official to let me into the start pen. I finally managed to sneak in to join right at the back of the bunch just as the corny pre-recorded voice did the 10 second count down. When the gun went off I was stuck on the outside right, and to make things worse some guy fell on me when he tried to clip in. Then when we turned the corner I saw the main bunch flying down the road. Not sure what the back end of the bunch was thinking but they seemed to be out for a fun ride. You guys had about 200m on me by the time we hit the main road, and the wind was pumping. I put in a hard chase on my own with no one else interested in helping and finally caught the back of the main bunch just before the turn to Pilansberg. I was already knackered... ...then the crash. Just as I get on the back the guys go down. I was right at the back so missed the action, but by the time I went passed you were already up and away making a break for it. I tried in vain to try and get on the back of the group but that was the end of my race basically. Got into a few smaller groups, catching and passing the ladies, then they decided to turn up the heat and caught us again. Then our group got split up. By that time I was finished from all the chasing and pulling on the front. I had a seriously crap race and by 80km resinged myself to just trying to finish. I have never been in an A bunch race where the field got so split up. I must have spent at least 15km on my own during that race fighting the wind. Anyways, Montecasino has my name all over it! See you all there!

Nice, thanks guys

Also keen to see the pics if anyone has got them

I knew a Subaru could fit 8 people!smileys/smiley2.gif Yeah thanks everyone, had a great time. Looking forward to the next one...

I will come along, my training partner has pulled out for Friday and I am keen to get some decent kms into the legs.

Get off on 14th Ave offramp (closer than Gordon) from N1 south then turn right, go under highway. At 3rd set of robots (i think) turn right again onto Hendrik Potgeiter. Turn right again at McDonalds then left into shopping complex M&B is at the back left!