BuffsVintageBikes

IMHO, if you're not competing for an age group podium then go for the bike that's going to give you the most comfortable ride. The new Epic routes are brutal on your body in terms of rocks etc. and a plush suspension will save your hands and ass in the long run. You might be a little quicker and Day 1 & 2 on the SB but the real test comes after that. Then the extra weight on the Trance will mean nothing in comparison to the ride comfort.

Road 👍 These guys don't muck about, they finish most training rides at above 36km/h avs speed. I've tried to hang with them a few times but lost both lungs and had my legs torn off repeatedly. Not even my Steel Classic could help me 😉🤭

Seriously? This has been happening ever since they introduced seeding, it's not something new. If you can sit anyone's wheel at a 39km/h avs speed for 100km's then you deserve to be in a better seeding group, end of story. You can still stay in D group and enjoy a race with riders of your level, the rest will just be up the road enjoying riders of their level 👍

D bunch was hauling ass because the local Brackenfell chain-gang decided to have some fun. There's a number of very strong guys who train out this way lead by Arno van Wyk. The group is more commonly known as the Arno Pain Train 😄

Valid point, it was at the tail end of the 80km where the 130km split off and got nasty but yes, that was their midpoint... poor buggers 😉 👍

I did it last year and I can strongly recommend it. Great gravel roads that were in really good condition and well stocked water points... and a free beer at the end 😀 I did the 80km due to time constraints and I'm really glad I did because the 130km has a nasty sting in its tail. I'll do the 80km again this year 🤙

Saw on Reddit that a youngster ran out of petrol on his scooter and was pushing it over the bridge and he got mugged (over the weekend) 😔

I stand corrected 🤥

If I'm not mistaken, Willie Smurf mentioned in one of his videos that good Continental riders can earn a lot more than average WT riders so maybe that was a consideration?

#FML 😲

I see the Cannondale Team is on a training camp in Stellenbosch at the moment 🤙

Download the Ride with GPS app, the route is part of their base routes stored by previous users. I used it to navigate me through the entire route.

Outstanding turnout, well done to everyone who made the effort to be there 👏

I'd guess a little higher, around the R3500 mark, just because it's a Holdsworth and they are not that common in SA. But the 501 tubing and 105 components lets it down a little. 531 with Dura-Ace would have pushed the price up considerably. Lovely looking bike however and I'm sure it rides great 🤙

I was relieved to see that as well as we're doing the route in April again 👍

Cracking first contribution to the thread, that climb is always a winner 👍

What frame is that? Looks like a great little hardtail 🤙

Thanks, that's great to hear, I feel like I belong there already 😉🤙

Mine's a little more like a Cemetery after all the years of abuse I've put it through 😩

I think I'm gonna come and join in the fun. Cat 3 sounds like a good place for me to be because racing for 134km's doesn't sound like much fun at all after the Xmas jollies 😅 I expect I'll get some strange looks when I rock up on a vintage steel rig 😊

Don't underestimate how sh!t the Shimano hubs & freebodies are either, make sure it's not on its way out. I've been through 2 on my Revolt already, now changing hubs to something else.

I thoroughly enjoyed your RR, you certainly have a way with words that makes a person feel part of the event 👏 Thanks for taking the time to share it and well done for getting that Finishers medal 🤙

I know there's a really nice little mtb track around the Newton Park golf course but that won't help you much on a road bike 😊

Too late for that, most deals are sealed already. Besides, I don't think they have the budget to sign anyone else.

Let's be honest here, widely understood or not, why the hell is a young rider with that pedigree going to Q36.5?