Blue Monster

Does seem to be the only possible way on to the track. Those roads are narrow, racing bunches good point for a breakaway

At most of the local road races, I am in the first two rows in the formation start pen. As we move closer to the start, guys push in, and I am luck to start mid pack. You need to be forceful, and remember there will always be that guy that arrives 30secs before the start, and lifts his bike over the fence and then jumps it, to start in the first row.

Thanks Gerald All other events leave the clearly incorrect riders/results as released after the event. When I was in the start for the CTCT, there was a guy in 1C who arrived on his mountain bike. He looked around with a perplexed look on his face, got a couple of strange looks and got out of there in a hurry. He realised he had been seeded in the wrong group, possibly from strange Racetec results. Lost City still has 2 CL riders in the top 150 riders, both of which usually do the short route @ mid 20km/h.

I finished in the second AL group. I hung on for dear life when we were going full taps down a hill in single file. I think this was when the bunch split the firs time. Hung on for dear life during the main break when the guys got off the front just after 75km. I had one thing in mind. Suffer for another 2 or 3 minutes and make it with the group after 78km, or suffer the hour or so alone. I managed to stay with the second AL group to the end. I did a few turns on the front, but was quickly overtaken by some very enthusiastic riders. I was about 6th or 7th wheel just before the turn to Carnival city when I suddenly realised how big the group really was, because the loafers all came to the front for the sprint. I was not unhappy with my ride, considering I had less than a stable gut in Saturday. Too a Rehidrat on Saturday evening, and another on Sunday morning. Plan was to make it to the 47km mark and make a decision to continue, or bail onto the short route. Stomach still not happy, but glad I still did the long route. I had a proper HTFU lesson of note.

Awesome race as usual. Gerald, please arrange that all the fans in springs are turned off, because that headwind on the way back was hell.

Me 2

Hope this helps.From last year, al start. https://www.strava.com/activities/414485957

Sorry if you think this was a hijack, I was just answering your question in the first post. You did ask about other online training programs that integrate to TP. TR does not have any analysis, so you would still need TP to keep track of TSS, ATL & TSB.

I have also been using TR plans, Sweet Spot Base, Build & currently Speciality phase. I have seen large gains is FTP, and endurance. Makes riding/racing on the road as I am now stronger than I have ever been. BTW I have been cycling for 4 years and I am 49 years old. Still seeing benefits of about 3 to 5% between each training phase/block. The TR training plans are well laid out and are properly periodised.

The entry & access to the track should be interesting, as the TomTom map shows the old Kyalami circuit, not the revamped one.From what I can see on other satellite images there would be a 90deg RH turn before the actual circuit which would have another oh sweep of sorts on to the track. The exit of the track appears to be opposite the pit complex, past where the Audi Driver centre was, which means coming out of Kyalami on the relatively narrow road past AA. The entrance and exit will need whits about you if you in the racing groups.

Never say you are not a climber. I have had the same power to weight as you for previous 94.7s, and have sub 3ed them all. I always believed that I was not a climber, but SBR on a Sat, then Wed, then Sat again cured my belief that I am not a climber. Was the 5th rider in BL at the top of Krugersdorp hill for Berge en Dale, which was always my nemesis. You are only what you believe you are. Good luck

Roughly the same amount of climbing as 947. Most of the climbs, especially the big climb is a lot steeper than anything you will encounter on 947. I have always been about 25 min slower on 947 than SBR, at about the same part of the season. Still possibly the best place to ride a bike in Gauteng. In December 2015, I caught the animals crossing from the ridge to the plains, after the climb from the dam. Had to even stop when a herd of Zebra were crossing the road. Nothing better. Happened 3 times out of the 4 rides I did in December.

I am doing the Base 1 Low Volume, as I am still doing my group ride on Saturdays. Will do the TR planned third workout for the week on Sundays. I am currently going through the TR podcasts, and those guys know their stuff. If you look carefully, every workout has a TSS & IF listed, and the TSS increases slightly each week. Not sure any of my other indoor training classes did the same. TR seems more structured.

I did use my Garmin heart rate strap. I am fortunate to have a Power2Max power meter, so able to record everything. Set up Trainerroad to use the Power2Max for power reading and recording, so have the same power reading source as on the road. Recorded ride as normal on Garmin and uploaded to GC and Strava.

I got my Kickr on Saturday Morning. Set it up and did my first test ride on it co confirm everything was working. It felt quite strange, but was wearing flops and shorts. First Trainerroad session on Sunday morning was the 2*8 min FTP test. What a machine. The control is incredible. I haver been training at two well know studios in the Fourways area for over two and a half years, and realised in one test that the other trainers have nothing on a Kickr. It too a few months to get the resistance in the correct zone, and if your cadence was a little off you were out of the zone you were training in. I did my first proper Trainerroad session this morning and really enjoy the control and the motivational comments. The instruction is to increase cadence for next few minutes, but the power remained constant. Its a lot of money to spend, but I have spent more over the last two and a half years on indoor training studios than it cost for the Kickr and first year subscription to Trainerroad.

From CL newsletter. This week we need to talk cycling safety. Notably as a result of two very different incidents this past weekend. The first involved a motorist and his illegal and dangerous actions towards cyclists who were riding in the cycling lane. The police are now involved. The second was a Toyota SuperCycling club group and their interaction with a single cyclist who was also riding in the cycling lane. These two incidents, represent a growing frustration between motorists and cyclists and cyclists towards one another. To this end, as cyclists we are the only ones with the power to change a situation by our positive and polite mind-set followed by the associated actions. To get into the specifics of the second incident, in which a lone cyclist was forced off the road and verbally abused, would be to include all the vitriol and backhanded comments that were passed towards the club and Cycle Lab within that social media thread that contains the details. To view the thread, please click here This sort of behaviour by any cyclist is unacceptable. That is should include our very own members is heart breaking. On behalf of the club we have apologised to Anne and being a seasoned sportswoman and Triathlete she graciously accepted our apology. We have given her our assurance that we will address this matter with the appropriate steps to correct this sort of behaviour. We will continue to keep everyone informed as we progress. The sentiment is that as a club we don’t give a darn about our group riding style and behaviour out on the road, both towards other cyclists and motorists. You can be assured that we do and our policy on how we ride is shared with each joining member and well understood by our group leaders. No one seems to notice a clean window and so to those of you who have and do represent our club so graciously, thank you for being the kind of club members that reflect our values and make this club a great place to belong. Furthermore, we would like to address the issue on Cedar Road JHB, where continued road works presents a difficult and unsafe transit. Here we take up the lane as we pass through this section, which is our policy and while inconvenient to motorists it’s necessary in terms of everyone getting through this section, including motorists, without incident. Non-members have often enjoyed the safety of our groups as we pass through this section of Cedar and we hope that motorists while inconvenienced would appreciate our challenge in trying to avoid a potential incident that might result in something from which one might never recover. To be clear, on the rules of the road as a club, we follow them. While we appreciate that motorist don’t always, it’s important to remember that even though you may be in the right your vulnerable position on a bicycle is not the best time to argue your case. • Two abreast when its safe • Single file when your safety and that of others is at risk. On passing another cyclist you must appreciate that they cannot see you coming and they may not hear you call out. Be cautious, polite and gracious. Each and every one of you as club members are ambassadors to one another, cycling at large and this club. Please read this week’s Safety & Etiquette piece on passing a cyclist or group of cyclists. Please let us know what’s on your mind. Have Your Say Click Here. To those who would like us to appreciate their constructive criticism, please come chat to us at the club, we are based at Cycle Lab and welcome your feedback and healthy discourse. Our commonality is that we ride bikes, no matter what discipline. Rubber Side Down

CL newsletter sent out today openly discusses this complaint and provides the link to original complaint. They also do not accept this kind of behaviour.

This time of year is always going to get heated in the cradle. I have ridden with the CycleLab A/B and C1 batches this year. The pace is high, and they usually stay to the right of the yellow line, as there are so many other riders in the yellow lane. There are also a lot of novices out there, and some of them are not able to hold their line. The last ride I did with them was about 4 weeks back, while riding up hill to the circle after Toadbury, a cyclist drifted over outside the yellow lane. The speed differential was high and most of the CL group were out of the saddle at the time. When I saw the rider it was too late to even shout/indicate that we were approaching, and I had to change direction suddenly, luckily we were climbing, and the group had thinned out somewhat, otherwise it could have been rough. We all need to remember that we were all novices at some point. We need to grow a thicker skin (I was shouted at by a rider in yesterdays race for not holding my line, I had no choice, there was a touch of wheels and we all had to take evasive action) We need to get along. I also can't wait for the quieter winter months in the cradle.

The route change according to my calcs comes in with about 2.5km longer with about an additional 100m ascent. This is made up of the two "bumps" up to Kloofzicht, as well as the two smaller bumps after/around Avianto. Should be interesting as this is at the end of the race.

Thanks a lot I have just seen that I averaged almost the same power as the 2nd place in A. I clearly need to loose weight, and fast. I had a higher average than both of the power meter files up all the climbs, except at the end where I was hammered.

They are moving to the basement of RSC auto on the corner of Uranium & Cedar. Also changing name to Cycle Repair Centre. They must be taking strain.

If they are going as far as GL, the groups must be quite small.

In BL, makes a nice change from the last few AL starts. I may be able to stay with the BL bunch for this race. The AL guys like to charge on the hills, and I usually fall of there. I will give it my best, according to Training Peaks, my form is great after being in Cape Town for the weekend, with no riding.

I always wonder about the comments of a flat race being easy. More often than not, there is less chance for recovery, as there are no down hills. If you are not hammered at the end of the race you took it easy, and it should be assumed that you were at the front of the bunch helping with the work.

http://app.strava.com/routes/808488 837m according to STRAVA.