I FLY

I have been working from home since March 2020. Maybe I am very busy all day or my fridge does not contain any snacking type food but I have escaped being best friends with my fridge my house does not have any snacks , sweets , chocolates, biscuits or chips . If we feel like a treat we have to go to nearest shop also have no alcohol or sugar in the cupboards and my colleagues say I am lucky that I am lean and don’t put on weight🤔

Interesting comparison on annual kms achieved in 2021 between my younger brother and me. We both spent the year WFH - sitting behind computer screens for at least 8 hours a day. We both did more than 200 rides, 7000kms and 90 000m ascent. He did more than double his normal amount of riding . I did 40% more than normal. He lost 10kgs in weight . I stayed constant. 2022 Goals for me. Only have one Bucket List race this year - Berg and Bush - entered and paid Will try to do CTCT in March for 1st time since 2005 if I can get the timing right with WFH in Cape Town instead of Jhb that month. Apart from these I have not ridden at Tokai, Paarl, Oak Valley, Wellington, Jonkers (since fire)

We went out at 6am . Looked overcast but per my weather app no rain forecast. 10 minutes in the rain started with big drops. 5 minutes after I got home the sun was shining and the skies were clear. Saw a fellow cyclist not on a good day. He was commuting to work as he had a large backpack. 1st time we saw him he was adjusting his front brake caliper. We went in opposite directions around an industrial complex . Then the rain and wind started. Later we passed him again and he was walking with his bike - a rear wheel puncture. He declined our offer of assistance both times.

He is on one of the same Strava Groups that I am on. I look at his weekly distances and think he must be a machine. And clearly he is still enjoying himself or else he would not spend so much time on his bike.

I had another good year in terms of getting out on my bike This was my highest recorded annual distance since I joined Strava in December 2011 despite not having a bike to ride for much of March and a bout of Covid in June Ended the year with 21 rides in December my pre Strava commute years were much higher

We did two days in a row at Modderfontein as it is 5kms from our home.

Only want to fit in two bikes as we will be touring in it . I wanted to make sure that if necessary we could sleep in it even with the bikes stored inside could probably fit at least 6 bikes with reasonable spacing did not have my drivers license so will have to go back for a test drive

Hardly exciting scenery but I took a ride into Santon to see how my bike(s) would fit into a Ford van. Decided to take a different road home and went across the pedestrian bridge at Grayson Drive for the first time.

This will be my highest annual kms since I joined Strava in 2012. I have already passed my year’s target set in January and have another 129kms to get to my adjusted target. WFH has been good for me.

I followed up with Ruhan when I got to Somerset West re the printing of a small plastic holder for one of my helmet lights. We met so I could give him the light and the broken holder. A week later I had 4 new holders that are exactly the same of the original one and the price was very reasonable.

We had the same view this morning. Rode from Mouille Point. 1st ride along that route since 2005. Must have been “ drive your super car “ Sunday as we saw so many out on the road

I plan to buy a Ford Tourneo next year to take our bikes touring around RSA to find interesting places to ride.

1. My SS in those days 2. Remember these crazies 3. Honoring our grandfathers who fought in one of the Boer Wars

To be honest I don't think that I have ever bought anything at these Expos except for food or coffee. There are normally so many people clustered around each exhibitor and I hate making snap purchases.

Looks like Winterton Worlds SS

I have a 2nd home in Somerset West that I get to use for two weeks a month with this WFH scenario. So maybe I can bring it through to a convenient meeting place when we are there.

This was about number 18 for me. 1st in 1998 on a MTB with slicks, progressed to race bike , then race tandem with daughters then back to Mtb. Took a four year break when we lived in Witbank. I doubt that there are any scenic routes in Jhb to compare with CTCT but I have enjoyed seeing parts of the city I might not otherwise get to see , plus the vibe is always good . I have never had any issues with the organizational side of the event ( I make a point of reading and understanding the pre race instructions )and unlike others enjoy going to the Expo to get my number and bump into friends. So far only one puncture (in 1998) and no other mishaps .

I have a small bike light from Extreme Lights . The plastic helmet mount broke and they don't have any replacement stock. Maybe you could 3d print another one for me. The mount is in Cape Town but I will be going there next weekend.

We add either a little bit of lemon juice or fill about a quarter of the bottle with Coca Cola and rest with water

Two of my friends did the Mon - Wed version. The weather was just about perfect for riding. Cool, overcast , dry.

I will have done more than 15 but don't know the exact number

My wife and I have been cycling since 1998. In that time we have owned about 40 bikes. Currently we have 6 bikes . As we split our time between Johannesburg and Somerset West we have bikes in both cities. Our kids are adults so our bikes have their own dedicated rooms in both places. we are quite ruthless in clearing out gear/ clothing that we don’t use and donating them even so with two cyclists in the family we manage to fill the cupboards in the bike rooms when we start bike touring the collection of gear will grow

We had an interesting experience on our Tuesday morning ride. We were riding along a single lane road in Greenstone when a red Mazda driver decided to be our escort car and instead of overtaking ( road was clear ahead) drove behind us for about 2kms with the hazard lights on.

I live near that little dam at the top of your route

A few years ago my wife asked the person handing out medals at end of 947 to put it into her jersey pocket . Later discovered her phone was missing from that pocket. Opportunistic shopping vs Planned ones on Suikerbossie and Malibongwe