I FLY

I called Grant - Adrenaline cycles - he has given me enough information and directions to get to the Karkloof Country Club which is the registration and starting point of the trails.

Thanks. Will call Grant. Planning to go between Xmas and New Year.

We want to stop off on our way to Durban and ride at Karkloof. I can't find any details on the web. Does anyone have a link to the appropriate website or other contact details?

I thought that Epic stage 2 was one of my hardest days on a bike. Compared to that TDF profile makes me realise the vast chasm between their ability/fitness/mental strength and mine. @griffen I have some photos of the last switchbacks on Sani Pass if you want to get an idea of the steepness/surface. Send a pm with your email address if you me to send them.

Bike is back from LBS with clean bill of health and 2 x new conti MK tyres. Hopefully my wrist is healed enough to start riding it again in two weekends time.

No.Danie. Same area ( where Cosmos City is now )and about the same time. The Griffith brothers were out riding with their pack of dogs when they were ambushed. The pack of dogs flushed out the hijackers before the Griffiths rode into the trap.Once again, unlucky hijackers.

Me too. After watching the segment on Rhodes my wife announced that we are going there next year. I hate climbing.

Unlucky for those hi-jackers that this cyclist was a highly trained combat shooter who was armed.

Alum FS Weight 80kgs Conti Mountain Kings front and back - 2bar

It is that time of the year when I start to read about the circus that goes under the name of CSA license renewals. I have gone through the pain and frustration that this activity involves for the last two years as I felt it was the "right thing" to do. In hindsight, I don't see what benefits I have received nor do I feel that my fees are going to the areas that I think they should. I do two road races a year - this year will be three and I don't wear my chip as I object to monopolies. So I wonder what my race calendar will look like next year if I only ride races that are non santioned ( don't need a day license). I can't see what CSA races I will miss as that calendar has not been released. I also wonder how many race organisers would prefer to opt out of the CSA santioned web and go it alone? There are a few organisers I know and trust to stage races - road, mtb and stage races- and I would support them to the exclusion of the CSA events.

Fitted a tube and rode 10kms to Medicross Clinic, had X-rays and grazes dressed, then rode home. Africa is not for sissies. I was so pumped up with adrenaline that I only started feeling pain 10 minutes after getting to Clinic.

Bike was on its 1st ride after a very expensive rebuild by Mike's Bike. Only damage seems to be the left Cane Creek barend.

I have a set of these tyres on my bike as a bikeshop asked me to test them. I found them to be:- 1. Fast rolling 2. Good grip in the Gauteng dry conditions ( no rain yet) 3. Very hard to get onto my rims. Don't know if they will come off without been cut I was concerned about the strength of the sidewalls as the rubber is soft. On Sunday I tried out a few bunnyhops to see if the tyres would hold air. On the last landing the front tyre split at the seam. I have many grazes, bruised ribs, a broken helmet and a suspected broken wrist. I will never fit the tyres to my bike again.

Group L 7h24 I cruised during last year's race and plan to do the same this year.

If I could take my bike on the Gautrain for part of my trip I could get in 50kms of riding a day and save about R160. My current commute by car is 110kms.

My 1st Shova after 14 years of riding. 1. I started in the C group and was passed by the Standard bunch on the first hills where the road was 4 lanes wide - no problems. I heard them shouting " Go, boys" but nothing else 2. I rode with my friend who had been sick so we took it easy until after Bothas Hill. Good move as there are many hills 3. I did not use any of the watering tables so cannot comment on what they served. I still think that riders should stop to take drinks. Where I am in the field neither the riders or the water table staff have the skills to refuel on the move. I saw many near crashes on the day. 4. I enjoyed the novelty of being on the comrades route. It did make me swear not to run that race 5. We mainly rode in small bunches :2 to 15 riders. It is so much easier to stay away from riders that are nervous or unskilled in that size bunch. 6. Fields Hill was less of an issue then I was expecting. It was over too quickly. 7. The first sight of the sea was exciting. I felt like a lemming. 8. At the finish I took a USN drink and left. 9. The race was harder than I anticipated but the crowd support was fantastic. 10. The logistics of doing this race when I live in Jhb means that I may not ride it again.

I have been ridding a loan Niner 29er FS for the last month. It weighs in at a shade under 14 kgs. I am 52 yrs old, height 1,73cm and weigh about 81kgs. I am never going to be a race snake. My impressions based on a few races and rides , including Teak Place,Northcliff hills, Ezemvelo and both days of the Crater Ctuise, are:- 1. Handled the single track with ease 2. Climbed well despite the weight - I rode all the way up that rocky climb on Saturday at Crater Cruise and did "Sorry" hill in the big chain ring on both days. 3. Flew down all the technical descents 4. Rolled along the flats and drags in comfort 5. When riding at same speed as my partner(on a 26") my HR is 10% lower I am told that a 29er with be at a disadvantage on tight, technical climbs. My partner and I are both planning to convert to 29ers

Thanks. I will go with the street address option.

I am wanting to order some items from Chain Reaction for the 1st time. Which is the best address to use:- My street address or postal?

I wonder if there is a category in the annual Darwin Awards for the "Death before dishonour" followers?

I can vouch for the benefits of a bad pie. I ate a curry chicken pie at Home of Chicken Pie half way through an Epic training ride. Within 15 minutes I was losing weight at both ends. The rest of the ride was a blur but I could not feel how tired my legs were. After 5 years I still can't take the smell of a pie.

And a 200km on 26 Sept 10.

We had a big clean out a few month ago and gave our old stuff ( including 3 bikes ) to Eddie Thomplinson's development club.

My bike is there now for new brake pads to be fitted and the hubs serviced.No harm in starting small.

She is in the cycling industry so gets to touch all the new bling before the rest of us sees it and she loves to upgrade (with her money). New bike count in 4 years - 2 x Specialised carbon S Works, 1 x Santa Cruz Blur; 1 x Giant Anthem and 1x Merlin Road (titanium) plus countless handlebars, seats, drivetrains, gloves, glasses, tyres and grips I am old school (tight) and will only consider an upgrade when something breaks. Although I do get try out some of the demo stuff for durability.