I FLY

I think this applies to all our bikes that have been going through those rivers of covid virus droplets left on the road by the non-mask wearers.

I was trying to do a quick costing on two entries - bearing in mind we have not done such a long unsupported race before. (Longest was a 400km audax which was about 24 hours.) 1. Entry fees - assume I wait to see if race goes ahead - R9k 2. Dynamo Hubs - R10k 3. Bike packing bags R10k 4. Other R??? I know that # 2 and 3 are long term equipment items but it does seem extravagant for these uncertain times.

Temperature here in Modderfontein was low of 2' with average of 4'. Still confused at number of cyclists without masks and lights .

I am enjoying the riding without all the broken glass that normally lies on the road

My brother , who lives in UK, says there is a problem with all the old 26ers been dusted off and used. None of his LBS have 26" tubes in stock.

We always ride our mtbs when we do that road so we can ride on the gravel shoulder

There was also a Spinman forum at about the same time as the Supersport one. Terry Kobus was the moderator of it.

I lived on the Bluff from 1960 to 1984. Moved there when I was 4 years old. For most of that time there were many lower income households (my family included)and blue collar workers. As a teenager you had to be careful where you hung out on Friday and Saturday nights after the weekly wage earners had been paid. Brooze , strong men and bruised egos are a lethal combination. In addition there was the Recce camp at the end of the Bluff stirred into the Boere vs Soetie mix. So one learnt to smart about confrontations and that your hands bled if you punched someone in the mouth (teeth are sharp) I would like to think my time on the Bluff taught me to be ambitious and able to stand my ground rather than "ruff n tuff"

Lives in the complex next to mine. Not familiar with the name but if he can do 125kms during the exercise window then he is not in my league

And the youngsters as "grommets"

I think the surfers used to refer to us as those windmills. And they hated us because we could get onto waves they could not. But I always had a good relationship with everyone at backline because I respected their right to the inside line. Maybe I got a free pass because I was quite into weight training at that stage of my life.

# 43 August 2004

I live near (600m) from a new strip mall in what is a booming high density living zone. In less than a year one restaurant and four niche tenants have closed their business and these premises are still empty. In addition two other premises have never been occupied.

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I wore the same 3 sets of browns through my two years , 6 camps and monthly parades at my home unit. And the same boots Never grew , gained or lost weight in those 8 years. I only weigh 4 kgs more now 40 years later

When I spent 18 months on Angolan border in the 70s we would go for weeks wearing the same set of browns when we were on ops. That's when you know about body odour

I have to compliment the skills of the Jetline photographers. They managed to get photos of me actually on my bike.

This worries me less than no foods stalls being still there

I had as hard a day out in Banhoek as I anticipated I am a poor climber and struggled up some of those long steep slopes and so had to push my bike a lot. Then because I was tired I did not attempt those loose switchbacks. My excuse is that I don't have a dropper seat post but after seeing a few riders in front of me wipe out I took the safe option. I had to help a few riders who had fallen down the slopes. Luckily just bruised egos for them. I did try and act like a wide eyed tourist taking in the sights and sounds. An awesome place to ride but it was hard to be happy that the fires (and smoke) did not affect us when many others were in danger of losing lives and property. I thought that the 30km course would have been too easy but the 60km one was too long for me. I was never an endurance athlete and ageing has deleted what I had. My wife ,who loves climbing , finished an hour ahead of me.

This thread help me pull the trigger on a holiday place in Somerset West last year. We go there for a long weekend every month This weekend we will be riding the MTB race in Banhoek

Two The Core - Rover Ride 88 46 25 15 40mm of rain forecast for Saturday afternoon so he better ride fast.

I do ride there regularly as I live 5kms away. So I do get the variation in the maintenance cycle. And look forward to the trails after Saturday's race

My wife and I entered the 60km for better or worse.

I will ask for his details for when I am next there at end of March

I ride these events to build up my knowledge of the trails in the Stellenbosch/Somerset West area as I plan to semi retire there next year.