Jewbacca

hahahaha here I was thinking of doing this in prep for Munga and you're opting out to prep for the Munga 🤣

This is a good indication of different uses. I am not a fan of using them on steep climbs in a running race. I find while they give me leverage, I move a LOT slower with poles out. A long, not so steep climb on a good track/road, yes, they're out. On a super slow moving, loaded AR, definitely yes, but a running race not so much. One thing not yet mentioned is the speed/goal and time on your feet you're looking to achieve. If you're going slowly, moving methodically and have preservation and finishing in mind, then I would say they are essential, even for 50km. I'd be wanting to move quickly and run most of that but I know some guys who spend 10 hours plus change out at the Bastille day run, which I would then suggest they will be invaluable.

I'll have a go purely from an experience point of view, but I'm sure others will chime in and tell me I'm wrong. I won't touch on the expedition racing side of using them as it's not relevant for you. Over the years, I have flitted in and out of using trekking poles at running/ultra events. They are not am essential piece of kit FOR ME, but I know others who won't leave home without them. I have done plenty of 100 milers without and plenty with. I won't take them for anything shorter than 100km as I think you should be 'running' most of that pretty comfortably. I am not a fan on using them on technical ascents or descents, I find they get stuck and get in the way and stop you from being able to use your hands/keep a low centre of gravity. Where they become invaluable is the long stretches of undulating gravel road or firm paths. You can create a beautiful rhythm, the sound, the mechanics etc all become quite rhythmic. There is some sort of science behind them but I have found they provide support and seem to take some pressure off my lower legs/feet, be it imagined or not. One thing that is massively important is being able to store them quickly without having to remove your pack. I have made the mistake of not having this sorted and once they were out they were out and once they were away they were away. I found I had them out in places I wanted to throw them away and stashed when I wanted them, so they were more junk than useful. You also won't benefit from them unless you practice with them and use the loops correctly. So they are something you need to bond with. I am not a trekking pole or die person, but if doing a 100 miler or longer, will look at the route/terrain and decide if they are necessary. At MacMac 200 miler they were essential to getting me to the finish after I tore tendons in my knee at 90km ish. Used them to stabilise me and help my limp like crutches and protect what was left of my feet by the end. But still packed them away at times for the scrambles and steep stuff. Waffle waffle waffle..... In short, try them out, give them a good go and see if you like them. If you're not doing 100 milers or longer I don't think they are worth it. I've not used them for any of my 13 peaks missions despite carrying them. I used them the entire 22 hours during my trail running everest. BUT that's me and some of my friends won't do the new 60km Puffer without them. Sorry for the thesis

Since reading this I see Aoneji make alu Z-poles that weigh very little, seem pretty decent and only cost 799zar per pole. I may get some this week

I got pretty good miles out of a set of carbon/Alu mix nature hike ones. They were relatively inexpensive but lasted me a few good years of quite solid use and abuse. In fact, they were still very useable until I leant them to someone and they came back wrecked and retired. I am yet to replace them as I am overwhelmed by all the different options these days!

Adapt or die!

Everybody knows that if you do cross fit, eat vegan and take Herbalife supplements you will lose weight, keep the weight off, have loads to talk about, be a part of 3 cults AND have a chance to grow a multi million dollar business! All the other diets are just fluff.....

YT, Transition and many of the 'Enduro' brands had importers and dealers in SA but they all failed. Some more than once. There simply isn't a big enough market in SA to have that many options. There simply isn't the annual sales volume to keep the SA business viable or the dealership side from the supplier alive

I've been privy to a few property deals in the last year that have blown my mind. One where people paid 1.9 mill for a flat 12 years ago and sold for 7.2 just before christmas..... When people have money and want what you have, the price is irrelevant. Some people see selling high as 'winning' and others see selling low as 'fair'. I too sell low so it goes. I am not patient enough to sit on an advert and renew it every 4 weeks hoping to sucker someone for a few extra zar Some people are and they are incredibly unflappable

Happy New year everyone! I hope you have all had a fantastic festive period and are back on the bike/exercise wagon! An update; Munga entry has been registered and initial payment made. Alex has been incredibly gracious and offered an early bird rate despite having sold out. I have sat down with the saints at SPCA for a chinwag and a bit of strategic planning. A small campaign with some fun activities will be released in the lead up to CTCT. So, as things go from here, due to your huge generosity and interest in seeing this idiot try not to die in the karoo, we are off to Munga 2024! Thank you to everyone for making this happen and hopefully this gives us a platform to raise some much needed money for the SPCA and all they do. What an adventure we have in store!

I do understand that bit, I have done a number of trips as well as RASA, trans NZ, many expeditions and lots of overnight multi day rides. I'm more trying to understand the whole 6 to 8 hours a day thing. I'd prefer to ride 12 hours a day, take in the sites and sounds, smash some midday naps at a picnic spot and ride longer unless there are activities planned. Moving 50% to 100% slower makes it a far less strenuous trip with more stops, time off the bike during the day, easier to recover etc.

Question If you leave at 5am and only ride for 6 to 8 hours, what do you do for the rest of the day? I'd have thought you ride, stop for lunch, have a nap under a tree, get to your destination at like 4pm, shower, eat, snooze, then go again? It's a bike tour, I'd expect to be on the bike most of the time, unless you book in for lunch time wine tasting along the way

I saw one leaderboard for the running showed someone having run 25000km People are strange It is supposed to be fun and motivating. The act of getting out in a time when it's too easy to do nothing but over indulge. The 500/50 km is a carrot, the challenge an enabler. It's not the act of failing or winning, but the act of doing. Forget about Yoda and his teachings, doing instead of not doing is already winning!

Yet the industry itself, pro tour, QT etc is in absolute disarray. A majority of the companies that make up the backbone of the industry are really struggling. It is the exact reason I used that example and said as much. Reading beyond the stats and projection and actually looking at WHO and WHAT is providing the numbers is my entire point. I guess this is a similar scenario to a big chain company. After closing down 6 stores and leaving 500 people without jobs, the financial analyst in his booth says 'numbers are balanced'. While that may be true statistically, it doesn't look at the real world situation. You too

I think if it was easy, it wouldn't be called a 'challenge'! I think there is a place you go where some people think it's 'the end' and others know it isn't. I've seen guys and girls bail in hundred milers 15km from the finish. They were 'done'. No injuries, no real issues, just 'done'. I guess the more often you cross that line between comfortably able and uncomfortably able the easier it gets.

I'm more referring to all of the other cycle related companies, bike brands, clothing companies, distributers etc that are closing or have closed down over the last 18 months ish. Some pretty established companies, not just in the UK. Even Bianchi is taking massive hits. The stats show numbers, not real world effect. Much like the surfing industry in the early 2000s. Many established board brands and apparel companies went belly up after cheap, mass produced boards and clothes flooded the market. It still hasn't recovered roughly 20 years later. Surfboards and apparel are still being sold in volumes, but the real world impact of that shift left thousands unemployed globally and still has the overall industry on a knife edge with brands being bought and sold like pass the parcel at a 5 year old's birthday party. The overall stats DON'T show the real world issues. Even things like logistic companies tied to the bike industry are now ded. It's a far reaching thing with the statistical numbers 'void' likely to be filled by 3 big brand bohemouths. Anyway, my comment above about Orange wasn't meant to respark the debate between spreadsheet balance and real world consequence, which I think is being ignored a bit

I think here is the rub. The entire bike industry hasn't evolved. The big brands still use import middle men who add their own big slice to the pie and DTC brands have no sway because they have no 'local infrastructure'. One can't ignore the sheer number of cycling and cycling related companies that have or are busy closing their doors or entering administration over the last 15 months. It isn't just a case of those particular businesses were bad. Too many very different businesses have gone under. As with any fluid industry there will always be troughs and waves, this is only natural. the one thing that is apparent is the equation of the parabolic graph. This is a particularly deep trough after a particularly large wave, which is having a telling effect. No one is saying the bike industry won't survive. There will always be bicycles. But to say it isn't currently in trouble/struggling because of one particular set of stats while ignoring the real life goings ons is slightly blinkered

All I see here is you've led a sheltered life....... hahahahaha

You're an experienced salty sea dog. You know it's not just the youthful mind, but also the fact that most fit cycling people have good lungs, a good ticker and a level of expectation of themselves and their body. They can ride for hours, they aren't out out of breath or dying while running, so they generally go too hard/far/fast too early and do damage. I've had a LOT of mates I ride with start running and get injured for just that. I tell them to do 2km for a week at an easy pace and spend weeks building up the load, but ego and expectancy don't allow for such a thing! The 10km runs at 5min/km come out and soon the shin splints and ITB inflammation follows. Running isn't easy! hahahaha

A high pressure hose cleans the inside of tires in a heartbeat Rims I remove the tape and wipe thoroughly with Acetone. As mentioned above, you may have a few leaks where the sealant has done it's job, but the sealant should just do it's job again I usually put a bit extra in for first seating of new tires or cleaned/re-done tape and tubeless

You make it seem like you and your wife are just two average tourists who happened to ride for a couple of days! hahaha

Taking this seriously!

It looks like Orange Bikes is entering administration as well........ Luckily it's not a real thing and the bike industry is in better shape than pre covid.... 🙃

The ASICS trabuco 'insert latest iteration' will suit any and all trail running situations. I have used them to run very fast, technical mountain trails in training and I have raced them from 15km to 200 milers I am a mid food lander with a toe kick The uppers have been known to disintegrate on occasion, but ASICS SA are good with warranty claims. The sole is incredibly durable, the lacing is top notch and the foam/protection is brilliant. I was eyeing out a pair of Saucony Peregrine 13s at the Sportsmans Warehouse yellow ticket sale today. They look the business as well but I have no actual experience. The Gel Trabuco 9, 10, 11 and MAX have been to war with me. 100, 200 milers, Expedition Races, Solo speedpacking for 200km in the cederberg, various 13 peaks etc.... 100% do recommend

Yeah, like a Paradox or something......