Memnon

No double blind and 13 is not really an adequate sample size. Plus, if we are bordering on this fringe then they should know that 13 is just plain unlucky!

If this does go to the polls - I vote "quackery / snake oil / rhino horn"... Just for interest, what does a session cost and how many sessions are recommended?

This thread might help / confuse the issue: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/133991-four-thousand-rand/

The most important thing to know before answering this question is yourself (very philosophical ). The hub has thousands of people with even more opinions and before this thread is through you will have had recommendations ranging from “build your own SS bike by melting down unneeded stainless steel cutlery” to “if you are going to ride, it can only be on a R100k+ Specialized (with matching kit)”. Decide what YOU want. Do you like tinkering around with your bike or do you want to buy and ride? I see it as 4 different options: 1.) Buy Cheap: This is the absolute worst option. Cheap bikes from Game, Makro, Sportsmans etc. are just a waste of time and money. If you are really strapped for cash then buy second hand. 2.) Buy Second Hand: My favourite and best bike was bought second hand from a Hubber. The guy wanted to race a different style and I got an excellent deal. What you need for second hand buying is either experience (not me) or a friend that really knows his/her **** and will help you out (this is what I had). You also need a decent seller. 3.) Buy LBS: if you are not the handy type (or not there yet) and you want to buy new then buy from your LBS. You will spend a bit more initially (maybe) but you will save this ten times over in advice (almost invaluable), service and help. With a new bike, the LBS will usually help you through the teething niggles for free. I like the guys at Linden. 4.) Buying online (or from a big store): usually the best deals but then I think you should have some mechanic skills as there will be necessary tweaks and fixes and if you need to run to the LBS with every little misfire you will soon spend all the money you saved (I’ve done this too ). So I would say go for 2 or 3 and convince yourself to spend a bit above your budget (get someone to chip in as an Xmas gift?) – you won’t regret it. I personally think try and get something with SLX or better components but that's just my opinion.

Does this mean that the December Joburg Critical Mass will be in Balito?

Awesome initiative! Is someone out there a YouTube whizz? A two minute movie running a sort of parallel story with accidents in the one line and people spending just one second to stop and think (and save a life ) in the other could really go viral if we all got behind it like this! A picture says a thousand words type of thing.

Thanks. I'll give them a shout.

Real or fake AND bras in one post! I'm nervous to open the link at work... At least this thread is getting more interesting now

Bump. We are heading through on our way to do some rafting and in light of the "cycle the nine provinces" thread it would be nice to be able to tick the NC off the list. Any suggestions? Augrabies maybe?

Where are the results? I can't seem to find them...

I agree - great event! As this was my first Ultra I have to say it left me quite nervous to enter the next one because it was TOUGH. It is very encouraging to see some of the other guys also saying that it was a tough event! My take aways from the race were as follows: The water may have been 22 deg C at the shore but it felt a lot colder out there. I swam without a wetsuit and suffered. The bike route was tough for such a flat profile but very well marked and supported. The run route was really good but i came unstuck with just 5km to go and limped in. In general I think the event was awesome and my girlfriend said that as a supporter it was very supporter friendly with lots of spots to see the action - she is more sunburnt than me! And on that note: apply sunscreen evenly and everywhere!

I'm in for 120km. Paid up (but not ready to go). At least this will keep me motivated over the December / January lull.

Yes, I'm taking part! I just picked up my race pack (and it seems a dose of butterflies for my stomach...). Good luck Wheelsuck, Pieterman, Face Plant and others! PS: what's the call on the water temperature? I never bought a wetsuit and was just wondering if I am going to freeze.

I guess part of the problem is that the law (judge) does not see that someone driving drunk is intending to do harm.

It's a slow day so this question forced me to try to remember those long forgotten days of physics. If on the uphills we assume that wind resistance etc has no impact (i.e. very steep uphills) and that power remains the same then an inverse relation to speed and mass would apply: halve your mass = double your speed. On the flats though, your power is only there to overcome resistance. If you have a super bike then this is mostly wind resistance (drag) - not strictly true but I can't remember all the other complicated bits and pieces. If one uses a sphere to represent a person (also not true but it is the easiest one to calculate the drag coefficient for) and then adjusts its diameter to represent a change in mass then (if I got the excel part right) a change in mass from 120 to 90kg would allow an increase in speed from 20 to 22km/h. The 2 things i take from this: 1.) I am having a very SLOW day, 2.) if you lose weight then make sure you ride BIG hills to show off to your mates how much faster you have become.

I won't be there this weekend as I am swimming at the Rockman Tri. I would like to incorporate a swim there more often on the weekends and maybe carry on on the mtb on the Spruit afterwards as a brick session. I just need the motivation.

Yeah - there were quite a lot of paddlers. I stayed inside the buoys though and it was ok. As I was swimming alone I was sort of hopeful that if I went under one of the paddlers would fish me out... I guess it was you (Weppie) I met in the parking lot on my way in?

I swam on Sunday (8am). Apart from some wetsuit issues it was quite pleasant. Milkworx, did you go earlier?

Well done! Those are some epic distances for a great cause.

Hot weather MTB and trail run done - whoop whoop!

Hope today went well! Keep rolling!

I might be keen - is it ok to join?

Well at least the photo is saying "hardly ever ridden" even if the add isn't.

Donation made so you owe me 650 good kilometres! Good luck!

My Granddad is 94 and has a wonderful carer. This weekend he had a bit of a health wobble and it got me thinking about all those others that are not that fortunate. Count me in. (As a sponsor - not to cycle 650km!). I won't guess a time as if it is too low people will think I am ignorant and if it is too high you will be offended.