davem

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Lets meet on Friday before IMSA, and I'll teach you to change a tube. Oh crap, you use tubbies! I have no idea on those things. Where do you draw the line? I get a headache, stomach ache, bee sting, cramp, can I take medication from a bystander because it's unfair that I trained for 9 months and won't be able to finish. Then it becomes, I am cold, hungry, why can't I take a jacket, boerie roll...and so it goes on. In my opinion, the rules are strict, support the concept of this being an unsupported event and although they do not always seem fair to an individual, they are in fact fair to all competitors.

I don't think the use of a chain breaker is a skill reserved for any gender. I don't think someone wanting to complete an Ironman would lack in any of the physical attributes required to do any form of bike maintenance. If you don't know how, learn. It's no more difficult that putting your wetsuit on properly.

The neutral support vehicles are official. The provision of consumable spares etc is legal. You assertion is incorrect.

Official neutral service vehicles do exist at IMSA. They will provide you with spares so you can continue the race. You must fit the spares and pump your tyres yourself. The time penalty of waiting for a support vehicle is sufficient handicap for a spare tube. If you need a new tubbie and they provide one and you pay for it afterwards, all well and good, if you remove and fit it yourself. Same for a chain etc. The support vehicle may lay the tools you need on the ground and you can use them. If you have no idea how to use it, the support crew can talk you through it but they may not touch the tool or the bike. The sport also includes the skill of maintaining your bike for the duration of the event. The concept of a wheel swap is totally in contravention of the self sufficiency spirit of IM. I would oppose anyone, Pro or Age Grouper, being able to swap a wheel in the event of a puncture. If you crash and your bike is broken, your race is over. I see no reason whatsoever to have spare wheels on the course. As for Refs carrying spares, no chance. They are refs, they have a job to do. Neutral support vehicles provide neutral support.

I bet you got a few Durex in there as well.

The ladies in transition was super enthusiastic. There was none left for the next guy. Long sleeve top means nothing required on the arms.

I have got very minimalist over the years. Fluid: I carry one 32Gi bottle between the bars. Take water at every station, use to drink, wet myself down and discard. The 32Gi should last a lap, will pick up a second at Special Needs. Bottle cage on frame stays empty unless really hot. Food: Tape my gels to the top tube. Bars and a few potatoes go in bento box on the top tube. Gu Chomps are available on the course for variety. Spares: Tiny bag under the seat attached with velcro strap (no cages or contraptions). One tube, chainbreaker, levers, tyre patches, two bombs and adapter. 2 Nurofen, 2 antihistamine, 2 standard bolts. Very tightly packed. Lezynne very small multitool sit on front of seatpost in little neoprene pouch. Very quick to access if necessary. All worked out to be the aeroest and lightest. At 70.3 I rode with an Under Armour long sleeve top with no pockets. Way cooler than Tritop and no sunburn. Still considering what to do for IMSA, dependent on need for pockets. On the run, I use a Nathan running belt for my gels and 32Gi bottle.

Nope. They must have the kakest event website. Very expensive for a sprint. Their entry fees don't add up. Individual R290. TSA Member R240. Day licence R30.? Plus fine print cost of chip hire of R20. Plus extra for race day entry. Too far to go for something that is likely to be average at best.

I seriously doubt the chap sitting on the side of the road taking photos at a cycle event is using any kit that costs R135k. He does not need to for a start. Probably less than R20k for the setup to take the mass photos that they sell. At 70.3 this year I had 12 photos of me, of which one was quite good (which is a typical ratio in my experience). R135 for one photo download was over the top. R60-R80 would have been a fair deal. It is a catch 22 for the photographer. Price vs volume, there must be a better sweet spot. I don't think the photographers help themselves very much. Put up a sign saying 'Photo in 100m. Smile' will up the appeal of their shots rather than a cursing grimace with snot running off my nose.

I am involved with the organisation of a few road running races through my club. I know that the Johannesburg Joint Operations Committee (JOC) will not allow our races to proceed without CGA approval. However, JOC is the arbiter of safety not CGA. CGA approval is more about official sanction and the club being in good standing. JOC evaluates road closure, JMPD and marshalling plans, emergency medical services, SAPS event grading, fire safety, noise abatement etc. While the JOC process is onerous, as an attendee at an event you will be glad that all this is done. So it would seem unusual that TSA could withdraw sanction on safety issues as they are not qualified or the higher authority. The local municipality is the controlling authority.

Looks like an unhappy situation. Hopefully it gets resolved for the good of the sport.

I received this in an email from Central Gauteng Triathlon on Friday afternoon. What was this all about? "Urgent Athlete Information - Prestige UltraTriathlon 2014 Triathlon South Africa (TSA) has already posted on the TSA Website (Click here)the withdrawal of sanctioning of the Prestige Ultra Triathlon 2014. TSA has acted in this manner in the best interest of athletes as the event organiser, as Spectrum Sport, failed to comply with the TSA sanctioning requirements. Athletes are informed that TSA has advised all the authoritive role players (SASCOC, FS Sport Confederation, SAPS, Cyclelab and others) of the withdrawal of sanctioning. Athletes are again reminded that the 2014 South African Long Distance Triathlon Championship is co-hosted with the Midlands Ultra Triathlon"

Tri bars in JHB Do they serve Protein Shakes and spoonfuls of cement?

Looks like a sting as so many cops were on hand. Cop with a taser and finger on the trigger jumping on the pile of bodies could go rather wrong for one of his colleagues.

In a running race, water points are generally 3km apart. The water point instructions require the water point staff to walk to the next water point and pick up all the rubbish dropped by the runners. Have picked up many thousands of sachets at races including Comrades. Thats how they get the route clean. Unfortunately cycling water points are just too far apart for that. In addition, running races do go a lot through residential areas thus creating greater pressure on organisers. Cycle races are where no one really inspects their own verge there no angry residents blasting race organisers. IMHO only way is to change behaviour by education and severe punishment (Disqualification). And if the organisers don't bother, DQ the race from the calendar.

From a Ironman SA race rules: 7. LITTERING: Absolutely no littering is allowed on the course. Athletes may only get rid of litter within the demarcated zones at the aid stations. Littering outside the littering zone equates to DISQUALIFICATION. And yes they do enforce it. Several people have been disqualified for littering. Give an A5 flyer to every entrant at registration with that text in very large font. That will stop most who don't know. Those who do continue will eventually get caught and DQed. Put it in the race rules that a signed affidavit by another competitor is enough for a DQ. From a practical point of view, tuck your gel packet in the bottom of the leg of your shorts. As you enter the water point area, just flip it out. No mucking around in your back pocket. Much easier. If you sucked the stuff out, it won't be sticky anyway.

Terry is your man.He sent me a top of the line new wetsuit to try before you buy, I bought it.

Haha. We have all got a bit constipated about the shirt. I gave mine away to someone who finished the course outside the time so didn't get a medal or shirt.Hope she doesn't hate me.

If I remember correctly at IMSA in a previous year your shirt size was on the race number so you flashed that, they gave you your shirt and marked the number as collected.

Haha.

Proof readers are worth their weight in blushes.

That is not good. Any idea on the cause? I only drank what came in a sealed bottle/sachet and did not eat the burger afterwards. In hind sight I remember seeing them mixing a drink (GU brew?) on the run course in a big blue drum and stirring with a stick. It doesn't take much in that scenario for a bug/toxin to be spread.

You still going to be wearing them when you 80. Because that was the last time you gonna catch me.