Muggins

Got my bike back this morning. New rear hub. Went for a ride and back in business. Big thumbs up for Cycle Tech Kyalami, great service. These guys get your bike in and out super quick. My bike was so clean when I walked in there I walked straight past it, thinking it was a new bike.

If you want to see how ready you are go to Hakahanna two weeks before the race and get in a 40 km ride there. Enough hills there to work you over. If you can handle that you will handle the Cullinan race. It's the hills that get you.

Normally those route profiles are only released a day or so before the race.

I went back there yesterday for lunch. After lunch we walked down to that suspended bridge over the river and walked that red route back through to the concrete rd at the base of the dam wall just before the 3rd water point. That section was seriously technical in the dark and just as technical to walk during the day. Riding somewhere at night for the first time you ride there is an eye opener. Will also go back there during the day to ride.

My rear hub has disintegrated completely. Funny you mention this. In about October last year we did a ride at Hakahana when there had been a lot of rain during the week. 10 km's into the ride I had to turn around because that clay like mud was all over my bike, chain, gears wheels the works. You will think I am joking now but my 12.5 kg bike weighed 35 kg's when we got back and weighed it. That's how much mud it had on it. That is the only time I have used a pressure cleaner on it. After that the mud riding was out. Problem was that after that I did the Cornwall Hill trailseeker and tore the ligaments in my right shoulder during the race. I did not ride for 5 months after that. Went out for the first time 2 weeks back for an easy ride at Red barn and the bike was fine. Then 6 odd km's into this night ride a week after that it went. I know the guys at Cycle Tech said to me this morning that riding in mud = expensive repairs and he recommends staying out of the stuff. When I wash my bike I normally just hose down with those Gardena attachments that spray the water similar to a watering can. I spray clean green first, wash off with water, wash with soapy water and then rinse off. Dry and apply chain lube last.

Did my first night ride on Friday night and it was cold there. I definitely found it harder to breathe. I can only put that down to the air being more dense and that your lungs have to work harder to utilize it.

I reckon if one came off in that water last night that would have been a bad ride. You would have been an ice block by the time you got to the finish line. That ended up closing the bridge.

Being new to this as in 10 odd months. Last night with the race the following happened not sure if my gears are playing up or something else. My bike won't free wheel. In other words if I am moving I have to peddle. I also find if I peddle backwards the back wheel goes backwards. Any ideas. I don't want to join the circus with a backwards going bike. I did pick up some mud during the race if that helps. I cleaned the bike this morning but that has not helped.

The light worked brilliantly. There is no hiding away with this light. Found myself doing most of the ride with the light set at 10% as in the lowest setting. On bright it is seriously bright.

That place was big time cold. Not during the ride but afterwards sitting at the tables. I reckon next month will be even colder. After crossing that suspended bridge things got very technical there in terms of hills rocks and sharp bends all at the same time. I found that difficult on my 29er. My biggest problem was that 6km into the race my gears decided to pack up.

Thanks

I'll do the 20 km route. 10 km's is over to quickly.

Yip same one.

I will be there tonight to test out my new light. First night race.

Just out of interest sake. When charging these battery packs for these lights. Is it advisable to run the batteries completely flat and then charge.

Will do. Thanks

I went past cycle lab fourways this morning. I was looking on their shelves at lights and the furthest they shone was 5 meters. The salesman then saw me and asked what I wanted. He then took me off to the lock up cabinet lights. At this point I knew there was problems because the shelf ones were R 899.00 being the most expensive. I ended up going with a Magicshine MJ-880U 2200LM ultimate edition. I will see how it works tonight. I would have gone with Extremelights but I could not wait for the delivery. I only found out about the night race on Wednesday night. Anyone familiar with this light.

Had a look at the Extremelights website. Seems like the Extreme 2K is a good option for the handle bars. Now to decide what to put on the helmet or head.

Will do. Thanks.

I'm doing my first night ride tomorrow evening. I have one of these lights for my bike. I think the specs say 80 lumens. I bought it for riding to gym in winter when it was dark. It works fine for that but I'm thinking I need a brighter unit for MTB night trail rides. Any suggestions. Is it advisable to also have a head lamp unit in addition to the bike one. I think it could be disorientating to only have one on the bike. Thanks.

I find the best way is to actually ask Doctors. I asked a surgeon at Sunninghill Clinic this same question 3 years back as I was considering leaving Discovery. His answer was that they are all much of muchness. He said you wont find one that does everything as in where you don't part with money. He said Discovery was the one they had the least problems with. He advised to stay with them. I have also found that Discovery over the years are covering less. Small things like my wife that needed a new pair of prescription glasses, she is rather poor sighted so her glasses are normally expensive. The glasses cost R 9000.00. We had R 15 000.00 in our savings part of the plan at the time but Discovery would only contribute R 2500.00. I have also learnt that just because the plan says unlimited cover in Hospital that you are not necessarily covered 100%. It is 100% provided that they are charging medical aid rates and that I think is where the problem comes in. Understanding the fine print is the catch. I think a lot of people think well I am on a medical aid so I am covered. I have been guilty of that in years gone by. I know my late mother in law was very sick last year for 2 months. They were on Discovery Health's top plan and were paying roughly R 7000.00 per month for two people. Discovery short paid her hospital bill by R 300 000.00 rand. I think at the end of it all "The Devil is in the fine print" and you stand more chance of getting a flat on a tubeless MTB wheel than understanding the fine print.

I was watching E TV this afternoon and the Lady that organizes the race was being interviewed. She was saying that the race has out grown Waterfall. Next years race will be at a new venue.

The cops say it is not their area, that is so typical. I would love to see if you beat the socks off one of these buggers if the cops would still come with well it's not our area. I somehow don't think so.

I use the one in Woodmead and find them helpful.

Think of yourself as a Diesel engine, that just carries on running.