Batty Boy

Last year's event was awesome. Especially the hidden barb wire obstacle. Took home a purple bell and 8 stitches.

My fault really. Came home after Kia's Over the Moon night race, cold and tired, and thought I'd unload them off the car in the morning. The f&*kers jumped my neighbours wall, jumped over mine, unloaded both bikes, and fled off the same way. I mean, come on, who rides a stolen 29'er nowadays? Lol.

Hi guys. If you reside in the JHB North areas and surrounds, then please be on the lookout for two Momsens which grew legs, scaled my wall, and rode off in the early hours last week Thursday. 2013 Momsen AL329 29er Medium frame Selle Italia female specific seat (black/pink) SRAM Twist Shifts Garmin mount Schwalbes (new rear) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Battyboi/Momsen_AL329_zps2dcd1262.jpg 2012 Momsen AL529 R-Type 29er Large frame SRAM Twist Shifts Continentals / Sun Ringle hubs / ZTR Crest rims Bar ends Shimano pedals http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Battyboi/2012-08-15073639_zps9e182d65.jpg Photo: Not actual bike. Used for visual purposes. Any information would be greatly appreciated. My number is 082 550 0723.

Not at all. I just haven't bought a magazine for months. Read a report the other day on how print is making a comeback but can't seem to fathom that.

I know times are tough. Going to the store means buying milk, bread, perhaps a packet of smokes, and perhaps a few Chappies. Now and then, a magazine cover grabs my eye but in all honesty, it's a luxury item. Some of them cost almost R50 (like NAG). Which leads me to ask: In this digital age, when was the last time any of you have bought a magazine off the shelf?

My boss won't approve.

After following last week's Epic on telly, it made wonder how would one prepare for such an ordeal. 8 days on a saddle, 100kms average per day, climbing your ass off...how do you prepare your body for this onslaught? What would a typical Epic rider's training regime be for this?

My physio told me the other day, "Joel, if you're cramping, you're unfit." Love the brutal honesty there. Lol.

Both of the quads. Schweet! I'll give Arran at Cycle Fit a call again, since he originally fitted me. I'll see what he says, but I doubt it's bike setup...

I'm proud of that swan dive!

Funny that my wife mentioned the same thing to me last night. Not that I'm dissing the product, I love the brand. But yes, I shall put that on list to tick and experiment with.

I always cramp on the thighs, right behind the knee. Two balls of knots... I'll try that. Thanks. I was half way up Suikerbossie, when the cramp hit me so hard, and so quick, I couldn't uncleat. I fell like a sack of potatos - now that I look back, it must have looked so funny. The best part of that whole experience was the immediate reaction from three medical marshalls who came out of nowhere to help. One of them said that I fell so "superb", they thought I had suffered a heart attack. Amidst the pain, I laughed with that chirp. This Suikerbossie experience cost me ±45minutes. Unbeievable how a simple cramp can destroy your ambitions. Thanks for the help and advice...Couldn't have asked for a better response from the Hubbers.

Have already. Those awesome guys at Cycle Fit sorted me out. Its that large "M" sticker on my frame that bugs me. Like I said, I'm over 1.8m.

Serious? I drink 32Gi the whole way through, two bananas and maybe a chewie of some sort.

Brilliant!

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll try the interval thing and see how it goes from there.

I agree with that, yes. But, saying that, if I try pull say a 100km training ride, odds are I'll start cramping before I even finish it. I'll check out the intervals. Thanks.

I try steer away from salt. Actually, come to think of it, I hardly consume it. That's an interesting pointer. When you say increase salt intake, I gather you mean magnesium tablets etc? I did take a 6 or so of them 2 days leading up to the Argus. Hell, I even chowed a Rennies every 20 minutes of the race.

I cramp when I ride easy whilst training, and I cramp when riding hard on race days. Training days, I always start off easy, and slowly up the tempo. Race days, obviously I give it stick from the word go. I don't necessarily concentrate on sprint intervals, just distance. Yes, I up the tempo on numerous occassions whilst training, but nothing out the ordinary. But maybe you guys are 100% correct. Maybe my training method sucks balls.

...is making me depressed. I know this topic has been brought up many a time, and is boring to discuss, but damnit, I've been sulking since Sunday's Argus, and Google Search doesn't want to help me either. I ride religiously every weekend, 75-85km at a time. I always do my rituals beforehand - good stretches, ample breakfast, magnesium tablets blah blah. I also consume ±500ml of fluid pr hour of cycling, which I do, as well as chomping a banana or two whilst riding. I also train twice a week on the spinning bike for an hour without any niggles. BUT, the minute I hit the 80-90km mark on the road, the cramp sets in. I have the energy to burn and I don't feel tired, yet it always creeps in. It's done this for the past year, week-in week-out, and I don't know what to do. I've thought up a few issues which could be contributors: Perhaps incorrect bike setup - I'm 1.81m tall, and I'm riding a medium frame bike. Not enough fitness - but I ride and spin every week! Poor leg muscle conditioning Incorrect seating Too much fluid intake - is there such a thing? Underlying issues...- could it the onset of a hidden illness or something? I've told myself not to enter anymore races that are longer than 90km until I can somehow overcome this problem. It's become so frustrating. All of my riding mates complain of sore legs but never cramp, yet, I'm the opposite. Are there any pros/specialists/fellow hubbers who can steer me in the right direction, because at this moment, I'm thinking of ditching the bike for a chess board?

Sho. Hectic stuff.

Was he the dude lying in the middle of the road? His face looked bad...

Anyone know what happened to those involved on that hectic downhill crash on Homestead? It looked really bad. That stretch of the road is notoriously bumpy.

This is my first time. Anxious as hell, and can't remember having a decent nights sleep over the past two weeks. Starting 8.22, in CC with the wifey. Not planning on doing anything stupendous time-wise, just want to absorb the atmosphere and make a jol of it. (Is jol the corrct word here?)

This is Rooney, my 2yr old English Bulldog heffalump. He does nothing, except eat, sleep and fart. The walks take 8 minutes before his breathing sounds like a muscle car's crank has just gone through the block. Love him to bits!