eddy

She changing her spouse ? Should provide her with long term happiness....

Correct. The first bit is gradual and the last brutal. 5.5% average is like standing with one foot on a block of ice and the other in a bucket of boiling water and saying that on average it is 50 degrees and comfortable..... But arguing which is worse is like comparing the Springboks to Bafana. Rather Arguing which is more satisfying when finally conquering it.....

She can never take your sense of humour, or your ability to laugh at yourself. Believe me, they will be valuable assets to retain in the next few months. Hang in there. It will get much worse before it gets any better. Good luck

It was, and it is not a climb anyone who has ridden walked it will easily forget. I understand only one rider rode the whole way in the Karoobaix and took over an hour out of Darren Lill, recent SA road race champion. Swartberg is but a molehill in comparison.

Interesting that that should be your reference, and it got me thinking. And it is playing mind-games with me now. For me the pass is a very different ride from the South than it is from the North which is where you climbed from and where we will descend. I am purposely NOT looking at my Garmin records of my rides as they will introduce facts into my memories. I recall that I suffered more from the South. From the North you have more climbing but over a longer distance. The South was steeper, particularly as you approach the top. Also, from the North you have a bit of a saddle, with a dip before the final 4-5 km push to the summit. I also think that this is where the road to die Hel turns off, so not quite at he top. Either way, I have ridden to the top from both sides, at various levels of fitness. Sometimes carrying kit, sometimes not but always finding it a thrill making it.

True for Shimano, not for Sram. Sram road shifters and MTB derailleurs are all compatible so you can mix and match. I bought a set of 10sp Red shifters and an XO med cage RD on the Hub from guys who had upgraded. Cheap as chips and works perfectly.

Can you not run a 36 or 40 at the back ? I have a medium cage XO derailleur, 11-32 paired with 50/34 but for for touring with a load (and mountains) I fit a ??-40 cassette. I certainly don't cross chain 50-40 but otherwise I am fine with it. ps, I rode up there with a mate on his CX bike and a compact crank and 30 at the back and he coped fine.

Yip. Or maybe just stop and take in the view a couple of times.... It is 100 MILES. 170 km.

That makes sense. Thx

At least it is a big target

And? I suppose if you are not pushing 100kg like some of us, 36x42 is enough for the pass. Is 36x11 enough for the flats?

I think that this is where 1x will get caught out. I know that I need everything my granny has got to get up the pass but also that I went through Meiringspoort cruising at 45kph in my big ring.(tailwind assisted). I will be running a 50-34 compact road crank and a 11-42 cassette. I hope it will be enough up the hill. I am practicing my walking solong

And ??? What pressure were you running and do you think you would you have gone faster on wider tyres at lower pressures? Were you running tubeless?

As I rode some sinkplaat this morning I was pondering a related question albeit that I have picked my weapon. RLT steel. My indecision is about tyres. Run my Clement MSO 40s which are quite brilliant or lighter, more race oriented 36mm Challenge tyres. I know which will be more reliable and comfortable but I figured to do two time trials from Hekpoort to the top of Breeds and back to see which is in fact faster.

Genuine.

The pass should be fine but alot can change in 4 months. The Epic would of course do the job perfecly but what better opportunity will there be to check if the GrandFondo does what it says on the box ?

And what will you be riding come end of April?

And I have an old 110 not far away from you that you are welcome to borrow if you need to. That old v8 drinks like a bergie with a Barclaycard but as long as you promise to bring it back in one piece, that is all you need to worry about.

Yes. I was 45, but it is not all LOL. The bit about being careful was emphasised to me by my GP. She warned me that STIs and unplanned (by the man) pregnancy were a clear and present danger and to trust no one. On the other hand, the "single and solvent" comment is a direct quote from a young woman in the hotel where I spent two nights a week living whilst on business. She literally walked up to my table and said what is a single, solvent and straight man doing eating alone in Cape Town. She subsequently called me from her bath...

You DO need a lawyer. even if you think it is going to be amicable, it will not be. Trying to do it yourself is penny wise and pound foolish. What you stand to lose in a bad settlement is much more that a lawyer would cost you. See a lawyer. Some other bits of advice : Look after your own interests first. Unless you do you will not be able to look after your son's interests which I figure is what you would want to do. Don't give away any more than you have to. It won't buy you any goodwill from your ex and will do you no good. Don't agree to pay your ex ANY alimony or maintenance, not even R1.00. Pay as much as you can afford for your son though. You have an obligation to put a roof over his head, food in his mouth and education for his benefit, etc. Pay his share of their living expenses as long as he lives with her. If you do this sensibly, when he no longer does, payment to her should stop. See a lawyer. Use a condom. If you are single and solvent you will have more sex than you have grown use to after 21 years of marriage. You do not want to pick up a STI and definitely DO NOT want to become a father again at 47. I am not suggesting that someone will lie to you about being clean or on the Pill, but best you look after yourself.

I'm in on RLT Steel

I don't know why everyone is so concerned about where I put my spare tube when the real issue is why I am carrying what appears to be a 265/65R17 spare tyre........

I don't know. But when I was a laaitie we were warned about the camp guys at the Zoo lake toilets........

No email received. I must follow up

Nah. I do the full needle thing.. Actually, that is the main reason I always carry a small saddlebag. I am allergic to bee stings and go into anaphylactic shock within minutes so I always have my adrenaline with me. Leaving it on the bike means that I don't have to remember it every time and I have needed it six times in the last ten years or so whilst cycling.