eddy

An hour and a half on the Spruit with v12 and an espresso at the Trailhead.

I have ridden Swartberg about 15 times or so, and whilst the hills are very different to Atta, the last bit, which we will hit at about 140km is very steep and as I am on a CX bike with max 36x30, I suspect that I will be doing a bit of walking. At some point walking will be as fast as riding and a bit easier.. But then again, the mid bunch riders will be far ahead of me.

I too have walked hills on Atta. There is NO shame in doing so. If everyone walks, so can (and do) I. But what about if others can ride and I must walk ? That is really embarrassing. The problem with Swartberg Pass it that other people will be riding it, because all of it is usually ridable, albeit in granny gear (and I am still talking old fashioned 3x9 granny gear) and I am doing it on a CX bike with a compact road crank and a 30 tooth big cog....... But how far is 8 km to walk in any case ? ps. having ridden both routes, I think that this race and Atta are very different beasts and difficult in their own ways.

Mine is CO

Ditto, a long way from JHB and rigid steel. The hospitality will be hard earned !

In the competitive world that is the Chinese manufacturing industry, do you really believe a factory that has the prize contract to manufacture Specialized merchandise would compromise all that by shipping off a few at the back door ? Ignorant stuff

Safety, build standards or performance do not come into it. It is simply protecting their brand and has nothing to do with the physical integrity of the product. Building a stronger, better performing bike and slapping a Specialized sticker on it would meet the same reaction and correctly so.

Affirm.

I know you are a bullet on your bike and shot through the Epic last week, but at 61kg, you're merely a .177 pellet. Leave the rest to us .338 Lapua Magnums..........

As I said, 7.62x51.

Surely, based on your primary rifle, your second choice would be in 7.62 Nato as you also got the ammo free.........

Any comments on 270 as a caliber ?

I did the first Trans Karoo and will be doing this one as well....

I have done on a CX bike with 32c tyres. Not ideal but absolutely doable. There are a few stretches near the top where gradient and rutting makes it a bit hairy, but it was not as bad as I had feared. It is much, much better than Breedts for instance

I read this in 2010 and since then must have bought 5 or 6 more copies as I keep giving it away. It is a wonderful story and beautifully told. My dog is not called Enzo but I did once have a fast cat called kittipaldi.

Often seen. Solve the problem by giving people 60% off. Freeloaders refuse to spend any of their money.

I seem to remember a snooker table featuring as well...

A bit like Stifler's mom then........

Ah, I see. Going down is an exercise in slow and controlled line picking, staying off the front brake in the rough stuff and trusting momentum... But, last time I overheard a chap at the top say to his mate " Check daai f@kken mal ou. Hy's op 'n f@kken padfiets" !

Old time ride around the suburbs and over Munro Drive......

Rideable two weeks ago. Only went half way yesterday so not sure after the last rains but should be fineish...

Yip, Breedts. The Southern side, from Hekpoort is better than the side towards Buffelspoort dam, but that is not saying much. I understand that someone in an X3 lost their sump going down the Northern side. Both are however rideable on a bicycle. Neither is much fun going down at speed on a rigid bike with 35mm tyres

Gravel Grinding again today.

So, simple solution is to give the overtaken rider 1.5 m space as you overtake. If it is not safe to do so, wait until it is. We expect people on their way to work in their cars to give us this courteously so why not recreational cyclists ?

Confession: I have ridden with CL as a member and always had a safe and enjoyable ride, so this is not a dig a CL, but a point in general. As cyclists, we expect to be given space by overtaking vehicles. The slogan talks about 1.5m and we expect that when it is not safe to do so, drivers exercise a bit of patience and wait a second or ten before making a safe overtaking manoeuvre. Should the same not apply to overtaking bunches ? As you say, going down in a big group can be dangerous and often the rider in front is inexperienced so if there is not space to leave 1.5m between the rider being overtaken and the rider to the furthest left of the overtaking peloton, should they not slow down and wait until they have sufficient space to overtake safely ? Or is it only motorised vehicles who have to show this consideration ?