Sbloomer

Curious Why would you make statement like that?

We don't even know if we will be allowed to cycle from Friday anyway

More chance of having your rectum blocked by jellyfish than getting corona there. Damnitall. I wanted to go ride there on Sunday with the kids.

My cars lights are on permanently (ok not when it’s parked in my garage) but I think cyclists should have the same. Hi-vis gear and eyeball melting lights at all times.

I ride the same. On the CTCT I got a number of comments on the “interesting tyres” Not that well known in CT it seems

I went the self build route, but it's not a true gravel bike (is there such a thing?). Basically a relatively lightweight Alu frame, carbon forks, and carbone just about everything else, with 45 FARR tyres and 2x10 MTB gearing. What I like about it is the oodles of room I have for climbing gearing. I noticed on Sunday when the guys on roadbikes ran out of gears up something like Smits, I still had plenty available. The bummer is that peddling beyond 45km/h is beyond me, and the roadbikes catch up again on the flats. Conclusion, I need to run bigger chainrings for road, and MOST gravel rides. The bugger is (and I didn't think about this) is the availability of these chainrings in SA for my crank, and they cost a fortune if you can find them. If I did the exercise again, I would think much more carefully about cranks and compatibility with larger chainrings (or just bought one of the FARR frame kits).

It's time I do this race... er ride... I'm in no position to race.

On e-bikes, it was the first time i'd ever ridden in a race like this with guys (and gals) on e-bikes. It was interesting (more like disconcerting) to have them pass you up the hills, only to catch them again on the flats and downhills.

But those okes have another 80km to catch up again. Is Visser’s such a breaker? What would the gap be once they go over the top?

Wow, I improved my seeding quite a lot. By 17 points. But why is the Beta so high? I didn't think it all that difficult (even if I was a backmarker)

It was getting very warm for us slow-pokes

They can’t. The group was across the entire road. I suppose a 4x4 can take a chance in the verge.

Not on Instagram.. cant view

I did note on this that there was a large group of about 50-70 riders that were taking up the entire road such that no traffic could get past. When there are no road closures one still needs to respect the traffic, because one day that really close truck will get too close. There's absolutely no reason for a group that size to take up the entire road.

Actually it’s only the climb that is tarred. There’s 80-odd km of gravel, horrendously badly corrugated

Snap

According to the rules only members may use the orange traverses. That is one of them so no day riders are not allowed on that section.

So those using this wax formula, what do you use to prevent surface oxidation on cassettes (on cheaper bikes)

It was a great event, and generally well organised. Well signposted and the water points were well stocked, and an excellent route. A few negatives though. The separate starts for men and women, supposedly in the interest of safety was badly conceived. Just split the groups by numbers, not gender, just like every fun ride there was, ever.As a backmarker I can only echo what was said before. The lack of food at the end was a disgrace. If you have caterers, they need to go the whole 9 yards. You expect the riders to. They can show the same respect. Thank heavens there was some beer, some cameraderie, and the most excellent MC for injecting some humour.The event was also advertised as having entertainment for children, even going so far as saying there was supervision for them when the parents went cycling. Where was this?After seeing me off, my family tried to leave, wanting to come back later. After specifically asking someone where to park and to make sure this would be possible, some plank in a black personalised-plate Ranger had sealed off the only exit to that part of the parking. Security really didn't care less. It took an hour for them to find a way out and leave.I'll be back. It was a great ride but the small issues can ruin the day.

G&T50miler Easily one of the nicest events I’ve been part of Except Bains Kloof is a bitch.

There's gravel and gravel. The Amarider earlier this year was "gravel friendly", but no ways in hell I would have ridden that on my gravel grinder. Far too many corrugated sections, with their associated thick sand

Anyone riding with one of these? I'm looking for something smallish like this to carry a small battery pack, and a few other pits and bobs. At least this one one doesn't pay through ones nose for. @farrnus, do you have any images of this on a bike? Edit: Sniff... I just noticed its only available in September. I need one for weekend after next,

Can you share the KML files for the two routes?

Can anyone comment on the safety of this part that goes through Atlantis on Sunday mornings?

As my 8yo son and 10yo daughter's first ever MTB "race", they had a blast. The mud and river crossings were so much fun for them. What made it awesome from my point of view was how many people (especially those on the 50km race who blasted past us) shouted encouragement to both of my kids. Almost brought a tear to my eye. I had a good cackle at one lady who said "how awesome, daughter and dad date", and then someone who said "Amy will be proud" (He was wearing a BreakAway shirt). One gent had to do some rapid avoiding action as my son veered in front of him in the mud, nearly causing a fall, but all good. Just a smile and a wave. The camaraderie was amazing. I'm just sorry to the guy who I tried to help with his bomb that got stuck and I emptied his tyre of sealant. I hope you managed to finish. Events like this make it great for me to be a dad of kids taking up the sport. And the organization was excellent.