HdB

Yes and no? If the LBS's service is not better than waiting 2+ weeks for a Temu/Ali order... I ordered some stuff for my wife (mother's day discount) from Ciovita on Tue, delivered on Thu. Known quality and fit, happy wife, happy life. New version of the jacket I bought from them a few years ago (and yes, it is probably better in every way, I get that) is a swearword away from R4k, more than double the price. Not a justifiable purchase for me anymore. So I'm willing to look around at other options, including Temu.

The game has changed though. Simply being the middleman is no longer enough value-add. If you need something in less than two weeks, go get it at a shop; otherwise might as well buy it directly from Temu or Aliexpress for half the price and the same wait, especially if it is something that you would probably not bother with returning if/when it breaks. Locally made/assembled items is a bit of a different story, but with many of those reaching "luxury brand" prices, the choice for a lot of people is not very hard. I'd love to put some locally-built Nextie bulletproof light wheels on my MTB, and my birthday is months away so I have time to save up. But for my gravel bike, which is my third and least-used bike (for now), a pair of good-enough Kore wheels are tempting.

Given the bridges washed away and roads damaged, just getting to Uniondale for this year's race could be an adventure already! Nearly 300mm measured in Uniondale and Diepwalle, even more in some other places, a day ago. And likely that more fell overnight. Still a few months to go though, so we will see. I plan on entering, although I don't know if I will actually ride - depends on if I survive the Pioneer that finishes the Saturday. At least the entry fee goes to worthy causes.

I have a set on my training wheels as well, but didn't feel like spending the cost of the wheelset on tyres. Unfortunately I don't think there are many tires that compare with the Cinturato's puncture resistance, at any price. Gatorskins are hardy as well, but I don't think their grip is even close. I have not used them yet, but got myself a set of Continental Grandprix TRs in the classifieds a while ago, for barely more than one Cinturato. Not nearly as puncture resistant, per bicyclerollingresistance.com

Can't you just ignore/close/skip it? I use the app, and have not bothered with spinning wheels etc.

I'm not sure how many people will see this post here, so perhaps look at the event's topic?

Plenty of dodgy sellers on Takealot these days. I've bought bedside table lamps, that turns out were bought on special at Mr Price Home and resold at a significant markup. I know this, as they didn't even bother removing the Mr Price Home price sticker. Certainly some things that are worth rather buying local. But when you regularly see the exact same thing with a different logo, for a much higher price than on Temu/Aliexpress, its less "supporting local" and more "paying to knowingly be fleeced"

Well, that was probably the toughest event I've ever done. Got a nice small group once the fast people sped off into the distance, but bad luck struck at the water crossing on the Klaarstroom gravel section, thought I took a similar line to the rider ahead but clearly not. I tried to plug it, but it was just too big. Put in a tube, and made it to just before the big climb on the Oude muragie section before that too went flat. Thankfully someone (Christo, I owe you a lot) gave me a TPU tube, and after a few tries I got an Enduren gel packet to block the cut from the inside. Made it to WP3, along the way something with my left shifter was starting to act up, so getting into the big ring was a lottery. Not that the big ring was ever needed from WP3 to WP5. At WP4 I was considering the sweep vehicle, but an overdose of rennies and some stretching got my legs OK enough to continue. Figured I could wait for the sweep vehicle there or they could find me somewhere up the Swartberg climb. What a climb! Stunning view while you inch up at 3km/h, barely faster than the people walking. Managed to avoid cramping, and even stopped about 1.2km from the top to help a chameleon out of the road. Refueled and gilet on at the top, and carefully down the descent. How I missed my dual-sus on this section... And the bonus was the bucketing rain as soon as I was off the pass. Big ring was a no go by this point, but some cross chaining was not going to stop me from getting to the finish now. Will I do it again? Not sure, at a minimum I need to replace or upgrade a few things on my gravel bike. Or just do it with my dual-sus, maybe with a bigger chainring.

What time is Stage 6 expected to start on Saturday? My wife and I were thinking of riding through to Wilderness to go see the finish.

There is also the Swartland Stofpad, 3-day gravel stage race. 5 - 7 June, luxury option is <R8k https://www.entryninja.com/events/83102-swartland-stofpad PE to Plett race price looks to be a bit less than the Cape Pioneer, albeit one day less.

How was the section to De Rust? How did the stop-and-go for the rock fall go, long wait? Ronde van Swartberg is going the opposite direction next week.

The Montagu pass is technically closed to the public, yes.: https://www.georgeherald.com/News/Article/Local-News/construction-in-montagu-pass-to-start-but-no-dates-yet-202602250430 Doesn't stop people from riding it, but if something goes wrong, it would be difficult for emergency services to get to the affected. @capediver did it a few months ago, in the other direction though. Work has also restarted on the section of the Seven Passes road, between the university and the Wilderness turnoff. https://www.georgeherald.com/News/Article/Local-News/construction-on-seven-passes-road-partially-closed-to-traffic-202603190321 Supposedly complete closure now for a section.

Not much mention of this race on the forums, anyone doing it this year? I have not done any events with my gravel bike, so a "little" 170km should do the trick, right? My bike, a Basso Terra, can't fit much wider than a 45mm, front can possibly go a bit wider but currently running a 45mm as well, both Maxxis Reavers I think.

This year's was (officially) the 48th, thanks to the cancelled one. But you still HAVE to make a plan

Well, FMD was confirmed in the area around 11 Feb, so it has not been that long that the impact on this event could really have been planned for? I'm hoping that things are more under control by Sept for the Pioneer (Black Friday specials FTW!), but will keep an eye on this event to see if it looks nice to do another year.