HdB

I didn't expect to ride a shortened one in 2015, or stand on the start line last year, expecting it to be cancelled or shortened. My point of view was, should somehow a worst case scenario occur again, I'd at least have some kind of backup (or in this case, preemptive) plan. Not sure how that is not rational?

This is exactly why I arranged to go for a reasonably easy ride with a buddy on Friday morning. Over Malanshoogte and back, and then up Vissershok. That way, I felt at least if the CTCT was cancelled or shortened again, my weekend would not be a complete disappointment. In the end I enjoyed that ride tremendously, and will probably make it a permanent part of my Argus weekend. Even with a catastrophic drought, the scenery is still far better than Bloem. You lucky b...

My question is, why aren't they? The middle-class, that can also afford nice bikes, cars, the entry fees and accommodation - technically nothing should be stopping them, so why aren't there thousands more riders?

Thankfully I missed that. Couldn't have been by much, but I didn't see or hear it.

They did - they caught us at Edinburg, strung us out until mid-way up Chappies where they dropped all but the first seven of 1D.

So two guys managed to ride away from 1E by almost 10 minutes?! That is very impressive... They definitely caught us on the road, I wonder where. [Edit]Ok, so found the one guy on Strava Flyby - they caught up with us at Edinburg drive, then (given that they finished two minutes ahead of the first 1D), I assume they rode with the front of 1D to the finish.

I tried doing my bit, up to Smitswinkel at least, ended up paying for it up Chappies and Suikerbossie. Thankfully I got a bit of a second wind from Camps Bay onwards. I see the first 1D riders did 2h47! I lost a full five minutes from half-way up Chappies. No smooth rolling through; people in second/third/etc. wheel not rolling through then you have to go around them, wasting energy; or they go through with such a speed that you have to close a big gap. Pity so few people are willing to give just a short turn at the front, then everybody's time could have been better.

In 1D there was one too - a guy called Julia, with 3E on his number. They checked my number when I entered our gate, how do they manage to sneak in? Mind you, "Julia" kicked my ass...

I didn't see or hear a crash in 1D, kept near to the front. I took a few turns, but Smitswinkel told me that would have to stop. Lost the front guys on Chapmans, but managed to stick to a tandem on the way down, and over Suikerbossie, from there it was on the front a couple of times to come home with 2h52. My dad got 3h20 from 2K. A great day out, but terrible about the people who lost their lives. RIP.

From the "Lunch with Dave" thing on Facebook yesterday, I think that is the bit that he mentioned that they hope to have the stuff in the middle moved to the side for race day. If it cannot be done, the bunch will be split. I expect falls, if this happens.

I'm in 1D as well. As for a "serious crack", I HOPE so. No idea what to expect from 1D though. If I ever see the front, I'll take my turn(s). If it is anything like AL at the Herald though, I'll be the one barely hanging on, trying to control my breathing (and failing). Got a sub-3 there though, so I'm hopeful...

Wasn't that area fenced off as well, last time the expo was at at the Good Hope center? For parking, I believe

How'd your race go? I'll be honest, I was just a hanger-on - barely at times. But I made no attempt to get involved in the sprint - I had achieved my sub-3 goal. I feel that if I can't work, I shouldn't be trying to outsprint those effectively responsible for the bunch's (and thus my) good time. I guess it is a different story in the racing bunches (Elites, U/23, Vets, etc), but in the open bunches I don't see the point. I was a bit surprised at how early we caught the Elite ladies. This year's event was even better than last year's, I think. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Pity the Herald is way too late to count as seeding for the CTCT. 12.60 compared to 20.80 for the Mangaung race last year seems like a big difference. On the other hand it should mean my CTCT might not be a try-to-keep-up-for-as-long-as-possible torture session.

My wife sent a colleague in the UK a t-shirt the other day, via Postnet. Still expensive at around R400, but it was there the next week.

We camp every year, and my weather prediction works as follows: If I wake up in the morning, with the tent being pressed into my face, it is going to be a bad day. If the leaves on the trees are not moving, good day. Anything earlier than that is just a guess as to what the weather might be.

Hmmm, so I took the few seconds to actually calculate it - it is 3.2km from the finish to the start, so (assuming I hit 3h exactly on the first lap) I'd need to a breakneck 11.29km/h average speed to be in time. Suddenly it doesn't seem that unrealistic... let me see how the Herald goes this weekend. 14.77km/h for you.

My seeding index is 20.80, and if I make my goal time (anything sub-3) that would leave me with less than twenty minutes to get back to the start. On tired legs. I'd absolutely love to do it some day. But this year will not be that day.

Depends on Vitality's mood, really. A few weeks ago, I had trouble with my workouts using a Tomtom Spark/Runner2, and my wife's Garmin loaded fine. The Tomtom's are not too bulky, and can use the wrist HR OR a bluetooth strap (I use my Tickr, when I'm wearing it anyway, wrist HR for running). But Tomtom's wearable side might be shutting down, so who knows how long you might still get support or new straps (already difficult). My wife has a Garmin 225, it is really a bit bulky for her. Maybe something like the Vivofit HR?

I got my 300 for yesterday's race. I'm using a Tomtom Spark.

I should do that next year, for my dad's 21st one.

Nowhere fancy, just a nice view this morning, after intervals:

Less than four weeks to go... the feeling of dread tells me I should have started training earlier. Too late to make a huge difference now - Herald in two weeks should be an indicator as to how bad it might be. Any good specials on GP4000s or other fast tyres? The post office is holding my tubeless road tyres hostage.

I've ordered the "Caffeine Machine" shirt and matching cap - I'll see which others I like at the CTCT expo Bit of an issue with the redirect from VCS back to the site - just got a blank page with the text "-1", my cart wasn't cleared, and under my account it shows the order as "Pending payment". I'll forward the VCS transaction email to the shop email. Edit: Sorted, thanks!

1D for me, starting at 6:33. I expected to move back a few, thanks to the crash at the Mangaung race, so not disappointed. Looks like it is a group every two minutes, at least for the earlier bunches. EVERBODY SAY TRAFFIC JAM!