GLuvsMtb

What does a Chris King BB cost?

When I saw that the start of the 70km ride was 8:30 and the cut-off was 13:30, I decided not to do the event. The message was clear from the orginisers / PPA, come if you want to race, we don't want you here if you are an average cyclist that want to improve your (already complicated) seeding. I knew that 5 hours would be pushing it to complete the ride, and I was not going to drive 300 km there and back for the 40 km ride.

Sure, but don't they check the info before putting it on the web? How can I trust a calc if they can't even upload a results database properly?

2009/08/01Die Burger Bergfietsuitdaging (voorheen Stellenbosch Bergfietsuitdaging)6000:01:0004:18:4113.923433.0798 another "special" effort at Die Burger ride. Another 1hr winning time. This time the winner averaged 60km/h. wow! I must be doing something wrong. My ave is about 14km/h!

2009/07/04Pick n Pay/Weekend Argus/Rotary Knysna MTB Challenge5000:01:0002:42:5018.42057.34804 I wonder how they got to a winning time of 1 hr. Was the guy on a BMW GS or is there something wrong here? fastest mtb race ever... averaging 50km/h.

Does anyone know if the XC trail will be open to the public soon?

Its the whole loyalty / "cult following" thing. Some riders like the exclusivity the brand offered and now feel that the "bling factor" will be negated if there are more Morewoods on the trails.

Bike shops are such a personal service. It helps to build a relationship with a shop that is easily accessable and with staff and management that understands your needs. The challenge often is that we don't quite know what we want, so how is the sales person supposed to know. My LBS phones me if I haven't been in for my fortnightly fix, to chat and to lure me back with new goodies that may interest me. I never feel rushed when I get there and even their dogs greet me with a smile. My shop of choice is EPIC BIKE SHOP, 39 Constantia Rd, Plumstead. Their prices are reasonable, and I never feel like they are stringing me along. On occasion I'd go in and say something like "I think my dereuler is buggered"(R1000). The mechie then takes a look, and tells me that I bent my hangar (R100). I try to stay away from "bargain shops" as I have had bad experiences regarding after sales service in the past.

Chat to your LBS about riding a loan bike for a week or so. You can then make up your mind if you like it or not.

I currently ride a Merida D3000 flx. The carbon stays does not make such a big difference. I love my bike and if I ever get a DS, I'd not get rid of the HT. For some reason I just can't sell any of my old bikes.

I personally don't care if I am F or H, I'd just like to get my number. I have paid for it end of June already. It's time that the PPA treat the MTB members as equals, and not as the "poor cousins" of the sport. The statement that the numbers will be ready for the first road race is not acceptable. I am one of the riders that last year started off with a bad seeding, as I was new to the sport. If I get my poper seeding, it will most certainly push me into the first bunch at MTB races (A-H).

Does anyone have his contact details?

I have for some time now suggested that PPA have a seperate devision that deals exclusively with MTB events and seedings. To date I have not had any response to any of my requests. These mainly consisted of the following: 1. Seperate committee 2. Seperate subs 3. Dedicated mtb numbering boards and numbering stickers on frame 4. Seperate seedings for MTB and road events, with a slightly modified system for seeding 5. Seperate website

Surely most PPA members ride more than 1 event a year (ie Argus)? Most members are renewed members with many races under the belt to assist seedings. So what if everyone had a k#k argus, I don't see them making so much fuss over other races that was affected by weather. In 2008 I did a 99'er in 42deg celcius with gale force south easters. I rode a 4:04 and only got a "26" for this event (= about J seeding for PPA). By applying double standards they are making life difficult for themselves. The Argus took place in March. Does it take 6 months to develop a seeding model for the event? I mean comon! If I took 6 months to resolve a complex problem at work, I'd be out on the street by now!

My programme for the Epic consisted of the following: Monday - REST Tuesday - Commute to work and back 180 minutes @ 60 - 70% Wednesday - REST Thursday - Commute to work and back 240 minutes (MTB - did a lap at Majik Forrest after work) 70 - 80% Friday - Easy ride after work 180 mins 60% Saturday - LSD approx 120km 300 mins @60 - 70% Sunday - MTB skills approx 90 mins I would train for 3 weeks and then scale down in week 4, doing only my Saturday and Sunday ride. I also included races from week 9 to 12 over weekends in stead of my skills sessions. I used the Polar 12 week programme as a guide. I can send it along if anyone is interested. PM me. The real eye-opener to me was to keep the intensity down for as much as 80 or 90% of your training time. Try to keep it in the aerobic and anarobic zones and try to stay out of the lactic tolerance zone.

What really blows my mind is that we were supposed to have renewed our memberships by 1 July already. Why is this only happening now? Surely the renewal date should have been the cut-off date.

Daar is 3 algemene roetes met verskeie variasies: 1. Du Toitskloof - Worcester - Robertson - Bonnievale 2. Franshoek Pas - Villiersdorp - Worcester - Robertson - Bonnievale 3. Sir Lowries Pas - Caledon - Stormsvlei - Bonnievale Jy kan ook 2 en 3 kombineer, en in plaas van Worcester om, kan jy Grabouw/N2 om ry. Afstand is baie dieselfde vir al die opsies.

Sani 2 C = R 7 090 per team (3 days), Sabie Experience R3 250 per peam (4 days), Cape Pioneer = R12 500 (6 days); Nelsons Creek 3 days for about R1600 for 2 riders 16 days for R24 440. You also get to see 4 great parts of the country over a 7 month period. Other option is to take that next business trip to the States and combine it with the Trans Rockies. It will cost you less than your 1/2 of the Epic. With all these events you know what you get before you commit to entering. I don't think the Epic in its current format will be supported by locals in the long run. What happens when the locals don't ride, and local supporters are not there to support the locals? I think that Grandstand had got a good thing going, and it is going to be a shame when the event loose its local flavour.

That was my problem with the race and it will remain a problem for me. You have to pay R25k and you only find out in October what you are getting for your $$$. I know that alot of guys felt short-changed this year.

Get used to all the cloak and dagger stuff. Last year this time, it was still going to be from Knysna to CT with the time trial in the middle of the race. Then 1 month before the event, BANG TT in Cape Town and 2 nights in one location. So don't be surprised if they change it up a couple of times till the start.

I need to get decent lights for night riding. My current light configuration produces about 80 lumens, which is very under powered. Any suggestions that will not break the bank (under 2k if possible) will be welcome. I would prefer a local supplier before going to CRC with this. So if anyone has suggestions on who has decent stock of lights in CT, I will appreciate it.

Last year Sauser rode the Cedarberg Escape with a middle and big blade only... and with a casette with a 36 on... maybe thats where the 10 speeds are going (going to look like a road bike soon!)

Sure we are there for the ride. Oysters are overrated (and overpriced ). but times are tough and will remain tough. Soon the events will be fighting for survival if they don't freshen it up. Cyclists are still consumers, and perception is important. The title sponsors could have done a bit more to add value, rather than try and establish a captive market for their product on the day. Sure Rotary is a good cause, but that doesn't mean that the title sponsors doesn't have to contribute to the people that keeps the race going (the cyclists). And while we are moaning - next year they need to keep the 85 and 50 km routes seperate. That traffic jam along the only bit of fun stuff on the 50km route is frustrating to say the least. Surely they would have received this input before, but it doesnt seem like they give a hoot. I'l lbe back for the long ride next year (if it remains under R200 for an entry, otherwise I will go and do the ride in the week after the race is over) and I will not be doing the road ride soon. Harkerville was much more fun on the Sunday than the road slog.