GroenHoender

It is the farm Stellenzicht Wines - between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Was recently on the internet news, Netwerk24. Bit off-topic but on the next day, after the MediClinic race was cancelled, wife and I went to church at Stellenbosch High school and we passed Paul Roos school: one part of its border wall, was blown over/down (got photos). A lot of houses, mine included, suffered roof damages. Lots of fallen trees everywhere as well.

The Sleep function, or more accurately, the Sleep Widget, is just another activity tracker and not fairly accurate at that, even if you specify your normal sleeping hours. For example, on my Fenix 3, my sleep hours is set at 11:00PM to 5:300AM, with an alarm at 10:45PM to remind me to switch PS4 off, or close my study books, checking the house, brush teeth, and then hit the bed, with the Fenix 3 still strapped to my arm. But I have found that, especially with my PS4 gaming where I sometimes play till 2AM, before actually hitting the bed, the Sleep activity tracker still registers it as a sleep pattern as from 11:00 till 5:30, or sometimes even longer (eg, 10:00PM to 5:30AM) due to the fact that I sit still for long periods (in front of PS4 or study books). The Sleep feedback shows me, on my iPhone, graphs of deep / light / awake patterns that sometimes don't reflect my actual sleep duration or times when I am really sleeping, so I am taking it with a pinch of salt. I just use the watch to go to normal sleep hours as close as I can, aiming for 8 hours, Btw, after some reseach on the Garmin forums, I found the following opinions: DCRainmaker: "Unfortunately the Garmin sleep metrics (and the sleep process as a whole) is probably the weakest out of any activity tracker out there. It's the same for all sleep-enabled products (FR920XT, Vivosmart, Fenix3, etc...)" Various other people also mention that: - you have to have the activity tracker enabled for Sleep, AND - you also have to manually activate start / stop the Sleep function (same as with many other sport activity) to get a more accurate sleep data Unfortunately the steps to start /stop the Sleep manually is complicated (too many embedded menu options), so I don't use it.

I have the Fenix 3 (non-HR) and use it a lot for both MTB and gym stuff. With chest band. At the end of the day, the data you get is just data. Either useful or not useful, depending on how you use it. Even DC Rainmaker admitted on his blogs (when he reviewed various gadgets, like watches and bike computers on his MTB) that there is not much he can deduct from the data given the nature of MTB and tracks, unless you want to see what your heart-rate / power is against uphills. Or how to pace yourself. Or... Or... Or... again, too many unspecifics. He even said that cadence sensors on a MTB is not even useful. Too irregular. In my case, I actually use the Fenix 3 for the other reasons: being a deaf rider myself, I use it to monitor communications (with my smart phone in the back of my MTB shirt) and using "LiveTracking" for peace of mind for my wife, so that she can see where I am. Very useful for accident scenarios where I might not be able to contact her (eg, knock on head leaving me lights-out or paralyzed or such). As for the gym parts, be informed that there are not any dedicated Garmin app for gym purposes, unless you use this "7-min" app, or use the build-in Cardio app or even the "indoor-running / bicycling" app which is just basically HR stuff.

Nope - 30km trail occurs on private farms, not open for public until the event itself. If you even ride on the jeep trail between vineyards and Tegnopark (near the Stellenbosch gholf course) then the security patrols are very quick there to get you out...

I disagree. It was a lot confusing since it show one branch of the Eersteriver and from that I could not deduct if the trail is next to the upper branch (closer to town) or the lower branch (closer to Tegnopark) of the Eersteriver. Plus the fact that my workplace is right in the top corner of Tegnopark, next to the Stellenbosch gholf course and the vineyards, which has given me the opportunity to ride that part of jeep trail a lot and that was not even remotely close to the Dirtopia map. One part of it is certainly a good climb, and the road section next to the farm houses / gholf course is full of rubbish, especially broken glasses and "dubbeldorings" that I had my doubts that Dirtopia would have riders go on that particular section because I had a lot of flat tires on that section. Hence why I asked about the map.

That is exactly what I wanted, it helps a lot. Thanks, HenryS

Does anyone have a Google map overlay and profile for the 30km / 15km route of the DieBurger MTB event? I am staying in Stellenbosch myself (Dalsig neighbourhood, right above the Eikestad / Renish Primary schools) and work in Technopark for the last 10 years or so. So, I know, reasonably, all the routes for MTB and jogging in the Tegnopark and Blaauwklippen area. It will be the first time I ride the 30km route but the (simplistic) map shared on Dirtopia / Amarider's web site does not make sense to me. The whole 30km route is marked as "above" (well roughly, north / northwest direction of) Tegnopark and the Eerste River itself but if I look at Google Maps, there is no ways that a route, starting at Rhenish Primary, going via Van Reede Street across R44 (Adam Tas road) into Die Boord neighbourhood, going into the farmlands and still be "north" of Eerste River. Hence my question: how reliable is the route mapping itself, as well as the profiling? Can anyone share their experience of the 30km? Is it flat? Is it gradual up and down? Jeep track? Tar? Or a mix of everything?

But never in the sizes that one wants (ie, 3XL) because the existing stock at Sportmans Warehouse are either sold out, or the items are discontinued by FirstAscent.

Thanks, Surv0MTB, that made me chuckle for the exact same experiences but in other ways: trying to get a big upper body into a bib, and end up like a hunchback, bend-up / squeeshed in painfull ways a front-row rugbyplayer cannot imagine! And getting the bib off, and in the process tear some chest hair out here and there in the process... ouch! :-P

Want to give everyone a quick feedback re a South African company, that specialise in outdoor clothes and equipment for the active person: FirstAscent.Co.Za In the past I always bought all my sportsclothes from them 'cos it always fit me. Lately, they have been discontinuing some clothes for unknown reason. Imagine my dissapointment when I got an email yesterday on my inquiry to them about my favourite MTB jersey which I always have bought from them = a pity I never placed a large order to have enough stock for myself (always bought 2 of each item): At least their bicycle bibs, helmets and running t-shirts still fits (but I am now moving towards Addidas / Nike for my running clotheswear since I can fit these at any other shop, like SportmansWarehouse). One less South African company to support :-(

A quick note / feedback to everyone: 1. please let these suggestions come in - I appreciate it (and I am sure there is a lot of big men / women out there who will also appreciate it) :-) 2. remember to add a web site link if they have one 3. lastly, make sure that they do cover for South African sizes. For I have just now checked / asked 2 of them, and experienced the same issue: one company's 3XL is not the same size as another company's 3XL. For example: a 2XL chest is 110 or 120cm a 3XL chest is (on average) 130cm in circumference a 4XL is 140cm Take a look for yourself: measure yourself up and compare it with your buddies :-) Throw in a spanner and see how does shoulder width as well as arm length, bicepts, waist, etc differs...

Thanks! Seems Manie and his Anatomic is a clear winner. Was even happy to find out that they have branches where one can walk in and fit before buying. This one shot straight to the top of my "to visit / support" list. At every year's CANSA MTB event, all the MTB riders get a free pair of compression socks. But even their biggest size did not fit my rugby calves :-/ I also made a point of visiting their stall at the MTB event, to chat with the folks about shirts and such. They don't gather for the big South African males, ie, 3XL nor do they plan to. Could you please explain to a rookie MTB like me what it means with "lowers and uppers"? Do you mean the bib get cut lower in front for a beer belly, and higher at back to cover the buttocks? :-P

Thanks, and another big Thanks for digging up the older links. Appreciate it!

When I click on that link, I get a 404 error: "page not found" which is strange...

Coincidentally found EnjoyFitness.Co.Za before I posted this topic. Their prices are very reasonable (R500 something) for a jersey. Thanks!