Speed Racer

Not sure if this has been posted? Froomedog writes on the Hell of the North. Boy can write. http://www.theguardian.com/sport/100-tours-100-tales/2014/apr/11/chris-froome-hell-north-paris-roubaix-cobbles-cycling-race

Spartacus takes it! Awesome ride.

Spartacus versus 3 Belgians. 6.5 km to go.

12km to go.

Spartacus now in the big ring ;-)

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Spartacus now on the big ring ;-)

Spartacus goes.

Chasing group is closing the gap. Boonen dropped :-(

Boonen and OPQS looking good.

Flanders! Thanks DSTV.

Keen.

A mate lost a pair of reading glasses in a blue pouch on the Spruit this morning, just before the tunnel where the Spruit hits 1st Avenue in Linden, opposite Virgin Active, Victory Park. Did anyone see them?

My sentiments exactly. I love that climb!

CL for me. Weather will be fine and hot, with a 15 km/h easterly adding some spice.

Bit like Paris-Roubaix, the Queen stage of the Tour, or even chess. The King doesn't get a look in. Probably, not a wise thing to use 'Queen' and 'East Rand' in the same sentence though. ;-)

+1 Fast and flat. Little climb coming out of Heidelburg. The Queen of the East Rand Classics :-)

Just picked up your PM. Heading through today if you still need it picked up.

PM your details if you want me to fetch your number on Thursday.

Thanks!

Is registration at Cyclelab or Sportsman's warehouse on Thursday?

You can enter at registration but not on the day. Will see which bunch I can negotiate on Thursday. Nothing like a bit of uncertainty to keep it fresh ;-)

I'm keen for 2014. Almost got there this year, with 8 official Audax rides of 200km or more completed, and 5 additional rides of over 200km completed.

Last Sunday saw the final Audax ride of the year, a 400km ride involving two 200km loops starting and finishing from the art deco home of cycling in the South, the Lido Hotel. It was a tough day with a savage headwind from Devon back to Alberton trying to break our spirits. On the second lap, this same wind blew us almost all the way back into the Free State. As night was falling we were 100km from home. The field had been depleted, with four of us heading back. After an endless last few hours, we rode into the Lido at 2200, on Sunday night. My figures: 20 hours on the road, 16h30 ride time, 12500 cal, 24km/h. Well done to all participants. Congratulations to Michelle Gahan, Nigel Grey, Nico Coetzee and Ernest Stipp who all reached Super Randonneur (200, 300, 400 and 600km events in one year) status in 2013.

Tough ride. I abandoned at 250km. Doing these rifes without training is not fun. . Johan abandoned at 420km with knee pain. Nigel , Michelle , Nico and Ernest all finished.