Thinkbeeg

Seen on the IronMan South Africa Facebook feed: This year's race will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport, on DSTV channel 199 from start to finish

Nice, an IM thread! Getting ready for my 1st one, less than 12 weeks to go! Training wise I have been doing the distance over a week 3.8km/180km/42km but am slowly upping the distances in Jan. Need to do a few longer runs. To keep my immune system strong I rest 2 days a week and use The Real Thing Ester C http://www.therealthing.co.za/the-real-thing-ester-cr-combo-and-ester-cr-60s.html has anyone else used it before?

Must admit I have skipped about 10 pages in this thread, so forgive me if the info is in there. Does anyone know what the current situation is? Have the cyclists been identified? Any reaction from them or from Muhammadeya cycling club (whose FB page has closed down)?

Thanks! Great info on the Strava link. I did my 1st and only atta in 2012, made it to the Spur stop in 4 hours but battled from there on. Finished in just over 7:30. The weather was great that year, I just ran out of steam and was in a very interesting head space for about 30 kms Here's to a great Atta 2014 for everyone!

Last long training ride coming up tomorrow. Nervous and excited for Atta. Has anyone got Garmin, Strava or Endomondo links they would like to share? Aiming for a sub 7 and want to see what pace I should aim for to the Spur stop (+/- 66km into the race I think).

Keeping an eye on the weather as well, hopefully late entries are available

Great! My kids love these events

Ek's reg vir jou mnr Coetzee!

Nice! Looks like I bagged the Commuter Challenge for 2012, Thanks to Riaan Coetzee (Bushcamp) who kept me on my bike by always being a few kms in front of me. After 12 months of commuting I totaled more than 5200km and beat him by a mere 100kms!

I have been cycling with contact lenses, but I hate the stuff, it's very uncomfortable. I am considering getting sunglasses with Optical Inserts, but have a few questions. 1.) Any hubbers use these? Would you recommend it? 2.) Can I take the Optical Insert to any optometrist, like spec savers and have them fitted with my prescription? 3.) I see the Adidas inserts go for +/- R650, how much should I expect to pay for my prescription inserts? 4.) Any recommended brands? Or any brand I should avoid. The big three are Adidas, Oakley & Rudy Project Thanks Thinus

OK I see there is now a time based challenge as well. Thanks for that, I just joined it. Isn't Endomondo a great motivational tool?

I see I moved from 12th to 11th, so I'm happy with the changes

Thanks gadget!

I have been inspired by this year's Ironman70.3 and will attempt it next year. Almost 50% of the participants were first timers this year! I started running and will do the 2Oceans 1/2 marathon this year, will have to see if I can actually swim after that. Are there any Olympic distance triathlons in the Western Cape in second half of this year? It would be great to do one or two before IM70.3 in Jan 2013

Great, I just discovered these challenges. Nice initiative! I just had to go back and change all my commutes from Cycling Sport to Cycling Transport and Boom I'm top 5!

Hi Tim, it looks like the Ultra is doing a different route than last year? It looks like 1 loop instead of a 1 1/2 loop like last year. Can you confirm this?

I am not doing the Cape Epic next year, but I did notice a endomondo challenge for cape expic riders. Just do a search for Cape Epic & click join to join the challenge

Yes I am, and so we should - that's what makes Christianity spiritually & intellectually fulfilling. I understand that because of interpretation we have so many different Christian viewpoints (from fanatic to liberal) and confusion. But if God is real & the bible is his word than it stands to reason that there should be a correct interpretation.

Interesting point by the fanatic, but is cycling work or play? I don't think the sabbath law promotes a sedated lifestyle, that's something man brought to the table. When Jesus healed a man on the sabbath he even explained that the sabbath was made for man & not the other way around (which means we should not be slaves to the "dont work mentality", but rather the law is there for our benefit.) It's as if God had weekends in mind all along :-) The actual law is found in the 10 commandments & is a call to keep the sabbath holy: Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." So even when God does not want us to work, the main point is to keep it holy. So I have to ask myself if I am keeping it holy by going for a cycle and enjoying the exercise & freedom & views. For me I would say yes.

Discovered Endomondo a few months back, it is great & you can upload workouts from your Garmin Forerunner as well. I use Garminconnect for my own reference, but the social networking part of endomondo makes it a great app. It's a great motivator if you take part in challenges and find yourself in the top 5 with only a few days to go until the end of the challenge. That's when you try to step it up in the hope that you can go one better than your mates.

Agree, it was a great weekend. The climb out of the hell looked very intimidating, but once we got going it was not that bad.

Thanks for the invite, it was a great ride this morning. I will have to get use to the early start, Im already falling asleep at my desk. I think I need another Deluxe coffee, here's a pic of our first cup

Another Commuter Top Tip: Office shoes are the most bulky piece of clothing, so I leave them in the office. I use to pack all my work clothes in my bag, but over the past few months I have learnt to leave extra socks, undies & shirts in my drawer - always nice to have backups.

Nice list, apart from my lights the most important tool is my bike bell. And know where which part of your route you can go flat out and which parts you must rather take it easy.

I also commute from Blouberg to town via the BRT. I leave just after 6am and leave work again just after 4pm. Your friend is welcome to contact me so we can commute together.