Kom

I think the hub is the perfect place for cyclists to be very concerned about the cancellation today. I'm racing almost every one of the 52 weekends we have in a year, and trust me, money is or can't be a moaning point. I loose more money from not being able to attend an event from illness than a cancellation caused by force majore... more so some of my stage events run in excess of R8k just for entry fees, before flights accommodation and other logistical considerations. I've had to bail on one or two of those too, I don't complain, you learn to cope as an occupational hazard. The real reason worth being worried though, and worth a debate, is that there is a pattern emerging around events being effected by protest action which threatens our common interest / Passion for cycling.

The epic prologue for last year was moved away from table mountain back to meerendal in fear of the fees must fall campaign. (Prologue finished at UCT campus). I thought it was the best most picturesque way of starting the pinnacle of MTB events with tm in the background of all the footage, it was a pity to move it, but to me the organizers had no choice, the threats were real, we saw the extent to which the disgruntled were willing to go. There is no doubt that the primary reason for canceling the tour today was the threat emerging out of the protest action, and I'm sure they would have moved closer to the detour which still ran close to the kommetjie area. These events in the cape are attracting a lot of international attention making them soft spots for disgruntled campaigning. The organizers reactions from both these events, although the correct ones to take, now mean that using these events as opportunities for attracting international attention to a problem will be an easier one. I have no doubt that the two oceans marathon, the comrades etc etc are up for grabs by the next disgruntled group of people, who under the ANC seem to be growing in numbers.

They arrive by post in the July after the event. I've got 4 of these beauties already.

There are tons of trails to choose from to prevent to much overlap if any at all. Would you keep running it in the desert of simonsberg conservancy?

Or better yet moved entirely. An organizer is spoilt for choice to choose a venue for a MTB event. Id have moved the argus MTB to Paul cluver/oak valley ages ago.

I doubt it. Would've been my 5th combi medal. As a side thought the simonsberg conservancy has become barely usable as farm land, no where near the awesome terrain of its former 5yr ago self. I'm still coughing up dust from last weekend ...

So 2014 dude ... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/10/bioshifts-automated-shifting.html

I thought sauser was retired? Wc champion Nino Schurter is also in the field.

I've observed a number of eagle xx1 and x01 group sets being sold on the hub recently having been stripped off Scott bicycles by their owners. Prices around R18k and R14k respectively, one wanders how good eagle really is, or is the novelty of being an early adopter simply just an easy way to make some cash before the prices become more reasonable.

I'd like to hear a wider view on this point, I'm thinking of doing K2C on a gravel bike (Spez Diverge with 33c terra mtb tyres tubeless). Other hubbers agree this is doable? Gearing is 34/54 - 32-11 (I think)

Open parking is impossible to secure. The race village had an excellent lockup facility with access control which was an innovation from last year. A mates giant advanced was taken off one of the racks last year which really put me in doubt to enter agin this year. For next year the organizers should look at access control for the parking field next to the race finish too.

I think this was a well made video, the editing superb

The organizers definitely beefed up the bike storage area for this year, I doubt there was a single bike stolen from the event itself.

Finding the best backpack for commuting is a thread on its own. I trialed products from Salamon, Beurer and Kway, and in the end the KWAY Kilimanjaro 28l stuck. It really is the best value for money at R1100 My spec was: - at least 28 ideally 30l of packing space - built in rain cover (to your point) - laptop compartment (the kway and others generally have a pouch designed for a hydration bladder which works perfectly) - some sort of way to allow air past my back for sweat (designs differ vastly from metal frames to padding etc, the kway nails it) - a padded belt (mine has pockets for easy access items like pepper spray) - compression belts for tightening the bag up when it's not loaded Some may find that a 20l bag will be better, I pack a full shower kit and change of clothes (incl shoes) and laptop and find that 28-30 liters of space ideal. Some bag makers also implement funny pockets that aren't really usable to achieve that space, so do suggest a packing run before ripping the tags off. I also recommend avoiding the top loader bags which make accessing the stuff at the bottom a mission.

Agreed, people limited from cardio for an injury or an underlying condition will be challenged to meet the points targets, and to my point, gym facilities not pushing your heart rate will not get you to target, not to mention with little or no rest days. A further consideration is that the original discovery virgin active gym subsidy only required the equivalent of 12 swipes a year to maintain a free access membership. A number of people are still on that arrangement, unfortunately anyone that has taken up the subsidy or joined Vitality since around 2010 are only partially subsidized on the latest arrangement. I acknowledge that the points system is open to abuse or manipulation (strava was recently removed from integration due to manual capture which vitality could not differentiate from fitness device submissions) but truthfully creating a system of crazy rules 80% based on the outliers 20% will only invent a product they few understand and ultimately will loose popularity. In my observation the latest points rule engine is already crossing its tracks with the many failures recorded (or no recordings for that matter).

Never thought about only recording after warm up, that way it's regarded as vigorous vs moderate. My Sunday 4hr ride gets me 3000 points, don't get me wrong I meet the goals easily, my point is purely a considerations round gym swipes and the subsidy.

In my experiments, Not for anything under an hour in which case I'm outside the gym for something I can actually enjoy. Sitting on a Wattbike or a tread mill for more than 60min is mind numblingly boring. My point is that for vitality to provide you with a 100% gym subsidy, you cannot rely on going to the gym to receive that subsidy, which to me is odd.

It's interesting that my goal is 1000 points, I excercise to reach my goals to get the gym subsidy paid for, 7 gym sessions a week only gets me 700 points. Basically vitality are saying that gym only for the gym subsidy is not enough. So to reach the goal to get my gym subsidy, I run or ride outside the gym so my fitness device takes precedence over the gym swipe. I doubt vitality get the message that this sends...

hopping over a fence given new meaning

Aren't they(Meerendal) a significant Share holder (of the Epic) since last year (which why the epilogue was there?). The TM tracks have been awesome to ride since the upgrades done for the prologue last year, hopefully TMBikers can continue to keep it in good shape without funding from the Epic. IMHO Meerendal is not of the standard in the context of the EPIC. It doesn't follow on from the stages that precede (now follow on from it), its dusty and ugly.

Stealth 1 and 2

I'll speak in bullets then your grace: 1.price 2.value 3.trail geometry 4.by a trance and an anthem for the price of the pyga ... Kapeesh?

I wouldnt bother explaining, next time you're in the Cape, give me a call, ill organize you a spez to go hill climbing and descending with and then we'll talk ...

I think you are conflating the issue. No one has mentioned specific brands yet, and im really hoping the forum doesnt turn into another i hate spez debate.

Yes but it lasted, and time will tell if PYGA does too. Its great to see a South African brand doing well in this space. Im a bit skeptical about pricing on something this novel among a group of pedigreed makes. I also observe that the craze about laid back geometry a bit uneducated when you consider that the Giant Trance has already established its placed as a consumer bike for much cheaper with no holds on quality.