walkerr

I see there is a Friday 7pm race briefing shown in the schedule. Anyone know if this is essential / mandatory, or will we get the info we need in the race pack at registration and the briefing next day in the start chutes? We're staying a bit out of town - hoping to have a plate of braai vleis and a beer in hand by 7pm!

You should be able to upload the GPX file direct to your Garmin. I'm assuming MapMyRide let's you download it as a GPX file, I've never tried that part. PM though if you can't, I'll send you the one I converted and uploaded. I'll be using an eTrex on the day - also a Garmin, but more of a hiking unit. The principle and files are the same though, so you should be able to get it working Edit: they do have instructions on the T4A site, but that'll need you to install MapSource (I had it already): http://tracks4africa.co.za/maps/specialmaps/

You should be able to upload the GPX file direct to your Garmin. I'm assuming MapMyRide let's you download it as a GPX file, I've never tried that part. PM though if you can't, I'll send you the one I converted and uploaded. I'll be using an eTrex on the day - also a Garmin, but more of a hiking unit. The principle and files are the same though, so you should be able to get it working

Just think of it as extra value - less distance maybe, but more views for your money Edit: the track is a direct conversion from their GPX file. I'm guessing measured distances could vary on the day

I see they updated the T4A route map. Quickly grabbed it, converted it and stuck it on MapMyRide for anyone interested: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/500610186

Also my first TB this year. I'm used to endurance road rides though, and there the motto is "start slow, and eat early and often". So that'll hopefully be our plan, although being the weakest of the 4 riders on our team, I may just end up hanging on!

Once you're a citizen of Sufferlandria, you can never leave ...

Yep - same here. I don't feel remotely prepared, but time now to bury those thoughts and look forward to an awesome ride with some pain

Sad the way it's going. Time to buy shares in indoor trainer companies

As other's have said, in a decent size group you should be fine. BUT - you need to stay as a group on climbs etc. Stragglers 50m or more off the back may as well be riding alone, and can be picked olff without you hearing. Ride social and stick together and you should enjoy some fine riding. Can especially recommend Franschhoek Pass, both side, and the coast road from Gordon's Bay through to Kleinmond. Many other good rides too.

Q for those who've done it before - how long does the start window span out i.e what is the likely time for the last batch of riders away? Also curious how the decide your start time - trying to get a rough handle on what our latest arrival in J-bay might be Edit: just found the event schedule: says race cut-off in J-Bay is 10am. That implies a mass start if everyone gets thefull 24hrs, or am I missing something?

I've got an old Garmin you can borrow if worried Mads. It's not great, but it should do to check you're on track. Only issue is handlebar mount is a bit narrow for most MTB bars, but you can always stick it in pocket and just pull it out to check if unsure. Edit: from what i've seen though, it looks pretty straightforward, so I reckon you should be fine. I may even not mount mine on bars for fear of it bouncing off. Prob also just stick it in pocket or pack.

Ah well ... that's different .... nuff said. Hope you guys get sorted and all have a great ride.

[Dons flame retardent suit] Unless 'stronger' means your in contention for a podium, why not just ride it as a long social and enjoy the ride with your fellow, albeit slower riders? I suspect our team is going to have a similar dilemma - 2 are def stronger and fitter. I'm likely one of the weaker ones, but it's also kinda my team. So I'll just be reigning them back and reminding everyone we're hear to enjoy the experience, since none of us is likely to be able to win this thing. [ .... awaiting the flames for my heratic suggestions]

Excellent, you'll love it

Guys - get a grip. This is supposed to be a thread welcoming some international riders to our amazing riding, not a slanging match.

And cheaper e.g. http://www.iwarehous...movestick-mini/ If you really want to stick with Garmin, online prices seem less than R1K: http://shop.fittrack.co.za/379/garmin%20usb%20ant%20stick.aspx Not sure it's worth the extra money though

The 7 hour cut-off time is very generous - I know many people who've completed it as their first long ride. There's enough time to enjoy the scenery, get off and walk a bit on the hills if you need, and even get a massage or a coffee on the way around. You'll get various views about how tough the hills are - I wasn't that fit for my first Argus, but managed to keep pedalling up all of them and came in a shade under 5 hours with several stops

Do it - you'll love it. Moved here 8 years ago and have done every one since. Come 1 Sep each year, I'm at my PC waiting to enter the next one.

Not sure why the calendar isn't showing them, but there's also a Wednesday morning road ride too.

TR and some decent videos have made a huge difference to what I get out of the IDT. I still love riding road and MTB, despite the safety issues which worry the heck out of me. But when time or weather don't allow, or if I just want a rapid way to a pool of sweaty exhaustion, the IDT is unbeatable.

This was my forum post, in case the Tacx moderator takes it down:

I've been reading a lot about how Tacx will 'soon' be opening up their firmware to be standard Ant+ meaning that at last, our hardware can do the same as you can with KICKR i.e. get proper resistance control from 3rd party apps like Trainer Road. It's annoyed the heck out of me since day one - the physical IDT can do it, but the close Tacx software won't. I've had a couple of cracks a Tacx to realise they need to open up before KICKR and others take their market away. Really don't want to buy another IDT when a software change is all that stops the one I have from working how I want. if you also have a Tacx and this annoys you - feel free to jump on! http://forum.tacx.co...=155712#p155712

Fair point - if we all followed rule #29, no problem. Roll on tubeless road tyres - buddy of mine in UK just switched and is loving them

This is a much less severe warning to the norm, but nevertheless annoying if it happens to you. Two groups of our club riders on different days have encountered kids at the base of Helshoogte who run out and offer to help push you up the hill. Whilst doing so, they quickly and quietly empty your saddle bag - so deftly done, guys didn't realise until after the event. Not a safety threatening one for a change, but something to watch out for on that stretch.