walkerr

Congrats! Up from S to P this year thanks to decent Tour de PPA, and despite walking on Vissershoek I got same ride index for the 99er, so also very happy with progress. Hopefully be aimimg for K or L next year. Might do the Wellington Lions ride though and see if I can sneak one more group this year.

I'm slowly coming to conclusion that most energy drinks are about as effective as each other - main difference being what ingredients they use for the Carbs (i.e. sugars vs more diabetic friendly stuff). The Hammer I'm using now is great - but I still start battling at some point in a race, during the 99er it was around the 100km mark. Key thing, up to that point I was pushing way harder level than I normally train - so I think I just hit a real fitness barrier that no drink will get me past. When I think back, that's much the same as I found with USN, Fast Fuel etc. I'm performing way better now, so it's easy to put it down to switching to Hammer but in truth, I think it's more down to training harder and getting fitter. What I would say though, is that my recovery has been way better and faster lately - feel much better after couple of hours, some good food and hydration, and no real aches and pains the next day. Again, probably a lot to do with extra training, but I reckon stoking the carbs and electrolytes during the race help there. I'll stick with Hammer for now, but I suspect if I swapped to any other brand reasonably good quality right now - I doubt much would differ.

That will be lovely if true - nervous already, but nice weather will help. Site I checked said: Chance of Rain. Partly Cloudy. High: 23° C. Wind light.

Yep - def a possible cause, as are other electrolytes like Magnesium, and Sodium (and I'd guess Calcium based on Rennies/Enos use) Hard part seems to identifying your individual cause of cramp vs the range of things that can cause cramp. FWIW - my GP advised trying Magnesium first as it's a more common deficiency in cramping than Potassium.

I was fine for first couple of years, then BAM - cramps almost every ride. Better training has def helped. Electrolytes I think less so once I got my fluids and enery drinks balanced out. Although 1x Eno tabs & 3x Magnesium tabs when they first strike on a ride has helped keep them at bay especially on big hills. Stopped taking cramp block, didn't help much either way for the expense. Not relevant to your swimming, but have a compact crank has given me a lower hill gear meaning I can spin more - which definitely allows me to cycle through the cramps rather than get off and walk. The big thing that strikes me is this part of your comment: When I first got cramps I did a lot of reading and was dismayed by how little real science there was to help. But one article I found was on a study that shown one trigger for cramp is a signal from the brain that sends the muscle into spasm. That rings true with me - quite often my cramps set in at the exact same spot of a given ride, regardless of my training level, and it's often points I'm mentally stressing - like Visserhoek for example. So your mental state seems to have a part to play to me.

Damnit, makes me angry to hear of more incidents like this marring enjoyment of cycling Thoughts and good wishes to those involved

Also got the same cut&paste response, and no change to my seeding. The email did list the "seeding cut-off times" for each of the events i.e. the last times that would have counted in with a seeding, and in my case I was only just inside the Die Burger '11 one and outside the Argus '11 one. So my tail end seeding spot is probably fair based on that. Do agree their seems to be a lack of consistency though. As an earlier post said, sure I'll find a nice bunch and enjoy the ride whatever.

1st stage of wheel build is under way SON dynamo hub ordered. Had few chats with William, so I reckon he's gonna be my builder (unless I suddenly get courageous and decide to do it myself). I reckon they'll be Mavic Open Pros. Looks like the Hope Pro3 rear hub doesn't take campy 11 speed though, so I may have to revise my ideas if I decide to go Chorus which is the groupo I'm leaning towards.

Interesting - have never seen my 500 battery indicator drop below about 80%, but then longest ride is typical +/- 4 hrs. Will have to keep an eye out, see if it worsens much on longer rides or when it gets older.

Got my 500 last year - clocked up maybe 1500km using it so far, plus use it as a HR monitor at the gym since I don't have a watch based HR. Very happy with it so far. Nivo had great price when I got mine and delivered quick. Not quite as cheap as UK, but less delivery and no uncertainty on customs charges. Delivered quick too.

I guess it all comes down to your fitness level and ambition. If you're a mid to tail end fun rider like me, it's tough because the rollers and wind take a lot of steam out of your tank, after which you hit the sting in the tail with those two bl**dy mean hills. Have done a few Argus's, Burgers etc and this is the only ride which ever gets me off and walking - so much so, it's also the only road ride where I don my comfy MTB shoes in full expectation of a nice stroll at the end. I would guess if you're a front end race snake, it's much the same story only accelerated - lot of energy sapping stuff at high pace, followed by nasty hills just when you want to be done

I'd also figured to get a better start - 3:48 Die Burger and get TT. Was SS last year and my seeding rides this year have been +/- 30 mins quicker than last. Buddy did 3:24 Die Burger and got Y - so that 24 mins equates to almost an hour's difference in seeding/start time. Oh well - not expecting a response from my query TBH, and in truth I'd have a great day even if they told me I had to start in OZ for breaking too many of "the rules". Looking forward to the ride, and hoping we get kind weather and everyone has a safe ride.

In the market for some new MTB shoes - think I'll hold off and give these a look, price is very attractive

Nope - i'm way beyond the 3 days and no reply yet.

If you can make it Friday count me in - maybe some Clem will help me in the 99er on Saturday ...

I've never really understood how a "zero tolerance" policy could sit with 2 year bans - surely zero tolerance means lifetime ban. If the stakes are higher, anyone tempted to dope may think longer before doing it. And it also puts an onus on the governing body for any sport to have really effective test and monitoring processes, and dismissal/appeals procedures. The slap-on-wrist policy, we're not 100% sure, but you can't prove your innocence so we'll levy a fine/ban anyway just seems amateurish. Sad thing is this is sport, which all of us start out doing for fun and honest competition - shame that spirit gets subverted along the way at the highest levels

Stage 1 of Qatar yesterday (Cavendish is recovering from illness though). Just pipped by teamate in San Luis few weeks back

Wouldn't bet against Evans myself, Wiggins? Menchov? Leipheimer? Boonen seems to be hitting some good form recently - maybe Cavendish will have some competition this year.

Nice - enjoyt it. Great event and a great day, wherever you start. Still have great memories of my first one (started in OL) and every one since.

Banned for doping in 2010, Schleck elevated to 2010 winner: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/16905217

Sounds like a pretty good/fair seeding to me based on the 94.7

Yes ... but it had nothing to do with cycling ....

Yay! Got email back from Easton. I can swap the Shimano cassette body on their R4 hubs (and hence newer range wheels) for a Campag 11 spd one (cred to Eugene at Helder Cycles, he was the guy reckoned this was possible!). So good news for the new bike - bad news for my wallet

Let's hope they don't break in again this eve and steal all the cookies ...

Thanks, would be good to know the outcome. My pref is still towards Ultegra, but I need something that can survive a fair amount of wet weather use. SRAM might be ok, but I'm not a big fan of their FD shifts or cassettes - even Red users seems to complain about it which is crazy if you consider the price. I guess I could go hybrid with Ultegra FD, chain and casette, and Force shifters and RD. I'm building an audax oriented bike up, so will prob need long drop brakes anyhow (Shimano R650 most likely), so prob won't use Ultegra or Force calipers. Oops ... went a bit OT there. Apols and good luck with getting the shifters replaced. Feel free to use my future business as a reason they should fix your free