Grondpad

Interesting topic this Riding buddies and I discussed this the other day as well. When is enough, enough? I was planning on building a PYGA up with XT, Fox, ZTR etc, and it all amounted to about 40K (from CRC). That was until I sat back and thought about the amount. 40K!! That is a lot of money in anyone’s books (even for those in a midlife crisis). I think the most I can ever see myself pay for a bike is 30K. I love cycling. I eat, sleep, breath, talk, think…. cycling and am totally addicted to it, but you still have to sit back and see what the opportunity cost of such a purchase is. Not only with bikes, but the gear as well. What is your max amount (not based on current income, just realistically)?

I think you are probably right wrt to recovery The best advice I have ever received was to work through the book “Triathletes training bible”. It really is a great investment in your training. It explains how recovery has to fit into your schedule. It’s a long read and you have to “Work” through the book, but the results are worth it.

So how was your race? I really enjoyed it. I just don’t know why they changed the schedule so that all the men started the swim together. I wasn’t even in the water yet and the race started. It was really difficult to get through ‘the walkers’. Anyway, I still enjoyed the swim and looking at my swim time it didn’t really make a difference with everyone starting together. I found the bike leg pretty hard with the wind. I also see that the run times were very quick. Does anyone know if it was really 5km?

I am 1.81 as well and ride a 56 Felt F4. Its a lekker fit with a top tube lenght of 55cm

Free beer and shots at a waterpoint! How cool is that?! What an excellent way of spending a Thursday evening

I once did vredendal to piketberg. Its gravel all the way with awsome landscape. Not to hilly as well. Its further than what you would like to do but keep it in mind for the future.

So where can one see his/her seeding now?

This is really really sad. Just the other day my riding buddies and I said that it is only a matter of time before the jacking’s start in PTA east. There are so many cool tracks to ride but sadly it is also close to exit roads. Seems like we cannot ride those roads alone anymore. It’s a very sad day!

If there is a race, I dont think it will be a good idea. Fountains on a public holiday can get a bit messy.

A buddy of mine has a strange issue where his chain keeps dropping off in front. He has an X7 in front and X9 at the back. He has taken his bike to 3 different stores but it keeps on persisting. What happens is that as soon as he put power on the crank, the chain drops off completely in the front when he is in the middle and small blade. It sometimes happens on the big blade as well but no always. He doesn’t even shift gears, then it just pops of I thought that it might be a worn chain, but wouldn’t that then cause the chain to jump on the cassette rather? I think he is due for a chain replacement anyway, but will this cause the issue in front?

I was in that group as well. I read on thehub that wheelsucker are the devil so I tried to do my part in the front, but when we hit the hans strydom climb I got dropped. My legs took too much of a beating. It was my first road race but I guess that is how you learn. I was on the Felt F4 andhad the red capestorm shirt on.

I have to agee with the comments. On one of the previous pages I said that this race would be a logistical nightmare and I am sure it was. But the way the orginisers did this race was astounding! The route was great and most of the intersection were taken care of by marshalls or metro cops. All the waterpoints was stacked with coke and water and alot of the spectators cheered everyone on. I have to congratulate everyone involved. I really think this can become the big race in PTA. Good job!

Just got back from entering the race. Nice smooth process without any hickups. Was also the first time ever I was asked to show my CSA license. I dont normally care about the goodybag but this one is really nice. Cola, water, chips, mints, choc snack, pack of cookies, 2 muffins, cycling mag and a t-shirt.

+1 here. And they don’t care about the riders that are left behind. I tried to get my wife to ride with them but every time we went with them they just didn’t care about keeping the group together. I have to say that the rides we did were with the old management of the shop, so it might have changed a bit now. It seemed like they were more focussed on racing one another than doing a social group ride. My wife joined the Epic cycles group a couple of times on her own and she enjoyed it. She said they are very friendly peeps and that they keep an eye out for beginners and ladies. Maybe give them a bash?

This will be my first road race and I see the site says it is a new route. I just hope I didnt pick a nasty one to start with.

Thanks

The 70.3 is currently the big race I am aiming for but I did the calculations and for me to goe and do the race (accompanied by my wife) it will be about 5K. So I dont know if it is worth it. I have started the Triathletes training Bible and am in Base1 currently. So we will se how it goes as the longest event I have ever doen in Tri was the Xterra Buffelspoort this year. Whould the athletes that have done some 70.3's say it is worth the 5K (travel, accomodation, race etc...)?

This past Saturday I saw the coolest thing ever! An Old Oomie en Tannie (I would say 70+) cycling on the path opposite of Bruce Reyneke in Lynnwood road. They looked so chuffed with themselves, smiling and waving with their helmets on and casual clothes. Freaken awesome I also noted that the amount of bikes on the roads are picking up. There is this other old Oomie communting down Voortrekker and then down Soutpansberg. Respect to all the senior peeps. When I grow old, I want to be like that!

It is the SLX. My road bike is 7.6kg and this one feels about the same weight but I have not yet weighed it. Re the fork: it is very very tight. It’s very difficult to turn with this bike. Another issue I have is due to the old tyres. I will have to get new ones because if I go to about 3.5bar then the top of the tyres rubs against the fork. That is how tight it is The other day I took it for a spin, and it being a fixie it almost got into trouble trying to stop. I think for rides like CM I will get another rear wheel that has a freebody. I am also battling to find the same type of leather for the seat. It seems to be a very difficult colour to find. It’s almost a type of 'rooigrond' colour.

Are you involved in organizing the race? If so, can you give a bit more info on the road closure issue? How will you get all the cyclist through the busiest streets in PTA?

They say the harder I train, the luckier I get, but as I have followed numerous programs I have come to realize that this is so true. Doesn’t matter how hard your train. It will only get you that far. I have made piece with being the 25% to 50% of the field. Don’t get me wrong. Training programs do work and I have seen excellent results, but genetics is where the champions are @ -- (doesn’t that sound like an advert for cereal?)

I climbed Mariepskop on Monday Here are some pics of the ride. It’s a really leka climb with 1795m vertical accent over 64.25km.The big climb is 8km long with 1125m vertical accent. Mariepskop is in the centre of the first pic. About 30km from the top

Bought: Lights X 4 (those that you wear on your head) Tyres X 4 Bibs X 2 And my Road bike (Felt F4) about a month ago All good with no issues

Thank you ASG Unfortunately I could not get hold of any T2 in any of the shops I phoned and visited. The hubbers made some great recommendations and I phoned all of them (even the ones in EL), but no luck I eventually settled for the Trivent and I am picking it up tomorrow evening Thank you anyway

I will be doing this climb this coming weekend. Whoop whoop! Just one quick question: Where is the end of the climb? I heard that you get to a gate with an army guard. Do you go through it of is that the end?