Musashi

Finally I have a safe option for riding between B'ville and STB! I'll pay for an annual permit with a smile. Thanks for the good work, guys!

Having completed one DD, I would not call myself a veteran, but maybe I have a few tips that can help. 1. If you've completed the TB, you shouldn't have too much problems with the DD. The DD is basically the TB plus another 100km flat at the end. I train on average 10 hours a week and didn't have any problems completing the DD. 2. Nutrition is very personal. I would recommend that whatever you use on the TB you should use on the DD (unless you know that it isn't working for you). Very important though (and one mistake I made last year): the first 2 to 3 hours can be very hot and you get very thirsty. Dilute your drinks or carry a bit of extra water. I used my normal mix and had serious problems drinking too much sweet stuff too quickly. I rode with two water bottles and if the drinks were more diluted, shouldn't have had any problems. There are water points halfway through each stage as well so a camelbak isn't really critical. 3. Your normal spares are fine. The race is really a "roadie" race - there are no technical sections and everything is dirt road (except a few patches of tar). Punctures shouldn't be a problem, but carry plugs and a tube in case. I would also recommend spare chain links/ master links and a chain breaker. 4. Your regular tyre choice should be fine. I ran my tyres a little soft (no risk of pinch flats) as there were a bit of sand, but apparently Mannie used very hard tyres. I think it is personal preference. Now for some questions you didn't ask but I think may be useful: 5. Dust is a major problem on the route. In the TB, vehicles follow a different route to the riders. On the DD, they follow the same route. As a result you regularly get vehicles coming past you and the dust hangs in the air. At times visibility is down to a few meters. Last year I used a spare buff to pull over my nose and mouth. This year I'm considering a dust mask (those white ones you get at builders warehouse). 6. The challenge of the DD is the time in the saddle. I think 17 hours is a good time (20 km/h average), but even that is very long. Make sure you are very comfy with your saddle. 7. If you have any knee problems, chances are the DD will bring it out. I'm still sitting with a right knee that is giving me problems. I want to see if somehow I can strengthen my knees before this year's DD. 8. Get good lights. If you've done the TB, you probably have a good light already, but with all the traffic, the red light at the back is crucial. I'll be using two or three. If you're doing the 100 Miler, you're probably based in the Cape somewhere. I've got my training split in two sections: for the TB, one week off and then the DD. Let me know if you want to join me.

Just a bit of information on the ErgoFit system. Dr Jeroen Swart is a physio at the Sport Science Institute and a former XC SA mountain bike champion. He designed the ErgoFit system which is based on your measurements AND your flexibility. I had an ErgoFit done and it really is an excellent set-up. Now, the only person at Webike trained to do the ErgoFit set-up was Willie Coetzee, no one else. He left Webike about a month ago and no one else was trained by Jeroen to perform the set-up. I know because I asked him 2 weeks ago when I saw him. So bottom line is that Webike is not qualified to do the ErgoFit anymore. Rather phone the Sport Science Institute and ask Dr Swart to do your ErgoFit. Chances are he'll pick up other things which may also become a problem down the line (knee stability problems for example).

I wanted to do two laps for charity. I emailed the organisers and asked permission and they said no, it's not allowed, not even for charity, not even if I take my chip off. Sad really.

Getting personal with guys like Slowbee and Dangle? I suggest you sod off and go fight your own fight, somewhere else. You are making enemies very quickly.

Personally I don't think taking up weapons is the answer. We carry battons, they'll carry knives. We carry tazer guns/ pepper guns, they carry real guns. (Granted, they already carry real guns). As vanniri said, most people are victims, not perpetrators. Isn't there a way we can work WITH the Kayamandi community and flush out the perpetrators? The locals have to know who the problem individuals are. Let's work with the police and search their places. Then again, they might be too scared to say anything. I just don't see confrontation being the answer. But I am gatvol.

I live in the Tygerberg area and have been working in Cape Town for 8 years. With the traffic there is no way I can ride to work. Now I've been transferred to our Stellenbosch office and we have a shower. Great, I can finally cycle to work! Last week Thursday they tried to bike-jack a guy on the tar road (R304) in front of Kayamandi. He was lucky - he ended up with a bullet in the leg but lived to tell the tale. Now this alternative road is also too dangerous. A friend of mine "lost" his R37,000 downhill bike to three guys in Jonkershoek after they hit him full force in the face with the steel rod (luckily he wore a full face helmet). Seriously, what is happening in Stellenbosch and why isn't the police doing anything about it? And what can I do? Apparently in Gauteng every second cyclist carries a 9mm. I'm not willing to go that route as more likely the gun will be used on me. A tazer gun is good for one individual but not 3 or 4. And now they're carrying guns. Looks like I'll stick to the motorbike for my commute... Lounge Lizard, I'm glad you're ok and didn't give up your bike, but I share your sentiments and frustration! Luckily I still have Tygerberg MTB Club.

I'm also interested, but with the Epic and then 3 weeks holiday in April, I'll only join you guys come May. My suggestion: give the ride a name ("Popeye's night ride"?) and every week start a thread to check whether the ride is on and who's joining. And Popeye doesn't have to start the thread each time, anyone can.

@ThaStig: My normal MTB gears (11-34 at the back). @FBSP: That is crazy fast on knoblies. Well done! Maybe someday I can join you...

Thanks ThaStig. It was a bit strange being the only MTB'er amongst a bunch of roadies. Next year I'll keep up all the way!

My sentiments as well! But I'm too conservative to assume that they care if it's for charity. They didn't care when I requested permission to do it twice. Just one question: how did you get into a start chute for the second lap? Did you have a second entry and "start card"? I'm just curious because I really wanted to do the same.

Well done to all the sub-3'ers! I don't think many (normal) people realise how strong you have to be to do a sub-3. Congrats! I managed to stick with my D group up to the 65km mark, but then you roadies dropped me like a bag of potatoes. But still I'm happy with 3:13:51 on a MTB and I'll be back next year. So, when do you think we'll have such excellent Argus weather again? 10 years? 20 years?

How did you manage to do two laps? I checked with the organisers (probably my mistake) and they said it is not allowed and threatened with anything from removal from the course to a lifetime ban. So I decided against it.

I've been to Jeroen twice. He solved my first knee problem after the first visit but then I developed a new problem, basically problems with my pedalling technique. I'm working on that problem. His ErgoFit bike set-up system works, I can really recommend that. However, it may be worthwhile giving him a call and ask who he'll recommend in your area before coming down to CT. Follow-up visits will be difficult given the distance and he may know someone who can help you.

I have contemplated the same question and could not find a good answer. If I fall, I have way bigger problems than infection caused by hairs. If it is more hygenic, I should shave all my hair (ALL of it), so that doesn't make sense. I don't ride for looks so I'm not shaving for looks either. Then I had a massage on a 3-day stage race and the hair made it very uncomfortable (if it was a guy giving the massage, I might have been more uncomfortable ). So, I'll shave before the Epic, but if you're looking for me, I'm the guy in group D at the Argus with the hairy legs (and the 12kg DS MTB).

My experience with mountain kings hasn't been great. I found they are only effective when they're new and the terrain is muddy. As soon as they start to wear, the knobblies on the side become soft and loose grip in the corners. So I run race kings front and back. Grip on the front is more important, so what I do is always fit the new tyre on the front and move the worn tyre to the back. When the back tyre becomes too smooth, I do the same: move the front (less worn) tyre to the back and put a new one on the front. This has served me very well to date. The advantage is also that on tar, you put power through the smoother tyre and don't wear a new set of knobblies.

Oh man, people can go off topic so quickly. The question was not "Which is the best LBS" or "How dumb am I", but "Would a LBS of the year award be a worthwhile idea". Punting your LBS here serves no purpose - there are many other threads where you can do so. Leet, I think it is a very good idea, subject to the following: 1. Regional. I think this will add value to the Hubbers and make it easier to judge as the same person won't have to fly to CT, JHB, PTA, Bloem, DBN, PE, Upington, ... In reality Hubbers want to know which is the best LBS in their area. 2. Independent. The award should not be based on votes, but rather a panel of Hubbers who visit each bike shop and award points on a consistent basis. But I think this is your idea already. 3. Criteria. A bike shop may be good in one area and not another. As an example, I use one bike shop for service and another for parts, based on their strengths. Sub-category winners might also add further value. These are my thoughts and I like the idea. We may need sponsorship to cover the cost of the survey (for example kick off the rear derailer and see how well each bike shop repairs it). It can become expensive!

I know how you feel. The last 6 months I've been working flat-out and did the Renosterveld, Desert Dash and Attakwas. I can feel I'm tired and gatvol and not always in the mood to ride. I keep going, but that all. I don't think I'm improving at this stage. I'll stick to the bunch as long as I can but on a MTB it is just a matter of time before I join the bunch behind me . Maybe I'll spot you at the starting line.

No wind? No THAT's what I call optimism!

Not over, just backwards!

Yip. That's the only thing I change. Other than that it is all 12kg dual suspension MTB.

Group D, on my MTB (as always).

Don't try this at Cape Town! You have to take your bike box to oversize luggage agter check-in where they scan it and ask you to remove the canisters. I know, it happened to me. I won't take that chance again.

From the comments it is clear that the situation will only escalate. Each party, cyclists and motorists would rather defend their position and rights (as they perceive them to be) than sit down, compromise and make life easier for everybody (themselves included). Instead of slinging mud, we should rather compromise on both sides. Cyclists, don't ride next to each other on public roads and stick to the yellow lanes whenever possible. Motorists, be patient (even if it costs you 30 seconds on your way to your destination) and pass when it is safe. (Unfortunately there will always be that 1% that won't comply and ruin it for everybody.) Unfortunately this is not the world we live in. The focus of individuals is on "self" and not their community and other people. As a result, there is no more respect left as each one fights for themselves, to the overall detriment of society as a whole. You see this in traffic as well where motorists would drive in the yellow line to push in in front of a queue of cars (do they do this in they local supermarket as well?). It is a problem with society, not motorists/cyclists. So, I try to change things by setting an example. I will not jump the queue in traffic. I will ride behind my buddy in the yellow lane or on the sidewalk if possible. And I will be friendly to cyclists on the road, even if they ride next to each other. Maybe someday somewhere someone will notice and follow the example. Naive, I know...

Don't take CO2 canisters on a plane. Not in your hand luggage nor check-in luggage. They scan the luggage and if they pick up the canisters, chances are they won't put it on the plane and you'll only find out when you arrive at your destination. A friend of mine realised this after he checked in his luggage with the canisters and when they found his bag, it has already been removed from the luggage to go on the plane. Rather don't take the chance.