Squier

I see Rush has a special on the Catlike Leaf. At 935 Randellas it doesn't look bad at all! I wonder if it'll still look cool without the visor. I prefer a "racey" look, rather than the Flux AM type look...

We're in! Trail again. Can't wait! Tent number 16! Fastest fingers first!

I had a good ride. Most of the shorter distance riders were considerate when we came past and it added to an enjoyable experience. I enjoyed the new route, although a bit more singletrack wont hurt. On 60km I looked down and saw that we had only climbed 650m. I thought the organisers made a mistake reporting it as 950m before the race. I was the one mistaken! Ended up on 1040m after 74km according to my Bryton. The last 14km was tough, especially as I expected it to be only 10km. Still, nice ride. Saw some zebra, wildebeest and that lion. Overall, very enjoyable and a nlrelatively chalenging route. Pity about the vehicle thefts. Also heard of a Fortuner being stolen.

Also did the Trail. We saw Farmer Glen on all three days and have the photo with him at the finish to boot. It's a massive event, so keeping it personal is difficult. You can see they're doing the best they can. One such example; my partner's (krl747) Salomon jacket was chowed by his dog after his wife forgot it outside. She dropped Tamika a mail asking if she could buy a new one, as she was feeling really bad about it. To make a long story short, they sent her a new jacket and some doggy biscuits at no cost whatsoever. You don't see that every day!

From the replies I gather that it's about right. 3000 people riding, so a lot more people I guess.

My team needs a stern team talk!

I was under the impression Joberg2C was just over R10k per rider this year. I could've gotten my lines crossed. Apologies for that.

Now that's not a nice list to be on. Ouch for them all, but especially Hesjedal. Is he continuing? Riding with a fractured rib must be agonising!

From all the replies I'm assuming it's right. My one mate starts in E on a 40 and my other mate in C on a 31. Last year I started most races in C from a similar seeding. So obviously the number of riders in the 30s and 40s increased quite a bit.

It'll probably be the same waiting list process. I wouldn't rely on getting an entry from the waiting list though. This year there were plenty of entries being sold right here. Keep an eye out.

Anyone have an idea of how the marathon batch breakdown looks with regards to your seeding? It used to be something like: 1 - 19 = A 20 - 29 = B 30 - 39 = C 40 - 49 = D 50 - 59 = E 60 - 69 = F 70 - 80 = G My seeding is 43 and I'm in F. Seems like it has changed significantly.

Looks like the Joberg2c prices shot up by almost 40%. I'm expecting the price for Sani to do the same.

That's a really cool write-up River Rat!

Looking at average speeds and just the general way of riding in the Tour makes you want to believe that it has become much cleaner. Whether doping will ever be completely eradicated we'll probably never know. For instance, in 2011 Pierre Roland won the Alp d'Huez stage. I read somewhere that with that winning time he would've placed 43rd in the year that Lance won it in the early 2000s (can't recall the exact year). Much to my dismay you just don't see the Lance type attacks where a rider attacks and solos up the mountain where he even rips the breakaway up the road to shreds. The last time we saw that was Contador's last win in the Giro in 2011. Since his return he has not been the same. Look, I loved those attacks. And there's a part in me that thought, let them dope, it makes for better TV. Then my son was born. No parent would want their kid to fill his body with different kinds of drugs just to pedal a bike.

I still need to do the update... This doesn't sound good.

Awesome

I also found Froome's move a bit strange. He showed that he was strong, but if you didn't know that already you were under a rock and not in Corsica. No one was going to follow him anyway. Thrilling finish yesterday. Great win by Bakelants! Today could be Impey's day. Sagan would also fancy his chances of summiting the last climb in the main bunch. Though, it does look a lot like a day for the break. Voeckler descending like the devil is on his tail perhaps...

I've had to hear Andrew McClean telling the Johhny Hoogerland story one more time... Luckily fixed now.

You send a pm to Geraldm24.

Preliminary team submitted. Still some mulling over required before the weekend. I still have a full bench of riders all looking to get a start.

I don't get it. Cadel wasn't as strong as Tejay last year and this year he has to contend with the Giro in his legs as well. When I saw him at the Giro I thought that left the door wide open for Tejay, but clearly I was wrong. I see Tejay finishing ahead of Cadel again this year.

Awesome tribute written by Greg.

Thanks Frosty! I'm in. Team selection once again a tough one.

Awesome snaps! Thanks Gummi!

Man, you were flying! That was a pretty awesome downhill. I don't spend nearly enough time on my road bike to have the confidence to fly down like that! That valley there right at the end of your video was freezing!