Squier

So who else is riding? We're leaving for Buffelspoort this afternoon, me, riding mates and the families. Should be a good one!

Why would anyone not agree with his selection?

Go Phil!!!

So what is the rule of thumb? Better on the bike or on your back? I ride with a hydration pack, especially for stage races. I'd rather be over prepared than spoil 3 days of riding. For short fast races I leave the hydration pack and stuff some stuff in my back pocket. When summer comes the extra water is a big plus on those long hot rides. My only concern with the hydration pack is the weight.

+1 for these guys! I started out with the helmet mount. What I like about it is that you can get more than just the trail, .i.e. if there is a nice view to the side you just turn your head and get it. However, I've found that if you're on a nice piece of trail you don't always have time to turn your head and you just thoot the trail anyway. Also, on longer rides, the camera does get a bit heavy on your head and weighs on your neck. Of late I'm just riding with a handlebar mount. In terms of capturing the trail, it's superb. The fork absorbs most of the bumps and you still end up with a very cool video at the end. It is just easier having it on the bike and the compromise in terms of capturing the video is negligible, at most.

Awesome!

Should be an epic battle between Quintana and Froome. It's always an exciting race. 5 flat stages and 13 mountain stages... poor sprinters!!

Languishing at the bottom with 5 riders. I now have the white jersey in my team. At least that part of the plan worked out.

If it was SAIDS running the programme they wouldn't have cared aout Estimate and tested the 2 horses at the back of the field.

Been running CrankBrothers Candys since last year April and I love them. After I bought them I was worried, as people kept telling me that they break easily and I tend to clip pedals a lot, but I've had no issues. I wanted to change from Shimano as they became really uncomfortable on long rides. The Candys are super comfortable.

We got lost... 2km before the end. My riding partner was gunning it at the end and in the process must've missed a marker. We then somehow ended up on the start of the 40km and followed the wrong markers for a couple of kms before we turned around. Ended up doing 79km. So, we got some extra value (even though I wasn't too thrilled about it at the time). This was my very first race I ever did in 2009, so it's always awesome to go back. It's a proper mountain biking race. I loved it. That climb up Vodacom hill is tough but awesome. Real MTB climbing... and the views! Amazing! Seeing the hippos at the waterpoint was also pretty cool! I'll be back every year. No doubt!

What about Chinese carbon? Surely we can't be in the same classification as the normal carbon peeps! More like a poor blink stefaans wannabe?

Someone needs to tell Nibali he is not good enough to win the Tour de France, which is why he is not in my team. He is screwing with my chances in a bad way! My best bet is now Tibaut Pino. If only he can get the white jersey I would at least feel better about this disastrous Tour.

If you kill yourself through doping that is entirely your own problem. I don't care in the slightest. What does bug me is scarce resources, to which I quite possibly contributed through my membership fees, being wasted on testing absolute nobodies, while doping could still be rampant in the pro ranks, for all we know. This just feels like so such a useless exercise.

That is exactly the OPs point, I guess. You opened their website as a result of a misleading ad. Bait marketing, whether intentional or not.

The fact that were debating it means it is unclear. Simple.

As per the last Advendurance email on 25 June: Registration: Mabalingwe - Fri 18/07 16:00 - 19:00 & Sat 19/07 06:00 - 09:00

It is said to be one of the tougher Marathons in or around the Gauteng area. It would probably be right up there with Hakahana and VG.

It is usually at Mabalingwe the Friday evening before, and the morning of the race.

We were there in December. Really enjoyed it! Pack the bikes, for sure. Some nice riding to be done and a nice hill with some lekker views included. If you're looking for distance you can always hit the dirt road outside the Park.

The perfect specimen: a bigger guy with some real power for the flats. Everyone needs a bit of shelter every now and again... http://instagram.com/p/qPhFxkFOuG/

I was planning on doing my first Ultra here. Now I'm not so sure...

I do believe this changes things for the better. This makes it more about the photo and less about the popularity of the hubber who posted the photo. Nico, I get your point. My point is, you wouldn't have won and it has nothing to do with your photo.

Gerald, did you get my PM?

I feel for him. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. However, even if digested unknowingly, as a pro cyclist, he should've known better and needed to be more aware. Unfortunately, I don't see this ending well. I sincerely hope he doesn't ruin himself fighting the ban.