Chingy182

I started playing around with Grok last year to help me build a winter program in preparation for my first 100 miler - Around the Pot. I was initially aiming for a sub-7h finish, but ended up somewhere in the ball park of 5h30. The training structure and feedback helped me a lot in terms of tracking my progress and what areas to improve on. I got good advise on balancing hard rides with tapering weeks, etc. I have never had a cycling coach, so I have nothing to compare it against, however, my rides now have a lot more structure to them and each ride now has a purpose. I have boosted my FTP from 284 to 311 with this improved structure In the absence of a power meter on my bike, I have come up with HR variables and RPE scale alternatives to work with on outdoors rides. Then there's even practical tips on nutrition, supplements and diet

I am perhaps not the most knowledgeable person to be offering too much advise around riding in Stellenbosch and many others will have more intricate knowledge of the endless gravel back road options. https://maps.app.goo.gl/NVQPg7rdW4swGb9e9 Just a Google Maps with a few reference points. My 2c worth, be VERY careful around R304 KAYAMANDI and R44 CLOETESVILLE These are two extremely high risk areas On the Map, I've used "Klapmuts" as a safer starting point just a short distance outside Stellenbosch, pinned it to Specialized Bike Shop in Paarl, as well as Paarl Rock (Paarl nature reserve), which has a very nice circular route with a bit of elevation and beautiful views. Here some locals can point you in right direction with the abundance of gravel roads in the area which will cover way in excess of 80km in almost any direction. You can also inquire at Specialized Bike Shop in Stellenbosch about group rides, etc.

Hmmm, interesting. I use my Garmin watch to also connect to my trainer so I can track my HR

I have completed the latest update and will assess tonight and hoping whatever bug crept in has been ironed out

I've been using this App for about a year now with my Tacx Flux S trainer. A few weeks ago, around the last update, I sporadically, lose the ability to connect my trainer to the App and it just doesn't pick each other up. I then delete the MyWhoosh App and reinstall it and Bob's your uncle. However, a week later it happens again and I don't want to keep going through the same dance of deleting and reinstalling the App and Maps all the time. Has anyone else experienced this and is there a way for me to check other settings? I have recently had my trainer serviced and on my Garmin training App everything works perfectly - this only happens on MyWhoosh I'd appreciate any input

I was also wondering, but my suspicions are not enough entries to cover costs. Pity, I was looking forward to it

Will there be Allergex available at the water points? Jokes aside, looks spectacular.

Apologies in advance for my ignorance here, but just trying to understand fully. Level 4 & 5 opening on Monday - how far does this section extend if we cannot go all the way to Silvermine Gate? Would Beast entrance be the limit for now? If Silvermine also opening on Monday - No way to ride up from Tokai to Silvermine Gate en do a loop around the reserve & back down the same way?

Thanks, this is a great find. Awesomeness

Is there any other noticeable events website other than Entry Ninja for cycling events in SA? RaceTec and PPA hardly have any and I am trying to think back to a couple of years ago when we had all these amazing kerk bazaar type races popping up all over in the WC Bonnievale Bonanza Montagu Mountain Mania Piket Bo-Berg Philadelphia MTB race etc, etc. Are we still able to locate and support such races or is everything dead and we only look toward Entry Ninja for upcoming races?

Thanks for this. I'm just trying to find out still if going up to the Mast is also closed as with Level 4 & 5 closures?

1st thing - at 1.91m height you should be looking at XL frames and not Large 2nd hand is definitely the way to go, but R5k budget will not be buying you a mountain bike. If You could perhaps push your budget at least to R10k-R12k, you might find something worth your time. At that price point, you're looking mainly at Hardtail bikes. Tubeless tires means you have no inner tube under your tire and you put in sealant that plugs small punctures that would normally force you to stop and do a repair or changing of a inner tube. This is the way to go

I live in Tokai and if you ride from Tokai Bootleggers up to the Mast and as you come back down, you continue through to Silvermine gate and do a loop around the entire reserve. Back down Tokai via the single track to exit the gate. That in itself will give you very close to 50km with 1500m elevation and as you exit Tokai trails and get to the first stop sign, you take a right and ride up Zwaanswyk road for an extra 200m elevation in 2km. Tokai Permit will set you back around R100 (maybe more by now) for a day pass and will give you access to Silvermine as well, unless you want to have a Nic Dlamini situation (couldn't resist ) Another lekker ride from the South is from Tokai Bootleggers through the Greenbelt network up to the top of Southern Cross drive at Constantia Nek and ride the path over Kirstenbosch and drop down into Newlands forest. From here up Rhodes Memorial (check for muggers) and make your way to Queen's Blockhouse. Park your car at Table Mountain and do this route as given in reverse and then back to your car and you will be in for an EPIC day on the bike.

Thanks for this, it does help to put things into perspective especially regarding hills compared to K2C. Great to know this will be gravel bike recommended and yes, I saw 2023 got Canned a few days before the event... August is a coin toss at best in the Cape

Hi guys I am looking at entering Around the Pot 100 miler in August and wanting to ask for some feedback from people who have done this event in previous years. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much around this topic when I searched the forum history on the topic. Good things to know: - How does the 160km route stack up compared to other events, ie. Karoo to Coast perhaps? - Would Gravel bike be much preferred over conventional mountain bike (see Matt Beers won last year on a gravel bike and pro's seem to know NOT to ride K2C on gravel bikes)? - What would possibly be a good time to be aiming for (sub 7h15?) I am trying to challenge myself here to do longer events, but just want to have some feel for what I am letting myself into and what I can realistically set as an achievable time goal. I've done K2C a few times (4h40 in 2024), CTCT (3h06 in 2025) Looking forward to getting some pro tips and insights.

A fairly simple "solution" to this could be to look at E-bike rider split times and DQ accordingly. If you start at 07h30 and find yourself being scanned in Simonstown at 08h30, you have been cycling at approx. 40kph It might just require a bit more effort from an admin point of view Perhaps CTCT organisers should better define the parameters as most of these e-bikers pulling this stunt have found a loophole and can point to the fact that they have obeyed the rules by not finishing inside the stipulated time

Yes, big improvement from last year. Nearly 20min. Saw someone else in the comments saying exactly my sentiment that if someone had told him 10 years ago when he did his first tour that he'd be doing a 3h06 he'd call them mad, yet now feeling slightly disappointed at missing out on the sub 3. In the past year I have kept up with consistency to training and not let the winter months become slow - having an upcoming event in the pipeline seems to be the trick for me. Weight loss was primarily due to cutting out alcohol 100% out my life The path forward for me is to find a way to optimize my training as suggested above

Hey man @Ncayi, I really appreciate your 2c here and is probably valued at R200 right now. I think everything you said hits home and leaves me with things to put into focus going forward. I do often realise my position in the group is not ideal, especially when multiple people in the bunch squeeze me out and I find myself drifting further into the back of the group. Aerobic fitness ceiling is perhaps my biggest issue as I often find myself in most 100km races that I can keep up for 70-80km and then blow out. I have already identified the fact that my training rides are all between 40-60km with far too few rides going to 90-100km Intervals with fatigue in the legs is a good tip - something you know in the back of your mind, but reluctant to do.

Started in 1A (84-85kg) 40YO Felt strong throughout the build-up to Argus and thought sub 3 was a slight possibility this year. I've lost 10kg in the last 12 months. Came in 3h06 Unfortunately, I came to realise I am off the mark to keep up with 1A pace. I seem to lack that critical power output when the group kicks on and find myself hanging on by the skin of my teeth before being spat out at the back. Edinburg 1.72km 5.5% │ 374W - 4:52 Smits last 1.65km 5.5% │ 290W - 4:54 Little Chappies 1.42km 4.1% │ 257W - 4:30 Big Chappies 1.72km 4.8% │ 227W - 6:56 Small Suikerbossie 0.62km 4.7% │ 271W - 2:55 Big Suikerbossie 1.86km 6.7% │ 265W - 7:46 All numbers are PB's, except Chappies where I was tanked

It really is a bit of bummer as there are so many wonderful things to do and Silvermine is a beautiful spot, but you have to consider the skollie to fun ratio on just about everything nowadays

I have heard some fairly recent reports on the Tokai Community FB page on some petty theft of personal belongings, like phone, etc. while people were swimming. Unfortunately, chancers are just about everywhere and I would probably say you'd need to cycle with a cable to fasten your bike against a tree while swimming, but phone, shoes, etc. are still vulnerable. I have wanted to do the same, but have felt the risk is just too big for me

You should check if your battery will last +-5hours in any mode. IF you have a spare battery: All spare E Bike Batteries will need to be dropped off at the designated table at registration by no later than 06:15 on Sunday morning (no drop off of batteries after this time) – Spare batteries will go to the Buffelsnek Squirt E Bike Gazebo, which is at the 59km mark. – Spare full batteries will need to be clearly marked with rider name (We will provide you with a sticker at the drop off point) – Batteries on the bikes that the rider starts with must also be clearly marked with rider name. – Only after the last E Biker passes the pick up point will the flat batteries be transported from Buffelsnek to the finish line. – The batteries will go to the Tog Bag pick up area close to the Safari Braai Products Tent at the finish venue – Waterfront Drive – Knysna High School Field. There will be security guard at this point who will require your sticker with your name on it to collect / release your battery. – Do not forget your E Bike Battery key. – The event is NOT responsible for the loss or damage to batteries.

Mid-September snow/frosty temps are preferable compared to 2019 torrential rains and 2023 cancellation with half the Cape roads washed away

1 pair or 2 pairs of socks? 🤣 I am also more inclined to go with the bib shorts option, no leg or knee warmers unfortunately. Will probably look at my long sleeve thermal undervest and a toss up between my foldable wind jacket or Ciovita jersey

I'm also in A - assuming group size would be somewhere between 300-350, unless A has less riders and D gets 500 My biggest kop krap at this stage is determining what to wear on race day... Thermal long bib or bib shorts Thermal undervest with cycling jersey or arm warmers with foldable wind jacket. If I or it starts getting hot, I'd like to be able to take off some layers and have a place to put them Would like to know what others are planning on wearing on race day with current temps expected.