Wannabe

But there was copious amounts of Energade and cold H2O. I gave my bottle to a chap at the first table, expecting to get only a small amount of Energade, but he filled it up to the brim, and asked if I wanted some water. He filled my second bottle with ice and water, all with a great big smile. Must say, this was a good move, as it is 6km from the finish to my home, and both those bottles were empty by the time I got home.

I did not go through to the Racecourse after I finished, as I never collect medals or anything like that (and it is mostly downhill from the finish to my house, which in that heat did a lot to resolve my decision to head home) In hindsight, that might have helped in resolving my issue.

As I forgot my Timing Chip at home (only realised it after the beeping started as we went over the Start Mats), I phoned Racetec this morning, and curtly got told "No Chip, no Time". No amount of explaining helped (even got asked if it was my first race, and that I should have remembered my chip 🤬) Sent them an e-mail, hope that helps, but the person I spoke to basically told me there is no chance.

Nope, still fugly. Lol.......

No Hairy!!!!!! Looks like that thing was hit hard with the ugly stick, repeatedly. 😜

Wow, blast from the past. This Otec now lives on as a hybrid gravel bike. She was retired for a year or so after I secured a dual suspension MTB frame and most her running gear was utilised on the "new" frame. I then revived her as a gravel bike, using odds and ends I had in boxes and cupboards. But to answer your question, no I unfortunately do not any further info on the bikes/guy, except that the frames is originally branded Haibike in Germany, quite a well known and respected brand. They once upon a time sponsored a top female cyclist (she even competed in The Epic on a Haibike a few years back.) But they now focus more on e-bikes these days. Best of luck in your research.

And I made a rookie mistake. Took my time getting ready this morning, took a leisurely warmup ride to the start, found a comfortable place to wait till Shawn called us to the starting blocks, all cool and calm like a seasoned veteran. Starter set us off, and as I heard the first "beep beeps" of chips registering over the starting mats, it struck me........ I never took my "chip" out of the cupboard, so no official time for me. 🤦‍♂️ Guess I'll have to mail them my Strava and Garmin files.

Participating in only one event a year has it draw backs. My seeding for this "race" (I'm using the term loosely) is P, where a few years back, when I still "raced" regularly, it was around B-C in the CSA events. 😊 Not holding my breath for a great time/performance tomorrow. 😉

At least it's getting done. And once it is safe to ride there again, you can ride it 365 days a year, if you are so inclined. One or two races is a fair trade, I would say. 😇

There also was a petition doing the rounds from the neighborhoods and people using Vissers on a daily basis, to have the surface sorted out (for obvious reasons). I'm sure this carries more weight than a cycle race or two.

I found that transferring just a bit more weight to the back (shifting slightly back in the saddle) helps the front wheel float through the sand so much easier.

Look no further, excellent combo for our riding conditions. In winter I go Barzo front and rear. Old Barzo go on the rear, new Barzo on the front.

Any good LBS will have a manual with all the headset bearings for the different bikes and models. If not a "hard copy", they should have a web page they consult. Syncros is the OEM supplier for Scott. Maybe you can scratch around on their website. I know I had quite a hard time to get the correct headset bearings for my 2016 Spark frame when I did a rebuild. Luckily my LBS got me sorted out. As stated, there will always be some flex in the forks (seen as forward/rearward movement) but there never should be upward movement with the headset in the frame, nor should there be crack/clack sounds.

Edit = Post removed.

I sadly will have to give this one a miss. The Government reminded me last night we have a previous commitment to honor. You guys must enjoy it.

I'm aware of that, thanks for highlighting it again though.

Quite keen to join also. Never done an Enduro before, and never ridden any of the trails there. Only been up Taals on a road bike.

I'm having a serious look at this. Furiously scribbling amounts on a piece of paper to see if I can squeeze it out of my tight budget.

Why not order from Rapide Bicycles? 126 link chains, a "2 pack" for R899,00 delivered to your door in two days. You do not even spend time or money driving around to purchase. It is'nt Shimano as requested, but I've been using these YBN chains for years, no issues and they last....

Durbanville to Paarl -Durbanville to Paarl - MapMyRide.html MapMyRide.html Not sure if you want to take the shortest route, or if you want to do a bit of gravel grinding. This route of mine is a nice mix of tar and gravel, starting in Durbanville CBD, ending in Paarl Main Road. There is shorter, more direct routes. PM me if you want more info.

Great. I'm just going out for a meeting, will post a lekker route for you when I'm back in office.

Are you riding a Road bike or Mtb?

Did a bit of Bloemendal riding this morning, and at the top section next to the fence between Majic Forest and Bloemendal, there was a walker on Majic side, standing perfectly still, not even batting an eyelid. I stopped and asked what's the matter, and she managed to say "Snake". I asked which of the trail it went into, and she just pointed towards the Majic renosterveld side. I told her she should be safe, as it most probably slithered away already. Well, she started off with a hop, skip and jump that would have made any longjumper jealous, and hightailed it out of there. Then sitting at the Clubhouse, reading my piled up messages on my cellphone, the Ladies working there was sitting at the table where the tap and hosepipe is. (I was the only cyclist there, so don't judge them.) The next moment I heard "SLANG, SLANG!!!!!!" accompanied by a few shrieks and howls. Cellphones was abandoned on the table. I got up and had a look, and there was a beautiful, almost black, Mole Snake trying to gain access to the Male Toilet. I just closed the door in its face and crunched my feet in the stone chips on the ground to scare it off. It then made a hasty escape back into the grass next to the pallet bridge. It was about a meter and a bit long. The staff could not believe I so nonchalantly got up to look at and then chase it off. As I immediately could see it was a Mole Snake and nothing more dangerous, I acted before it gained access to the bathroom, it would then have caused an even greater commotion, and could possibly lead to the snake being injured or killed in an effort to remove it from the bathroom.

NO THANK YOU....... I do not have a death wish. Negotiating that traffic circle in a car is scary enough.

I had an incident yesterday, in our neighborhood and about 200m from my house, where an oldish gentleman in his micro car came crawling past me, forcing me closer to the edge of the road (I was on my Mtb, so no great problem) only to immediately swing to the left and stopping dead in front of me. Luckily I was anticipating this move, and could avoid riding into him. I stopped next to him, tapped on his window and asked him if he was even aware I was on the road, all very polite off course. The blank stare I got back answered my question, so I just shrugged and cycled off. So yes, we are invisible to motorists.