flymango

Are the trails still super-muddy or are they rideable at the moment? Worth venturing onto either Sunday or Tuesday?

Cheetahs 6 and 8 were nowhere. Marcel Coetzee was sublime and laid the foundation for an impressive Sharks outing. Sarel Pretorius is the on form 9 in SA in my opinion.

I better start training then. What are the dates again ....?

Even the roads are under water at the moment - never mind the trails!!

@Elaine007. My wife and I did it in April and it was very enjoyable. Not too difficult or technical at all, but definitely not a Sunday school outing either. If you can do 40 - 50 km you'll be fine.

Amongst all the Bismarck hype and valid criticism of the ref, I'm just amazed that nobody even mentions Nonu's late tackle without arms on JdV, and that he wasn't cited. If Bismarck's red can be reversed based on television footage, then surely Nonu's yellow card can be elavated to red and a suspension? Or is that against IRB rules?

This thread is depressing. The truth hurts. I cycle to enjoy those good times afterwards with friends and a cold one.

Although yesterday's changes were made before the 60th minute if I'm not mistaken.

I'm afraid the devil will be in the detail. We may have won the battle but probably lost the war. Unless of course we wanted to lose the war to achieve domestic harmony and then use the reality of 16 teams as an excuse to join a European competition. The latter must potentially be far more lucrative for selling broadcasting rights. But chasing the money at a competition-level may yet spell disaster for SA and Springbok rugby. A very dangerous precedent has already been set at a player-level by allowing foreign-based players to play for the Springboks.

Who you kidding? I'm a fraid knot.

You're a better person than me. My BB is still grinding after last week's ride at Grabouw. Grabouw is water and sand - not mud. Mud in car is a function of my bib, not my bike. I have to clean and service two bikes afterwards - my wife insists on riding if I ride. Call it a bit of a disincentive. I'll be doing Koeberg and cycle lane - relatively mud free but admittedly not really MTB.

Google it. Studied it as part of my post-grad economic studies. Great theory.

Forgot to add, all my expenses are times two. So to all you folks who wish your other half did your sport together with you ... airline tickets, entry fees, hotel/room accommodation, bikes, bike maintenance, .... eish!!! But worth every penny.

Agreed. But it won't be me. Two times full services (my wife and I) with likely parts replacements at least R1000. Plus fuel getting there, plus entry fee, plus mud in car ... and, and. That's why I say "hate to say it". Call me "homo economicus".

Hopefully more than the amount of provisional tax paid to SARS today ....

Hate to say it, but sometimes common sense should prevail over emotions. At the moment I only see damage to both trails and bikes. Of course money, attitude and legs can and will prevail.

Hate saying this but any event this weekend will be a mud fest. Real shame for the organisers, but it is what it is. Not for me.

Thanks for the background info. Really sorry to hear - that's quite a big potential knock in anybody's language.

One thing's for sure, if you're crazy enough to take on the conditions, make sure your tyre pressure is lower than normal and use the synthetic lube. Kayaks indeed!!

I don't know about you MTB guys and girls, but I'm personally doubtful I'll get on a trail anytime soon - certainly not before next week! I think most trails are taking serious strain with all the rain we've had and are having, and then not to mention the damage to moving parts by taking on the mud and rivers ...

Will there be life guards on duty? Might need it with the amount of rain we've had and are still having!!

Big thumbs up to David Walsh for 10th in 45 - 49.

After Ruan Pienaar, I thought he had the second worst performance on the field. It was crazy. I mean "language mate"? Who's his "mate"? And no comms with TMO so go for citing commissioner. Very poor performance.

Being the biased Cheetahs supporter that I am, I only have four words for the Boks (or should that be for HM) ... Sarel Pretorius Heinrich Brussow. Enough said.

The most fun I've had on a mountain bike in a long time. Thank you Robert and friends from Grabouw. Embarrassed to admit but it opened a new world of trails to me which I never knew existed. A good dose of Oude Molen Trails I think? The support vehicle at the crossing, the group chaperons and lunch box at the end were all a nice touch.