Mamil

Oh no!!!! Echoed my the norwegians

I was matric in 86. By 88 I had hair to the middle of my back Now it's 2024 and I don't have any hair.

You don't get better riding weather than that

Are you sure about that? - I don't have an email confirming the start time and 07:15 was the start time for the boland gravel monster

Been having the same thought

Ja. The new roads around the river club development are a case in point. It's the only viable through route from the south to the CBD, used by thousands of riders week in and week out... Not even lip service to bicycles or NMT.

Maybe the cyclists are riding 2 abreast (as noted umpteen times in all sorts of fora this, although illegal in ZA is often a safer way to ride because it discourages the I'll just squeeze past mentality) BUT .... The motorists are all transporting 2 sofas, a hi Fi, 80 liters of liquid storage, 350 liters of dry good storage, 4 light assemblies, how many square metres of carpeting?, 3 mirrors and a tonne and a half of plastic, glass and metal around a crowded urban landscape .... Imagine cities designed around people instead of cars.

Not sure this is a completely fair comment - the last large event I attended was trailseeker wellington - single entrance and exit point, ample parking inside, efficient and confident team of parking marshalls directing people quickly into a well structured parking system - it works

This event was cancelled last week and refunds given. I asked why and was told only 19 entries were received. I'm extremely disappointed - was going to be my first one and a last all-day ride and a refreshing change to be on the road bike again before tapering off for Munga. 19 of us! Really okes?

Bought many things from Jacques - always had excellent service, above and beyond but can take a little while to get hold of him sometimes. He's a gentleman and very helpful

Having seen the route I can now safely say I am in the "negative" camp w.r.t. this event. The route is peculiar -riding in tmnp requires an activity permit, is that organised? I would not like to ride the section back in to Durbanville at night / early hours of morning without support/ protection. There is nicer and safer gravel riding past Malmesbury out to moreesburg, hopefield and can still return via Tulbagh and Wellington. Each to their own of course but I think I'm now anti this anti event.

So the 2k is for the effort of working out a route and distributing it on a GPX? Don't think I'm negative, just puzzled as to what's being paid for here. There's no backup, no tracking, no refreshments, just a route that my guess is not too different from the training rides north and Northwest of Cape town that lots of us do out to Riebeek, moreesburg. Hopefiend, darling etc.

What's an anti event event?

But you seem to get only a GPX file for the money. Maybe I'm misreading it or don't understand bit why do this rather than a solo ride with a credit card and cash in the top tube bag? I did that last weekend for munga training solo. Interested to hear race report

This Strava AI is really annoying me.nits like a know it all riding mate who makes fatuous and patronising comments on all your rides. "A little slower than usual, most likely a recovery ride...." Or "good pace with good power across all heart rate zones". Basically it's a chop. I'd rather have Marvin the depressed robot from hitchhiker's guide or even c3pio but this solicitous overly earnest one up know it all is getting booted as soon as I find the off button.

.... and enough dough for lovely carbon bicycles!

I think this also depends on total system weight as well as whether you prefer muscle or cardiac effort - I could definitely not get up the steep pitches without my 32. I've tried 34 and it just isn't comfortable with minimal benefit on the flats and downhills - especially as teammates on bigger cranks are generally resting their legs on these sections

I'm in 2 minds about this. On the one hand I am interested in seeing the world's best riders taking on trails I ride routinely and know very well. On the other, the whole helicopter footage, heroic stock music video, 100k entry fee while cutting costs, general circus maximus vibe doesn't gel for me. If someone offered me an entry I would take it but there is nothing aspirationally inviting enough to make me pursue this.

That's the cart before the horse? It's a short and fast segment which probably amplifies the effect the GPS reading error I just KNOW that this is the reason that I have so few (almost no) KOMS

I see that the Ronde van Riebeek guys have resurrected this event now called the Ronde van Swartberg - "Help help me Rhonda - Help me Rhonda" --- as Brian Wilson said

Exactly this

I've also noticed a fall off in MTB speed after lots of roadying or groadying - My pet theory about this is 1- that my technical skills (a grand term for what I do on a bike I realise) get rusty and 2: the road riding is largely steady state long efforts whereas climbing on the mtb involves repeated high watts (switchbacks, getting over rocky bits etc)

You have to do it so you can tow us wannabe racers to the pass again ..... I entered again as soon as entries opened - I absolutely love the tour de cap - where else is a mamil on his mid range emonda ever gonna be keeping a wary eye on the guy in fith place who's 45 seconds behind him on the last stage and letting him have the sprint at the end because I don't need the seconds to keep my GC position safe ... and all of that for a week off work and 4k entry.