Mamil

F#&ING terrible.

I love the idea of 5 days of racing - view it as good prep for the grit in April. I think it limits numbers though cos not everyone is self-employed and willing to take time off - as it is I will be working in the afternoons after the stages. I have wondered about the fire - haven't heard anything from organisers about it - rain forecast for Monday so ...

Doesn't bode well for the race. Be interested to see how big/small the open group is.

That is fantastic news - really well done!! Thank you

Is no-one riding this year? Starts Monday.

I also did that and enjoyed the riders of all shapes and sizes and ages on a range as varied as the people looked like they were having a blast - I think there's a market for it. Most non- or very beginner riders think 109km is extremely far and the shorter distance feels like a more do-able challenge for them. I also enjoyed riding into CT down the M3 - not something a person gets to do often.

Plus one Gear change

I was well behind your crash, tailgunning the C group and rode through the carnage it left - it might have been you that attracted my sympathetic gaze lying on the left of the yellow in the hunched posture that suggests collarbone - hope it heals up well and you're back in the saddle soon. I share your impressions of the intermediate groups where we race, as well as your experience of building the fitness to stick with these bunches. The number of times I see people crossing wheels, fiddling with bike computers, filling gaps that only the pros should be filling .... It's super exciting riding fast in the group but the risks are real!!!

That's your seeding

Only cos there's a speed limit on chappies

Only when above 25kmph but before that they move it

Ja - I'm re-evaluating it myself after today's close call. I'll ride tour du cap first week of march where there's a smaller group, all way stronger than me, so we stragglers will take a nice noodle through the stages but the way I feel at the moment I may just get out the gravel bike for CTCT and do a 5 hour coffee ride... I say that now ....

I think from C group down the absence of a proper climb anywhere on the course makes for large bunches and increased risks. We really do need vissershok back. That having been said - there wasn't any real reason for all the crashes in C today apart from rider error.

Ja that rings a bell. No I was on the grey trek. Blue bibs, white and blue shirt

Seems there were lots of crashes in C. Had to chase back on after a crash caused a split after the turn off from the r44 then was sure I was going down in the crash at the back of C but by some miracle held it up... How I don't know because I felt that I was on the point of no return and somehow the bike straightened up under me... I'd claim it as superior bike handling but after the initial evasive swerve and hop, phase three of the process had nothing to do with me. Three of us counted our lucky stars and time trialed the last 30. Very disappointed because a 2.50 was definitely on the cards. Drawing significant consolation from the fact that I am not sitting in A and E waiting for xrays and that my bike is in one piece. The thrill is real and feeling all the training pay off because I can hold the wheel under pressure is really great but is it worth the risk?

Check out this route on Strava: https://strava.app.link/FumTvN24pHb — 0.0 km Ride Route Made this on Strava fornyou

do you play golf with a ping pong ball and a tennis racquet to match your BMX efforts?

Back in C batch at the 99er there were lots of okes in enjoy tops and ciovita bibs with versus socks, SPD on road bikes and non MIPS helmets as well as a few on 180k pinarellos ... Licorice all sorts. .... Suppose it depends on where you stop for coffee.

Having only started riding when all bikes were 29ers I just think 26 looks funny. I look like a gorilla with skinny legs on my xl bike with 29ers anyway so can't imagine the pack trailseeker images I'd cringe at if I was on a 26

I used to enjoy it. And a few months later you got a sweet little trophy saying you'd done both. These days I indulge myself in pretending to be a pro and spend a week trying to hold on to the open group at tour du cap and then make the ctct into stage 6.

Can't see the point frankly. Most people will have cell phones and simply sharing location will give more accurate info. Or Garmin live track for those with watches / headunits.

Leading causes of death in ZA are TB, heart disease, HIV, hypertension, influenza, cerebro vascular illnesses.... In more or less that order Motor vehicle accidents just miss the top 10 at about 12.5k per annum COVID trumped TB (about 27k per annum) by almost double ... A total of about 100k COVID deaths across 2020 and 21. RIding over chappies without a suit of armour and relying on your own puff to do it , while something only we cyclists do which skews the stats of course, is not as risky as.... Breathing or eating too much boerewors or drinking alcohol. Every good wish to the cyclist who's in ICU. I will ride over chappies often twice in one ride and will continue to do so. I will exercise my obligation to look after myself and other road users while I do it and I request that others do the same. WHen you see a cyclist pass him/her as if he were your father or your sister or your child.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/706074271365583?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Exactly

There's a subtle victim blaming there - or at least a tacit acceptance of the status quo.