3wings

In many ways you're right - and that is exactly what I did for the first few Argus's I rode. Problem is that I'm competitive by nature - its in my DNA and I can't change it. If I hadn't set myself challenges in the past, I know that I wouldn't be where I am today. Last year I set a target - aced it AND enjoyed every single minute of the ride. This year I'm setting myself a new target - and I promise that it will be the last one. In fact it will probably be the last Argus I ever ride....but that's another story.

One of the reasons I like riding with Francois Pienaar and the gang is that back in 1995 nobody really thought they could beat The All Blacks. The late Madiba did and in so doing he infused the Springboks with a will to win that defied all expectations - and the 'home-team advantage' at Ellis Park did the rest. A few years ago, after my heart attack, I could have given up, hung up my trainers, got fat and waited for an early grave. But I'm not a quitter - I have two teenage daughters who depend on me, so I fought back - against the odds some might say - and am now competing in events that many, many people of my age would never dream of taking on. I could, if I wanted to, talk myself into defeat on this one - but that just isn't gonna happen. So I'll just have to play the cards I'm dealt with on Argus day - and with a little positive help and advice from my fellow hubbers out there, who knows, maybe I'll be raving about a 3hr 58,min PB on Monday, March 10th ???

I ride with "The Mad Bunch" - think we're looking at a 09.04

Okay, so here's the deal. This will be my 6th consecutive Argus and I'm trying to break four hours. My 'baptism' was the 2009 windy wonderland and I made it to the finish. Perhaps I should point out that a couple years earlier I had open heart surgery and although I'd been a keen road runner in the past, wasn't expected to compete competitively ever again. So I had to abandon running and took up cycling - and I love it ! Along the way I dropped a few kgs and now tip the scales at 80 which, being 1.86m tall, is about average. I've been training hard since early summer, thrashing a WattBike at my local biokenticists for 75 minutes twice a week, hill training here in Somerset West where I live, lifting weights, rowing and following a healthy low-carb, protein rich diet. Competed in every local race since Die Burger as well as long training rides to get in that all-important saddle time. About the only thing missing is a winning strategy...... hence my quest for the magic 'Argus factor'.... I am a relative novice, so please bear with me, but the way I see it is this: The Argus breaks down into basically three components. 1) Uphill sections/bumps/serious climbs; say total 28kms. 2) Downhill sections/fast descents; say total 11kms. 3) Relatively smooth long stretches; say total 70kms Although approximations, if I average 15km/hr, 45km/hr and 35 km/hr respectively I end up with about 4hrs and 5 minutes - now that's not far off my target but still not good enough. Come on guys, please help me out here, how can I plan/strategize better to achieve my goal ?

I've heard this before about Smitswinkel - its the first 'serious' climb after the long, relatively smooth, +/- 35km run from the top of Edinburgh Drive. There's a bit of a warm-up bump leaving Simon's Town, but Smits' does hit a lot of riders for some reason....after all the crowds cheering and whooping on the Muizenburg to Jubilee Square section, could it be that we all get a bit lonely/deflated out in the boondocks with only the baboons (and other riders ) for company ?

Let's hope that you're one of the 'Few Good Men' who actually benefit from the 6000 foot drop in altitude Okay, so that's another element of 'Argus magic' that I hadn't considered - all those extra groups coming up behind ready to sweep me up when I've hit the wall and carry me on their wings to the finish.... Yey !!

I was chatting on the Bay City thread about average speed times at the recent Western Cape events and my expectations for the Argus - seems like I might have opened up a can of worms.... The way I see it, there must be a special 'Argus day' factor that makes us perform so much better than usual....there just has to be.....? No traffic to worry about - the open road all to ourselves for a magical few hours - the atmosphere - the crowds - all that positive energy.... All that gives us basically two choices: Either we slow down to savour the experience and take it all in - or we crank it up a gear and let the occasion somehow carry us faster toward achieving our personal best. Maybe its similar to the home-team effect, except that on Argus day the crowd makes us feel like we're all playing for the home team - that's gotta add up to something - surely ?? So do we really clock better km/hr averages on Argus day than any other ?

There must be a special 'Argus day' factor that makes us perform so much better than usual....there just has to be.....? No traffic to worry about - the open road all to ourselves for a magical few hours - the atmosphere - the crowds - all that positive energy.... So either we slow down to savour the experience and take it all in - or we crank it up a gear and let the occasion somehow carry us forward to achieve our personal best. Maybe its similar to the home-team effect, except that on Argus day the crowd makes us feel like we're all playing for the home team - that's gotta add up to something - surely ??

Thanks dude, your stats are proving my point - cyclists do perform better on Argus day. Yey !!

DJR. I see what you're doing here with your 3.35/ 3.40 prediction: 172(mins) ÷ 84 (kms) x 109(kms) = 223 minutes or 3hrs 43mins And you've allowed him and 'extra' 3-8 minute bonus for that special "Argus' factor. But is that really all he can reasonably expect ? Please tell me that some riders do in fact get an extra 'kick' from somewhere and perform better on Argus day than they do in other events.....

Please include Le Roux Nel Biokeneticists, Arun Place, Somerset West, (Tel: 021 851 1205) in your search. Christiaan Le Roux is a former Epic rider, Phil Nel has an Argus or two under his belt. As a team they are, without question in my humble opinion, the absolute best in the region. They began putting me back together 7 years ago - this year is my sixth consecutive Argus - I still see them regularly and couldn't possibly have come this far without them. Trust me, you'll know instinctively when you meet them that they're the right people for you. Good luck.

Thanks for your response DJR, its sort of what I expected but I'll definitely take your advice and work my way to the front of my chute. As a result of much harder training these passed six months, my average speeds have increased by over 10% since last year but have remained fairly consistent since Die Burger, the 99er, Medallion and the last two Peninsular events. Although I'm not sure what else I can do training-wise with only 12 days to go, was hoping that the crowds, the atmosphere and the excitement, coupled with a huge dose of the True Grit spirit on the day itself, might just magically combine to lift my average speed enough to deliver the result that I'm looking for. Wind and heat play can make a massive difference as you rightly said, and I guess the absence of both could play a significant psychological role as well. Guess I'm in the lap of the Gods on that one...but any other pearls of wisdom, training tips and general advice would be gratefully appreciated....

Well organised and fun race so big thanks to all the back-room staff and Marshalls. Still don't understand the mentality of those occasional idiots who insist on overtaking on my left when I'm well inside the yellow line anyway - don't they realise that for us old farts its an unnerving experience being elbowed out into the bunch/passing traffic ?? On a slightly technical issue given the fact that the Bay City Tour is 25kms shorter than The Argus but includes OKW. Boyes Drive. Slangkop and Smitswinkel but doesn't include Edinburgh Drive. Chappies or Suikerbosse.... Given similar wind conditions on March 9th coupled with the huge atmosphere of this extraordinary event could I reasonably hope for a 10% increase in my average speed ? Seems like a big jump to me in terms of performance on the day but I'll need it to beat a challenge....

I used to scream all sorts of obscenities at the wind - the 2009 Argus springs to mind - especially after all the hard training that preceded it. More recently I have realised that the more upset and angry I become, the more inefficient/difficult/frustrating my cycling becomes with it. Solution ? As the guys have said above; don't fight it, don't make it your enemy cos it will just fight back and you'll end up losing... So learn to love it, accept it as part of cycling, harness it if you can, streamline your body to get optimum dynamic airflow and concentrate on that bend just up the road when you'll turn and the wind will become your friend. Tomorrow's Medallion race in Stellenbosch is going to be windy - am I going to stay in bed ? No - I'll do my damndest to make the wind work for me as best I can remembering all the time that, just like the 2009 Argus, all the guys will be in the same boat. Good luck and stay safe out there....

Possibly dumb question but.... Was that gravel road included to keep the race distance at 99kms ? Because I know that in previous years it has been longer....road-works etc

off roadies ??

I'm 1.86, 82kgs, knocking on 61 years old and a triple-bypass veteran. If I thought for one minute I could still race up Suikerbosse on a 39/23 I'd be having a serious chat with Pornstar right now !!

The UK VAT @20% should come off their quoted price since this would be (for them) an export outside of the EU and therefore VAT free. SA Customs will then wack on their 14% of course and anything else they can get away with... Is that about how you reached your R19k ??

Merlin out of stock of most high-end Shimano mechs............merde !

Was wondering if there was any stock anywhere here in SA and what I'd need to pay if I found some ....?

Yes, thanks, I saw this earlier but I'd need to muscle up some to handle his crank and cassette !

Yip, you got that right....Sterling now at 17.40 to the ZAR....ouch ! Did you find stock here in SA ? Was hunting around before Xmas for some Zero cleats - unobtainable here so bought from George Butler in the UK. What's up with SA stockists ???

Hi. Anyone know where I can get the best deal on the new Dura Ace 9000 11-speed groupset ? Need the full works; front and rear mechs, shifters, compact crank 50/34, F & R callipers, cassette 11-28, chain, BB and cables. Any opinions on SRAM Red 22 alternative option, how they compare etc ?

Seems Ronnie has had a tough time of it recently - beginning to regret not having been blessed with the foresight to realise it. The Roubaix has gone - guess I'll just have to keep looking.

Thanks Chro Mo. A few guys on the original thread said the same thing, although others gave him a really hard time for barging onto the forum with what Julius Malema might describe as a "white imperialist tendency" ! I tried to be patient with the guy in an attempt to discover whether or not this bike is as good as he says. But there’s absolutely no need for insults or foul and abusive language however good he thinks the bike might be.