Martin PJ

In training, single file is the way to go, and it's the law. Otherwise you could get slapped on the butt by a mirror when the cars go past at 100 km/h. In races, anything goes. Personally I never cross wheels with the bike in front of you unless you can quickly pull up right next to them, you will go down (and they won't) if the rider moves across suddenly. In the big races, you need to be fearless to ride well. Don't brake, push the guys out of the way if they come too close, don't use your front brake much (at all). I think the main skill in keeping in front is to brake less than everyone else and always try to push into space. Don't be scared to ride a bit in the wind, the better riders trust their strength and power, to do a bit of work and still be there at the end. The bunch normally rolls around anticlockwise, so try to stick on the right of the bunch, there will be a natural flow pushing you to the front. Don't ride on the left, you will ride in the debris and glass of the gutter.

Had shingles last year, took the anti-viral meds, two weeks rest. No problems. Tell your doctor you are training, if you notice any problems, go straight back. Doc told me that the Chicken Pox virus never leaves your system, but shingles should only happen once as a result of of the chicken pox virus reactivating for some reason. It is much better to have shingles when you are younger, if you are older (over 60 to 70 years old) it can cause serious problems, up to one year to recover from the pains. Apparently, you should also go donate blood when you have just had shingles, I think they can extract some chicken pox antibodies from it. Speak to them if you are a donor.

I would tend to agree. The lights are very cheap on EBay. All the exact same stuff we buy in the local shops. If you want a warrantee, then buy two and put one in the cupboard. Stuff is half to one third of the prices here on the Hub, that includes postage.

So if you don't take cycling seriously then nobody else is allowed to? I train hard for a sub 3, just to see it stuffed up by organisers who have all the information available to seed people properly, but choose not to. They do not advertise this as a fun ride - largest time race in the world. I sympathize completely with the back markers in the seeding, most of the celebrity batches are tackling the ride without any training at all. I know people who rode without training in these batches. You could be trying to ride a sub 4 hour yet have a wall of people walking up every hill in front of you. The organizers are arrogant, try to talk to them when you have a problem, their attitude is that if you don't like it, they don't need you. Like I said, it is a fun ride.

Back in the day the race finished in Camps Bay, so add a few minutes to the older times.

I am glad someone has brought this up, I have ridden with the ladies many times. I would rather not ride, than race in their bunch. Most race tactically and sit in the bunch, sprint at the end. In recent years the start has been partitioned off between the men and ladies in the same batch. The ladies are put in ahead in the same starting batch, you have no choice but to sit behind them. The first few kays is a massive roadblock trying to get through them. The bunches are huge in Argus, narrow roads. Last year around 400 in Vets bunch (VB and Masters, thankfully no ladies - they were with VA), at Chapmans Peak, about 100 A bunch lighties caught us going like the clappers. Up Chappies looking for parking the bunch is so big. Very frustrating to train so hard and see your best time left out of the road. It is now a fun ride. All the organisers care about is the money. Races like 94.7, Amashova and Tour Durban are for the serious rider - good seedings, ride like hell, safe bunches and safe route. Think the Argus is a now a fun ride, they don't care about the serious cyclist. If you want the ladies to ride faster, offer them money for good times. On the mountain bike they show that they are nearly as strong as the guys.

Maybe it's her bike?

No, was so tired at 40 km was going to phone my wife to meet me at the dam wall. Then when I saw the road, thought it would be quicker to ride to Durban than wait. From there, apart from the overflowing sewage and the climb to Reservoir Hills, it was pretty fine.

Rode through every local soccer match and Kraal in Inanda. Fortunately the locals point you in the right direction when lost. The route was poorly marked. I was looking forward to a fast jeep track / dirt road ride from the Inanda dam wall to Durbs. Guess these mountain bikers have this obsession with single track, can't understand it.

Get Zipp 404's. Had Zipps and Borah's, Zipps are better. The Zipp back wheel is very stiff, so you climb better. With tubbies you can ride through massive potholes without snake bites. I rode Argus 2010 with Borah's (50 mm), they were terrible. If you are not a heavy guy you can't ride deep section wheels in the wind.

If it is technically possible, then someone is doing it. If I had 50 extra watts throughout the local races, I could ride with the pros. Floyd Landis could maintain 350 watts at threshold, Tom Boonen 420 watts. 50 watts is all the difference between the average pro and the elite.