ewald99

Anyone know if I will have to pay VAT and duties if I buy a bike for use while in Europe on a business trip and I just bring it with me when I come back rather than selling it?

Hi I will be training through winter to be ready for Tri-rock and Enduroman in October. If anyone knows of any groups in that area or feel like joining in any early morning sessions please let me know. I normally start my sessions at home (Century City) and don't have a fixed training program yet, so could move things around to suit the sessions. Some of the sessions I normally do include: - Ride from Century City along the bike lanes towards Melkbos and back for about 50km (1h45 approx). - Run from Century City to wherever and back, longer runs and tempo runs - Swim at Century City VA, about 3.5km I train from 5am - 7am weekdays. Please if anyone is interested in joining me for a session or know of any established groups please let me know. Thanks

So has anyone tried the FA trisuits yet? Any feedback?

YIP! 2nd lap, university! if you can find some magic mantra or redbull/coke/whatever mix to teleport you through that part then ironman is "easy"!

I agree with Davem, when you are starting out you don't need a coach. I made that mistake and got tired of paying my 500 ZAR per month to a well known coach/athlete in Cape Town after a few months. The program was completely cut-and-paste, he even forgot to take out someone else's name once, and he took 2 weeks sometimes to reply to my emails when I asked for explanations of the sessions. It's just not worth it. I think you can swim, run and ride as much as you can fit into your schedule when you are starting out and you will be fine, you don't need any fancy training sessions. I have 2 tips for you from a beginner's perspective: 1. Make sure you do a good portion of your training in conditions similar to your planned race (for example make sure you swim in the ocean sometimes, and not just the pool, and if the run is hilly make sure you run some hills every now and then etc.) 2. Use some of the money you saved by not having a coach and get a real swim coach to look at your stroke, I cut 5 seconds per 100 off my pace immediately by making a single small change to my stroke. Someone like Neil from Dinamic or Natalie from Velocity will help you. (this helps whether you are trying to cut serious time off your swim or just trying to survive!!) Once you get through your first few tris and you start looking at really improving times then you should get a coach, but if your coach tells you they don't need to at least meet you or have a phone conversation with you about your goals and acheivements then you may be getting a cut and paste!

thanks nothiness I am going via the R304 so if I could go towards wellington and via paarl i don't have to repeat any part of the route, and I could also avoid the kayamandi area because I am aware of the issues there. It looks and sounds like the R45 from malmesbury right through to franschoek might be a good option. thanks for the info.

Hi hubbers I am planning on riding about 200km on saturday, from Milnerton to Malmesbury (like I often do) and then from there to Franschoek via Paarl. I have never done the 2nd part from Malmesbury to Franschoek. Can anyone suggest a route that is relatively safe (low mugging risk). I know no route is safe but from maps it is difficult to see which routes are close to informal settlements or areas that may be higher risk areas for muggings, keeping in mind I will probably riding by myself. Will appreciate the advice. Thanks

taxis should not be a problem. usually the bike paths are raised and separated from normal traffic by a row of trees or a barrier. I am sure there will be some kind of barrier at the entrance splitting the lane making it impossible for cars etc to enter, similar to the paths along PE beachfront. I know you can't call it untill the thing is complete and being used, but at this point it looks great. my house is very near there and I have been on there with my mountain bike a few times and running there (some parts are done except for the final layer of tar) and you really do feel completely safe and it is smooth and wide, no need to hold back on the speed. Another nice thing is that they say that all along the bike path there will be a pedestrian path also. I have seen this at some places but not all along the route, perhaps they will still add it to some sections before it is finished, but it sounds like they also took that into account. When it is done it will remove the need to ride on the road through Milnerton and past Paarden Island, which has seen 3 fatal accidents in the last 2 years involving cyclists. Hopefully this will help to make us all safer, even though it does not solve the bigger problem.

i went to cyclelab expecting all fancy computers and stuff and the guy (one of those schoolkids referred to above i assume) just got me on the bike and checked it out and made some adjustments. at one point he says to me: 'i don't know why your ass is rocking like that, what are you doing?", so i say, it is because you put my saddle so high I can hardly pedal!" so he goes "oh you have a point" and adjusts it!!!! don't know if that kind of expert advice is worth R350, but I learnt my lesson, make sure what you get before you put your bike in the stand!

is that a sticker / decal or is it painted on there?? anyone know what is best to use for handpainting straight onto a frame?

no way i'll try that. i'm a surfer and don't think I will get in the water again after that!

nope, you pass the boom on the side