What do you wish you had known in the beginning?

[Witkop]

running is better, harder and cheaper(and takes less time). Duathlon is a good bridge away from cycling and to utopia

[Guest agteros]

running is better, harder and cheaper(and takes less time). Duathlon is a good bridge away from cycling and to utopia

 

Amen brother, AMEN!

Cycling might become JUST another sport, and not the be all and end all!

[HeartCoppi]

dare I say: 29er

[GLuvsMtb]

Ride with riders that are doing the times that you eventually want to do. To hang out on the short routes with the school kids may get you some good results, but unless you are winning the mtb races, your seeding will stay somewhere in the middle of the alphabet, unless you are winning races. With the weighting system in place even winning these races don't count for much.

 

Make sure that you are in shape come spring time and nail the early road races hard.

 

Target 2 seeding events (OFM classic and Die Burger) for sub 3 times which should get you up to F or G for Argus.

 

Train hard over December and hit the Summer races hard until mid Feb.

 

Follow a hard Saturday race with a long ride on a Sunday and rest on the Monday.

[Witkop]

cycling is not about racing or results or anything else, but rather about cycling.

Enjoy cycling.

 

If you want to win, play monopoly or risk.

If you want to get superfit, run.

If you want to social, join the Lions or Round table.

If you want to support a cause, join rotary.

if you want tou ride a bike, cycle.

[SwissVan]

The importance of being Consistent, training Quality and Avoidance.

 

Consistency – Don’t take long “hiatuses”, always do some form of physical exercise.

 

Quality – Improvement comes from doing quality training i.e. don’t ride only junk miles, do regular hill repeats, intervals and other hi intensity types of training.

 

Avoidance – Avoid training in large groups on a regular basis, train on your own at your desired pace without the benefit of a slip stream.

[DJR]

To keep it fun is essential - do 1 ride every week or two that only has fun as a goal.

 

(Single speed to the coffee shop / jump park with the kids / flowing single track / Chapmans Peak drive / learn to wheelie / whatever you enjoy.)

[mikkelz]

That it's OK and most probably better to have your Shimano SPD's tension looser rather than tighter if you're using clipless pedals for the first time ever.

[chris_w_65]

Photochromatic sunglasses

 

+1

[TheSaint]

In all the above,

 

Dont forget to rest

[ThePubSA]

what i wish i had known ; ->

 

was the cost of this addiction on my body and pocket.

 

lmao

 

gotta love it tho <3

[cat-i]

the daggapad at van gaalens

[cat-i]

Tubeless

 

YES

[Oltremo]

Cycling is not about quick results, it is going to take time. Build a solid base. Focus on training for the long term. Keep the balance between enjoyment and disciplined training efforts.

[VroomSL]

Get into MTB rather.

 

The Argus should'nt be the focus of your cycling, as it is only 1 ride.

The whole roadbiking scene is geared for speed and time, rather than enjoyment.

 

On an MTB you really going to be pushed out of your comfort zone, which equates to great fun.

[Ollie]

Ride with riders that are doing the times that you eventually want to do. To hang out on the short routes with the school kids may get you some good results, but unless you are winning the mtb races, your seeding will stay somewhere in the middle of the alphabet, unless you are winning races. With the weighting system in place even winning these races don't count for much.

 

I've done two MTB events thus far, the Malmesbury 35km (very hard) and Breede 32km (average). Next is the Tru-Cape on May 7: I should attempt the 50km then? This will probably be a major shock to my system, if the intensity is anything like Malmesbury.