Cape Argus: experiences wanted

[JGR]

bunch riding is not an issue, this is a picture I took last year in NY.

I cycle a lot in our city to get around as well, between cars, narrow streets etc

 

A little more like this .. but just in places

[touf_d]

thanks for the encouragement!

 

Yes, I've been to SA before but that was in 1998 as a student on a tight budget. Visited CPT and the garden route. Loved it, looking forward to coming back, still on a budget but less tight ;-)

No, no mountainbiking, just cycling on weekends for fun, always making sure there is a nice bar or street side café along the way for a refreshing beer, haha, I'm Belgian after all !

 

Lots of that on the argus route.... lol.....

[T-Bob]

Might be an idea to do your ride for a local charity to get another unique perspective in to Cape Town.

 

Afrika Tikkun had a township ride for all their fundraisers to a children's centre that they run in Mfuleni. When they where there the riders were presented with their unique team jerseys by the kids that they'd helped out.

[Belgian biker]

That's a actually good idea to keep in mind once everything else is arranged (flights, hotel, registration, bikes, the rest of our holiday!...) An ex-colleague of mine has a charity in Plettenberg for children with disabilities, they can always use a little extra.

 

so what do you take along on the ride itself? Sunscreen, water, camera,....I see there are refreshment areas, do they provide energy food, drinks,...?

[Belgian biker]

oh, and most important: which bike should we hire? Below it my bike at home, that I love to drive and feel most comfortable with. A lot of rental companies in CPT rent our race bikes but I've never driven one before and I don't like bikes where your bum is higher than your hands :-) I think we better go for a MTB kind of bike, no? (Most companies I've loked at have a choice between those 2 kinds)

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/vr838l.jpg

[word]

You must read the following blog site for a great review on training for the Argus and riding the Argus. Very well written:

 

http://www.cyclingcycology.com/category/blog/

[Belgian biker]

Well 2 weeks later and it's definitly for sure: I'm doing the Argus 2015! I got my mind set on it!

 

My husband decided not too, and I understand: his condition is not as good as mine and he has a back condition (scoliosis) which makes it difficult for him to ride a bike for hours. Or if he did, he'd barely be able to walk for 3 weeks and that would ruin the rest of our holiday.

 

in a way, it will be easier for me so I can ride at my own pace (+/-20k/h) I think I should be able to finish the race. 50% condition, 30% adrenaline of riding such a great tour and 20% determination. Now tell me that's not a plan

Edited May 18, 2014 by Belgian biker

[T-Bob]

Well 2 weeks later and it's definitly for sure: I'm doing the Argus 2015! I got my mind set on it!

 

My husband decided not too, and I understand: his condition is not as good as mine and he has a back condition (scoliosis) which makes it difficult for him to ride a bike for hours. Or if he did, he'd barely be able to walk for 3 weeks and that would ruin the rest of our holiday.

 

in a way, it will be easier for me so I can ride at my own pace (+/-20k/h) I think I should be able to finish the race. 50% condition, 30% adrenaline of riding such a great tour and 20% determination. Now tell me that's not a plan

 

Congrats on the decision! You won't regret a single moment...

[walkerr]

Well 2 weeks later and it's definitly for sure: I'm doing the Argus 2015! I got my mind set on it!

 

My husband decided not too, and I understand: his condition is not as good as mine and he has a back condition (scoliosis) which makes it difficult for him to ride a bike for hours. Or if he did, he'd barely be able to walk for 3 weeks and that would ruin the rest of our holiday.

 

in a way, it will be easier for me so I can ride at my own pace (+/-20k/h) I think I should be able to finish the race. 50% condition, 30% adrenaline of riding such a great tour and 20% determination. Now tell me that's not a plan

 

Excellent, you'll love it

[DJR]

..........in a way, it will be easier for me so I can ride at my own pace (+/-20k/h) I think I should be able to finish the race. 50% condition, 30% adrenaline of riding such a great tour and 20% determination. Now tell me that's not a plan

 

It sure is a decent plan!

[Belgian biker]

Hi guys (and girls?)

another 2 months later and I tought I'd give an update for those interested.

So I've been cycling a lot in the last months and I really feel my condition improving. I try to cycle into work at least once a week (22km single way) and a longer ride on the weekend. Most I did was 80km, and that went pretty easy but that was all flat along rivers and canals. I now cycle easily at around 22-24km/h on flat roads.

 

So today I tought, let's train a bit on those hills. I got completely lost along the way and ended up doing some really tough hills, I had to get off my bike. No wonder, I just looked it up: those were hills with an average of 8,2% with a max of 13% LOL! I did one hill of 4,4% with even some cobblestones at the end, that was hard but I stayed on my bike, cycling around 10km/h.

Ended up doing 71km today in around 4h, including those hills! Towards the end, my back hurt more then my legs, wrong position on the bike?

 

So all in all, I think I nearly ready for the Argus, except having to wait another 7 months (and keeping it up during the winter months)

 

lookig forward to it!!!

[Pure Savage]

Hi guys (and girls?)

another 2 months later and I tought I'd give an update for those interested.

So I've been cycling a lot in the last months and I really feel my condition improving. I try to cycle into work at least once a week (22km single way) and a longer ride on the weekend. Most I did was 80km, and that went pretty easy but that was all flat along rivers and canals. I now cycle easily at around 22-24km/h on flat roads.

 

So today I tought, let's train a bit on those hills. I got completely lost along the way and ended up doing some really tough hills, I had to get off my bike. No wonder, I just looked it up: those were hills with an average of 8,2% with a max of 13% LOL! I did one hill of 4,4% with even some cobblestones at the end, that was hard but I stayed on my bike, cycling around 10km/h.

Ended up doing 71km today in around 4h, including those hills! Towards the end, my back hurt more then my legs, wrong position on the bike?

 

So all in all, I think I nearly ready for the Argus, except having to wait another 7 months (and keeping it up during the winter months)

 

lookig forward to it!!!

 

Many people here would love to go for some rides around Belgium on the cobbles!! Good luck with training and keep it up.

 

 

[LeTurbo]

You can probably rent a bike similar to your usual one from Woodstock Cycleworks - Nils deals in older bikes and commuter models more than "bum higher than your head" models. The hills - well, it's not as flat as Holland, but neither as steep as the Tour de France.