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[Event] Cape Town Cycle Tour 2019


Warren Lew

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Genuine question as I have no clue on tandems except they offer great shelter - let's say on a good day my "talent" and training can get me a 3.30 and I have a friend who can do the same.  I weigh 95, he weighs 75 and we skill up on the tandem.  Is a sub 3 then possible or are we still on for 330 or even slower?

Hypothetical because I'm not letting him steer and I wouldn't let me steer if I was him.

Tandems are fast on the Argus route as its pretty flat and fast. 1100m climbing over 109kms isnt too much up and down. You can really work into the wind much better on a tandem as you have double the power but the same frontal area. Its then really all about seeding and bunches to work in unless you time trial it (and you will ahhve a **** load of wheel huggers, me being one of them if i can catch you).

 

The flatter the route the faster the tandems are as they can maintain a higher average. For example i was a B maybe at the best an A group cyclist. I was pretty fit and did the old hyper to hyper (now the Fast one) on a tandem with a strong mate. We averaged 44,7 kmh for a 103 km route. I nearly threw up a couple of times and also saw black dots in places from oxygen deprivation but we did it. 2h14 for 103kms. Gives you an idea. 

 

Get one - but with two big boys on a tandem can get it motoring so make sure you have big discs and strong wheels - and hydraulics to boot.

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oh, and with regards to the medals.

 

a) I'm not a racing snake, I work hard to finish 100km, the medals mean something to me.

b) My daughter has show and tell at school this week, she asked me last night if she can take my number 10 medal and some photos to talk about the Argus that "Dad" rides. I'll be adding the 40take2 medal to that and the 40th anniversary book.

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I might have kept number 10, I know I brought it home but dont recall putting it "in a safe place"

Also last years 40take2 because I rode it with my dad.

I know that the first time I took my wife to Cape Town for her to witness me riding (we were still dating at the time) she kept the number. But chicks are sentimental like that.

 

If I do my target time this year I'll keep this years number.

My folks got there this morning. Our bike arrives Friday, So if you see a dude with a bright orange tandem, say Hi. I will be there Saturday midday. Will look out for you. SCOTT speedster?

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oh, and with regards to the medals.

 

a) I'm not a racing snake, I work hard to finish 100km, the medals mean something to me.

b) My daughter has show and tell at school this week, she asked me last night if she can take my number 10 medal and some photos to talk about the Argus that "Dad" rides. I'll be adding the 40take2 medal to that and the 40th anniversary book.

Now THAT is a good idea. Some of the things some parents give their kids for show and tell in my sons class is insane. They 3 y/o and the parents try out do each other. I just shake my head. None of the kids will get it but some of the parents will. All the pictures get put onto a Mom's whatsapp group. I know of at least 2 Dad's that ride.

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I would say No. Both my toppie and I race Vets when not on the tandem(VA for me and V60+ for him) and my vets times are very similar/faster and his are similar/slower but by like 5/10min at the most. On the local one day calendar the Argus is considered hilly and climbing on a tandem can be harder than on a single so you won't really be faster. But on a flat route you would probably be faster but not by 30min over 100odd km.

Well at least I don't have to get a tandem now that you've dashed my dreams of ever going under 3 hours - basically the guys whizzing passed me on tandems would be flying past no matter what they were on.

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My folks got there this morning. Our bike arrives Friday, So if you see a dude with a bright orange tandem, say Hi. I will be there Saturday midday. Will look out for you. SCOTT speedster?

Black Scott speedster. Blue and White Volvo Kit.

Will look out for you.

We arrive Thursday morning, bike should arrive friday but will pick it up saturday.

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Well at least I don't have to get a tandem now that you've dashed my dreams of ever going under 3 hours - basically the guys whizzing passed me on tandems would be flying past no matter what they were on.

You could always pair up with a strong sub 3 rider. sub 3:30 is still damn respectable so possible with someone that is capable of a sub3. If you are able to go deep into the red basically 4 times during the race you cool.

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Tandems are fast on the Argus route as its pretty flat and fast. 1100m climbing over 109kms isnt too much up and down. You can really work into the wind much better on a tandem as you have double the power but the same frontal area. Its then really all about seeding and bunches to work in unless you time trial it (and you will ahhve a **** load of wheel huggers, me being one of them if i can catch you).

 

The flatter the route the faster the tandems are as they can maintain a higher average. For example i was a B maybe at the best an A group cyclist. I was pretty fit and did the old hyper to hyper (now the Fast one) on a tandem with a strong mate. We averaged 44,7 kmh for a 103 km route. I nearly threw up a couple of times and also saw black dots in places from oxygen deprivation but we did it. 2h14 for 103kms. Gives you an idea. 

 

Get one - but with two big boys on a tandem can get it motoring so make sure you have big discs and strong wheels - and hydraulics to boot. 

How many other races come close to this?

Edinburgh drive, Smits, chappies and suiker bossie are tough on a tandem.

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