Cape Town Cycle Tour 2026

[Andreas_187]

1 hour ago, Kom said:

i laughed when i heard a euro rider shout "stop using your brakes" cruising past newlands forest in 1A

amazes me how bunch riders just expect a consistent speed, with no read on the terrain, peddling into the center of a group when the riders ahead have clearly slowed to ride up a hill, is the biggest lack of self awareness i see in our local race scene.

"Breyton Paulse im looking at you" yup i was the team captain shouting at you, altho i felt k*k when i realised it was him.

ive added a rider lookup to the ctct racenator site if any y'all are interested --> 

https://sweet-torrone-3935b2.netlify.app

There are team captains?

[Kom]

25 minutes ago, Andreas_187 said:

There are team captains?

self appointed team captains in all batches, and the virus spreads as batches splinter

in the final stretch from camps bay to the finish, we also have lead out riders being rung out by these captains - motivation like "we're almost there keep pushing" 😂

ive updated the site with more data --> https://sweet-torrone-3935b2.netlify.app

 

[ChrisF]

9 hours ago, Jbr said:

I did my 5th this weekend. Seems most of the $ bunch didn't mind riding behind my wheel for the first hour and half 😜

 

SNAP 

 

5th tour ... robot after M3 a big bunch formed behind me ... tried, but nobody wanted to pass

 

By the time we got to the railway line next to the sea I was bleeding out of my eye balls .... pulled over and soft pedalled a bit while having an energy bar.

 

Still safer to lead than to sit mid pack on that very slopped section of road.

Edited March 12 by ChrisF

[Ncayi]

3 hours ago, Kom said:

amazes me how bunch riders just expect a consistent speed, with no read on the terrain, peddling into the center of a group when the riders ahead have clearly slowed to ride up a hill, is the biggest lack of self awareness i see in our local race scene.

In my limited racing experience I have learnt the following.

- Too many people expect group ride dynamics in a race bunch. There are some crossovers but a race bunch is different from a coffee ride with your mates.

-Keeping your line is crucial from a safety standpoint. But you dont have a permanent God given line for the whole race. To many people shout keep your line when they struggle to keep up with the dynamic nature of a racing peleton.

- Most of us want to be in the front 20-30 wheels as it's usually more safer and efficient. But very few of us actually want to pull (myself included).

- I am not the lightest or the fittest but one thing I prioritize is anticipating things in the bunch. You have to know where the pinch points are, spot a dead wheel in a split second, know when and how to move up safely and efficiently.

-There are a lot of strong guys who can't race a bike for 💩. 400 gazzilon watt ftp but can't hit an apex,drink without looking down or signal before standing.

You also need to have some ⚽️⚽️ in a bunch. Too many people ride like scared wankers in some of these races, but insist to be in the centre of the action. I am not advocating dangerous riding but some people need to grow a pair man.

Edited March 12 by Ncayi

[sboschnoob]

noob question. 

What do you call the technique where people take their bottle and first swing it to the side like they want to PK the rider next to them before taking a sip? 

I've seen it in the seeding races as well. Can't you just take the bottle straight up to your face?

[DieselnDust]

10 hours ago, sboschnoob said:

noob question. 

What do you call the technique where people take their bottle and first swing it to the side like they want to PK the rider next to them before taking a sip? 

I've seen it in the seeding races as well. Can't you just take the bottle straight up to your face?

It’s called offering a drink. You’re supposed to grab the bottle, take a swig and hand it back to them….

Edited March 12 by DieselnDust

[Mamil]

50 minutes ago, sboschnoob said:

noob question. 

What do you call the technique where people take their bottle and first swing it to the side like they want to PK the rider next to them before taking a sip? 

I've seen it in the seeding races as well. Can't you just take the bottle straight up to your face?

I think its supposed to be "Watch out I only have one hand on the bars and may veer or stop pedaling as I take a swig or put the bottle back or god forbid drop the bottle into your front wheel" but I don't think its really necessary.

[WattsTheFuss]

1 hour ago, sboschnoob said:

noob question. 

What do you call the technique where people take their bottle and first swing it to the side like they want to PK the rider next to them before taking a sip? 

I've seen it in the seeding races as well. Can't you just take the bottle straight up to your face?

Agree 100%, who ever came up with $##$, no blady racing or riding skills.

Just take your bottle out and drink it and put it back, simple, no drama needed

[DM90]

1 hour ago, sboschnoob said:

noob question. 

What do you call the technique where people take their bottle and first swing it to the side like they want to PK the rider next to them before taking a sip? 

I've seen it in the seeding races as well. Can't you just take the bottle straight up to your face?

Not to mention that when they put away their bottle they swerve to the side, almost got taken out like this.

[Zama7]

Wind was pretty sketchy the first 15km, how did the weather compare to the previous years with regards to wind ? Also is there usually no food / bars at water stations use to mountain biking where there is snacks / food at all the stations but again probably a much smaller field. 

[ChaseTheAce]

2 hours ago, Ncayi said:

signal before standing

What's the signal regarding standing?
I am unaware of this etiquette.

[Ncayi]

11 minutes ago, ChaseTheAce said:

What's the signal regarding standing?
I am unaware of this etiquette.

It's usually a double flick of both elbows. One can get missed but missing two flicks is the fault of the person behind you.

Most people lose speed when they stand and pedal. Its possible to stand and pedal without losing speed but most people can't or usually stand in a moment of panic.

Edited March 12 by Ncayi

[The Ouzo]

1 hour ago, Zama7 said:

Wind was pretty sketchy the first 15km, how did the weather compare to the previous years with regards to wind ? Also is there usually no food / bars at water stations use to mountain biking where there is snacks / food at all the stations but again probably a much smaller field. 

This is Cape Town. Very seldom is there no wind. 
 

I don’t normally linger at water points, but of the 21 CTCT I’ve done I’ve never seen snacks at them

[The Ouzo]

1 hour ago, Ncayi said:

It's usually a double flick of both elbows. One can get missed but missing two flicks is the fault of the person behind you.

Most people lose speed when they stand and pedal. Its possible to stand and pedal without losing speed but most people can't or usually stand in a moment of panic.

I will be honest, I only learnt of this in the last year or 2, but then I never really did group rides. 
 

the water bottle thing is something I remember Andrew McClean mentioning way back in the late 90s early 00s in the tips section of one of the mags you used to get for either 947 or Argus. 

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, Ncayi said:

It's usually a double flick of both elbows. One can get missed but missing two flicks is the fault of the person behind you.

Most people lose speed when they stand and pedal. Its possible to stand and pedal without losing speed but most people can't or usually stand in a moment of panic.

I have been cycling for years and never knew about that signal, but now that you mention it I have recently seen guys do it in the group just before they put in a big attack. I naively thought they were psyching themselves up for the effort or subtly warning their buddies to follow...

[Zebra]

Yes, the ‘showing’ of the water bottle WAS a real thing back in the days of Vets and League racing; trust me, there were PLENTY of bike-handling skills in those groups, but it was a courtesy in tightish fields indicating you were about to drink;

…with the best will in the world, there could be a MICRO-slowing when removing, then drinking, then replacing the bottle - the ‘show’ just alerted other cyclists that there could be a micro-slowdown occurring, and everyone respected - and mostly practiced - it.

The League group included professional Triathletes, past Argus winners, and people with National Colours - it may well have fallen into disuse these days; back then, in a fast, focussed group riding at quite some speed, it just ‘worked’.

Chris