Danie, dankie vir die mooi woorde in die nuusbrief (jys net jaloers dan ek jou nie gestoot het nie)

Technical tips:

Punctures:
1. Reduce punctures my making sure your tyres are pumped 8.5bar – do this in the morning before each ride – it taken one minute and saves your embarresment and holding up the group for five or more minutes
2. Inspect your tyres for embedded glass by deflating it and pinch it between your fingers to open the contact surface (middle of the tyre). Replace the tyre if worn – invest in your sport your health.

Gear changing:
1. When you need small cadence adjustment change only the rear (right lever). When you change at the front, change the rear as well. Easy to remember – when you push the big level on the left (to larger gear in front), push the big level on the right at the same time. The same with the small level on the left and right sam time. After this adjust the right (rear) gears to the right cadence. This technique helps you to best maintain momentum , specially when riding in the group.

Drinks:
1. On Sunday one cyclist (that i know of) arrived without waterbottles. Another with only one bottle – for a 100km – 5hour ride. The first didn’t finish and the second dehydrated. You need a bottle of liquid for every 1 to 1.5 hours. Don’t kill your body.

Nice day.
Andre van der Merwe PhD
andrevdm@sun.ac.za