Wonderful Welvanpas!

The day before I returned was spent with Christiaan & Elisca on trails that form part of one of the Cape Epic stages. It was the hottest day on my whole holiday, the temperature was close to the 40's. 

Because of the heat in South Africa there isn't much time for respite, you ride to finish your ride before the heat of the day. That means you shut up & pedal so that your ride is done by 10:00! The trail provides you with views over the whole of the Bainskloof Valley before you head over to the furthest part which spans views over to the Swartland! It has a good combination of easy rideable fast flowing singletrack and a few pieces of nice rock garden type singletrack. 

I still need to get a bit braver with the regular narrow little bridges that they sneak in regularly when you least expect it. 

Head out early to avoid the heat as in start your ride at 6:00 if not earlier as you don't want to be caught in the furthest part of the trail with the sun beaming down on you. The wind also pumps like crazy at the back of the mountain, but I was quite grateful for the wind as it kept us cool. Riding in the UK doesn't make me hard enough for this warm temperature, it literally feels like I'm going backwards as soon as I'm not under the shade!

The trail was 95% singletrack, constantly going up & down and traversing round the mountains. 

They do have a café at the start and finish area of the trail which sells cold cool drinks, beer snacks and even homemade jam. 

Put it on your bucketlist for places to ride! 

Find out more about the routes and how to get here by visiting Mountain Biking - Welvanpas.

Bainskloof

Trying out IamSUPERBAR, a healthy dried fruit and nuts bar made by Elisca's friend

View towards the Swartland!

Singletrack for miles!

Singletrack satisfaction! 

Elisca properly said something inappropriate to make us both laugh like this! 

The Dollas in action

Welvanpas

 Lunch at Blacksmith Kitchen in Paarl! Beautiful setting, amazing food and great place to kuier

Kerryn is friends with the owner of Blacksmith Kitchen in Paarl and recommended this place to us. The setting is beautiful and the food even better. Service is great with plenty of ice water top ups as an added bonus. Their crockery are personalised with parts of the deeds of the farm printed on them and it is evident that attention to detail is very important to them. They served the most amazing fresh garlic pesto with the pizza, I care more about the taste than the effects of the garlic. :-) 

HOT HOT Paarl! 

'Heavenly' Hemel & Aarde Vallei

Riding in Hermanus was with my best friends. This was my 3 day break away from the farmstall. 

It was like old times; like Tango Cycling Wales weekends, but just in Hermanus. Everything revolved around a good ride, eating and kuiering! Awesome! Thank you Steph, Gerhard, Christiaan, Kerryn, Si & Pokkeljie for the memories! 

The trails and scenery was out of this world and the trails form part of the well-known Wine 2 Whales race. My favourite part was riding up The Gorge and following the wheel of Steph like old times down some flowy twisty singletrack. 

Check out Hermanus Adventures website for more details on the routes. We followed a combination of the routes, Steph knew the routes so she hand selected all the best bits! :-)

Day 1 

Tango Cycling Global

Tango Triplets Re-united

The Tango Twins were lost & found again before this picture! 

Tango Train

Breakfast at Die Plaaskombuis

Obviously the best part of our ride according to me. Some of us didn't have breakfast before our ride and didn't take into account the South African heat. 

The Gorge!

At the top of The Gorge!

Happy place

All together now! 

Steph nailing it!

Psalm 24

Cream Soda Float vs Popeye Juice
The Popeye Juice was clearly NOT mine, but I can assure you that it tasted what it looked like!

Kammabaai

Delicatessen from the farmstall

 Day 2

I indulged a little bit too much in all the good South Africa food and it felt like my breakfast sat in my throat whilst riding, but I'm so glad that I rode as the scenery was just so beautiful! 

Early birds catches the worm

Early morning sunrise! 

The morning after the night before!

Steph & Si! :-) 

You scream, we scream, we all scream for Ice cream! 

Prawn Flats

Coffee @ Voëlklip

My Besties: Si, Pokkeltjie, Kerryn, Christiaan, Zoé, Steph & Gerhard

Read more about riding in Welvanpas

A road cycling dilemma

This morning I was meant to go on a ladies ride that Rapha organised. I haven't been on my road ride for a while and noticed that I had a slow puncture. 

If you don't keep your finger on the pulse in terms of maintaining your bike and using your kit regularly you will end up like I did this morning; trying to eat breakfast whilst searching for a slow puncture, found it, used old fashioned glue patches to patch it, then I went to my room to fetch my lights as I'm halfway down the stairs I remember my sunglasses. 

Finally outside with my fixed wheel I go to the garage to collect my bike. I always battle squeezing the wheel back in through the brake pads, wasting more time, then I pump up my back tyre and finally ready to go, but realising there is no chance that I'll make it to Esher for 9:00. 

Back into the house again noticing that I didn't take my helmet! 

What to do now? I'm not making that ride, I'm awake, dressed and ready to ride. Do I try and find a ride buddy or do I just ride on my own? 

Decision made: I'll ride on my own. 

I went up Cottenham Park Drive along Wimbledon Common, down to Putney and through Roehampton entering the park via the dreaded and well known Priory lane. 

As I came near to the park I realised... mmm London Dynamo rides Saturday mornings in the park. Not ideal. 

I started my lap regardless. 

The first group of about 12 riders past me in silence. 

The second group caught me as I was almost at the top of Dark Hill, the 4th rider was the first to say allo to me. One more morning and that is it. At the top they regrouped, I was holding their pace and that is where my dilemma occurred...

They were chainganging it... for those who don't know, two rows of riders ride next to each other and they rotate anti-clockwise to each take a turn at the front. This is a beautiful thing to see when it is executed well like they were doing it. 

Where does this leave me? 

I can easily keep the pace and join their chaingang OR I can overtake them just to upset them and myself as I'll well out of my comfort zone and not be able to hold their pace on my own? 

I have favourite sections in the park where I like to open up a bit if I'm possible. 

I sat about 2 meters behind their chaingang. We went down Dark Hill. I stayed behind their last rider and didn't overtake him, he caught up with them, I dropped off a little bit, but then caught up with them on their way back to Roehampton Gate. 

Next problem, cars are coming from the front, their group is splitting up, I'm on the outside... The friendly ride captain tell me to jump on his wheel which I did. Suddenly I'm in their chaingang. I'm well capable of being their, but somehow they don't really know what to do with me as now I've messed up their perfectly organised formation. 

We turned the corner at Roehampton Gate and I was on the outside near the front, I wasn't sure if I should pull over to the left to drop back to the back again or what I should do.... So I accelerated a little so that I'm in front of them and not part of their formation. I took a left up to the Ballet School and they went straight on towards Sawyers Hill. 

I don't like riding on my own, so it was quite nice to be in the mix and realise that I was able to keep up with them. 

I cruised along towards Ham Gate as I took a left turn to go down the dip at Ham towards Kingston Gate (one of my favourite sections of the park).  I saw two groups of Dynamos coming down from Pembroke Lodge. I really hoped that it wasn't them and that it was the fast group. 

I kept on riding and as we got to Dark Hill again, their they catch me again, some of them commented here you are again at which I didn't reply as I could feel that I haven't really been riding on my roadbike lately and was paying the price for it. Needless to say they came past me, dropped me and carried on, I took a right and left the park through Ladderstile Gate. 

I am really glad that I've been for a ride, but can't help to think what would've been the right thing to do? 

My options were: 

1. I should've asked if I could join their chaingang 
2. They could've offered that I join
3. Should I have stopped to give them some space so that I didn't get caught in their mix of things again? 
4. I could've over taken them, but that would just be arrogant as then they'll hunt me down and all I wanted was a chilled ride in the park. 

Maybe if I felt different today I would've asked, but I didn't. :-)

Ps. See with mountain biking we would've just talked to each other or waited a little bit to give a gap... 

Pss. Why didn't I think to do that, surely that the principle would've paid off on the road as well. Next time! 

REVIEW: Specialized Women Specific Cycling Clothing

All of my bike accessories are already Specialized, but I've never splashed out on buying my own Specialized cycling kit. 

I happen to have met Olivia the Brand Manager for Women at Specialized UK on the Bella Velo rides and she kindly surprised me in June with this Specialized ambassadors outfit. 

I had to take the selfie to capture my excitement, it doesn't quite do it justice, but if you look closely you'll see that I dropped everything in the kitchen to try on this outfit straight away! 

From the moment I started trying it on, I could tell that this was good quality kit and understand why people pay the price for this kit. It is just so soft, it doesn't cut into love handles or upper thighs, it just feels great. This might be a strange thing for me to say and also very cringy, but you feel like a women! Oooh I said it! 

The cycling tights are my favourite, it is awesome bib shorts with a magnet fastening on the back which allows you to go to the ladies without taking all of your clothes off. You literally just drop your tights and go. 

Below is a video from Specialized demonstrating how it works! 

The padding is thin and ergonomically shaped for the best comfort. 

Soft finishes on the arm

The sleeves of the jersey and legs of the tights both have base layer material finishes which doesn't cut into your skin and doesn't ride up either as it has nicely spaced out elastic on the inside. 

Same soft finishes on the legs

The back of the cycling top has 3 pockets, including a waterproof zipped pocket. 

If you look closely you can see the magnet dropper of the bib shorts underneath my top.

I love this outfit even though it has pink it. :-) The bib shorts is a must! 

TC's Personal Shopping just for you!

Hi Everyone Tis the season to be jolly! I love shopping for myself and others. It is much more fun shopping if you know what you are buying, with the help of a few friends I have  compiled a list of 21 items for you. They will all make good Christmas gifts for people who love cycling. I own most of these items so can personally recommend them and those that I don't have, I would like to have! :-) Happy Tango Shopping! TC #morefunforless

This multi-tool got recommended to me by a friend, in all honesty I haven't used all the functions yet, but it is a good one! Price: £16 Use: MTB Crankbrothers multi-tool These socks keeps your feet warm in winter as long as it doesn't rain, when they are wet your feet will obviously be colder, but at least they will still be dry! Price: £32 Use: MTB & Road Sealskinz Waterproof Socks Overshoes are the most unattractive piece of cycling gear you will own, but they are the key to warm feet in winter! Price: £20 Use: Road & MTB Overshoes Versatile and great to take the chill off before winter breaks out in full swing! Toe covers are easy to leave on your shoes and much less faffing than overshoes. Best birthday gift I got this year! Price: £9 Use: Road & MTB Toe Covers TC's Best Buy Recommendation! I've always deflated my tyre when pumping it up UNTIL I bought one of these! You can use it as a foot pump, much easier for us girls to pump pressing down than to try and hold in place and pump side ways. Maybe a bit clunky for roadie weight weenies, but you will achieve much higher tyre pressure than any other handpump. Price: £22 Use: MTB & Road Topeak Mini-Morph A new autobiographyby my favourite road cyclist, he is Welsh off course! Price: £10 Use: Men and Women Geraint Thomas Veg in these leggingsafter your ride! I stole this idea from Total Womens Cycling. Price: £24 Use: Ladies Leggings Lightweight multi-toolfor those conscious about their weight. :-) Price: £15 Use: MTB & Road 9 Function Carbon Multi-tool Worried that yourvaluables might get wet or just wanting to look after them, this is the thing for you! Price: £9 Use: Road & MTB Poc Pac No factory grease ever! Best way to keep your chain clean forever. Happy chain, happy bike! Mention Tango Cycling and get 20% discount! Price: £26 Use: MTB Squirtlube Induced Chain Always put your safety first, doesn't matter if you ride with others or on your own, it's handy to have your ICEnumbers nearby. Price: £15 (and you are supportingQhubeka) Use: Road, MTB & other outdoor sports ICE-ID Mudguards help to keep dirt out of your eyes when riding hard down hill and will keep your bottom dry and clean in these wet winter months. Price: £9 Use: MTB Mucky Nutz Someone once asked me what is my favourite piece of cycling clothing, my answer was, myBUFF! Keeps the sweat from your eyes in Summer and provides warmth in Winter. It has 12 uses of which, headband, beanie, elastic and neck warmer are only a few to mention. I don't ride without it! Price: £15 Use: MTB & Road BUFF These socks are the new trend, there are a whole range available at G!RO. Price: £15 Use: Road Road Socks If my hands and feet are cold I don't want to ride my bike, it is worth investing in wind & waterproof gloves! Price: £35 Use: Road & MTB Womens Winter's Gloves Merino Baselayers are great for regulating your body heat and it keeps you warm even when you are wet.  Price: £35 Use: MTB & Road Merino Baselayers Arm warmers are a great gift, not something you think you need until you have a pair. Ideal for in between seasons and an extra layer in winter. Price: £5 Use: MTB & Road Arm Warmers Sometimes hosing your bike off is just not enough, these brushesare able to reach into all the nooks and crannies. Price: £20 Use: MTB & Road Cleaning Brushes A quick and easy (lazy) way to inflateyour tyre when you have a flat. Price: £22 Use: Road & MTB CO2 Nozzle More chunky, but great to keep an extra baselayer, phone etc dry in your camelbak. Also great to use as washing bag when camping or going on cycling weekends. Price: £4 Use: MTB Drybag