The Argus Fish

Huge shoals of ruby twinkling cyclists are filling up the streets. By huge I am talking about groups of 20 and 50 that coalesce temporarily into swarms that must number over 100 riders. And as we swing and swoop through suburbia, you see other riders slipping onto the bigger roads, or dipping down into a crescent.

Today was a hard day for me. Some major climbs including Northcliff. Was in major oxygen debt. Riding close to Carla though provided some inspiration ;-)

4 weeks to go now, more or less...

Northcliff X 3.25

The Argus is now a single digit of weeks away, and that number is rapidly counting down. On Sunday morning the alarm got me up at 4:45am. I was like: "Urrggghhhhhhhh." A very small little voice said: "Do you want to do well in the Argus?" 45 minutes later I was huffing like a steam train up Northcliff with Alex and two other very strong riders. They chatted all the way up, easily sliding up the slopes ahead of me.

My goal was to go up twice, but I felt a lot stronger than I expected (perhaps because despite being less fit, I'm lighter). So I went up a third time, and did a short painful section with the guys.

This morning I was in Melrose Arch gym. It's quite a sexual experience - all these bodies sweating around you first thing in the morning.

This needs to be a very hard week. Need to eat, sleep, rest and balance work and training.

E is for Argus

My starting time is at 7am, and I'm in Group E. Last year I was in Group C, and I have to admit, they were too strong for me. I'm very happy with E, although I have some work to do still to earn that place. Several visits to Northcliff are definitely on the cards.

I was very aware that spending 5 days in Botswana was not going to help my training (for the Ironman and the Argus), particularly the beer swilling and constant braaiing and biltong gnawing. So I was surprised after my 2km swim last night to find my weight still below 85kg.

I went to gym first thing this morning with Alex. It was quite funny. We started with 10 pullups, I did my usual 10, buit he could barely manage 4 or 6. But he got me back. We did dips in the very last exercise, and he did 6 or 8. Don't think I could manage 1.

Cycling: Argus Entries Now Open

Last Chance to Enter the World’s Biggest One Day Bicycle Race

Hosted in spectacular Cape Town, the Cape Argus Cycle Tour in South Africa is the world's largest individually timed cycle race. This event is also the first event outside Europe to be included in the ICU's Golden Bike Series.

Is cycling still growing in South Africa? You bet! The world famous 109km event (which has featured greats such as Greg Lemond, Miguel Indurain and last year, Jan Ullrich) has opened its online entry system recently.

If you, like thousands of cyclists, want to improve your time and rankings in the spectacular setting of the Cape Peninsula, visit www.cycletour.co.za to enter now.

Despite a recent Cycling South Africa initiative (which adds unnecessary admin and expense to local cycling) to license all domestic cycling - including fun riders - more than 10 000 people entered online in the first 48 hours.

Entries opened on September 1, and by Saturday 8th September, this event had reached a subscription level of 70%. Thus, by the time you read this entries to the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour may have closed.

Organisers have resolved the acceptance of Virgin Credit Cards, and describe the rate of online entries as ‘unprecedented’.

The world’s largest one day timed cycling event takes place in the first quarter of next year, on March 9. Only the first 35 000 paid entrants will be allowed to participate.