Puncture Girl

Whether Rina was out of her league or not doesn't excuse the fact that she was left behind on her own!! That members of the club and sweeper vehicle took the approach of IGNORE her and she might just disappear. If Clubs, LBS's and any other business involved in cycling want to continue doing business then pucker up and realise by nuturing the beginner you'll have a BETTER chance of having a customer/client/member for life!! But this attitude of 'you don't belong' is going to get you no where. Michelle

They do?? Nobody told me that. Let me see' date=' why do I cycle?? 1. To have fun (sorry if that upsets you) 2. To get out and ENJOY myself (so sorry if that upset you) 3. To get fit, oh, and have FUN (sorry if this upsets some) so tell me this - why DOES it always have to be about who is riding the best, winning and and and......... I can tell you with 100% certainty that I have no interest in racing but that shouldn't mean that I cannot join a club and do something that I love!!! And if certain clubs do not want to take on the recreational/fun rider then they should make that clear up front!!! [/quote'] Puncture girl, you got me wrong! I mean the guys with the 'mean attitude' in those clubs all want to be racers!!! I am commenting out of experience here in Holland. Here you get loads of touring clubs here with the aim of just riding for fun. They do organised (untimed!) rides and have members of all ages, but mostly older and up to their 80's in some instances! The guys who fancy themselves as racers join the hardcore clubs. Unfortunately that line is blurred in SA and that is what I meant. There should be clubs/groups dedicated to just riding for FUN. Thanks for clarifying and I apologise for ripping into you.

They do?? Nobody told me that. Let me see, why do I cycle?? 1. To have fun (sorry if that upsets you) 2. To get out and ENJOY myself (so sorry if that upset you) 3. To get fit, oh, and have FUN (sorry if this upsets some) so tell me this - why DOES it always have to be about who is riding the best, winning and and and......... I can tell you with 100% certainty that I have no interest in racing but that shouldn't mean that I cannot join a club and do something that I love!!! And if certain clubs do not want to take on the recreational/fun rider then they should make that clear up front!!!

While training at the Kyalami Race Track a few weeks ago, Angie from Club100 pulled in next to me. With being a complete novice with my 'dikwiele' the thought of joining a club scared the bejeeeeesus out of me. I got brave and started chatting with Angie. WOW!! is all I can say. Today I am proud to say that I have signed up with Club100 - Angie is such an amazing and down to earth person. Same goes for other members I have brieflly met. She didn't treat me like an idiot but answered every question I threw at her without making me feel like a lesser human being. From riding the 94.7 alone, I will now be riding with Angie and other peeps raising funds for the Sunflower Fund. No cyclist should ever be made to go through what this person did in the article. We all have to start somewhere. In the short 3 and a bit months that I have been cycling - I have made friends, joined a club and am now the owner of a Road Bike (which I'm too chicken to use in the big race....LOL) Hey, it took me about 3 months just to get used to my MTB...... Michelle p.s. crossing fingers that it wasn't a Club100 ride being discussed in the article. Feeling confident that it wasn't. Puncture Girl2009-10-30 04:33:21

Kyalami race track is open to cyclists on Mondays through to Thursdays from 5pm to sunset. The cost is R10.00 and Wednesdays are free. You pay as you go through the pit area.

Hi I found a pair of sunglasses at the race track after training this evening. If they are yours please PM me and we can make a plan to get them back to you. I'll be at the track again tomorrow. Michelle

It must depend on who you are because when I walked in there I was IGNORED flat. I'll quite happily spend my money elsewhere. I may not be a big spender but every cent spent adds up - and they're not going to see any of it. Michelle aka Puncture Girl

Hi there, I'm new to this sport and I'm having the time of my life. :-) I love greeting others and smiling, as well as giving encouragement to my fellow 'fatties'. Saying thank you and morning to the marshalls seems to make their day and mine. I'm a 'fattie' on 'dikwiels' so you skinnies had better watch out - I'm getting there. :-)) I'll be the one breezing past your skinny a$$ one day and greeting you. Michelle aka Puncture Girl