So Gwede Mantashe is unhappy because Elton, JdJ and Mvovo aren't starting. Do you think he would be able to identify those players mentioned in his speech in a line up? I doubt it. Heyneke has showed himself though and deserves it. If Rhule had a blue jersey he would have started ahead of the hopelessly out of form Hougaard. Ditto for JdJ.
Good point this. The pros are long gone by the time I get there and have zero influence on my enjoyment of an event. Yet allot of the sponsorship and entry money is allocated towards prize money for them etc. On some level I'm sure the sport needs it's idols as a draw card to pull in the top young athletes into the sport but the pros are not as central to the sport as they might think. The worst example is Triathlon SA. I need to pay big money to them for the privilege of competing in IM70.3. For what? I'm not an aspiring Olympian so why can't I just enjoy the event?
It definitely won't keep it's value better being a top end carbon HT. People always want the latest stuff and the cycling industry makes double sure there is enough new tech every 2 years for even the current top of the range bike to be outdated then. I'd rather have a 2013 alu bike with a shadow plus derailleur, through axels front and rear with new style Shimano brakes than a 2010 carbon bike with Juicy Ultimates or something.
Just have a look at the forks section of the website. The have an all new rigid fork to replace the one in the bundle. Pop them a mail and ask them for a price with the new fork perhaps because the last time I mailed them they were very accommodating. http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FOOOSCF4709/on_one_monocoque_straight_steerer_carbon_fork
Like Dangle has previously stated. It's about being the biggest cheese in your own lunchbox. If people just realised that there is no recognition to be found outside of the pro tours they could relax about their Monday morning Racetec results page.
It's scary reading here about the prevalence among sub vets and other fun riders. Can we just hope that the kids of this world are clean? I would prefer that they channelled most of the resources to ensure it's impossible for age group kids to dope. We almost need a 'eat natural' brand ambassador team to serve as an example for kids. If I wasn't so damn slow I would have done it myself.
My favourite part of road cycling is working together in a small group (~12 people). I have more fun time trialling the full distance than worrying about my safety with 100 riders around me. I learned my lesson yesterday. Next time I'm not fast enough to get to the front of my group from the start I will fall back immediately and wait for a smaller group to form. My time might be slower but it will be much more enjoyable.
Still an awesome race this. I don't have the fitness at the moment so the AL group dropped me like a bad habit on the 2 hour mark. I should have dropped off earlier because then I started enjoying the race. We formed a small group of about 8 for the next while which was much less nerve wrecking than the main bunch and once we hit the two climbs I just cruised home chatting to a few people along the way. Thanks allot to the traffic department and the city who did a fantastic job. There was a nasty crash in the AL group on the N1, I hope nobody was badly injured.
My look road pedals are the best pedals I have used and I've used them for a few years now. I would buy the EASY ones if I were you. On the mountain bike I tried some crank brothers a few times and settled with Shimano SPD for durability.
After a frustrating time with the boks Pat Lambie and Juan de Jongh went back to Currie Cup with a point to prove and performed. Morne Steyn went back to Currie Cup and got so frustrated with himself he earned a suspension. If Morne Steyn and Taute get picked ahead of Lambie / Elton and Gangnam de Jongh my enthusiasm for the Springsboks will be very low.
I just hope they don't consider the high number of injured players coincidence or bad luck. There is a reason the All Blacks are fielding a fully fit side at the moment and if we don't start to understand why we will play minus 8 first choice players every year.
