Sydd

Firstly, very glad that you are ok. Secondly, at the risk of sounding insensitive, that was hilarious! You do write brilliantly and descriptively. There will be little to beat that story. I had projectile tears coming out of my eyes. I had to read it twice only because I think I missed half of it I laughed so hard. I sincerely hope that they caught them all again though!

Try Chain Wizard, a mobile tech service that comes to service your bike on your premises. Top class workmanship, you are unlikely to find a better mechanic. Contact Casper 0835086490

Good luck if you contact them. They sent me the (VERY) wrong thing, and have ignored countless emails to every address I can find for them. I'll NEVER buy anything from them again

Why don't you go and race then Hippo?

Contact Buksie (thats his username on the hub) he's an experienced mechanic for one of the bigger mens professional teams. His prices are very reasonable, his work is faultless and he guarantees his work.He's based in Randburg and will work over much of the greater JHB area

Hi, Its 1-3 October in Cape Town in Bellville at last check. Normally www.cyclingchamps.co.za has all of the info for all of the champs through the year. See you there then

I had a Selle Italia and bent the rail in a fall. Linden cycles sent it back to the agent here and apparently the have the correct jig effort to replace the rail. It took no more than three days and I think it cost about R200. I was very impressed with the quick service and the saddle is good as new.

Brilliant, thanks! See you all there then

Hi All, Will the crit be on tonight?

Hi All, I need some advice please, and am looking to hear from you on your experience with a variety of shoes? I have been wearing a pair of Nike Pogios (size 42) for the last 3, almost 4 years and needless to say, as a result of a lot of miles and competitive racing, they've probably seen much better days. I am now looking for something to replace them with, but I believe that Nike no longer makes cycling shoes mainstream and they are re-branded as Bontrager? Where does one get Bontrager shoes in JHB to look at? I've looked at Sidi but feel that they are a bit too much for a student budget. I have a pair of carbon Shimano something or others but they have such a sharp arch in them that I get cramps in my feet after an hour from the position. They are great for the track, but not much else. So, any ideas on a good racing shoe for a competitive racing lady, with a reasonably broad foot, and where does one get suggested shoes? Can you still get DMT? Haven't seen them anywhere on the net but I've seen a few girls racing with them. Also, back to Sidi. Are their top end "non carbon soled" shoes any good for a competitive racer? They are more towards my price range but are they any good. Any comments and personal experience from people with medium width feet will be welcome. Many thanks for your help

Thanks Tim H, thats a better way of putting it. I still just feel that this is a difficult forum to have a discussion like this, where most lay-people won't be able to differentiate between their opinion of "an ambulance driver" and what is actually a well qualified medical practitioner. Perhaps then "doctors on bikes" supported by at least a network of BAAs and AEAs who are experienced, by the nature of their protocol if they can't do a proper primary assessment and immobilisations as precautions then they shouldn't have a licence. I'm afraid a lot of the opinions we've seen here may have been from people who've been assisted by first aiders who don't have the appropriate trauma experience, because the major injuries you see at races boil down to traumas. And yes, a Dr, but only if its a trauma doctor. And with reference to someone's comment of 20 qualified paramedics in SA, I beg to differ. I think perhaps with the incentive of proper pay and the pleasant working environment of being in the bush, some of the MANY MANY qualified medics who were operational for short periods before going to work in more pleasant, well paid environments, may just re-emerge and use their qualifications. ( and to cover myself before being flamed, those who have maintained their qualifications and have accumulated their cpd points like good eggs)

And I'm not sure I understand where you say they are hesitant to administer because they have little experience? Rubbish! If you're an ALS thats what you've trained to do and its in your scope of practice. You know the drugs upside down inside out and are fully aware of dosages, contra indications, indications, administration methods. The drugs on their protocol are used by them on a regular basis and if you believe that that is what the patient needs under the circumstances then you will treat them to the best of your ability. Correct? I think you need to be a bit more responsible in what you're saying, because people will take what you are saying as absolute truth and have no trust in a Paramedic.

I don't really think that this is the best forum for a discussion like this. Clearly from some of the replies, there is a distorted view of the functions of the various medics and doctors. Generalising isn't fair on any of the practitioners. And unless its going to be a specialised trauma doctor, the scope of practice for ALS is more than adequate to assist just about any injury sustained. A doctor's extended scope of practice will mean nothing if he doesn't have the correct equipment for diagnostic and treatment purposes at the time. Nobody has Xray vision. I wonder if you all whip out you phone and ring up your GP when someone is involved in a life threatening accident somewhere?

Look on opentri.com there is a 36 week training programme for first time Iron Peoples

Haha yes co-incidence! My one also has the carbon bits. Is it advisable to take it apart ones self, I know my one needs the seals replaced and I've been quoted R500 to do it. If its worth it I wouldn't mind learning how to take it apart myself. Tele surgery? :-)

It looks like it may well be an oldish (2002ish) Rock Shox Sid World cup. I have one myself, and it looks identical from the top. Same colour and everything. Except mine has a remote lockout, dont know if that means that it will be another variant of the same thing?

great to see sascoc has got themselves in gear and is planning ahead. What a pity the SA track comission is so backward, their act just seems to go further and further downhill... don't expect any track cyclists at 2012 from SA. If there are any track cyclists left in SA willing to ride by then. They're doing a very good job of ruining peoples track careers over there. But excellent for Sifiso and Burry I sincerely hope that they receive evrything that they need in terms of support etc to achieve their 2012 goals. They've both worked very hard and deserve itSydd2009-05-29 08:39:38

Carinus, Thank you for answering all of my questions, I will approach number collections with slightly less nervousness at being laughed at for professing to have applied for a licence. On the drug testing front, I have to say honestly that I have never been asked for more than my racing licence, and recall a rather large fuss being made about a competitor that couldnt find their licence at a big event to present at a drug test. As far as I am aware, nothing was mentioned about other forms of ID. However, I really appreciate having the facts nicely explained. It is such a nice difference to have questions answered without having to throw my question into the cauldron that is the hub, and wait for it to spit out some answer based on a bad experience, a rumour, or a thumbsuck. Thank you for making an effort to make things clearer to us all, I am sure that I am not the only one to appreciate it.

So then what happens if, like me, you applied and paid for your licence 3 MONTHS AGO and a month later you receive the email to say that it has FINALLY been processed, and then your name doesnt appear on that cute little list that they published on the CSA website with all of the dispatched licences. How much longer do I have to wait. And, like someone mentioned earlier on, what do I tell them when they ask for my licence at registration for a race. Or what if I get selected for a drug test and cant produce a valid licence like you are expected to? Who do I refer the kind people to??????

nothing at all. They have this nasty habit of blistering and bursting at inappropriate times. On more than one of my sets, and a number of friends sets as well. Stay away. Rather use mountain kings or race kings. They are just about indestructible

well...I only did my drivers licence 3 years ago and I distictly remember one of the questions about the traffic circle, and have just looked it up in my code14 book, and it says: yeaild to the right to vehicles which have ENTERED THE CIRCLE BEFORE YOU. So its really a case of whoever gets there first. Also, it would be wonderful if the people in JHB would : 1.Indicate in traffic circles 2.Not treat it as a 4way stop 3.Not drive OVER the circe, a common thing in Linden. On the topic that somebody brought up about "if they wanted it to be a 4way stop they would have made it one", I was recently sitting at a garage waiting area and they have tose RMI motoring industry magazines with all the interesting ongoing things. They were discussing the Arive Alive campaigne, which really only focuses on the reduction in speed, and apparently the AA put few a few proposals, some of which make sense, like making all traffic lights ambre flashing lights between 22:00 and 05:00, but they also suggested fazing out stop streets and replacing them with yeild signs. That could be interesting, and would stop a number of rear end accidents when the idiot behind you expects you to yeild at the stop sign, and continues to drive whilst you come to a complete stop infront of him.... but not much would change. EVeryone reads "yeild" anyway

Its on Sunday, at Stonehaven on Vaal. It starts at 8 I think... there's details on the supercycling online entries page, even though obviosly its too late to do online entries. I guess there will be late entries on the day

Is anybody going to do the Summer Challenge in Vanderbijl on Sunday? Or has everyone disappeared down to Durban?

Bio Anabolics makes a really good drink, Bio Cycle. Its very similar to Isodrive, but since you can hardly get that any more... And it got a team of 4 guys through Trans Baviaans... Also on the note of isotonic/hypotonic, surely if you just mix the drink with less powder then it becomes hypotonic. Physiology would tell you that.

what an aweful thing to happen to a wonderful guy. Godspeed Ben!