slowpoke

OomH, i am so shocked to hear this and heartsore for all the victims, even the long-distance ones like you and M, who are affected by this.

wrighte, the thanks are appreciated. my original posting was quite clear that it was not 1 incident or 1 or 2 guys in the bunch - it was the entire main pack who moved to the right hand side of the road and remained there 99% of the race causing numerous issues - a number of times that oncomming vehicles had to leave the road to allow them past, accidents amongst themselves, etc. at one stage for a few kms oncomming cars even had to pass on the left hand side (our left)!!! hence my call for the entire VE group to be DQ'd.

Only in races Slowy......Only in races.....or do you propose you bikers should ride on the left hand side of the road on Kyalami race track when racing??? Speeking of Gauteng... Did you guys see how many marshals enforcing the rules did not have number plates on their bikes? actually spinnekop - there are rules on track days and these get enforced - eg depending on which category you ride you may only pass in certain places etc. and yes, transgression of rules results in instant removal from the track and for the record i do have plates on my bikes. the same way you don't believe in adhering to certain rules and laws and some of us here (including myself) take you to task about it, there are bikers who have the same attitude to rules and laws as you do and they also get taken to task by many people (also including myself)

wait till spinnekop sees this thread - he's going to tell you all why it is good and necessary to ride like this...

ok, so then we can all agree that people who buy fast cars and bikes can ignore the speed limit because "what's the point of a fast car/bike if you don't go those speeds" and that everyone who has a loud sound system can turn the volume full blast 24 hours a day because why else did they spend the money on buying it, etc, etc, etc??? (now what about people who've bought guns and condoms... guess these things should also be used the way they were intended, regardless the cost to others?) based on the replies so far it looks like cyclists would rather not have races?

Slowbee, after the disgusting and embarrassing behaviour of some of the riders today, yes. that they put themselves in danger is fine - if they want to die on their bikes no friggin problem - they can go ride head first into a truck along the lido route any day they please. but they endangered those that were obeying the rules and they were endangering the other road users and they were endangering those of us who gave up our time to be there to try keep them safe from other people. and then for excuses to be made about it... seriously no wonder so many people hate cyclists and feel that they should not be entitled to use the roads. any sport has its rules, and cycling is no exception. why do we scream and shout when things don't go our way if we aren't willing to make compromises? this "all or nothing" attitude will ensure that we end up with what so many seem to want - nothing.

KlapperKnop, in that case the race should not take place because they will not ever get road closure so if cyclists can't abide by a simple rule which exists for their own safety then they should quite simply not be allowed to race at all. the attitude of "we want it and we want it on our terms only and "f" the world" is disgusting. quite frankly - why have a race if you aren't going to folow the rules? in that case the whole lot of the guilty riders can just go ride that route that way every week and collect darwin awards - at least the gene pool will be cleansed.

*rant on* i know the entry fee was high. i know it's a "race". but is it really necessary, despite knowing that it is NOT FULL road closure, to ride on the right hand side of the road??? the WHOLE frigging bunch??? ON A BLIND RISE??? i well and truly hope that the whole VE bunch gets DQ's. i have never in my life been so ashamed to be a cyclist. and the VD guys we passed were no better. as to the back markers - majority were great... they see the left-over bits of carnage and that seems to keep them mostly reasonably behaved, but to those that think that racing for 1846th place means they can cross the solid centre line into oncomming traffic and that the pentathnicon trucks can/must just "vaporise" out of their way - do not cry when soemthing happens to you. *rant off* as cyclists we always complain when races get cancelled because the community concerned won't allow us to use their roads, but if we refuse to abide by the most basic of rules and blame it on "race tactics" then it's no wonder no-one wants to let us have events. do "race tactics" include deliberately putting your fellow cyclists' lives in danger?

Helloise, it does sound like your frame is too big. what you can try to minimise the discomfort until you buy the right size frame go for a proper set-up and look into getting a shorter stem. also, check the width of your bars as well - if they are too wide they will aggravate the discomfort. ps i am 1.52cm short and i ride an XS road frame and an S mtb.

thanks for the pics cheryl

listen to this.... you buy the bracket at any decent shop and "bob's your auntie" - space for 2 extra bottles a-la-triathlete style

damn, this is the only time that i miss needing more than R100 to fill a tank of the vehicle i use to work and back, AND that one tank last me 1.5 weeks. then again, at least now it'll cost me the same if i decide to commute on my 650 instead of the 125 for a while

wow!!!! i wish I coulda seen that!!! gotta agree with BBi though - i'd never even think of trying that myself

happy happy happy!!!! have a superduperwhoopercalafrageloustically superb day!!!!!

Noobie - riser bars are ones that curve upwards, and as a result of that you can't cut them too narrow or you won't fit the grips on (let alone grips and bar ends) as to gloves, i feel your pain. I have incredibly small hands but have found that the louis garneau XS gloves fit very nicely. i know that linden stock them, and i think that mike's also stocks them.

Hi noobie, ok, there's mike's bikes and also linden cycles. but your best source of info is right here. personally i have found that going smaller sizes does work - but it's gettingthe right combination. also, joneen (at linden) wouldn't let me just buy the saddle that i'd been lusting for when i needed to replace my old saddle and insisted that i first try out a couple - including women-specific ones, so i know that it's just my butt that is fussy about what it sits on. just remember that a lot of the time "women's specific" is just a marketing ploy so be careful of basing any decisions on that only. tops-wise though, there is a huge difference. I utterly adore my first ascent ladies cut top and would recommend that to anyone. also, for a wind jammer, a ladies cut is also very useful as it does fit better around the chest-waist area. bike-wise, i test rode a wsd trek mtb during my hunt for a new mtb and i wasn't impressed - i'm much happier on my mongoose meteore which has had minor "mods" done - shorter stem, flat bars (it came with risers) and i've had the bars cut narrower so that my arms aren't spread out as if i'm pretending to fly. my road bike is a tcr but also a much shorter stem and i did get a ladies specific handle bar - the 3T eva - in a much narrower width to suit me.

now you're talking js!

it needs a green or pink saddle!!!!

ronelle, as always - awesome pics!

i had liners in my old schwinn mesa - the bike was so heavy that the weight of the liners was negligible. gotta admit it was lekker not getting as many punctures as other peeps

very very very purdy!!!! now just get a headlight protector please. you do NOT want to know what BMW charge for the headlight so it's cheaper to pop a headlight voer over it...if that gets cracked by a stone it's not too pricey to replace. then you also need top-box and panniers (lockable) and find someone to make you a bicycle rack (there are two Saffers riding around with bicycle racks for GS's) and then you're good to go hope you have many safe and happy (s)miles together

bwahahahahaha!!!! ADDICT!!!!!

noooooooooooo may the fleas of a million camels infest the theive's crotches and their fingers turn into rusty fish hooks. here my neighbour and i are all freaked out (we're cutting down trees and cutting others back drastically to clear our views of our gardens) because perps cut up her electric fence last night and were on her property, but that is nothing compared to actually having something stolen.