Sean Badenhorst

Actually, I recall the Peugeot series being, from cheapest: Rapport Le Mans Mirage Classique But I may be wrong. It was a long time ago!

My first road bike (1987) was a Peugeot Le Mans which, structurally, looked almost identical to the Hansom pictured on this thread - different paint job and decals obviously... Bought it at Dave Wiseman Cycles. Salesman was some dodgy student called Bruce Reyneke who I believe has somehow become the Mayor of Pretoria... Just can't find good leadership these days.

Originally posted by Mudee Originally posted by Johan Bornman Originally posted by Sean Badenhorst As far as I know, Biopace tried to eliminate the dead spot in the pedalling stroke, while Q-rings accentuate the power/sweet spot, a more successful quest... And the difference is? Better marketing.... And about 15 years... I wouldn't know Johan, I don't ride Q-rings, but the idea just sounds more viable than the Biopace concept. Waiting for someone to win a major race internationally (or even locally) with them before paying them any attention. A Hubber (Rhodent) is doing a study on Q-rings and their effectiveness (see his post earlier today) or lack of effectiveness. Looking forward to seeing his findings.

Fourbar, the Aug/Sept issue of Bicycling went to print last week. I am actually a freelance writer and am doing some work for news media clients during the Tour de France. Generally, magazines go big on previewing major events as the news media (TV, radio, websites and newspapers) do a good job of reviewing them. Best way to review an event like the Tour in a magazine (which has long lead times) is pictorially, or by carrying an indepth feature with the winner.

Go Lefty, are you sure you're discussing the same thing we are?

So wrong! Besides the obvious from the video, I assume none of those UCI officials have actually ever been in a sprint finish themselves so clearly don't understand how it works... If I was Paulissen, I'd hide that medal in a cupboard...

Originally posted by fourbar A-HA! Don't they have media liason officer(s) or have they beenfired in advance? Surely you should be liasing through their agents/liason officers...? Barloworld in my opinion created more damage by jumping the gun and creating a lot of media flack through their hasty public announcement. The legalities of the contractual relationship as it currently stands is also to be addressed- a valid contract is still in force and I assume the four remainding riders are complying with their end of the bargain. Or do they have the same "agent" as Bakkies Botha...?"Haastige hond verbrand sy mond?" Their media liaison/PR company gave me his phone number to call him directly. When you're after a news story, going through a 'middleman' is not an option really. Timing is key. The next day the story is no longer news... Opportunity lost. Pity.

Witrot, I don't think he took the wrong line. He was on the same line as the guy in front and the two behind and they all made it fine. He just had the wrong speed for that line. I too hope he feels good today and does something special, but don't be too disappointed if he doesn't. He's still very young and his body is still maturing. Two big efforts in successive mountain stages may be a bit much to expect.

New event for the X-Games: Alpine bodysurfing. If his cycling career falters (unlikely!), he's always got something to fall back on. Or should that be fall forward on...

Difficult to see why he didn't make the corner. It can only be that he might have looked away briefly at the wrong moment and didn't scrub his speed appropriately like the rider in front of him did. Even just a glance away from the road ahead or the rider ahead at high speed can make the difference between making a bend and making crash No. 5 on 101 Thrills and Spills of the Tour de France DVD. I called him last night with some questions but he told me he's busy and can't talk. Same thing with Hunter last week. Told me to call back after dinner but then ignored my calls... Pity cos I'm trying to write a lot of constructive stuff about these guys and now is not a good time to turn down positive media exposure opportunities...

As far as I know, Biopace tried to eliminate the dead spot in the pedalling stroke, while Q-rings accentuate the power/sweet spot, a more successful quest...

Yep, I just know a non-cyclist reading that would've had the wrong picture in their mind... Agree with you though, shrubber, spare tubes should be checked every couple of months cos they tend to perish or get damaged somehow. Rather find out while watching the TdF stage in your lounge and sipping Merlot than in the middle of nowhere when you've lost your sense of humour and maybe even your sense of direction...

Originally posted by schrubberBeware of carrying old tubes! I once got a snakebite 20km from civilisation (in a game reserve)and found that my spare tube had perished and my patch glue had dried out. A 6km pushabike walk/hike to an accessible road and a cellphone saved my sorry ass. Lesson learnt....... Luckily it wasn't venomous... Sean Badenhorst2008-07-22 07:05:43

Once your bike is ready, do a check to see whether your body is. Vomiting on the top tube isn't one of the nicest ways to cross the finish line... Make sure you have more energy products than you actually need, especially energy gels.

Hansom bikes were made by Gotty Hansen in SA, or maybe in a neighbouring homeland as they used to be called. I think Cosmos, Alpina, Zini etc were also made there. Gotty is still around, was the president of CSA until about two years ago. I'm sure someone has his contact details. He can give you the real story.

Is this thread still raging on? It's clear that a Vets Cycling Association needs to be formed to manage national issues relating to Vets. That way, those close to Vets racing will be able to make the right decisions and selections for Vet cyclists. It's pointless going on about a team that's now clearly just a reflection of SA road champs results. Rather do something constructive to improve the situation for next year. Criticism without a solution is just noise...

If I were the marketing brain behind the 2010 Soccer World Cup, I'd pay a small fee to use the new blank kit of the team formerly known as Barloworld to promote the event. They race all over the world and the return on investment is huge (when compared to standard marketing and advertising costs). It's like a mobile international billboard. And obviously the riders (a cosmopolitan lot as they hail from 10 different countries - 11 if you add Chris Froome's two) are going to be racing really hard at every race cos they'll be wanting to secure contracts with new teams when their current ones are up. So they'll be in more breaks, winning more sprints and on more podiums, getting more media exposure. And let's face it, when there's talk of the U.S. or Brazil being the Plan B countries to host the 2010 World Cup should our own country not be in a position to host it, then what's there to lose? After all, cycling is the second most-popular sport in Europe after soccer... Sean Badenhorst2008-07-21 04:54:54

As far as I know, anyone can enter these Vets World's in Austria, you don't have to be selected by your country. In fact, I wasn't even aware there was a national Vets team selected for anything (on the road) until I read this post. I don't think Vets get paid for in any sports, so cycling isn't unique. The way I see it is that the guys aiming for World's should just prepare for it properly, starting well in advance, and then go and race as individuals or with some of their close mates. A proper national vets cycling association needs to be formed if it should ever be any other way.

Does anyone know the selection criteria? Perhaps that will explain things better. Going on results I've been following from major events in recent months, including SA road champs, that team looks about right to me...

Contador? Matador...

Stage wins. Just like 127 others that aren't in the reckoning for any of the jerseys...

I mean, throne...

Nice saddle.

Hmmm, I love corny humour. Can't think of any clever names right now, but did you notice how pessimistic the entire peloton was on yesterday's stage? Right from the start in Figeac, every single one of them thought they were going Toulouse.

Sascoc also don't know that it's not really beneficial to tell a road racing cyclist that she will need to be ready for the Olympic Games road race in just four weeks! As if the flipping Olympic race isn't hard enough, they're now up against administrator ignorance...