Sean Badenhorst

Test rode a Fuel EX 5.5 for many weeks and loved it! Great allround bike. Assume the 6.5 will be similar if not slightly better. They have the same rear-suss design I think. Trek's new rear-suss design starts one model up from the 6.5, but that's where the price gets higher too. The 6.5 has a better brake system and front fork than the 5.5, which are two things I would have eventually upgraded on the 5.5 if it was my own. Sean Badenhorst2009-05-12 09:40:52

What a juvenile press release. How do they expect anyone to take them seriously with immature drivel like that? But then these are people that elected as their leader a chap that says a shower after unprotected sex with an HIV-carrier is an appropriate defence against AIDS. Instead of trying to tell educated adults what to do, they should spend their time and energy trying to find ways of improving the bass on their sound systems in their Nissan Navaras.

It's amazing what they hang on limp posts lamp posts these days. Sean Badenhorst2009-05-11 09:46:11

Elvin, I think you may need to direct this query to the Dept of Education. This is the Dept of Speculation...

I won a piecost last week!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/may09/may09news2

I agree. Next thing you know they will be shaving their chests too. But somehow you think it's natural for women to shave their legs, underarms etc?

Porky, you wouldn't have landed yourself in this awful mess if you'd just been attentive to your wife's cycling needs in the first place... Now you're blaming it on 'predatory' bike shops. tsk, tsk. Lesson learned no doubt.

Giba Gorge rocks, but for more variety and longer rides, head to Mankele Mountain Biking just outside Nelspruit. They have accommodation so it's perfect for a two or three days of riding.

Rob Warner is a great guy. We organised a Zulu warrior outfit for him which he wore sans underwear for an intro piece the guys did. It's on their site. Took us a few goes to tell him how to say 'sawubona'. The TV guys (the Freecaster crew and Smareg Media - UCI's official TV guys) were all really cool. They work flippen hard and never complain.

Loved the movie! Place was packed. I sat on the stairs with many others. Minnaar was also sitting on the stairs as was Hill ? the two 'stars' of the film. The movie gives great insight into the DH racing culture and the riders that make it that way. Highly recommended viewing. Holy Roller is watching it tonight and will do a review on the treadmag.co.za website.

My buddy Lawrence van Lingen swam like a fish. Third out the water (top 3 broke the swim record) and finished up 10th overall. He arrives in Pmb for the MTB World Cup tomorrow and I'm putting aside a looooong coffee break to hear all about his race. Apparently it was ridiculously hot and I don't think anyone broke 3 hours for the run. But I may be wrong.

I was there on Sunday watching the DH - awesome!! It was very hot!!! They had some coke and fanta stalls at the bottom but did not see anything on the course. I suggest bring a rucksack stuffed with refreshments' date=' a low chair to park on, a hat, sunblock and a stout pair of walking shoes. These is a Spur in the Cascades Centre some 200m away and I suggest we all meet there at an arranged time wearing something orange.[/quote'] Spur schmur! Coffeeberries is the place to meet, eat and be seen in this centre. Best coffee and food and it's got full Burry/Greg endorsement too.

Just helped Gerald de Kock find some riders to interview: Sam Hill Greg Minnaar Gee Atherton Nino Schurter Irina Kalentieva Vibe is awesome. Great buzz and it's flippen hot here today. The Euros are asking for adjustment of the thermostat... Oh, and bumped into Absalon as he was entering the hair salon for a haircut. The woman that cut his was stunned at his pedigree when I told her - 4 x World Cup champion, 4 x World Champion, 2 x Olympic Champion. Can't blame her - he looks like a student from Maritzburg Varsity. Sean Badenhorst2009-04-08 05:32:42

intern is out there now riding the XC course with Roan Exelby. Told him to snap some pics with his phone if he gets stuck behind any big names. Well, big names besides Exelby...

Intern and I had a little walk around the World Cup competition area earlier and within 200m/15 minutes saw: Sam Hill Gee Atherton Dan Atherton Thomas Frischknecht Jose Hermida Julien Absalon (we think, he was quite far away) Sam Hill is actually sitting about 5m from me in the media centre right now checking his email... Talent overload in Pmb right now! Sean Badenhorst2009-04-07 04:48:48

Live on web tv here: http://www.mtbworldcupsa.co.za/ and EuroSport if you can pick that up. 2 x 26 minute highlights shows a week later on Super Sport.

Yes, you can buy tickets at the gate.

There's a complex schedule on the official website but I've taken out all the racing elements for a more focussed list (see below). We'll have previews, reviews and leading results on www.treadmag.co.za too. In fact we've got MTN National Cup stuff under our race news section already. Gonna catch some DH action now. Can't wait! Event Schedule Thursday 9 April 08h30?14h30: Official downhill training ? all World Cup riders 14h45?16h15: Official downhill training ? Timed session (only top 80 men/top 20 women in World Cup rankings) 10h00?16h00: Official cross-country training ? World Cup riders only 16h45?18h15: Official 4x training Friday 10 April 08h00?11h00: Official downhill training ? all World Cup riders 10h00?15h00: Official cross-country training ? World Cup riders only 11h00?12h30: Official downhill training ? Timed session (only top 80 men/top 20 women in World Cup rankings) 13h15: WORLD CUP DOWNHILL ? QUALIFYING ROUND 15h45?17h00: Official 4X training 17h15: WORLD CUP 4X ?QUALIFYING ROUND Saturday 11 April 09h00: WORLD CUP CROSS-COUNTRY ? JUNIOR MEN 09h02: WORLD CUP CROSS-COUNTRY ? JUNIOR WOMEN FOLLOWED BY AWARDS CEREMONY 09h30?12h00: Official downhill training (World Cup finalists only) 11h15: WORLD CUP CROSS-COUNTRY ? ELITE/UNDER-23 WOMEN FOLLOWED BY AWARDS CEREMONY 14h00: WORLD CUP CROSS-COUNTRY ? ELITE/UNDER-23 MEN FOLLOWED BY AWARDS CEREMONY 15h30?17h00: Official 4X training 17h15: WORLD CUP 4X FINALS FOLLOWED BY AWARDS CEREMONY Sunday 12 April 09h30?12h00: Official downhill training (World Cup finalists only) 13h15: WORLD CUP DOWNHILL FINALS ? WOMEN 14h00: WORLD CUP DOWNHILL FINALS ? MEN FOLLOWED BY AWARDS CEREMONY.

I'm there/here already. Looking forward to some awesome racing this weekend. Virtually all the big names racing the World Cup next weekend are racing the SA Cup today and tomorrow... 4X tonight should be interesting.