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The same Mo79 who did this

Your last point is well made. I suspect that the gravel racing scene is still in its infancy and riders are still getting their heads around what will be expected of them. If you're just riding for fun you can choose your gravel route - on a race its chosen for you. I think gravel means a gravel road, any gravel road the condition whereof will be highly variable.

Yes. there is real rage and hatred against ALL cyclists. It's not just online, and it's definitely not just in south africa. And not all of these people are driving a car. they could have a direct influence as cops, lawmakers, policy decison makers etc etc. And yet we are told that drivers are far better in many Euro countries and give cyclists space and consideration. Not sure what your point is here. I think the nutters that hate cyclists would hate them no matter how they ride. There is no statistical link I am aware of between bad behaviour by cyclists and the mortality rate on the road. The primary cause is the general bad driving that also leads to countless car on car and single vehicle accidents in SA on a daily basis.

You're missing the point. I agree - cyclists should not ride like tjops. I try to avoid being a tjop and ride responsibly and single file etc etc and yet I have still been knocked off my bike by a negligent driver while riding along with right of way and had numerous close calls with drivers who simply drive dangerously, and I'm hardly on the road. Empirical evidence therefore suggests that no matter how well you ride, you are still just as likely to be injured by a motorist. In fact when i was hit by a car, if I'd been in a big bunch occupying the whole road, the accident may not have occurred because the driver would have noticed the big bunch of bikes and not pulled out in front of them. Or are you saying that when cyclists ride like tjops and this puts drivers into a murderous rage they remain in for weeks or years and also affects their perception and driving ability leading to accidents? I'd have to disagree there too, because when I'm out driving and i encounter a tjop on a bike or several, it has no effect on my state of mind or driving ability other than a brief feeling of annoyance and embarrassment.

All good and well but proof that cyclists got fined for violations has very little to do with the current spate of fatalities caused by very bad driving. I am not aware of any fatalities caused by cyclists running red lights, riding the wrong way up a road or otherwise. On the other hand cars running red lights or turning across the path of a rider account for many such accidents. The latter happened to me many years ago. I think its a fallacy to presume that if cyclists always did precisely what the law requires , there would be fewer accidents and fatalities.

You and Mamil are spot on. We rode and walked to school back in the mid 80s in the Rondebosch area. My nephew was mugged for his bike a few years ago barely 200m from his house on his way to school in the same area. The traffic is insane and getting worse. I would not let my 13 year old ride to school even though I did. It's all rather sad.

A post that popped up on my FB feed today... This week’s awful news about a(nother) cyclist being killed by a reckless driver has sat very heavily with me — as I’m sure it has with the rest of the cycling community. I was out cycling the morning Landon La Grange was hit. I went through Camps Bay maybe 15 minutes before he did. We cycle in groups for safety. Safety in numbers against bike jackers; to be more visible to drivers and especially as women to look out for one another. I’ve been hit before while cycling, by a driver who did not even “see me” in daylight in Bakoven. And I was riding in the furthest possible left of the road. I did everything “right” and yet I was still hit. But I was luckier than many. My heart truly goes out to the La Grange family and all the friends in the @joccycles cycling group who were out riding and were surely traumatised by the event as well. I’ve been thinking about this all as I set out my cycling kit to ride tomorrow. But we still go out because we love the sport and the feeling of riding on the road and the community that comes with it. Please, let’s be kind to one another 🙏 and be safe out there this weekend. 📸: @camrynrobin / @thirdbase___ Photo context: a special group ride event for International Women's Day in March, celebrating all women who ride in Cape Town with a photographer and vehicle. #cycling #cyclist #cycle #capetown #cyclingsafety

You can disagree all you like but in 99% of cases the motorist will be found to be at fault and liable to conviction for culpable homicide or reckless and negligent driving. Be it cutting off Burry Stander or driving into the oncoming lane or generally without any regard for cyclists/other road users and side swiping or passing too close... the list goes on. The fact that you see cyclists riding two abreast or in bunches for 'safety" may contribute to already bad motorist behaviour but doesn't somehow excuse the reckless and negligent driving perpetrated by them.

Except that no road is actually safe because of the shockingly bad motorist behaviour. We are back at Tubed's point...can you actually ride out of or around the city safely? You've got a good chance of being mugged or hit by a car no matter where you ride in CT. Might as well pack up your bike and stick to the mtb. In 99% of cases it's not the rider at fault but the motorist.

Well put. I guess I just don't get gravel as a discipline because it often just looks like MTB on an unsuitable bike and that's how MTB started in the first place..

I regularly see ghost squad cars pulling people off in rush hour traffic on the N1/M5 - the yellow lane drivers trying to pass everyone being a number one offender. That said, these are easy targets and it does little to enhance safety - just appeases the ire of law abiding drivers. Certain taxi and sightseer routes clearly need an almost constant police presence and cameras to monitor at all times. Maybe the City will take better action when the bad press starts making it overseas and affects tourism? On second thoughts probably not...

I get that not everyone has access to trails but my point is more even when there are trails available people seem to gravitate towards corrugated dusty dirt roads rather than exploring a bit and riding further out into nature If you're out of your depth on a tech trail, there is no shame in portage ( we all do it) and at least you're out in the mountains rather than on a road. Under biking single track can be fun, but I'd argue far too many gravel riders are getting onto tech jeep track descents where they are more at risk than I am on a rocky descent/dh track because their bikes are simply harder to control. Never mind the danger on the road where many gravel bikes spend most of their time.

Why me? Im well outside the specified age envelope anyway 🤪

This is the part of gravel i don't get...most roads are corrugated to some extent so where's the fun in the whole exercise. I get road riding - love the speed and downhills but its also less pleasant on rough tar. Gravel must be infinitely worse. Two weeks ago in the Cederberg, I was able to ride some super tech trails on my enduro bike, some easier tracks and do a 30km loop with almost no gravel road or corrugations and yet I see most people who ride there seem to love the awful corrugated dusty roads with 4x4's going past. What is the attraction of "gravel"?

I see established SA mountain bikers are now referred to as "experienced gravel riders" in the latest blurb on the event. I feel as if SA mountain bikers have finally been named correctly. 🙂

The fact that this is a known stretch of road for dangerous driving - taxis in particular as someone else on this thread noted, means that the authorities should be enforcing and impounding taxis on a regular basis on that route. They probably don't do it nearly often enough so as with all things taxi - reckless, illegal driving in yellow lanes, off route and such like largely goes unpunished. I've noticed an uptick in off route, running stop signs and yellow lane driving in my burb and work commute making me think the situation is getting worse not better... We did the bare minimum of cycle tour training and dared only one ride along the Atlantic coast preferring to park in the south and ride into Cape Point to get the distance. The roads in CT are crazier than ever.

I have the Instinct 1 - a few years old now but working great - light, rugged and good battery life. The 2 and 3 are probably even better,

Awesome - looks good!

That terrain ended the second from top ladies teams chances... friend of mine who took an Epic spectator tour in the area said it was quite technical, lots of tight unexpected corners - my reply "normal mountain biking in other words"

Many maybe even most riders still on 26" in the early 2000's and yet the average speeds seem to be faster?

I strongly suspect that that video paints a far too positive picture of teh noodle as an insert. As far as I know they disintegrate quite quickly so I wonder how rough and fast this guy actually rode with them.

LOL - the pool noodle, you jest surely? Ask Google Ai for an answer on that one too 🙂

Sadly, Nukeproof, although it has resurfaced as a bike brand, don't sell their ARD inserts anymore. These were quite affordable and reasonable light and durable. Easier to fit as they are not as wide as Panzers and seem to protect the rim well. Have had one in the rear of my enduro bike for several years and it still works despite showing numerous chips where they have done their job while the rim is ding free. I only use an insert at the back as in my experience is that the front wheel usually fares a lot better at lower pressures even without an insert.

How about - every entrant has to post a video of them riding down a preselected track eg Vasbyt in Cape Town at a predetermined minimum speed. Too much focus on FTP and too little on riding skills in SA which has been a problem for decades.

Oh dear - the world really is quite messed up right now, so I'm not even surprised. Pity the first round isn't down here in peaceful old Southern Africa, as it should be.