running man

Truly useless bunch that. I phoned TMNP emergency number on Saturday evening to report something suspect on Blackhill (the same Saturday that the muggings happened there in the morning) and was asked "where is Blackhill?" ... gobsmacked. Seems everyone across the board, from cyclists to runners to hikers to dog walkers, is completely fed up with them but they just couldn't give a damn. All they're interested in is taking our money for permits or fines. We all know the fires and catastrophic consequences were almost a direct result of their own lack of concern for the mountain (we have tried repeatedly to report incidents of people making fires above Kalk Bay) and yet there is no change in their atitude - instead they put a heap of rangers at the wagon trail to fine you if you want to so much as sniff whats left of the fynbos but where are they when you're being held up at the end of a panga? Rant aside, huge well done to dirtfreak & co for their efforts to build the track, very nicely done One day when I'm big ... (is it wide enough for my training wheels?)

Please PM too. Thinking of you Frail and pray things improve for you - you've inspired many, when I went through Montagu last year I was amazed to hear that you'd shot through in the early hours of the morning blazing a trail to Knysna. You do stuff others only dream about. Keep at it and dont lose sight of your strengths. Wishing you blessings and peace for the times ahead.

Well done Bugs & Allen, thats a big milestone. I'm still scarred from that valley a year later! Enjoy the Baviaanskloof now. Update on twitter - "The duet continues: Glenn and Graham are eating breakfast together at Grootdam Arrived 08:30" Would love to know what breakfast conversation is

Some great news off Clint's facebook - "YES!!!!!!! THEY HAVE MADE IT TO RHODES!!!" Massive massive respect to these two guys, Clint and Fanie. They have really struggled against injuries and exhaustion and nav issues but they have solidered on very bravely and courageously for days on end to get to Rhodes. Very well done guys. Enjoy the vibe tonight, and get a good night's rest ahead of the next stage.

That is great news, well done Clint, Fanie, and Lise. Enjoy the warm and friendly hospitality there and here's to a good day tomorrow. Hopefully you'll be able to receive all the good wishes from your familes too, the trick is the only cellphone signal is in the tiny windows in the kitchen. MTN on the left window. Vodacom on the right.

Just seen a tweet that they left the river crossing at 7am, Ngwangwane river I would presume as the tracker's last time stamp at around 8pm last evening shows them there, they might have hunkered down there for the night? All strength to these 3. Thanks Tubed for getting the RASA thread going again and all your fantastic efforts to keep updates coming in, having been there your insight into what the riders experience and go through is invaluable for those friends and family sitting on the sidelines trying to comprehend it all.

completely bizarre but all the best for a speedy recovery Ben. Was trying to make out what the poles were about, this is whats on Google street view - the imagery may be outdated but it may give some idea.

had a lengthy chat to the section ranger for Tokai forest yesterday regarding this. They seem genuinely concerned, but in the same breath reminded me that after hours activity isnt really permitted. After which I reminded her that some of us work in the day and can only get there in the evening. And here's the clincher - the guard at the parking area knocks off at 5. The guards at the Manor house come on duty at 7. Go figure. 1 road in and out of the place, its seriously not rocket science to install some kind of surveillance setup. Apparently they are in discussion with the MTB community to beef up security there so lets hope this gets sorted soon... And next time you get stopped by a guard to show your wildcard, ask them how many muggers they've caught that day.

Another heads up, if we needed it, that Tokai seems to be the latest hotspot for tikkoppe doing their shopping with the parking lot ransacked again last night (Wednesday evening, around 5:45 / 6pm) the group leaving just after us mentioned spotting a silver colour car with a dodgy paint job arriving just as they were leaving, no further details other than more kit and more gear stolen. And the love deepens...

Katot - I sympathise completely. Had an almost identical incident and also posted a letter on this forum - "A different perspective", a lot of interesting feedback received and it seems the cycling world resents these idiots just as much for giving the whole sport a bad reputation. And yet it continues. I read of things like 'protest cycles' etc etc to drive the road-safety point home. All very good to make a stand, but the change in attitude surely has to come from both sides. To those cyclists who can think no further than the end of your middle finger and know only how to string a sentence of angered four-letter words together - stand up and be accountable for your reckless actions, even your fellow sportsmen are starting to hate your behaviour.

Friday afternoon last week driving north over Ou Kaap, as I've gone past a cyclist swings out from the yellow line / shoulder and tucks in right behind me, and I mean so close that when he's crouched down I can barely see him when I look in the mirror. You guys tell me - if something happens in front of me and I hit the brakes, this loon is on a way way ticket head-first straight into the back of my bakkie - who's at fault now? This time no hooting - after the previous incident I realise its just not worth it. But I did take careful note of the outfit this time round. Again - irresponsible actions and reckless riding needs to be accounted for?

A further 2c worth - thanks for all the feedback and your thoughts. Spot on Bat Ass and the doc and Swissvan, a raised hand in apology would have gone a long way. Above all, some R-E-S-P-E-C-T. @kranswurm, tempting! @ pbp, interesting thoughts but I'm not "taking the rider's reaction and developing it into the idea that riders are to blame for being knocked down". I'm taking his action. His reaction just seemed to lend a whole lot of support to his already obvious and ignorant manner. "the last time I looked it was motorists killing cyclists, not the other way around" True - clearly no rocket science needed to figure out the winner between a 7kg bicycle frame and a 2 ton vehicle, but that doesn't mean its always the motorist's fault? Unfortunately the motorist will face the punishment regardless. Its about responsibility for your actions (cyclists, drivers, runners - anyone who shares the road out there), and respect. @ Bat-ass again, yes - the good far outweighs the bad and we must not forget it. Most people's manners and intentions are in the right place. An e.g. - I was on Glencairn Express the other day and a cyclist up ahead fell over (wind / not sure why!) in the yellow line. I slowed and pulled over flashing hazards etc to warn others. It wasn't serious and the rider waved me on, but not without a big smile and a thank you - there you go, one bad, one good! Think we're even

<> Thanks for the feedback, and the support of our actions to just let this blithering idiot go rather than opt for the confrontation route. (more out of bewilderment than anything else) You have restored my faith in the cycling community that not all cyclists are of his mentality (or lack thereof) (The Break) ? thanks for your honesty. You hit the nail on the head ? the point of the letter is to question the temper involved. We all share the road out there ? drivers, runners, cyclists, etc. Why must one of those neglect their responsibilities and make the others bear the brunt of that? Yes - in this case it is simply one cyclist vs. a driver, there is no generalization and I?m trying desperately hard not to view all cyclists in this road-rage category - though I would certainly think twice about reacting the same if in that situation again in the future, fearing the same results ? correct me if I?m wrong here. The post on this forum is merely aimed at informing the cycling community of the other side of the coin ? and of course first prize would be the idiot in question to read this, take a chunk of humble pie and step off his soap box and apologise to my wife. I?m somehow doubting that would happen. Unfortunately no pics taken ? too amazed to think of that at the time! In all the accidents we see and hear about all we are informed of are the wrongdoings of the motorists, very seldom the cyclist. My question, with all respect to those who have lost loved ones in cycling accidents as my heart certainly understands those who exercise where others couldn?t give a damn, is why put others at risk through your own negligence? Be they drivers or runners or pedestrians or whoever ? yes, you as a cyclist can put a driver at risk. Ever thought about that? Being ?the most vulnerable? on the road doesn?t give the cyclist free license to ride recklessly and expect others to tolerate it. Just as it doesn't give me any right to run into the traffic expecting them to swerve around me. Be respectful of those using the road around you, and be aware ? be aware of the traffic around you ? know that if you glanced over your shoulder 10 seconds ago and saw a car that it will be near you soon ? so no, you cannot simply swing into the traffic as before to overtake, or at the very least have the courtesy to indicate your intentions so those around you know what you?re thinking and planning on doing. Don?t go out for your morning ride expecting motorists to do the thinking on your behalf because we cannot read your minds, and if you?re thinking we should be then perhaps you shouldn?t be on the road at all. If I go for a run and anticipate an obstacle ahead of me that will leave me no option but to run from the pavement or shoulder into a road lane I take serious note of my surroundings beforehand ? and if its not safe I don?t do it. Simple ? no choice. Foe Fighter ? the section of road in question has a narrow shoulder, but there is one and it is perfectly adequate for those who cycle responsibly. The only way two cyclists and a car will all fit abreast is for me to either drive on the yellow island or into oncoming traffic ? tell me which you?d prefer, as a non passive-aggressive approach to my peaceful Sunday morning out, bearing in mind I?m already driving well under the speed limit, and trying desperately to read the minds of two cyclists ahead of me at the same time. You?re quite clearly correct ? I do not want to be burdened with taking another?s life, but I draw the line at other?s senseless actions and lack of thought (read: stupidity) being my responsibility (read: jail sentence). Bottom line again ? please, this is not just another outrage from an incensed motorist ? I know it comes at a sensitive time when many cyclists have been killed in the past few weeks and I sympathize deeply with your community, but all I?m pleading for is respect for the other users of the road ? understand that they cannot read your mind and realize that your actions bear responsibilities too. Hopefully this can go some way to, (The Break), working together for the good of all and tolerating each other where things are not perfect? wouldn?t that be nice.

<> Dear Cyclists I wish to bring an incident to your attention that I believe you should be aware of, and how it impacts on what is already a fragile line drawn in the sand. At the outset, let me state that I am not a cyclist, but I am a user of the road. I am a keen runner and I understand the necessity to carry out a sport where others drive. But in the context of this letter I am a driver. A responsible one that was unnecessarily abused a few weekends back by a cyclist and I believe that cyclists should be aware of the fact that a) not all drivers are out to get you b) not all drivers are reckless c) we must all (runners, cyclists, drivers, pedestrains etc) take responsibility for our actions out there and behave accordingly. The incident happened on Ou Kaapse Weg, between the Glencairn express / Kommetjie rd intersection and Sun Valley mall, 9a.m. Sunday morning. We were travelling in the direction of Noordhoek. Two cyclists ahead of us. The back one obviously going faster than the other and needing to overtake. A quick glance over his shoulder and he swung out into the road and passed the other cyclist. Despite no indication of his intentions to swing out into the lane, there was enough space in front of us so it didnt bother me. A few hundred metres down the road and same thing - stuck behind another slower cyclist. Same action. He swings out into the road. This time though we are almost alongside. When he swung out into the lane in front of me he is so close I cant see his wheels for the bonnet. I have to quickly swing out into the yellow island in the center to avoid hitting him. And hoot (note: not sat on my hooter - just a hoot. There is a difference), as I would do with any other road user who cuts in front. That was it - this guy exploded as if he was a time-bomb just waiting (looking?) for an incident, a reason, and I can only assume he a) either left home that morning deliberately looking for trouble with a motorist b) had dozens of other cars hooting at him (deservedly so if this is his standard behaviour on the roads?) and we were the proverbial 'last straw'. c) assumed all motorists are reckless and despite the circumstances its always the motorist who is at fault. Never him. He was screaming and yelling "**** off" - repeatedly, hissing and spitting, over and over and over at the top of his voice. His face reddened with every debicel it went up and I began wondering if he wasnt going to have a heart attack first before being killed by a driver one day. The finger came out instantly (while still shouting - a well-practised routine by the looks of it) and he had it at full arms length, inches from my wife's nose. She was in the passenger seat and bore the brunt of this foul-mouthed outbreak. He then cycled in front of the vehicle and came to a halt at the robots, and started clapping at us (?). (still shouting **** off at the top of his voice) One wonders about his logic and understanding of the situation - he pulled in front of me, and deserved to be hooted at for putting us all immediately in a very potential accident situation. Being a recreational user of the road I always give cyclists a wide-berth where possible, but its also up to them to obey the rules. If he had fallen as he swerved in front of me, and I had driven over him, I'd be in jail right now for killing a cyclist? I'm not taking sides but its no wonder, with the likes of this guy around, that there is a growing perception amongst drivers that cyclists are arrogant, rude, obnoxious and dont deserve to be sharing the road. With behaviour like this I cant help but agree. I have many close friends who cycle and their decent and well mannered approach to a sport that they enjoy is whats preventing me from lumping all cyclists in that category. So, to the guy who tried so hard but failed to ruin our peaceful Sunday morning, (assuming you maybe, by chance, got home alive and somehow managed to read this letter before having a heart attack) I suggest you learn some manners, learn to control your mouth - especially when you're practically spitting in my wife's face from your anger and swearing, and learn to accept responsibility for your actions - as much as I dont own the road out there, neither do you. Above all, I now wonder how many of the accidents out there are not the fault of the motorist but rather irresponsible cyclists? Regards Just-Another-Abused-Driver