rudi-h

I don't agree that the "degree of civilization" can be measured through civil obedience. You got to ask yourself who is making the rules, why the rules are there and whether it applies to your circumstances. Bottom line - common sense! If we don't do that, the human race will eventually become a bunch of robots following some man-made algorithm which would take away the essence of what we do on earth, namely living! Just in the last 10 years (since I've been a working adult) the amount of rules, regulations, statutory requirements, red tape, bureaucracy, admin etc. has skyrocketed to levels where it is already taking a serious toll on productivity etc. in the workplace and it seems that industry and government have a competition going on about making new rules to regulate absolutely everything. If we carry on like this, we will end up in a society one day that will be so regulated that you will need a certificate of competence to do simple things like: pump your car/bike tyres, cook on your stove or change a light bulb and where you would have to perform annual electrical inspections by some external authority to use your household power drill or a health certificate from your doctor before you can carry your grocery package to your car that is 100m away from the shop. I know i made this out to be rediculous, but 10 years ago people would say its stupid to argue that by 2014 you would not be able to enter a perfectly safe office building on a mine without steel-capped shoes... People make choices and more importantly people have the right to make choices. Some people will make better choices than others, some will make downright stupid, irresponsible and damaging choices, but that's still a right that each one of us have as a human in this world. Surely some level of civil obedience is required and regulations have their place, but to say that all regulations should be adhered to 100% of the time without a common-sense input to determine how relevant it is in a given situation... I can't roll that way

Let me re-phrase. I personally like to watch XCO, but mainly because i'm a bike rider myself, have appreciation for the technical sections etc. I also know that it is popular and very spectator friendly with a lot of followers and fans etc. But still, the entire XCO season (with all 8 or so races combined over multiple continents) probably have <20% of the viewers and followers in comparison to the Tour de France and I do not expect that XCO viewing and popularity will ever reach similar levels. On the other hand, I do believe that the Epic (as an example) has the ability to grow to Tour de France status (permitting certain changes in terms of the route and team format) with potentially a 5X increase in viewers, followers, sponsorships and contracts that what XCO can potentially bring. Yes, it is expensive to televise, but if the Cape Epic would have similar exposure to the tour de france it won't be more than one year before every stage is televised and land-owners grant fans access to mountain-top finishes. I'm not running XCO down, I just don't think that the majority of people around the world will get together to watch a XCO race in the same way get together to watch Rugby, Soccer or F1.

I don't think XCO will never be really big outside of the pro circuit, and even within the pro circuit it will never be a really popular sport that will be followed and watched by millions. In all honesty its quite boring to do and to watch with the strongest riders getting up front and staying out in front for most of the race with the only excitement being the occasional last lap show-down between two strong guys. I think the the only reason why talented riders race XCO, is because its the only high profile and regular MTB format for non-DH riders on the UCI calendar and it pays the highest salaries. I think that in future stage races like the Epic will be way more popular to watch (as the case with the TDF compared to track cycling). The major problem with stage races from a spectator point of view is the 2-man team format. This closes the door for any tactics and once again it boils down to the strongest teams dominating from stage 1. To me the ultimate MTB race format from a spectator point of view would be to have different stages that suite different riders as with road races. Some stages being extremely technical, others long and flat, some days with sick long climbs and descents etc. At the moment the organizers are packing all of these types of riding into virtually every stage, making it possible for a single type of rider (like Kulhavy) to dominate and win every stage. I reckon something like the Epic can reach the similar popularity to the TDF by mixing it up a little and dropping the 2 man format.

you got to eat. At best you can consume 30% of the energy that you burn while riding. i.e if you ride for 4 hours and burn 3000 Calories in the process, then you would (by eating chews, banana's and energy drink) only be able to consume a maximum of around 1000 Calories during the ride. That means that your body still wants (and needs) 2000 Calories to get back to square 1, hence the reason why you are getting cravings. If you want to lose weight, then you need to put back less, but if you want to keep your weight constant then you can eat whatever you feel like. People on a LCHF diet will say that you should not consume carbs, but what it boils down to is eat whatever your body is used to and what you feel like, essentially your body tells you through cravings what it needs.

i'm in Kathu and Postmasburg for the next week for some work at the Kumba mines. I brought my MTB along, so any suggestions where I can go for a ride in the mornings and and nice long ride on Tuesday?

I'd up the budget a little, or go second hand. After a few rides you'd want to kick yourself for not spending a little more

so what is the record...? my best around there is 2:15

cool story!! i've come to the same conclusion many times in my life. even in 2013 i still believe that bikes are the ultimate invention and even with its simplicity i'm sure it has brought more smiles to the world than anything else i know of ride safe

are you for real... may that day NEVER come that I lose my love for riding!

i wouldn't rule contador out just yet... I'm a big froome fan and he's in great shape, but this year the tour is at a completely different level which Froome has never experienced before

jens voigt - RLT edit: I din't think this one through... although i'd expect jens to be in a breakaway on a stage like today, he will never do it with their fellow RLT man in yellow, so he has a 0% chance of winning today

i used to ride in emmarentia / delta park almost weekly, but stayed away from melville koppies due to rumours of bike jackings etc. is melville koppies safe for riding these days and if so, is it easy to find your way around there? I take it that the entrance is from the dip where judges tee's into beyers naude. Can you ride a loop in there or is it more of a "there and back" type of place?

don't get a more buoyant wetsuit, rather get your technicque sorted and buy a cheapie

most professionals and for that matter people working in large established corporations get over-paid. not just bankers. i started a steel fabrication factory around 18 months ago and I can tell you that going solo in the manufacturing industry is one of the hardest places to be in. Ons some months I worked 360 hours to finish deadlines and I was lucky if I went home with enough money to pay my bills. So I was forced to give that up as a result of non-payment from a large client and applied for a job at a mining house. I received an offer on wednesday and my salary is going to be around 5X what I would earn from the factory.

buy a road bike. much more versatile the time will come when you willl want to go train with a group of friends, then you're screwed with a TT bike. Its just not safe to ride in groups with TT bikes.

The TDF is to me, without a doubt the most exciting sporting event on the annual calender (not only cycling). Yes it is sad that here has been so many frauds over the past decades, but there is nothing like watching a tight battle on a mountaintop finish, and if I'd "boycott" watching the sport because of a bunch of idiots, i'd only spite myself. The tour is such a magnificent event and it will always be. The fight against doping is stronger than ever, so I sincerely hope that we will see a clean victory in 2013!

that's a hard core story... looking back now, were there any signs at all, or did it just happen without warning?

1) don't let your mates sit in the back. I've seen an accident happen in front of me with 4 guys in the back of a bakkie and that's not a good sight. 2) get a towbar. it is a bakkie afterall, so its inevitable that at some stage in your life you will want to tow a trailer

that frame-mounted pump is way worse than the saddle bag...

they need a LOT more references etc. to substantiate this claim for me to believe a word of it...

don't know how much of this I willl believe... it says that plastic containers (like a laundry bin) will last 50 - 80 years... A plastic bottle that has a thinner wall thickness and made of the same material will last 450 years and a plastic bag with a paperthin wall will last up to 1000 years. I'll bet my socks and shoes on this cold morning that they've got it wrong way round... seems like some thumb suckin was done here

thanks niterider

i'm in. great competition!

so what does "5 to 10 km of actual timed stages" mean? Does that mean you only get timed for certain sections of the 25km? What does a "stage" mean in a 25 km ride? how do they prevent congestion? 20 - 30 second start intervals on 25km isn't that much please share some experiences, not just the rules. other than dirtopia, who else hosts these events and where are they?

so why is A Schleck in the top 10? only thing i'll bet on him is if he attempts the lanterne rouge