Mushilele

Glad I'm not the only 'girl' who hates girly colors and designs on a bike. :-) I have always ridden 'normal' bikes but with the handle bars cut shorter.

Tony interviewed on Cape Talk: Cape Times article http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/robbers-beat-cyclists-with-sticks-1.1551017#.Ue5NyHCJuDo

What are you insinutating, Redlight? The husband was beaten with sticks - hard enough to break his helmet.

Check out Over The Mountain at Herold (at the top of Montagu Pass above George) for accommodation. When we were last there Dave the owner says that K2C peeps stay there ... It's 80 km to the start still but may be better than driving all the way from Knysna.

Awful awful loss to South African cycling and sport. And to Burry's family, friends and fans. His sport was dangerous but in the end a selfish driver took his young life. RIP Burry.

Check out Cycle Overberg group on Facebook and maybe ask about rides/riding partners/groups there.

There is a FB page for the park with images. The rains have created some trail maintenance issues but it looks like there's plenty of fun to be had. Maybe contact Josua at JBay Cycles.

Dirk's first and second post are complaints about product service? Welcome to the Hub, Dirk! I don't think the rep was out of line at all and yes, your LBS should have done the complaining to the supplier on your behalf. And I don't think it's unreasonable to wait a bit for turnaround, especially in the midst of a transport strike where people are losing their lives to delivery goods in this country. Heck, even when there isn't a strike, a week's wait isn't a trainsmash. I'm sure you are disappointed that the unit didn't work but there is always a process in determining when a problem started with any product ... and sometimes that can start in the shop, or in transit.

RIP Clem. I am so sorry for his family, who are experiencing the trauma of a cyclist who went out for a simple Sunday morning ride and never returned. The driver may have been caught, and may be punished, but it won't bring this man back to his family, friends and colleagues.

I agree. The more expensive to buy the more expensive to run. I have a brill 2007 bike with XT. I am keeping it for as long as poss because it seems to cost a lot less to maintain than my friends' more recent models with 'same' ...

Event Name: 8th Botrivier Van Der Stel Pass MTB Challenge When: 27 October 2012 Where: Botrivier/Bot River (N2, at turnoff to Hermanus), Western Cape Category: MTB Races: MTB – 60 km, 40 km and 15 km Running/walking - 21 km, 10 km and 5 km Cultural historic race - 6 km Host:Botrivier Education Foundation (BEF) Info:Wilfred @ 021 851 2295 or 0833241846 or email wilfred.habelgaarn@gmail.com or Anthony @ 0837732574 or email anthess02@gmail.com Prize giving cut off:13h00 Entries and Registration: Online entries @www.bef.org.za until Monday 22 Oct 2012. Also, at registration on Friday 26 October from 4 pm to 8 pm or on the morning of the race starting at 5 am. MTB Challenge Three MTB races: 1. 60 km starting @ 08h30 2. 40 km starting @ 08h40 3. 15 km starting @ 08h50 Fees: R 100 – 60 km R 80 – 40 km R 35 – 15 km T- shirts (fiber cotton) – R70 Race and route description The 2012 route is the reverse route of 2011. Up hills now down hills and faster times expected. Interesting new sections exploring the hills and valleys in and around the Van der Stel Pass await all the new and previous participants. Porcupine Hills in particular is a section on the long route which cyclists will thoroughly enjoy. Don’t forget to look up to spot the eagles nesting. Mainly gravel road and jeep tracks. Short non technical single tracks are scattered along the course. The purpose of the route design is enjoyment, not technical, but still needs enough fitness and cycling in those legs especially for the 60km. Enough water and soft drink will be served along the route with friendly marshalling. All three routes follow the same direction and g the “Hill of friends” will be downhill, hence no descending to chat with your friends. All three races approach the gradual ascend along the railway line after starting with a downhill towards the famous 300 yr old oak tree. Beautiful views of valleys and creeks lie on your right. The 15km family ride breaks away to the left along this climb and heading back to the station. The 40k and 60km cyclists continue and once on top, a long fast down run into the Witkop peasant dust bath awaits. From here 2 short steep climbs will take you into Fisantekraal kloof. This is mostly downhill with one short steep climb. Back in the Van der Stel Pass the 40km route turns left heading back to Botrivier station with one more twist in the tail. The 60km cyclist turns right in the Van der Stel Pass and heads towards Porcupine Hills then continue through open farm land. Perdevlei hill will be downhill this year and once back in Van der Stel Pass the route joins the 40km cyclist back towards Botrivier Station. An indemnity form must be signed by all cyclists. Male and female winners of the 60km race receive R1100, 37km winner receives R300 and 15km R100. Category prize money is available. Medals for all and cash prizes for winners plus many lucky draws including R1000 draw, overnight stay at Arabella Hotel & Spa & many more spot prizes. Directions to Botrivier station To get to Botrivier station from Cape Town – pass the Hermanus turn off on the N2 at the bottom of the Houwhoek Pass. The next turnoff is towards Botrivier situated on your left. At the T-junction turn left. Continue with this road around a sharp bent with the Bot River Hotel and filling station on your left. Sign posts will easily guide you to the start 200m from the bend. Contact Wilfred @ 021 851 2295 or 0833241846 or email wilfred.habelgaarn@gmail.com or Anthony @ 0837732574 or email anthess02@gmail.com Go to Event Page

Bryton GPS watch?

Two years later ... anyone know of a stockist of Pearl Izumi (for trying on) in the Somerset West area, or southern Cape? Cool Heat (the distributor) aren't helping. (What is the point of a contact us form if no one responds?) I last bought my PIs in the States and I have a feeling I'm going to have to do the same. (Pearl Izumi's service is fantastic - I sent the style number of my current shorts to PI and they came back with the latest equivalent and some suggestions ... now I just need to find them locally.)

Isn't it possible to claim against the driver personally, whether or not he or she is insured? (The ability of drivers ti simply fob responsibility off to the RAF doesn't exactly inspire ... Responsibility.) And if he or she has short term, wouldn't such a claim be paid from their public liability cover if they are so covered?

I think the Karoo 2 Coast is one of those rides that positively proves that profiles can be misleading and that there is no such thing as 'a gradual descent to the coast'. The downhills are fast and 'short' and the uphills are slow and very, very long. Train for it - there are many who think it's a great event to try it as their first 'mountainbike ride'. Brave souls .... It's harder for the average rider than the Argus and, if the conditions are anything like they were last year (40 degrees plus, and sunny skies) it'll be even more epic (although the Berg wind was a following one). The forest is really only about 20 or 30 kays from the end ... the route is exposed for the rest but the views and the gees are awesome. For the fast riders, the race is on ... to beat your time each year, and then to consider craziness such as doing it on a single-speed ...

The Duke is hurtling along. There was something on Twitter about him being knocked off his bike by a truck? Eish, fatigue and public roads do not a great mix make. Go Martin Go Martin! (We were going to go and cheer him on near Villiersdorp but when we checked in with FC HQ Meryl suggested it might not be a good idea ... he would probably want to stop for a good chat.) There seems to be lekker competitive cameraderie between Alex and Martin. Talk about iron men! And we really appreciate the guy at the back who's doing it like my hubby wants to do it - slowly, meeting people, enjoying the adventure.

Just picked up a blog entry from Ride your City (dated 13 June) - http://rideyourcity....towed-trailers/ OBJECTIONS NEED TO BE IN BY 4 JULY 2012 New South African regulations proposed – which ban bicycle-towed trailers… In the rest of the world, cargo bicycles, freight bicycles, bicycle attachments for towing children, etc, are a growing – and welcome trend. Not so in South Africa – where policy on the one hand purports to promote non-motorised transport (practice being an entirely different matter), and on the other seeks to further illegimitise NMT… NOTICE 458 OF 2012, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACf, 1996 (ACf NO. 93 OF 1996) proposes the following AMENDMENT OF THE NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, No.35413 3 Amendment of regulation 311 of the Regulations 68. Regulation 311 of the Regulations is hereby amended by the addition of the following subregulation after subregulation (8): “(9) No person shall ride a pedal cycle on a public road drawing or towing a trailer or anything.”. This will have a serious impact on a number of new and proposed micro-businesses in South Africa, and on attempts to introduce low-carbon, congestion-reducing inner-city freight solutions such as cargo bicycles. One wonders who did DoT consult in this regard? We’ll certainly be sending in comments… Such as a requirement for adequate visibility (such as a flag), and a requirement that trailers are specifically designed for bikes, etc – not a blanket ban… If these regulations are supposed to make an impact on road safety, well, there are WAY better ways to go about it. How about a 1.5 m passing rule? Or lower urban speed limits… All interested parties who have any objections, inputs or comments to the proposed amendments are called upon to lodge their objections, inputs or comments, within four weeks from the date of publication (THAT’s 4 JULY) of this Notice to: JOHN MOTSATSING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT PRIVATE BAG X 193 PRETORIA 0001 Tel: (012) 309 3574 Fax (012) 309 3962 E-mail: motsatsj@dot.gov.za Sibusiso Joel Ndebele Minister of Transport PHILUP MAGAGANE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT PRIVATE BAG X 193 PRETORIA 0001 Tel: (012) 309 3684 Fax (012) 309 3962 magaganp@dot.gov.za

'Weak mind' ... Please define.

Max, I am glad you asked the question. I wore my Indola baggies from what seems like a decade ago at the weekend and my guy now wants a pair of his own. So, I'm doing some early Christmas shopping ... I had a look at the Fox baggies - they are a bit military looking (so far from the Lycra-look it's frightening) but I guess the insides of a pair of baggies is what is important. Will try and find some Indolas online (hope their chamois have improved since mine were made) and will also look at the Capestorm/FA offerings. (CS also has a military theme with their AKs. That silly ABSA ad for the Epic keeps playing in my head ...)

Add SUUNTO to the list of top products - also not on the preferred partners list. If Discovery gets you fired up, have a look at how products get to have the Heart Foundation's logo on them ... It's all about money.

This turns my stomach. RIP.

If you can wait ... North Wave is arriving in February ... Hullabaloo (importer of Rocky Mountain, Syncros, Knog etc) has secured distribution ... (www.hullabaloo.co.za).

Voting? No, that poll is more like 'who has the most time to sit and click' ... Voting is when you have one vote and you use it carefully (and it's a privilege). The Bicycling poll results mean nothing.

I guarantee you'd need medication more if you sat at home instead of exercising ... sitting is the worst thing for a bad back. Look out for stomach and liver side effects of Myprodol ... I've taken it on an empty stomach before a waxing session and ended up doubled up in agony as searing pain tore through my abdomen. My medically trained fiance was not a bit cross that I was so dumb. I carry Myprodol with me all the time - and will use it from time to time after cycling to help with knee swelling, the effect of a riding injury in my teens. However, I'm very, very circumspect about taking drugs to mask what my body is telling me. Knee swelling tells me that my surrounding muscles, or I've pushed too hard (prolly wrong gear). I can do something about those two causes so the next time I might not need any chemical help. Funnily enough, the doing isn't always as easy as popping a capsule.