predictor007

My Daughter (15) and I spent 4 hours on the road yesterday and 2 hours in the bush today. Yes this is tough and we all are affected in some way or another and we all deal with it in our own ways. We chose to get out on the tar and do it safely like always. We ALWAYS use lights front and back day or night and that is the only way we ride. I spent 10 - 15 hours a week with my daughter riding everywhere and we have decided some time ago that the change starts with the person in the mirror. We thus single file all the time no exceptions, ride with front and back lights no exceptions, Stop at the stop streets and wait for the green no exceptions. I always ride behind no matter the amount of wind and then I always show the motorists the way by pointing to my right and giving them a thumbs up before they get to us. Once they pass we thank them regardless of what they did and we also greet everyone from the front. I will be honest when I say this and my daughter is my witness that 99% of motorists pass us with some space to spare and a lot of them will give us a wave or hazards or even a hoot with a wave. It has been like this for us for some time now and this is what we experience. I also follow a single rule and it is that if I wont let my daughter ride a particular stretch of road I will not ride that road either even if I am alone. We have done close to 1500km over December and we had only a handfull of incidents that was not intentional I believe. Like I said it starts with that person staring back at you and at least in our case it has been working well so far. Just our 2cents In short, be seen, show them the way then thank them

What a chop. Well done girls, you represented your country well. This is cycling as was the case in the mens race. Tough race tough conditions and by no means "fair or good at a push" in any way. Recon these girls will ride circles around some Pariah dude all day long.

It was cold at start but the tough part was the wind. In the end it was well worth the chill and feeling good now after a day in the sadlle. Daugher (15) rode a stunner.

Thanks All, Will Pick this up on Monday, Heard about Paul a couple of places now so will follow up with both on Monday Thanks so far

Looking at a reputable XCO coach for my daughter. Soo not looking for that dude that almost made it at SA’s in 1994 J Looking at a person that can understand training feedback analyse it and adopt the training plan accordingly. Thanks all

Noted Daniel, My Daughter rides for a well known club and she has won some races in category. We have done all the big rides on tandem and we have spent countless hours in the saddle. I would not change that for anything in the world and no money can buy these experiences. This morning however was just to close for comfort. I still want all of this for many years to come and not be the statistic that finally gets the authories to start taking action. Life is all about choises and it will be a very bitter pill to swallow should something happen to my only daughter in a sport that gave us so much so far. For now at least it is indoor trainer, midvaal racing course and club rides. No more Sunday midmorning outrides until something changes for the better.

Hi Daniel, Noted and thus me posting about this for the first time in many years of cycling. I am one of those guys that actually stop at stop streets even with my car. I have done many hours of cycling in many years but this morning was just weird. Just seems like no one cares anymore. We were camping for a couple of weeks down in Durban and 1 rider came back from a ride after a motorcycle knocked him off. Just seems like it is not getting any better only more dangerous and that the reason for my question about riding on the road with or without your kids.

Went on a 2 hour base ride with my 14 year old daughter this morning. 5km into the ride a tractor with trailor approached from the back. He did not slow down and overtook in oncoming traffic then was forced to push my daughter off the road. Please note these are the midvaal roads that is really quite. on the way back we had a situation turning into Henley where a car with trailor wanted to turn right, cars were coming from the front and I just got that crappy feeling. I looked back and saw a truck from behind and then the drivers eyes and knew. He was traveling way over 60 and my daughter and I was in his evation path. Car and trailor or cyclist?????? We have a rule and she knows when I say truck off she gets as far as possible of the road as quickly as possible irrespective of the condition of the shoulder. I watched as she ditched and also ditched myself. His outside wheel went off the road and he almost hit the car and drove exactly where we were just a second before. He just missed me and he was still doing at least 40 when he left the road totally and managed to get back on and just kept on driving. This was my closest so far and this with my daughter on the ride We made our way through Henley and passed the Net of Christ church just as they were finishing. A guy backed up out of his parking and once again I found myself off the road. The guy looked at me waved and rode off. I got back on the road a lityle p!$$ed by now. Now we had everyone leaving the church passing us. My daughter was in fron and I have a little thing I do with my hand when a car comes from behind. I thank them before they get to me and in gesture ask them to keep distance. I then leave my hand out there about 30cm from my body. I also half wheel my daughter to create some space for her. Most cars respond well and keep well right I heard another car from behind and did all of the above. This time it did not help. An old fart managed to just miss my hand and just missed my daughter with an open road from the front. I got home now very upset only to hear that 2 cyclist got taken out in the stonehaven race this morning by a car towing a caravan. Any news on this? What now? Home trainers, midvaal race track and group rides. SAD DAY INDEED. Stay Save all and watch your 6.

hehehe ER24 story too cool.

SAD!!!

I almost Died )) Got the dreaded puncture trying to bunnyhop onto tar road, how stupid? Then punctured my quads trying to catch the group, how odd. then broke pretty much everything else in my body just to make it over SBR and to the finish. BUT and a very big BUT I must say it was a great race. just a bit of a wake up call

Anyone doing RFV?

man it was windy and gutter all the friggin way out. eish but still loved it in the end. Passed some okes running whilewe were racing - kudos

Sedaven anyone?