Joe Low

Sure - and just to prolong the debate, I liked the Australian who was asked about the huge medal haul of the GB team at the Sydney Olympics. He said: "yeah, they're great at all the sit-down sports" - meaning, in our case, cycling, rowing and shooting.

Quite a silly argument imo. The only thing i would say is that where skill and tools are used in a sport; it takes less physical toughness to be at the top than where those are not part of the sport. But so what?

You just get on and do your thing and dont worry about what other people say. This sport is going to bring you happiness for a lifetime. I imagine part of why they get on your case is it gets a good reaction. From your side just make sure not to be putting it in their faces all the time.

PWC is a business dealing with the public, I would guess that there are problems with insurance, and accidents can be very costly. Disclaimers and indemnities dont get around the whole of this problem & so better to remove the offending articles.

I'm not homosexual (if that matters) but i wouldnt go for a muddy event or one where there was going to be a queue. I only do TB; Crater Cruise & Bela Bela. Use the last 2 events to get away with Mrs and no.2 son. & Bela Bela as an add-on to the road race the day before. As others say would rather ride local trails not race, but will do local road races.

It's firmly fixed in my mind after your adventure. Funny though - same thing happened to me at the same spot a couple of weeks back - big moving queue into the cemetery with oncoming vehicles regularly coming down my side. I limited the reaction to a bit of arm-waving to save them the trouble of removing their number plates and chasing me.

Ok, so you mean not very much then, because I dont think that many cyclists often shout at cars? If not it could be a good misconception to lose ie; that we're all doing it and its normal - it's not, it's stupid and shows a lack of self-control and character. The other thing is that you are not shouting at cars, you are shouting at a person. If you make this connection, you will probably shout a lot less. Take the car, bike and lycra away and see how silly it looks trying to get your point across by shouting at a stranger.

was in there weds night, mud manageable but thought the trails were generally a bit rough. Hadnt been there since xmas eve when they were re-making the battle of the somme with all the mud there. Mudderfontein. Hijack off.

I think you'd get more than fit just going up and down the stairs, that's a long way!

But dont worry if you forget, there is no shortage of takers who will keep reminding you to hold your line, whether you are holding it or not. Otherwise, in a group: Be predictable Dont overlap wheels Dont spit / clear nostrils

Fair enough & you've got friends vouching for you. I'm doing late registration tomorrow and expect the last Group, but let's see.

Post changed in light of new information ;-)

With a couple of notable exceptions, South Africa doesnt produce internationally competitive cyclists of any colour. 100km local races dont equip anyone for Europe, so to me, its a moot point. On local racing, there seems to be growing representation of different groups among the prizewinners.

Tell him "no" then buy them cheap.

Ok - there's real fakes and there's fake fakes, and the difference in quality is enormous. I saw this firsthand when i was in Asia a few years back (the continent not the supergroup). There's also a corresponding difference in price.

And we'll be starting one shortly for dodgy bike shop owners' friends and relatives.

Supply and demand

Bridge helped me Saturday before an Argus when SAA damaged the bike coming down from Jhb. That shop will always be fine with me.

ok i'm all for new folk taking baby steps when they first start posting on the Hub - but baby talk? Get yourself up to toddler level and you're going to fit right in.

I wonder what they did about a warranty card from the manufacturer. There's always other gumph that comes with these purchases esp for R90k. Sori if this has been answered, I only read 20-odd pages.

Be kind to yourself and do the shorter distance. It will make you more positive in the long run (pardon the pun) to achieve something decent,rather than kill yourself going for the whole enchillada.

Oh yeah, quite right - turn for the pit-stop and it's 1km of pain

Fishing? It's got all the excitement of trainspotting, but none of the standing up.

It goes up for the 1st 10kms or so, then nothing hillswise til stage 4 where there's a 3km hill, 10kms from the finish. Tips? Once you're over the mountains on Stage1, be in a bunch, and preferably one you're not struggling to stay with. Usually the 2nd half of Stage 1 and all of Stage 2 is into the wind - despite their program notes and picture. Get in the shade end of Stage 2, its usually hot at lunchtime. Watch out for escaping Zimbabweans - usually coming from the right on Stage 2.

Rietvlei and Zoo Lake are different places, both have running events from time to time. There is also a Rietvlei with trails off the R21. If you mean Rietvlei in the South on Swartkoppies Road, then you can normally spend 1.5-2hrs on their trails. At the moment tho I think its horrible muddy on the open section. A lot of us park there and ride out over the fields.