Danger Dassie

Sigh .... the time hath come https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/346786-cotic-x-cxgravel-bike/

Camera Stuff in Randburg area is your best bet. Viny with white on one side and black on the other.

The one with the unnamed author? I remember that piece. There were some fair comments made, but overall felt it came over as somewhat churlish.

No idea? I'm not involved with the organisation.

Yes and no, theres a rule that you can't use drop bars in a mountain bike event. Which makes sense and is more applicable to really technical course like XCO and some XCM (marathon MTB) routes. What they've probably done is loosely adapt XCM rules around gravel racing, which makes sense.

To be fair the Training Peaks inititiave is pro-active move. CSA Coaching has performed some good work in sorting that side out. Like the Schools Series though it seems to be ring fenced (ie protected) within the greater organisational structure. The gravel thing however just seems to smack of old school bureaucracy. It isn't defined as yet on the site under the cycling rules: https://www.cyclingsa.com/rules-and-regulations/ Would think that would be a priority before telling organisers about sanctioning. No doubt though some will call this 'CSA Bashing' and even thrown in a cute hashtag like #stopmoaning No doubt they will have a vested interest in the body, commercial or otherwise.

Also the option of tubeless, although my concern is they dont really seal in the event of a puncture and you can't plug them. Plus the sealent needs to be checked every few months. Then there are thermoplastic tubes like Tubolito, lighter and more puncture proof than normal butyl tubes. Albeit at a price.

Ridden both directions upto Alberts Farm and upto Chili Lane in Sunninghill. Felt a need to for extra caution once over Witkoppen towards Sunninghill. I don't why, perhaps because it's so quiet there. Other spots I pay extra attention to is the river crossing just before Pick 'n Pay, coming from Old Parks. Also Alberts Farm sometimes. Generally though find the Spruit to be fine, especially now that the holiday season is over and there are more people on the spaces.

That section is probably one of the safest sections thanks to that crew. They're mostly from Lesotho from what I gather and are the recyclable waste sorters we often see on the roads. The settlement has grown over the last two years though and could bring about it's own problems, something to monitor. Some businesses in the area have been proactive though in interacting and trying to assist in managing the situation. Due to the fact that the city and mayor's office are more of a stumbling block than assistance, apparently and allegedly that is. It was put forward some time ago that they be inegrated into a formal or semi-formal enviroment with proper sorting infrastructure and some kind of housing. On the upper section towards William Nicol. Not sure what ever came of it, possibly binned as too proactive and not grand enough to garner votes.

Could have been from a slipped chain while changing gears for the climb.

Do any of the white management relinquish 10% of their packages and benefits to black staff? ... Or is the political risk too high.

Ja and some of those are pretty well known in riding circles. So it shows theres some strong support behind him. Arguably Gawie could have worded it differently but the oke speaks from the heart. And that speaks to a sense of integrity beyond much of what has been spoken lately. Good on him.

Might've been a typo by Gary. The uploaded doc is a scanned hardcopy. Good to have these things in the open, clears up a lot of speculation on both sides and helps provide objective insight. *at least for those who take the time to read it at least.

Link is in my post before yours.

Pretty comprehensive report, somoene on my FB page made a comment about "jumping the gun" "one sided facts" and "allegations" .... Shall share this link for them so that they can properly inform themselves: http://www.drugfreesport.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SAIDS-v-Max-Knox.pdf Having skimmed through the report though, on SAIDS side the incorrect labeling of samples must be answered and resolved. And STILL, would feel a lot more faith in CSA were they to uphold some kind of communication. Where is the head of MTB? This is directly relevent to his discipline.

Maybe check these guys out: The Detailing Studio

Interestingly CSA/head of MTB have issued no statement or support. Zero since Carmen Buchacher's sanction.

Like schools rugby ....

Also recall how many wanted to take DG and burn him at the stake, mainly because he isn't a 'likeable' character or some such. Yet out of all the busts he was pretty much the only person who put his hands up and took the punishment without any stories or self victmising. Like him or loathe him, personally have some respect for that.

Nailed it. In short SS's post is simplistic ***.

Terbodore in KZN near Currys Post .... tip top Tommy!

Just for context, here is the full interview post 2017 Cape Epic; http://www.treadmtb.co.za/10-burning-questions-with-max-knox/ Quite telling in hindsight.

See the number comes up on True Caller as "Fraudster Beware" CellC. Reported and blocked.

Not the first time this has happened at Craven week. I remember a convo with a testing official at Crater Cruise some time back who felt they needed to be more present at school sports. Don't think the drive for doping at schools rugby can be attributed to more than one side than the other. The reaility though is that it's upto the parents and/or legal guardians to set the standard and draw a line. If lighties are pushing for the PEDs for whatever reason, then it more than likely stems from the adult influences around them. Directly and indirectly. Imho if an adult is found to be pushing a minor into doping it should be a mandatory 2yr prison sentence with the option of community service, at the courts discretion. For me the worry is the possibility of this kind of culture starts to poison some of the other school sporting codes that grow in popularity.

Did it for the first time last year, so there is probably a dose of first timer rose tinting filtering through. With a group most of the costs of transport/petrol can be split. Honestly felt it was worth every cent, and one of the most incredible cycling experiences yet. Our team had an age spread from 21 years old to 50 odd. All different backgrounds and all, even a former 'pro' who raced in Belgium. It was a week or so after chronic gippo guts during an MTB training camp out Franschoek side, I recovered while staying at a mate's place in Fishoek and loaned a spare bike from one of his mates, a old(ish) Leggaro or something like that. Three or four of us did a few rides to practice echelons and pacing. To be honest, I ******* hated those practice sessions. But come DC everything and everyone fell into rhythm and we had a jol! All ten of us finished together as well, if someone struggled stronger riders would form a smal train and push whoever was struggling. Not the greatest time in 6h40 or so. But damn it was a beautiful day out on a bike and the beers after tasted SO good! Many people blow R800 on a dinner or night out and go home miserable.