Danger Dassie

Do you really want to go down the road of personal insults? The questions were clear. I have taken the time to read the conversations, give the same courtesy on the same basis. Thanks for the answer in the last part of your post, that's all that was required from the start.

Lots of hyperbole, yet still no answer on the AGM. Starting to think it's some kind of secret masonic bookclub event.

That's speculative, what isn't speculative is that the case is the subject of a Hawks investigation. That isn't something that happens on a hunch.

RS, let me help you out here, bud as there is no "assume" of anything. I don't have a "beef" as you put it. Consistently dodging questions and deflecting answers however, does nothing to endear a productive line of engagement. No assumptions. You decided to post on the hub as a communicator, albeit under the most figurative of approaches and basically it was pulling teeth to get you to declare your posistion. That already sets a tone of suspicion with the intended audience. Communication is a two way street, but fair enough maybe communication isn't a strong suit. But then put your hand up and just say "Looks guys, I am only involved at X level and can't answer questions on Y" I am no longer a club or regional member, bar day licences. That doesn't make myself or others uninterested partys however. Publicly open the AGM and invite all riders and interested partys to attend, that way it can at least be seen as open and the support you guys need will be more than likely forthcoming. But using the old structures. Telling people to contact someone in a probable none existent position, send a PM and look up CSA with conflicting information. That's a hiding to nowhere. It has been for the last good few years and is so currently. So choose to share the AGM info, or not. Forget about waiting to populate the site with all the bells and whistles, put up a one pager notice updating visitors the situation as it stands. Mention that there is a current legal issue and it is being worked on. Clean up the social media accounts, especially the Facebook pages. The one FB account that I was directly invloved has had much of it's previous content removed, for whatever reason. This is the actually the correct format and easier to communicate for formal organisations with members and has a searchable handle (@cgcycling) - https://www.facebook.com/CGCycling/ This on the other hand isn't a great layout and format, currently seems to be a classifieds for everyone - https://www.facebook.com/groups/130031263887/?ref=br_rs Simple basics that will cut out much of the challenge and encourage people to be more supportive.

Where is this stated then? Because then someone is talking porky pies. To have a seeding at national events you need a provincial ranking and seeding index. From the site itself; https://www.cyclingsa.com/membership/ Licence structure explainedFull Racing License This category of license is for riders from the age of 17-years-old who wish to be eligible for provincial and national selection and respective colours award. The bearer of a full license is entitled to partake in national championships or series race and be seeded accordingly. Those of who race in the UCI categories (Junior, U23 and Elite) earn UCI points, which will assist them in being seeded at future UCI category events, UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships. The cost of a full racing license is R450 per year, and the applicant has to be member of an affiliated club, as well as be a registered member of Cycling SA. These MUST be done simultaneously for a Full Racing License to be valid. Full Racing Licenses are only valid from 1 January to 31 December each year. Membership As from 1 November 2017, a membership of Cycling SA costs R250 per year. A membership holder is entitled to enter any event, irrespective of discipline, without having to purchase a day license. A member is allowed to participate in a national series event, but will not be eligible for national or provincial selection. A membership of Cycling SA is the most basic form of license and is an agreement of the rider to abide by the rules of the event in which they participate. Day License The Day-license is designed to allow the absolute newcomers of the sport to participate within the rules and regulations of the sport. These participants, who do not hold a full license or membership, need to purchase a day license. By purchasing a day license the rider agrees to participate in the event and abide with the rules of the event and those of Cycling SA for that day. A day license costs R35 and is only valid for one day. Membership downloads Procedure to Apply for an International Racing LicenseProcedure to Apply for an International Racing Licence Cyclists who wish to race abroad, and/or participate in local UCI events are required to obtain an International Racing Licence, after applying for permission to race in the international events. Applications need to be made in writing to Cycling South Africa, and must be accompanied by an insurance policy and the policy’s exclusions (terms and conditions). The rider needs to have a valid Domestic Racing License. Youth riders (U16) are only required to become members and will receive all the benefits of a domestic racing license. The rider needs to forward their departure and arrivals dates. The International Licence, which comes at no additional cost, will only be issued once Cycling SA has received a copy of the cyclist’s insurance and the policy’s exclusions (Terms and Conditions). No International Licenses will be issued without proof of valid Medical, Travel and Repatriation Insurances. As per Cycling South Africa RULES: 1.3.1.5 INTERNATIONAL LICENSE - A rider has to apply for permission to race in international events. 1.3.1.5.1 No international License will be issued without the proof of Medical, Travel (when racing outside the South African Borders) and Repatriation insurance. 1.3.1.5.2 All licenses will be issued with ‘valid from’ and ‘valid until’ fields which will be determined by the validity of the Insurance provided. 1.3.1.5.3 All riders from a Professional Continental and Pro Tour team whose particulars reflect on the UCI website as a registered member will be issued with an INTERNATIONAL LICENSE when applying for a RACING LICENSE. 1.3.1.5.4 No additional costs will apply to be issued with an INTERNATIONAL LICENSE. 1.3.1.5.5 CYCLINGSA will issue a letter of permission to participate internationally reflecting all insurance particulars. 1.3.1.5.6 Applications need to be made in writing to CYCLINGSA accompanied by the insurance policy.

` You only need to purchase a day licence, a few events will actually end up more than taking out an annual membership though. So the cheaper option of membership is probably more viable. Also it's not clear if a day licence gives you access to the insurance on offer by CSA. The website is unfortunately not intuitive at all, it takes a good while to navigate and find the correct info. Note, there is a difference between a normal membership and full racing licence as a member. A full racing licence allows you to compete on a provincial and national level within your respective age cat/discipline. NB: this then puts you in the unenviable nonsense of "sanctioned events" and the "forbidden race ruling'' If you really want to be a top dog, you can apply for an international UCI licence on the strength of your full race licence. There is a contention that the sanctioning aspect only really applies to international licence holders and can actually be applied domestically at the discretion of the national federation (CSA) but there is basically no engagement on this. Bar a copy and paste presser every few months with a finger wagging at any local amateur racers who dare violate the sancity of sanctioned events.

Answer the question directly without deflection and obfuscation please. Based on past experience and related by Frosty, region does not answer. So you as a representative of the region are now being asked. When and where is the AGM? And fyi any constitution and financials should be available publicly. Like for example the website, which is nothing more than a landing page currently. cgccycling.co.za The facebook page, of which there are two, has been purged of a lot of content. Twitter account, dormant. The CSA website has conflicting info on wether or not Gauteng actually has an exco representive.

Did you not see that is exactly what he could or would do had there been a response to his query? While changing down may be the right thing, your answer does no favour and frankly comes over as deflective and dishonest. Straight up, when and where is the next AGM and what is the process?

Having driven around there before as well as riding, I can confidently say that there is nowhere or any reason to stop on the descents, especially the major points. Where there are viewpoints there is a pull over point. In any mode of transport it's pretty stupid to stop dead in the middle of the road.

This, know that sometimes people use this as an escape if they've really hit the wall on a ride and it's a short section with no blind corners. The other spots though, completely stupid. Especially after the second gate when descending to the last climb, have a couple of close calls there with wankers climbing up in the wrong direction.

And those were and are organised by passionate people with the support of the cycling community. There would be more if they weren't treated as mules. Nothing to do with a lack of support from the cycling community, in fact it's because of their support that these riders can compete. Fully aware of CSA as an organisation and the history even before it bacame CSA, as well as the fact that there are a number of good people involved, specifically some of the commissaires. Also the coaching commision and schools, who interestingly seem ring fenced to a degree as a structure from CSA exco. The fact of the matter is that the problems are at the top and the lack of leadership will affect member support. There is a severe problem with a broken trust and reputation.

I like There's some correlation there at best, but not the causation of the problems with CSA consistenly not fulfilling it's mandate. People refusing to become members or participate is not the problem here. As far as Hatherly and Strauss are concerned, the structures that allow them to compete is the fact that they have sound team management and sponsorship that fulfill the liason with CSA.

It's interesting to see that administrators are so tone deaf and lack engagement, yet you wonder why membership is on the decline while the actual sport is growing? Because you guys only show action on low hanging fruit, it makes it difficult to support an organisation on that basis. The national body and some provinces have a broken trust and reputation. Think about it, the way this 'forbidden race rule' is being handled is only setting CSA up for failure and more resistance, whilst killing off amateur racing. If 75% of CSA members are not holders of racing licences, then how does that really affect your income stream? How many members actually make use if the additional medical cover?

Don't agree, it's an arbitarily applied rule without engagement or choice. Which highlights the shortcomings in CSA and the administration. There are grounds to exercise discretion, past and present.

Seeking out opinions on an internet forum. Brave man.

It's a good thing and if a bit of administrative cleaning of house comes out of this even better. The sad reality is that much of the sport's corruption goes on without accountability because there is so much focus on the bigger issues with our current political and business climate. So for already burdened news rooms who have the true investigative resources to openly expose and draw attention to wrong doing in the mainstream. Sports doping and corruption are not an open priority perspectively.

Probably a bit broader than that outside of cycling alone, it's an investigation into a doping ring. The fact that The Hawks are conducting the investigation also indicates criminal implications in whatever is turned up.

Neither here nor there really, he has been on a bunch of teams. 2001 - 2002 Itera 2003 Lokomotiv 2005 Fassa Bortolo 2006Acqua & Sapone 2007 Barloworld 2008 - 2011 High Road 2012 - 2015 Sky 2016 Dimension Data 2017 Bahrain–Merida

Not at all, just pointing out some facts to a post that seems to be alluding something else. Unless I misinterepeted. I don't know the rider that's appealing no Probably a lot of notarising documentation and a matter of formalising all the relevant paperwork etc before it's loaded onto the SAIDS site. But notification of the case and findings were published. http://www.drugfreesport.org.za/saids-probe-nets-three-for-doping-violations/ https://www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/news/industry-news/shan-wilson-served-six-year-ban-for-doping-violations-r7513

Not sure what you're driving at? Gordon Gilbert recently received four years after a lengthy appeal process that escalated to CAS. 2 years is fairly standard for EPO sanctions, especially if the athlete doesn't appeal the finding only to still be found guilty after their appeal and call for the B sample. As was the case for Carmen Buchacher. As a supplier, amongst other violation the penalty will obviously be higher for Shan Wilson. All anyone has to do is read the release. All of this is public information.

https://www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/news/industry-news/shan-wilson-served-six-year-ban-for-doping-violations-r7513 "The third athlete, a national level cyclist, has not been named as he has appealed his four-year ban. He was charged for suspicious variations in his Athlete Biological Passport, which he could not explain to SAIDS’s satisfaction."

I've also watched many a YouTube vide

Conversely could do a series of documentaries on bikes that come into workshops after the owner watched a 'how to do it' video online.

I'm with Phillip as far as mechanics go. But if the shop is a properly setup entity it's a negligible cost as often the training is cross subsidised by the brands, and training/certification of staff can be claimed against the business. They can still earn a decent income without the customer paying vehicle labour rates. The value and mitigated risk of staff who are both competent and certified is far and away beyond the cost to be recouped. It takes one expensive ****** on a customer's bike to swallow up that cost saving.