BIGBOY

Normally around September when it becomes lighter earlier. There is earlier groups but with smaller numbers and the Germiston Wheelers group go past around 07h00 as the leave Merv's Hardware in Dinwidie at 06h45

100% do I agree. I am a VETS team manager, neither are the Bulk Pack boys, Lappies brothers, etc in my team, but i am there at every race, in fact even when my team is not racing I help, we all help each other out. At the end yes we get pretty involved when it concerns our age group and our riders, but we also certainly get involved all over. I have a girl Anli Pretorius who's one op the SA tops, CBist walked out and suddenly a world duathlon champion getting into road cycling sits without a sponsor or team. I got involved and am helping her to complete the year untill she is taken up by one of the top girl teams, so getting involved is in our nature. BUT, we as team managers can not do everything, our body has to assist and prove their worth. Like you said, we have riders to enter, fight for race info and who's entered, prepare equipment, prepare route sheets, check course, plan the race and have a 2nd and 3rd plan, check on other riders, you name it we do it. Then we don't even receive any e-mail saying selectors wanted, or when they choose, i guess if you are a new team and don't have a huge sponsor you are also not considered.

You go SPINNEKOP! VETS racing is serious whichever way you look at it, the entrants take it serious, there is serious competition, serious sponsors, etc. If you don't want to achieve or you arn't interested then why did you read/open this post......cycling is a team sport and certainly not for some of the guys whom commented here today. I suggest if green and gold is over rated for you, and you don't want to be seen as the best in your age group, ride social and don't enter any licensed races you take up space in the bunch or wheel sit in any case ensuring negative racing. Your comments for those that take their sport serious is taking up valuable space. Reading posts about achievers won't help you.

I truly doubt if any licensed VETS rider wants a pat on the back Eldron, but yes they want recognition for what they have achieved and worked their buts off. VETS are not pro's or young any more, so why bother some say, other say they should only continue to race for the love of the sport.......... but in the end we remain competative untill we die, and if you can and want to stay on top of your game and want to compete at a licensed level you want recognition for your effort and you should receive it. It's simple. Ps: And the green and gold thing for some of us is a big thing, it is in your heart and soul, but i guess you get the odd one out.....but those VETS over 35 especially if you still went to the army would understand the meaning of green and gold and recognition for achievement and putting your heart and soul into what you do.

Spinnekop & Marco I agree with you boys, the fact is you earn the right to wear that kit. Why go as a BARBARIAN team and not as a recognised or 1st choice if you have worked hard, performed and truly earned the right to go and wear the kit.

This is a insult to riders and sponsors who give and give and dedicate whatever free time they have to the sport, but never receive (When i say receive i am referring to courtesy, respect and professionalism). I agree a selector with no clue and unknown to the Vets and the team managers is a joke. I believe chat to the managers like you rightly stated, in my opinion the managers can provide loads of info as they find out things and try to know the other teams almost as well as their own guys. I suggest the "selectors" choose their team of 10 guys, the team managers all nominate their selections and out of this another 10 riders with the most votes and not yet chosen are added to the selectors list, then you can even alow the licensed VETS riders to nominate and add 10 from their nominations. Now you have a good selection of 30 riders including some less known riders, whom then are to be invited to a exclusive training camp or VETS Tour where the selectors and team managers form the final selection panel and together select a team of no less than 10 to go and compete. This way you will cover an wide opinion base, with a true test to determine the in form top riders. Yes we might not be able to compete at top level yet, but damn we have to start somewhere, and 2 or 3 riders can not compete against teams consisting of 10 world class guys in each team.

Well she must be german or so' date=' because those legs look very hairy!!!!![/quote'] No, they are just dirty, she fell earlier. In any case after this fall if it was a HE he will be riding further like a SHE

You two are stirring and i started it...let's go to lunch. Hahaha

Who's the HE, it looks like a she with that long hair

CRUX, i 2nd it.....how do you give up a CANNONDALE to ride a Bianca(Miss spelled it for a reason)

Campy WHO? Hahaha.....

I'm watching the mountain bike coverage that followed the Tour de Frans, and have been watching them for a few months now, strangely i have never hear any doping scandals here, is it because there is no huge team participation, their events are a lot shorter and hardly any sprint finishes, etc. BIGBOY2008-07-17 10:00:59

Yes, he was fighting for position but so was all of them... even Cavendish lost his guys a couple of times and went all on his own near the end. I think Robbie is setting his target on one or two wheels, instead of checking for the faster open line or a better wave passing like some of the others are doing. What was worrying is the overhead replay showing how about 7 guys absolutely pulled out from under him, it's like he lacked legspeed and got stuck in to a heavy gear