Martin Albrecht

Thanks for highlighting this, but I don’t think it’s exactly the same situation. Seems this Elton fellow was suspended from an administrative position within CSA and. There is also allegations that he is offering his services in sports massage - which creepy as it may be based on the allegations against him - are not governed by CSA. SNB on the other hand, is offering his services as a UCI licensed cycling coach, working directly in the industry from which he is banned, and that is administered/governed by CSA. CSA can’t allow Elton Davids to work in cycling again for as long as his suspension is upheld, but they can’t stop him from offering sports massages - which is unregulated.

Guess someone just needs to inform him then —— https://besterperformance.com/coaching/ like I said before. As far as I know this is the first case like this in cycling in SA, and it will be interesting to see how much teeth CSA has to enforce it….

I hear you, but surely a disciplinary ban like this should work the same a a doping ban does. If SAIDS sanctions you for doping, and CSA bans you under that, you are banned from all UCI competition worldwide. surely being banned as a coach for something like this should work the same, should not apply only to South Africa, and should result in UCI withdrawing his credentials?

For what it’s worth, and maybe I can as misinformed, but I believe it is his wife/ex-wife (who is also a uci/elite rider, and his old man that are carrying on with the coaching business. He has no involvement anymore) edit: I retract that, I see it still lists him as the head coach, along with his UCI certification (calling him the most qualified coach in South Africa). That is disturbing/concnerinf. this will be an interesting case to see if CSA has any teeth in this matter to stop this. He can’t be UCI certified if CSA has banned him. CSA is the UCI official representative in SA, and if he is banned, surely his certification is withdrawn.

Has anyone tried the IGPSport 200 or 300 units? looking for some input on those, and also if there is a supplier other than Temu to buy them. There are some resellers on Takealot, but none have stock, but I have a business trip to Europe next month, so considering ordering on bikeinn and having delivered to the hotel.

But at least the R2500+ local options fit as advertised, and last. I understand wanting to save a few bucks wherever one can, but I can’t see the sense in dropping somewhere between R50k and R150k on your bicycle, spending months preparing for a race/event/tour whatever, spending a couple grand in travel costs to get there, a couple more grand on accommodation, meals etc, never mind the R5k - R50k the entry fee would have cost you, just to have the entire experience spoiled by saddle sores thanks to your bargain basement bib.

I will be thanks. Maybe I have too high standards, but I don’t care what the price point is, I expect a service to be provide at normal industry standard service levels. International shipments tracking using AWB is standard practice across the industry, with actual information provided - like which airport your item is actually at during different legs of the journey. Pre payment of customs duties and VAT is also standard practice, but normally this is based on a proper itemised customs invoice, which shows under which HS codes the items are being imported, what their customs value is, and what you are paying. Sending an email saying “your package cannot be delivered - here’s a link, pay Rxx.xx so your package can be released, and then later being sent an update saying your package is currently awaiting customs clearance (after you have already paid the duties), is not a normal level of service. Regardless of the price point.

Iron Throne

That basically means they are still doing something dodgy/illegal. If they are doing things properly, you should always end up paying exactly the right amount of duties and VAT. Exactly this is another reason I am uneasy about using TEMU We import a lot of products regularly. I know exactly how international freight works. When we import using DHL, you always get an itemised invoice for the duties and VAT, based on the customs invoice of the shipment. It’s always paid in advance, and the shipment is pre cleared through customs. On the odd occasion, something is flagged for a random inspection by SARS, and then it takes a few days extra, but it’s still held at the DHL warehouse and inspected there. Having to pay customs and Vat without an invoice, and then having the tracking be as vague as “arrived at the airport, awaiting customs clearance”. Is not normal. Tracking will normally say which airport, and something that is pre cleared and paid for, shouldn’t ever end up with a status of “waiting for customs clearence”. They are definitely playing fast and loose with terminology here, and I suspect still doing dodgy things to avoid paying proper full import duties, which is not fair to other legitimate retailers. Unless the stuff I ordered somehow absolutely blows away all my previous expectations, I highly doubt I will order anything off Temu again.

That alone is enough to put me off ordering again. I wasn’t expecting miracles, but I know a thing or two about logistics, and this is simply piss poor. I don’t care how cheap it is, I doubt I will order again. The highly annoying site/app layout trying to get you to play games that you always win, so that they can try convince you to buy stuff you don’t want was already seriously annoying. That combined with the totally thumb m sucked and non sensical shipping updates, being sent a link to pay an arbitrary amount for customs, without an actual itemised invoice, which any proper logistics company would provide, is also absurd. Now realising I have already paid customs duties and vat (I assume, can’t be sure based on no invoice provided), but the shipment wasn’t actually properly pre cleared, and is now “awaiting customs clearance”, at “the airport” (but no idea which airport that is), is simply not acceptable. A business their size should have better logistics, and less “if but and maybe” updates.

As far as I know yes. He seem to be enjoying his retirement a bit (well deserved too), riding enduro bikes in the alps, and spending time with family. He is staying on with Scott as a consultant an will have input in bike design, set up etc. I am sure we will see him back at epic in a year or two mixing it up in the masters category, or riding one of the media bikes or something (not sure how that will work with his commitment to Scott though - as long as Bulls is still sponsoring the e-bikes for the media)

Just an update on this. From what I can tell off the TEMU app, the package arrived at “The Airport” - strangely they don’t say which airport, at 04:36 this morning. The Airwaybill they provided me with is still dead on Skytracks side. Will wait another day or so and then try again. on the Temu website, the status is “awaiting customs clearance” but that doesn’t make sense, since I already paid the duties. When I ship with DHL (which is something we do often at work), we also pay the customs upfront - but then the packages are pre-cleared, and go directly to the DHL warehouse to be prepped for last mile delivery. Why are they charging me customs duties in advance on something that hasn’t been pre cleared yet? So far, my Temu experience has not been confidence inspiring. The fact that they are using SkyNet also gives me chills, they are easily the worst courier service in SA. I still have nightmares from the good old chain reaction days, when they used SkyNet for a brief period and it was a disaster. Based on my experience so far, I’m fully expecting everything I bought to be totally defective.

This is probably the way I will go then also. Every once in a while I get the desire to go bigger, but actually doing it will be such a rare occurrence, I can’t justify spending proper money on a decent enduro bike. The classifieds are loaded full of cheap DH bikes.

Many years ago there was a DH nationals at Klaperkop, and that track was proper. Not sure how safe/accessible that still is these days. then there’s iron throne at harries which is proper downhill/long travel riding. So if the deal is decent I would say do it. I’m in a similar predicament in Stellenbosch now, deciding between getting a proper (but expensive) enduro bike for the odd times my 120-130mm “down country” bikes are outgunned, or buying a cheap downhill bike and just kakking off on the climbs, or only using it when shuttles are possible.

I think I have been taken for a ride on Temu. just made my first ever order on Temu. Luckily a small amount, just to test the water. Apparently my shipping is being done by SkyNet (which should already be a red flag - I work in logistics, and SkyNet is easily the worst courier company in South Africa). I got an email from Temu this morning urgently telling me my package cannot be delivered, due to an outstanding Duties amount of R63.17. The amount seems sensible for the items I ordered, and I click the link to pay. All easy enough. but then I decide to enter the tracking number they gave me into Skynets tracking system - and it reckons the waybill doesn’t exist - even though Temu tracking places the item as stuck at the airport awaiting customs clearance….

I can’t help you with a price, being a “never ridden” demo bike though, I’m guessing about 15% to 20% off the RRP, assuming it’s a current model?

Evening Guys, sorry for coming late to the conversation here. I see there’s pages upon pages of info here, but it’s going to take a lifetime to read through all 1000+ pages. My firstborn is now 5 month old, he is sitting well, started crawling, and wanting to stand up against things. So I reckon it’s time to start considering options for having him along on the bike soon. Need to give mom a bit of a break once in a while, and right now I feel particularly guilty taking longer rides on weekends and leaving her alone with the little one. She also rides, but right now we obviously have to take turns to go riding, which we used to do together often on weekends at least. So, what’s the recommendation from dads that have been through this? Pros and cons of each: Carrier on the back of the bike (old school bucket seat type)? That foam carrier type that goes on the top tube? (I’m not sure if that’s actually suitable for such a young baby - will need to look into it a bit more) Thule (or other) Chariot/Trailer type job? If I go this route, should I go for the 2 seater from the get go (extra storage for goodies for now, and future proofing for kid number 2, which is on the cards in the next 18-24 months) I currently only have 2 dual sus bikes, and an ancient carbon road bike. I live in Stellenbosch, so have access to lots of trails and fire roads. I suspect the bucket seat carriers are not really suitable for a full sus, but hoping I am wrong. Road bike frame is probably too fragile for any of the normal options. Both MTBs also have dropper posts. Not sure how that affects things. Obviously any trail riding will be very mild stuff, but will also want to use the setup to cycle around town. what do the experienced dads here recommend?

Okay, interesting. I have never ridden a bike on the N7 (this side of Clanwilliam) before, never had the desire, but just from driving it, it never struck me as a “limited access freeway”. like I said in my previous post, if you want to head that way by bike, the R27 “West Coast Road” makes far more sense. It’s got cycle lane all the way to Melkbos, and is a lot quieter, and you don’t need to go past Dunoon.

Which section of the N7 is a Free Way? I’m assuming you are reffing to the N7 in Cape Town? That said, I wouldn’t willingly cycle the N7, especially when the R27 has a bike lane pretty much all the way to Melkbos.

If you already have the reign, then I would say ride it. It’s definately “too much” bike for flow trials and will be a bit cumbersome on tight twisty trails, but it will get the job done. It can climb too, just not super fast. If you plan to use it more like a trail bike than an enduro bike, just fit lighter wheels and more XC style tires, and you should be okay. But if you are in the market for a bike, rather shop around, and seriously consider a Trance or Spez stumpy ST, or the Trek as mentioned above (there are some bargains to be had on previous gen Treks both new and on the used market at the moment). For 95% of South Africa’s trails, you really don’t need more than 130mm travel and decent tires, and a proper trail or “down country” bike makes the longer days in the saddle so much more enjoyable. I live in Stellenbosch and surrounded by endless amounts of some of the best trails in the country. I have a 2018 Giant Reign, and a 2023 Anthem X, and I can probably count on 1 hand the number of times I have taken the Reign out of the garage in the past year. I might use it for a shuttle day here a there, but otherwise the anthem does everything I need it to, up or downhill.

We must be looking at very different markets. XCM races in my experience over the past 10 years have gotten a lot more technical, with more and more single track being added as the trail networks grow, and often will include sections of the the XCO tracks into the route. Many of the previous “non technical” mountain bike races have rebranded themselves as gravel races now as well. Obviously for mass participation events you need to a good balance of terrains, with enough “open” road sections to allow safe overtaking and letting groups spread out a bit before entering the single track again. But in my experience marathon races have most definately gotten more technical, as the bikes have gotten more and more capable. There is very little difference these days set up wise between an XCO and marathon bike. I would also say XCO skills carry over very well into marathon racing. So it really should be a discipline that gets more focus, especially at schools level. Nino Schurter dominated XCO for almost two decades, yet it didn’t get in the way of him racking up multiple cape epic victories. Our local boy Alan Hatherly is currently back to back XCO world champ, and that doesn’t seem to hold him back from Stellar performances in marathons too, having just defended his Hell of the South podium, and making a pretty successful transition to a career on the world tour on the road. Time and again, when the competition really heats up, the “marathon” specialists are shown up by XCO riders, because XCO makes them all around better riders. Candice Lill is another prime example. Her successes in marathon events has only improved, as her XCO career has flourished, and the fact remains, if a youngster has any ambitions of going pro in MTB, XCO is the right pipeline for that. Maybe I totally misunderstand the goal of this new schools series, considering there is already a schools series in the trailseeker series, but I just think it’s a missed opportunity for someone who wants to do something meaningful for schools mountain-biking to not have done something in the XCO space. Especially up north, where it seems XCO is essentially dead in the water. Sounds like cycling could might have been a more enjoyable (for dad) option, and from what I remember about fishing, might very well have turned out a cheaper option too🤪🚵‍♂️🎣. But at least he has chosen something that gets him outdoors, he could have spent his Saturday mornings pretending to be fishing on his PlayStation instead….

I am all for kids just riding bikes for fun with their mates. But it’s not as if theirs is a shortage of opportunity to do so already, especially considering the trailseeker series already incorporates a school series into the competition. It just feels like there are already 3 or 4 options for marathon type events every weekend, over and above the trailseeker series, and at the same time, we are really battling to develop XCO riders in South Africa, with most falling by the wayside by the time they are teenagers. If someone wanted to start a new schools series there’s a golden opportunity to do it in the XCO space. But yes, we South Africans (me included) are absolutely XCM obsessed, so I do understand them going that way from a brand exposure point of view. I also realise now this is not CSA sanctioned etc, so I guess they are free to do as they please. I initially thought this was an new official “sanctioned” school series, which to me seemed odd since what CSA really needs to do on the MTB side is figure out how to develop more interest in XCO. also, with XCO being so much more spectator friendly, I have never understood why it isn’t more popular here.

I have just seen this interesting press release on Tread Media. https://www.treadmtb.co.za/luxliner-launches-2026-schools-mtb-series-to-grow-marathon-racing-talent I suppose we should be happy about any initiatives to grow cycling as a sport, especially at the youth level. But is this really a good idea? XCO, which is actually the bigger discipline, at least at competitive level internationally, and currently to only official Olympic discipline is already very sparsely supported in South Africa, and beyond the current schools series, is basically non existent in SA. We hardly field enough elite level riers at adult level to the XCO provincial and nationals to comply with the minimum criteria for the events to count towards national team selection. add to this, that there is no international competitive discipline for marathon racing at junior level. UCI XCM category riders must be 19 or older to participate, and there isn’t even an u/23 caregory. It is a full on adult only/senior level sport. Does it really make sense to draw even more attention away from XCO in South Africa? I am not sure where I sit on this, but interested to hear others opinions.

Although I 100% agree with your entire sentiment, there is one small correction I must make. Sanbi and SANParks aren’t the landowners, they are only the custodians, with specific mandates, which they both act on mostly succesfully. We, as the tax paying residents of South Africa, are the landowners. 😜 but that is just semantics. Your sentiment remains 100% correct.

I’m not sure I agree with this. Each event organiser is free to make their own rules though. I can understand banning drop bars from MTB events, especially because it is a real safety concern for riders if there are any properly technical sections, and provides a clear advantage on the non technical sections in terms of aero etc. But what possible benefit, or safety risk could flat bars possibly pose on a true gravel event?