Dubber

Hi The commute is about 20km's each way. So 40 km's a day. I generally commute twice (maybe 3 days a week). The fact of getting AA rates for the car isn't the reason I don't commute all the time. My commute is my 'easy days' i.e. 50% to 60% of max rides. The days that I don't commute are my hard 80%+ plus days which happens before work and then I use the car as 'recovery'. Boss likes the fact that I commute. But, as everyone has pretty much said, there isn't a precedent / scheme that he can use as guidelines on how to go about refunding me. So either he is going to break new ground or it's not going to happen.

True - but it's worth a try, no? ;-)

A question for fellow commuters or others in the know: I'm in the position where my Company pays partly for my petrol and car maintenance. For each kilometer traveled I can claim back R3.50. Now, on occasion I commute into work - which over a month, adds up to around 400 km. (80 to 100 km per week). So in theory I'm saving the company about R1400 a month in fuel/maintenance costs. Ideally I would like to claim some of this money back for bike maintenance - which currently comes out of my pocket. Obviously the costs of running the bike is minimal compared to a car so I'm not expecting to get the full amount. At the moment the Boss isn't too keen on handing any portion of this amount over. (Not because he doesn't want, rather mainly because there is no precedent for doing it in the Company until now). Anybody been in a similar situation and come up with a winning solution? G

Morning all For those in the market, Kalahari has a 30% off promotion on a lot of electrical goods - including a lot of coffee machines of all shapes and sizes...

I enjoyed this ride last year - last warm up ride before Sani :-) If they have sorted out the teething problems then it is a very worthwhile event...

Just to add: most weekends you'll find a bunch of Hubbers out there. So if you are that way inclined, post in the Group ride section. I'm sure you'll find someone who is keen to show off our trails...

I think the better question is what shouldn't you ride! Most of the trails below would benefit with a local - just so you can get the most out of your trip. Jonkers should definitely be on the short list. As should Oak Valley/ Paul Cluver and possibly Greyton. Tokai is fun if you are in the area (and you will be on Oceans race day)...

Out of interest, how much faster are you on a HT than a Dualie? In reality, on the first few days you may well be faster on the HT, but come the last 3 days or so (when fatigue sets in) will you still be faster. I think (just my opnion) the dualie will save you a bunch of energy over the 9 days and overall you will end up being just as quick?

I would recommend these guys in a heartbeat. There's a bunch of reasons, but if I had to pick 2: 1: you will improved - fact. 2: (In terms of the Cape Town branch), Tania Raats (coach/trainer) is awsome. This is a lady that has pretty much done it all in terms of performance cycling - you can ask her for advice on all things cycling. No, this isn't a dedicated coach just for you. But you have a power based training program (which in itself is pretty great) as well as having access to a world class cyclist to pick her brains.

Well done Dizzy - nice pic. Enjoy the GoPro.

Dizzy has done very well at promoting her pic and kudos to her for doing it. Nothing in the rules against it. Whether this leads to the 'best' pic being chosen or rather the most popular pic, is debatable. But at the end of the day it's all fun and Go-Pro / TheHub get the exposure they are after. No? If Go-Pro / TheHub are specifically after the 'best pic', then the process probably needs to be changed. But I don't think that is the objective?

True - my bad. I didn't know there was still a CycleLab in the city. Well not for long

if you have been using CycleLab and are now considering CWC I take it you are in Durbanville/Bellville area? There is a small bike shop just off Durban road (just before Tygervalley). Mainly focused around repairs and servicing - but also sells a few parts and spares. If that is what you are looking for I highly recommend them - chat to Lourens.

Agree 100%. There should be a day pass for non-members. As a member, I can't take mates from out of town on a full ride - which just plain sux. So if mates from Jhb or PE etc come to visit we are limited to individual tracks and/or having to tie them together without using the corridors.

Thanks for that. Kudos to him. The youngsters (and oldies) could learn a lot from him...

Anybody that finishes the Epic has my respect. Would love to know if this dude made it. He was super smooth around the Hoogekraal switchbacks - you could see he has ridden a mountain bike once or twice. Put a lot of the the snakes who were garbing handfuls of brakes to shame.

lol - DIBS went out the window long ago... Had a couple items where I've 'Dibs' the item and arranged a meeting after work only to get a call later in the afternoon that the item is now sold. Unless you have cash in hand and can meet a seller immediately you are up the creek.

I agree with you - not defending him. But I'm not going to crucify him either. He did it, he's been punished, so be it. Did he once say sorry? Probably not. But again, flip side - did Scott approach him before they lodged the complaint? And as for the careers - yes again, for sure. But in terms of the Brand, will I now rush out to buy a Scott bike? Probably not. Sometimes the sponsors loose focus of the bigger picture. Winning isn't always everything (ask Team Centurion Vaude ) In my insignificant opinion the Scott team could have handled it better. It's unfair to blame them for KE's transgression - but that's how it has worked out. But i'm just one guy

Double standards there dude: According to the rules Evans cheated - so be it. According to the rules, Outcasts are not to interfere with the race. That's the rule plain and simple - no sub clause about if you are 20 places down it doesn't matter... And as for the your last sentence - there lies the rub. It's all about the money. Maybe Scott and the guys are amped. Would they have won it with out the time penalty? Who knows? There's a chance they would have and I would have had loads more appreciation for their victory. Right now, for me its kind of a 'so what'. (I'm not defending Evans and I'm not belittling Scott - I'm just saying their victory doesn't mean much to me).

Why? Because it's a flimsy excuse? We all have our swords out and we are keen to crucify the guy - but as flimsy as it is, it may just be true? I know for a fact when I'm pedaling my guts out and my heart rate is flat lining in the red zone, I sometimes often make stupid decisions. He made a decision and acted on it. In the eyes of the law it was cheating. Did he intentionally set out to cheat? I would like to think not and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. It was just a *** decision. And for the Scott team: they had every legitimate reason to complain. Do I respect them for complaining - nope. This is mountain biking FFS. Have a word with him after the race and sort it out like men.

A bit of humble pie please?

I don't think point 2 is true. As the saying goes, it never gets easier you just get faster. So, yes, if you maintain you standard speed your legs would do less work, but that's not what you are after. With greater power you end up cycling faster - so you legs still work at their 'max'. No facts to back this up though...

lol - yeah, he timed that one to perfection! I think he may have under estimated of how fast/far his knobblies on muddy grass would roll. They're not quiet like slicks on tar

another meter and he would have been had!

R50k odd down the drain? I'm hurting thinking about it - hate to know how they feel!