RickA

Years ago when I still Lived in Johannesburg, 702 talk radio had a show where they discussed car guards / street corner beggars etc. One of their reporters did some tests - offering beggars R500 to work at their house for a couple of days work - painting or building - all of them refused. One particular beggar, that had been standing in the same spot outside Cresta center for years, laughed at the offer claiming he usually made more than that on a daily basis, and saying that if he moved he would lose his "begging spot" to someone else! He told the reporter it was a great place to be, with all of the well off housewives coming out of the center, feeling guilty and often giving him at least R50 - obviously to make themselves feel better!! I

I agree 100% I bought a new RockShox Reba Race two weeks back, then went back the next day when i saw the price of a set (F&R) of Avid Elixir CR's - it was cheaper than buying them from Chain reaction - and the service from Christoff was excellent. CWC online will be my first stop from now on when looking for new kit. Keep it up guys!! You rock

You're right in that the language thing was a bit of a barrier, but all of them were approachable and friendly. Karl Platt chatted to me as if he was just another cyclist (not a world champion) - totally different to some of our local sports stars I have met - who came across as total snobs, and couldn't be bothered to talk to you. Rubbing shoulders with Lance would be very interesting!! I know there are a lot of "non Lance Fans" out there, but I'm not one, I admire him a lot.

Watching the Epic live on Supersport would be cool, but riding it would be even better. I think the chances of meeting Lance or speaking to him on the Argus are slim, unless you are lucky enough to get into his group (assuming it's one of those invitation / charity type groups like when Miguel Indurain rode). The twitter tagline says that he is coming to "race" the Argus - perhaps he is going to ride with the fast boys up front. At the Epic you should have a fairly good chance of actually meeting and talking to him. I met Karl Platt, Stefan Sahm, Baret Brentjens, Christoff Sauser, Kevin Evans and others at the Epic and they were all friendly and easy to talk to.

According to the story in the Argus this afternoon, it says that he has had serious discussions with Kevin Vermaak and is almost confirmed to ride the Cape Epic 2011 too!! Looks like Epic entries for next year will be in even bigger demand !!

I also got my photo's and am quite impressed, some nice action shots, and sized big enough to print a couple of good ones as posters. R600 was definitely worth it for 133 photos, considering the small sizes / high costs of photos from other events - Argus / Argus MTB etc. The only problem with their site is that you can't zoom into the preview pics - to see if any of the unsorted photos are of you? It seems as if there were more than one photographic agency at the race - as I was hoping that one of the general Epic shots I would get is one which was shown in the dining tent - the shot of two riders from the air with their big perfectly defined shadows across the road - stunning picture !!

Hi Guys See you there, was at registration this afternoon,one helicopter was busy water bombing again. seems as if the wind caused a flare up. looked under control when I left.

Rider 1 - Rick Rider 2 - Marius Team number: 476 Team name - Old MTB Toppies Prologue start time - 11:21

Hi Caad4 I will speak to my brother. I just need to get his address to ship them to. As mentioned the Sidi guys at Argus expo told me that the current retail price for the Dominator 5 is R2800. Besides the price there is always the issue of stock. I can never find my size in stock (49 Wide) - and always have to ask the bike store to order them (only takes a couple of days usually) but it's still a pain. the Sidi guys at the Expo said something about the Sole Replacement System MTB Sidi's being over R4000 - SCARY.

Hi Everyone Thanks for the feedback - so it looks like bike components can be very good value - particularly if a bulk order over R3800 for free shipping, but shoes / clothes will have duty added. The Sidi's I am looking at are 2008 Sidi Dominator 5's which are on special for R1512.00. I have a pair of these which I bought @ beginning of last year for R2098 (I love them, if you have big feet they are the best cycling shoes ever. I have used Shimano & Diadora and tried Adidas & Specialized(neither make big enough) but Sidi is awesome IMHO. I spoke to the Sidi guys at the Expo last week and he said that the current retail on them is around R2800. So price from CRC with duty and VAT and shipping would add up to around R2.5K so it wouldn't really be much of a saving - unless I ordered a whole bunch of stuff and got the free shipping. Although - I could order them, have them shipped to my brother in the UK and have him bring them with in his suitcase when he comes over in August

Hi Everyone I am currently looking at getting some stuff from Chain Reaction (Crankset / Sidi shoes and a couple of other odds and ends) I know many of you have used them in the past - what sort of duty will customs hit me this side for items imported? ie: do you save all that much when you buy it from them and add the shipping costs + VAT and local import duties?? Does the duty amount vary depending on the type of goods ie: i have heard that clothing has a hefty import duty (obviously to protect local industry) Is this trues? Thanks Rick

Hi Guys Sorry to hear about this. I hope Steve makes a full recovery. Luckily the support driver knew first aid. Since Craig Haskins death in Cape Town last Tuesday - I have been taking very careful notice of drivers and cyclists while driving (so far my cycling is all offroad now). I noticed that despite the accidents and numerous warnings on the hub, in the newspapers etc many cyclists are still carrying on as if these incidents do not affect them or the rules do not apply to them. Just this morning I have seen many cyclists ignoring the advice on these forums and elsewhere - not to mention PLAIN COMMON SENSE which seems to be seriously lacking in some of them. A couple of Cyclelab training groups going over Ou Kaapse weg this morning - at least 4 or 5 guys riding two abreast - the 2nd cyclists outside the yellow line in front of traffic. (And no - this wasn't guys trying to overtake slower riders) During the week I noticed how many drivers use the yellow line area as part of the road when going around some of the sharper corners on Ou Kaapse weg - if there is a cyclist moving slowly in the yellow line, just around the corner - there is almost no way the driver can avoid hitting them. During this past week I have seen at least 20 - 30 cyclists riding on the side of the M3 and M5 freeways. I mentioned this to a police officer, a few days ago and he said that these guys were being very stupid !! First they are breaking the law (no cyling on a motorway/ freeway), second - if they happen to get hit by a car - the car driver will not be liable since they should not be on the freeway/motorway in the first place, third - if they happen to get hit they are much more likely to end up DEAD since the cars are travelling at much higher speed than on a normal suburban road. Fourth - their insurance / medical aid may legally decline to pay their expenses as a result of an accident since they were breaking the law / in the wrong at the time of the incident. For an adult to do this is bad enough - when you take your teenage son / daughter along with you - as one of these cyclists did on Wed afternoon - you are really being a "insert the Afrikaans word for Box"!! Cyclists who listen to IPods while they cycle along next to a major road in total oblivion to what's going on around them are also very foolish !!!! it's bad enough that you can't hear much around you with wind noise etc, to totally block out one of your senses with loud music when you should try to be acutely aware of what's going on around you is STUPID Not to mention at least 4 or 5 cyclists riding without helmets - as someone said on one of the forums last week - there is a name for them "Organ Donors" Rant mode off - Stay safe out there - Happy cycling RickA

AWESOME

I think I will be sticking to the dirt from now on, after seeing Craig's accident I just don't feel safe on the road anymore - I have personally had some close calls with trucks passing very close and the suction effect being strong enough to seriously pull you offline towards traffic, cars and buses turning and cutting me off, taxis passing so close they have actually bashed my elbow with their wing mirrors not to mention some of those days when the South Easter is blowing strong enough to push you out into traffic - luckily nothing serious, yet! I think I will rather quit the road riding while the going is good - at least if you get injured offroad it is likely to be your own fault - not some twit in a car who isn't paying attention, or yakking on a cellphone, brushing their hair, putting on makeup or even worse - like some woman on the M3 one morning last week - eating a bowl of cereal while driving at 100Kmh !!! IDIOT I'm frustrated that I can't do some of my normal training loops - Fish Hoek round to Tokai forest via Wynberg on main road then through the forest - Silvermine, Noordhoek peak and home via Ou Wapad (a nice 55 - 60Km ride) - but it is still possible to get lots of riding done driving to the forest, parking there and spending time riding up and down the various trails / singletracks, up to the mast and Noordhoek peak, round silvermine, bottom forest etc - not to mention going out to Jonkershoek, Lebanon etc Wherever you ride - STAY SAFE

Hi Patrick I don't think Craig was on his way to Tokai, unless he was going to enter The forest at the top from Silvermine - he was headed up the front side of Ou Kaapse weg when he was hit. I saw a number of guys riding there this morning on the way in to work, and I couldn't help but think - please God don't let anything happen to any of these guys. Let's all hope something substantial comes out of the Mayor's meeting tomorrow (not just hot air). The story in the Cape Times this morning mentioned that something must be done for cyclists safety or the sustainability of events like the Argus etc could be in trouble!!