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!!

Hi Jagwil I was stunned to see the reports of attacks on mountain bikers up in Centurion, and a couple of near misses. Luckily we haven't had too many of those attacks here in Cape Town yet. And we certainly have plenty of offroad terrain to ride on to stay busy, with plenty of mountains (as my Epic partner - from Gauteng will attest to after last weekends Epic training camp down here.)

Hi Francois Unfortunately I didn't get the names of the lady Doctor or the CPR surfer dude. The Policeman got their details, however I don't think the SAPS is likely to give their details out. A pity since they both deserve a huge THANK YOU for working so hard trying to revive Craig initially, in addition the paramedics from CMR (Cape Medical Response) and Netcare 911 also deserve a thank you. Thanks to all of you for the work you did last night. Rick

Hi everyone Thanks to everyone who read the post and responded. I just wanted to help Craig. As a cyclist myself I immediately imagined myself in his position, and the thought that my family would not know where I was, was frightening. I had to try to find someone who knew Craig. Knowing the spirit of community on the hub, I thought it was quite likely that someone may know Craig or his bike and would be able to contact his family, it turned out I was right. This is a good community, I am glad to be part of it, knowing that there are people out there that are willing to assist in times like this. Once again - my sincerest condolences to Craig's wife Candice, his two sons, his brother and parents and to all of his friends.

Hi Cassie I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend Craig, and feel very sad for his wife and sons. I didn't sleep very well last night, I am still stunned by what I saw. Then his morning I read a letter in the Peoplespost newspaper titled "Those Cyclists" written by a long suffering motorist - I had to respond. Rest in Peace Craig My sincerest condolences to his wife, children and friends. Rick

Hi Foe Fighter It happened because the motorist was careless and took his eyes off the road. The cyclist was riding normally, well within the yellow line. He wasn't in any way impeding traffic or riding erratically. I don't think he even knew what hit him. There were a lot of cyclists riding past after the accident, many of them stopped - probably not a good thing to see when you are out riding. As i mentioned in my last post - I think all of us cyclist should be wearing some sort of ID when we go out riding, I also think it would be a good idea to do a first aid course including CPR.

Hi Greg I'm really sorry to hear that your friend died. He didn't deserve to have something like that happen to him, and I feel really bad for his wife and son. At least the driver did not run away, he pulled over immediately - He was in serious shock himself. To me it looked like he either looked down or dropped something and took his eyes off the road, his car drifted to the left, over the yellow line and unfortunately hit your friend. I don't think he even knew what hit him. The police have all my details - I saw it happen right in front of me and I will be there as a witness when the time comes. To everyone out there on the hub - NB!!! - Please carry some form of ID when you go out riding - a Cell phone with an ICE (In Case of Emergency) no stored in contacts, or get yourself an ICEID bracelet or one of the ER24 bracelets with your name / emergency contacts / Blood group / allergies etc - It could be very important and try not to ride alone !! Cheers everyone, STAY SAFE !!

I estimate he is early to mid 30's He was hit really hard from behind - his back wheel rim shattered, he flew backwards, looked like he hit his head on the windscreen (smashed it) then did a full backflip over the roof of the car and landed face down in the gutter. His left leg appeared to be badly broken and he was not breathing with no pulse when a female doctor stopped a couple of minutes later. another chap trainined in CPR helped the doctor with CPR for about 20 min before the paramedics / ambulance and fire dept arrived. They kept the CPR up for about 35 to 40 min, and gave him oxygen etc. I think he had a pulse when I left. The paramedics were about to load him into the ambulance. A horrific thing to see - especially when you are on your way home to go out for a training ride. I think I will be selling my road bike and sticking to my MTB offroad from now on.

Hi Everyone I hate to start the evening with bad new - I just witnessed a Cyclist being hit from behind by a car on the Tokai side at the bottom of Ou Kaapse Weg. He is in a bad way. Doctor and paramedics worked on him for about 40 min. I think he may be ok - they seem to have got a pulse and administered oxygen. He didn't have any identification on him, no cellphone nothing. I estimate he is around 5ft8 - 6ft tall, with dark hair. He is wearing black cycling shorts and a blue top & Specialized MTB cycling shoes. He was riding a dark blue Kona Explosif MTB with Maxxis Crossmark tubeless conversion. The only form of identification was the name Jason on his water bottle. Does anyone recognise the name Jason or the bike? I assume he must live somewhere in the South Peninsula as he only had one water bottle and didn't look like he was going far. If anyone recognises the name / bike - please contact me (Rick) asap on 0217851198. I said that I would check the hub and contact the police officer to let him know if anyone recognised him. Then they can contact his family. Thanks Rick

I agree - EISH - one hard race, the route this year was definitely tougher than last year, lots of SAND and ROCKS - espcially when you lose half your nutrition in one instant - My bottle cage snapped off with an almost full bottle of Perpetuem in it down a bumpy descent - the bottle cracked too so most of it was lost to the sand and rocks. Weather was nice for most of the race, overcast and relatively cool, not too much time in the hot sun. Waterpoints were awesome as they were last year, just as well with the work they make you do just before you get to them - it seemed like each waterpoint was preceeded by a steep or technical climb. I thought I would cut my time from last year - this was not to be - I ended up about 1/2 hour slower. I definitely need to put in more training for the Epic.

I have a Polar S720 which I use with both my Road and MTB. With the exception of a couple of scratches on the lens (from wiping off mud splatter) I have never had any problems with it on either road or MTB. Last year at the Epic the Polar guys handed out clear plastic stickers which covered the front face of the watch including the red button to provide a bit of protection - they worked very well. Have not seen the stickers since then, but I'm sure it should be possible to do something similar. Good luck Rick