schedule track meetings on a Friday night and advertise. it costs nothing to advertise these events in the Burger / Argus and then publish the results.
ride, ride ,ride. try and complete a 140 km in October and another 1 in early November. the last 50 k's are the worst so save yourself for that , don't ride too hard/fast in the 1st 150.
when the velodrome didn't have a roof it worked like a charm for cycling.....u could only be seated in the main straight. this created a better atmosphere for cycling as most of the seats were taken up by spectators or cyclists. once the roof went on (for the junior worlds incidently) it became a multipurpose venue but not entirely suited to anything specific not even cycling because the track doesn't get warm enough for fast times. the developers want to incorporate a portable wooden track inside the centre of the venue but can't guarantee dates for cycling ie no training on a weekly basis.
i agree. but there is a clause in the lease agreement between the CoCt and the sportsclubs that stipulates that they need to provide those sports clubs with similar facilities if the v'drome is not available. and the lease is for valid up to 2027.
we weren't too sure of the weather conditions but 13 riders arrived this morning - nice to meet Denny Menchov who joined us for the first time. we had a few spots early on but on the 4th lap it really started to pour going past the P'rama clinic. other than that a pleasant ride. good luck to the riders who are taking on 'league' for the 1st time on Saturday. i trust this training will pay off.
you are welcome to join us. 5am from the BP Service Station, Letchworth Drive Edgemead. we used to do the V'hok/T'draai route but found the volumes of traffic over the last few years have increased so much that it has become too stressful.
12 very eager cyclists took to the streets this morning. the young ones took off down Bos'dam while the balance of the group rode thru & off to perde iland but then the tandem decided to rev it up past the lagoon and blew Steve (just after he pulled the group up the bridge) off the back at 45kph. we all regrouped at Big Bay and the youngsters led us home into the breeze. nice tempo ride.
nice fast workout this morning. each lap consists of the little climb on H Verwoed (our power interval), then a recover past the Panorama clinic. tempo past the Macdonalds into the new bosmansdam and then thru & off along Giel Basson. the group split into 2 on the first climb. the fast ones averaged 34 kph and the 2nd group a more leisurely 30. not too bad considering the traffic lights and intersections that we have to negotiate at a safe speed.
Nico, joined us (5 regulars) this morning for the first time. wind was a bit chilly but we cruised down to P Eiland and Big Bay. we noticed that dawn is starting at about 6.30 now. thursday - we do our 9 k circuit.
this is interesting - i arrange cycle races in the middle of nowhere and i need to fill in reams of paper forms, do enviromental impact assessments ,submit evacuation / medical plans, submit photos of what banners will be displayed, what i will do with the litter and the traffic police cost an arm & a leg.
just to clear up something re the circuit races. they are not criteriums, the Paardeberg circuit race is over 80 kms for the senior scholars and 105 kms for the elite /vet races. the reason for them being described as a circuit race is that it takes in 2 circuits of a 40 k loop and 1 of a 25 loop. the atlantis circuit is a 7.7 km long loop and all races are 77 kms.
We met with Smartie this morning. our club had 2 groups going out to the top of Bains Kloof on DC training rides and another goin in the same direction but later in the day. i decided to rather have the later group ride to Chappies & back. the day started chilly but the pace was warm. Smartie went with the faster riders all the way to the top of chappies and back. nice meetin with u
the krugersdorp stadium was going to be developed into a 55 000 seater and all resident sportsclubs left the stadium. then the developer reneged on the deal. re the bellville velodrome - from what i know, the facility will still be available but on a very limited basis.
its too late to save the v'drome, the tender has been awarded to develop that area. the v'drome will be turned into a 20 000 venue and the tenants have committed to let track racing take place on a wooden track but cannot guarantee dates or number of times a year this could happen. the main problem is that the venue will not be available to train on.
nope, u wrong. just a normal oke with my ears & eyes open, using my logic and who has belonged to a affiliated cycling club for a number of years. the old boys/girls club has been pulled down year by year and is now over. eventually. it looks like those that have been elected are passionate about the sport and are taking their duties seriously.
every cycle race in the RSA has to be sanctioned by the CSA. when i first started cycling 20 years ago it was R2 per rider. pre CSA , the PPA did not pay over levies for any of their events. how are the CSA going to fund development programs so that they qualify more than just 1 rider in the olympic road race or world cup/champs. we currently only have a few saffers campaining for foreign teams (i think 3). there are currently talent identifing training camps hosted by the CSA but this is paid for by the parents of the riders but WHAT about talented riders who don't have the means to attend these camps. levies are the only way for the CSA to generate income. their office bearers are not paid - they are elected and perform their duties on a volunteer basis. cycling isn't a major sport but it and its participants are a major conduit for other organisations to raise lots of money. its about time cycling paid cycling
