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roodie

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Everything posted by roodie

  1. The best form of defense is prevention. Be aware of surroundings and you won't know it's an attacker until he/they attack you. Prevent riding alone and even groups are vulnerable in an attack - don't think your safe just because you are 2 or more. Have a plan of what you will do. I threw my bike towards them making space between them and me. My life is more important than a bike (have that resolved because if you think you will fight back understand the risk. Multiple lines of defense 1. Awareness, 2 Separation if in a situation. 3. Options to defend yourself once in close proximity when 1and 2 is not an option anymore. Options for defense (have more than one) pepper spray. Do research they not al great and test them for distance and accuracy. A knife is an option, but train with it and know how to use it for self-defense. Are you ok to defend yourself and understand what that means and where to use it effectively. Guns to me is not the best option due to the implications but alternative like pellet guns could be an option. You want to walk away unharmed and safe; bikes can be replaced. No one is going to make this go away in SA this is probably going to get worse as the economy worsen so know people are poor and hungry and don't care if they kill you for a bike. It happens very fast so don't rely on something tied to your bike to use or then get separated from the option to defend yourself. TA sell neck knifes very good as well as Tactical small flashlight with high lumens (1500 plus) work in any situation and in my opinion one of the best options - test it ....it really works.
  2. pls dont cancel Janos we need him ............
  3. HI there I route in April last year from Plet to Stellenbosch. All good advice on here. Route is safe and places to take caution is around any townships (specifically Stellenbosch and also Knysna) Avoid at all cost. Easy enough though. The route is amazing. Between towns are typically very safe as there are not many people around. Spot is a good idea can also get one from Scuttle website they rent them out per day. Spot Also good since some areas you may find there is no phone reception on the route.
  4. a super cheap sport is ROLBAL and even cheaper if you play in your pocket at home
  5. Left early from Oudtshoorn and caught them at the top of Montaqu pass - passing the whole group on the way down with some chirps about my gravel bike down the pass - haha so much fun
  6. thats was one tough day in the saddle Knysna to Uniondale
  7. Thanks for the heads up I am going exactly that direction Shud pass them on Montaqu pass 🙈
  8. It was amazing but understimated the pass and suffered all the way up - managed to reach Uniondale and took a rest day to oudtshoorn - final stretch back tomorrow to George over Montaqu pass. Next time idd do George to Knysna to De Vlugt then Uniondale to De Rust - Oudtshoorn and George to complete
  9. thanks I will take that route
  10. Planning a solo ride from Knysna to Uniondale on a gravel bike Is this route safe ? Not via Uniondale road when leaving Knysna , will pass Uniondale rd and turn left further out ( looks like townshp area)
  11. sometimes the click is in your head , bump it really hard a few times and possibly the headache will numb any clicking noise and repeat ............
  12. now imagine how many of the second hand bikes for sale have a "creek"?🤣
  13. the curse of the clicking sound - you probably cycled past the last oak with the same CLICKING SOUND and it jumped on YOU
  14. this is a real bad spot with many incidents reported over the last few months
  15. Get a UNICYLE half the price of a full bike
  16. I have made a few already expected some interest send me a DM if u want a whip - the other items are off the shelve
  17. What saved me was I saw their body language then got off my bike in time and through it towards them and ran the opposite direction..So my first two lines of defence worked out well..I would only as a last resort and when presented with no other options use weapons of any kind. de escelate get away BUt when no other option and my life is on the line I will use what I have and do what I need to defend myself. I promise u those weapons work and I can use.them.
  18. I prefer a shorter fatter dagger type but will get later it's to cause damage not kill and a last last resort if not other options
  19. After I was bikejacked by 4 guys and knifes in the middle of the day on Marine drive coming of the N1 on a Sat morning 1130 in traffic, I decided it's time to make sure I can at least defend myself. Coming from law enforcement and understanding the consequences of using a gun and the impracticality of it I did some research as a gun is not an option for me. My conclusion was the following. There are so many different scenarios that u can find yourself in and the BEST form of defence is to make space between yourself and your attacker as fast as possible. That worked for me on the day and I got away with my life and (lucky enough my bike) But if I was a second or 2 later I would have been on top of them and the situation would have looked very different and I had no way of defending myself at all. Every person is different and from a safety perspective everyone will respond different but I had to arm myself for the possibility that I may well be faced with a knife or a gun. Ultimately I just wanted some level of safety and also not just a single item or way of defence. It had to be something that can cause injury and also something I could carry on me comfortably as well as hidden out of site but easy to get to. So I made myself a defence whip and this gives me some reach in case of a knife attacker and is also "manual" in a sense and failsafe to some extend. It will cause some serious pain when it hit a target. My second item is a knife and what I realized when they attacked me is that whatever defence I need must be on my body so that if I am on the ground I can access these items to defend myself in case an attacker is using a weapon like a knife. I am sharing so that other are also aware ( I know we all are in SA) and in 10 years it's the first time it happened to me,but it did and I know many are not as fortunate and some pay with serious injuries or even death. This apply to not just cycle but any outdoors sport or just normal life. I also had to think about the reality of using these items and a good idea to practice deploying them in different scenarios. I add some pictures for reference. The items are light and the belt I am using is super comfortable and carry both weapons with ease and within reach.
  20. There is Duncan road , security controlled between Paarden Island and the Waterfront. I understand people have tried the Port AUth to use this but its just a road with security access that can be managed with a Membership. All people that want to use it to cycle to Cape Town can be a member and use the road. The sail club uses this road why not for cycling ? It solves the security issue between Paarden Island and Cape Town and is secure with entry , exit points . Via PPA or DA or kfc BUT IT must be possible
  21. Got bikejacked yesterday coming from Cape Town on the N1 taking the Marine Drive (R27) slipway . 4 Guys came running towards me one with a knife . I had time to unclip and dropped the bike and ran back into traffic stopping cars . As people stopped they ran away and left the bike. This happened 1130 on a busy road with traffic. Lucky no injuries and got the bike back after they took it.
  22. South Africa is beautiful and so big with so much opportunity to ride. I have decided long before the pandemic to stop racing and started doing bike packing and gravel riding for a different riding experience. It is a specific riding style , but I can book my weekends and plan on short notice as well as be much more cost effective and have a great time cycling. You can bikepack camp style or pick routes with a more luxury oriented overnight stay. Keep riding there are plenty of opportunities that fit the current conditions we live in.
  23. Gravel bike - R700 over the last year
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