FootballingCyclist

As someone who trains everyday(rest day now and then) I am often confronted with drivers who have ZERO regard for anyone but themselves on the road, also often oblivious to their surroundings. Last week a lady in Kalk Bay almost rode me into the pavement, I rode behind her and she never once, for about 2kms looked in her rear view where I was tailing here, with her being a lady, I was not going to get abusive or abrupt, pulled up next to her at the robots in Muizenberg and tapped softly on her window, she got the fright of her life because she had zero idea of her surroundings(if I was a hijacker or smash and grab type robber she stood zero chance) but seeing I was a cyclist she rolled her window down, I asked very politely that she please refrain from using her mobile whilst driving as she nearly rode me into the pavement and wouldn't even have known and that people would automatically have thought she had made a runner if I was injured which would of made things 10 times worse, she looked at me with a genuine look of shock and then sorrow on her face and apologised 10 times over and told me she really is sorry and that her son too is a cyclist and she will make sure not to do it again, we smiled at eachother and that was that. Caught up with her again further down the road outside Muizenberg Primary at the robots and she was not on her phone and had even stopped wider of the curb to allow us space, then further down on the lakeside main road area I saw her passing cyclists with quite a big space. Moral of the story is some people as stated above are oblivious to cyclists and truly do make an effort from there on in, and some boxes will remain boxes, and I come across BOTH on a daily basis as I live and train in the Southern Suburbs along the coast and main roads, Love the sport but hate the fact that everyday is a lottery with my life!!

Whether he hates cyclists more after Sunday is a decision only he can make my friend, I can however only hope that he now realised that there are other road users, and not just motor vehicles on the road, and that he shouldn't be on his phone while driving.

Oh 456 As received from our cycling chat. "PPA member Martin Field was out riding in the Miller's Point in the Simon's Town area this morning when a guy came at him brandishing a large shard of glass [20- 30cm long]. He was in a layby/ parking area and walked out into the road right in front of him. Martin carries a pistol taser, which he drew so the perpetrator ran off. We advise cyclists to please try to cycle in groups" I'm assuming they meant "loading bay"..

I messaged as many mates as I could on Sat morning when I heard about this, just to make sure it was none of them as we all live fairly close to that side and ride that stretch daily. When I heard "Group of 5" I immediately checked Savage Insta page as its quicker than SABC news or any other form of news LOL and as I know you lads also ride this side and usually that time(as I've tagged along a few times)and the number of riders it just sounded like it could have been your group maybe.

Personally, I dont know the guy so I have nothing against KE, I read his story/post on FB where he let it out a few months back and I sympathized to a certain extent(not about the doping, but about the family side, having a 3yr old daughter myself I couldn't imagine breaking up my family and not seeing her everyday) So my take is that I am not against him riding in unsanctioned races, I do however feel he shouldn't "race" these races. He should start and ride at the back, helping the older folk, youngsters etc, giving them advice(on riding style or position, not life choices and/or EPO choices), pushing them along if he feels they made need it and doing that kind of thing. Yes I am sure he will be back racing when his ban is over, but for now he should just keep training and trusting his programme and coach or experience so that when his ban is over then he can race again properly . I feel this way he will gain alot more respect from the cyclists than he will by still racing whilst still banned and claiming podium positions.. Just my opinion anyway.

Commentator says Adam Yates was riding with a 52-36 11-34 yesterday!! THAT is how tough it was LOL So was Nic and he says so were majority of the riders...

I hope the msg I posted is not a problem?? I just wanted to clear up some speculation on the event. My thoughts are with your whole group and everyone affected.

Yesterday my buddy and I were cycling through Camps Bay(absolute nightmare as uber drivers just dont give a hoot)Anyway, went up the hill, around the bend towards Clifton and outside the entrance, a complete toss box, who we assume was looking for parking(now if you get to Clifton beach at 11am on a day like yesterday, you should know there is no parking, there isn't even parking there on a stormy cold winters day) So anyway he is right up against the cars parked on the left, so we attempt to pass on the right, as we start going past he starts to veer right, now pushing us into the oncoming traffic, my buddy speeds up and taps on his bonnet, I roll up next to his window and tell him to get off his phone and then ride on, next thing he is speeding up behind us revving like a chop and hooting, at this time we are single file, With loads of people walking around and possible witnesses, I slow down to allow him to come up next to me, which he does, I look through his passenger window and tell him to get off his phone or pull over and continue his call, He then tells me to F off, So I returned a few choice words which I doubt he was expecting, and I rode off again, he then sped up again behind me revving again, so I flipped him off and decided to do a sprint interval till the right hand bend and never saw him after that. Point is CT motorists just dont give a **** and MANY of them do not even take note that there may be cyclists on the road. I've made it a habit of mine to make sure the motorists see me at a robot or something who perhaps have not come past me on the road I am travelling, But if a motorist passes you and then you get to a robot and he rides against the pavement, knowing that you're behind him, then I do tend to ask what's their issue with a show of hands.

Can I descend on the C60's top tube??

Regardless if they were 8 abreast, a car from the OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD veered across the road and hit them! Mitigating factor, I think not!!

The msg below is from 1 of the guys who was involved.. I have removed the names of the riders as I am not sure if people want to be contacted as yet and they might be known to other hubbers. "Just so that everybody has some perspective on this morning's tragedy. ***, *** and myself left from FH at 4.30am to go and rendezvous with **, ***, ***, and **** in Bergvliet along the main road at the Shell garage 5am. We then were headed towards Rondebosch on the main road. We were all riding single file and right next to the 3 Arts in Plumstead a polo heading towards Muizenberg way veered across the road and was accelerating. He narrowly missed the first 4 in the peleton and hit **** and **** on their right side of their legs knocking them off their bikes. **** had no choice but to try and avoid the car by steering right and the car hit him on the left side of the car. The driver admitted to falling asleep both on the steering and we believe the pedal. He was quite traumatised as well ..we all are giving the detective our statements tomorrow. Please cycle carefully on the roads tomorrow 5fs."

Does he descend on his top tube??

And news is that Main Cheese is not riding, Only Dlamini and Van Rensburg.

So my buddy in our group is a PPA Marshall and received this. Driver on MV fell asleep behind the wheel, veered across the road and went head on into a group of 5 cyclists this morning at 5:30am. 3 hospitalised, 1 fatality confirmed.

On our cycling chat group a guy posted a message saying 2 cyclists involved, 1 deceased. I prefer to wait for an official police statement or something.

So glad you're ok mate and you were lucky enough to come out with your bike and life intact. Did he chuck the mobile maybe before they all caught him?? Ok now that that is out the way, PLEASE tell us you made him regret his decision??

E

I did 174kms on Sat and 102kms on Sunday and the tyres are awesome and surprisingly quite comfortable on the rough roads through Stand and Stellies(Shark Skin Viper).. Personally, I feel they roll better than my Michellin Pro4 tyres which I had on previously and for the price I am going to get a few more before the price goes up to that of the Conti's and the likes.

Saw this video.. That is going to hurt properly!!

So my assumptions were correct that maybe Dougie decided to help where he could by sending support staff, vehicles etc., especially because Di Data have 4 riders representing SA with Meintjies + Dlamini on the World Tour Team and De Bod and Main in the Conti team(both now promoted to World Tour). Nice touch from Dougie and Team Di Data imho, making Worlds possible which may not have been possible otherwise.

So my assumptions were correct that maybe Dougie decided to help where he could by sending support staff, vehicles etc., especially because Di Data have 4 riders representing SA with Meintjies + Dlamini on the World Tour Team and De Bod and Main in the Conti team(both now promoted to World Tour). Nice touch from Dougie and Team Di Data imho, making Worlds possible which may not have been possible otherwise.

Their average speed of over 52km/h

The kit they get hardly even fits, Doubt they will get warm kit..

Ok update then, Nic Dlamini has reconsidered and is now going to Worlds.

As far as I'm aware, Nic Dlamini isn't going either. Unless Di Data and Dougie pulled something together so that himself and Meintjies go ride together? But the last I spoke to him he wasn't going.