porky

Do you think people do it "intentionally" for whatever reason, or just find they perhaps overestimated their fitness, cant manage the 103 on the day and take the 70km detour.? I think most people probably dont even think about it, they are tired, hot low on energy and know they wont get home doing the 103, so just turn off. Perhaps there are some that do it to cheat the seedings, but generally I just think most people just dont understand the consequences of their "change of plan".!

You do get the waterproof units, a few scuba stores sell them, ask around at those kinds of stores. You can also get PELICAN waterproof cases for i-pods - perhaps that might work? Go and look around the Pelican site http://www.pelican.com/ - I love their products and have quite a few of their cases, available at most good camera / sound system retailers.

No. a)Because I live in Bedfordview and my office is in Sandton - the only access is via a 4 lane freeway - soon to be 5 lanes - Go figure.!! b)I see clients all day and need to wear a suit and good shoes, lycra and takkies is not a great corporate confidence booster. c)I usually only leave the office after 6 or 7 pm at night. d)I drop my daughter off at school on route, even that usually freaks her out a bit, no way she is gonna ride pillion.!! e)I have no interest in cycling to work, my business is stressfull enough, I dont need to complicate matters by dodging trucks, puddles, pedestrians and the odd animal every morning and evening. Besides, I have a very comfortable car with an effecient heater and air con, a great radio / Cd player and a neat foldaway coffee cup holder, which means I can usually stop at the local Fournos and STILL be at work before 8am.!! porky2009-08-22 07:43:03

Yeh, but I think you could safely generalise it a bit more and say, there are few "people" who care about other "people". Here on the dark tip of Africa, its every man for himself - sad but unfortunately true.!

Ai EigerSA, I know its difficult, but you only have one mom and one pop, when they are gone you will miss those evenings of mac and cheese, believe me. My one regret in life is my father passed on when I was away on a business trip overseas. I never got to say goodbye, I love you, you meant everything to me even though I got tired of driving two hours to visit you, and sometimes thought up an excuse not to go. Its strange but of all my memories one stands out of taking my father out for a beer and a burger one lunch time, silly things hey.

Lots of unhappy folk, but all posting on the other thread under "Local racing".

Yah, I know HR, but I cant see any private company wanting that mess. For me the issue is the "attitude" of the staff. They just sit there looking like they hate their jobs with this "I dont give a stuff about the customer" attitude. Not once did the staffer say, "let me see how else I can help", let me call a supervisor to escalate this issue" nothing, they have no people skills, no intention of getting any and just look at you as if you are something the cat dragged in. Now that I am suitably irritated again, its a good time to try calling them again, - I tried about 30 minutes back but got sick of listening to their irritating version of the national anthem and a recorded voice telling me my call is important.! porky2009-08-05 01:18:38

Well, back to the post and I actually do have an issue!!. I spend an enormous amount of time travelling around, and have been a SAA Platinum Voyager member for years. Yesterday I had to visit a client in Cape Town, so no problem catch the 6am flight down and book the 5pm flight back. Leave the client in the city centre at 3.40pm, I figure 45 minutes to the airport hand in the hire car - 10 minutes, I am at the departure gate 4.30pm, plenty time.! Anyway, road works, ridiculous traffic jams, an accident slowing one lane and atrocious rainy, windy weather grid lock all the roads and I miss my flight by 10 minutes. Okay no problem, go to the ticket booth and ask for a change to the 6pm flight. Sorry sir, you must pay in R1300.00. I ask why, you just book me on another flight.? No Sir, its a new policy, you must phone the SAA client services tomorrow and ask for a voucher for the missed flight and you can use it anytime in the next three months, but you must pay for a NEW return ticket now.!!! Now, all I can say is, its no wonder this operator needs a government bail out every year, the policies are backward, and the staff are uninterested, unhelpfull and are plainly just there to collect a salary. If this is the way they treat their "Platinum" members, its no wonder the average traveller uses one of the independant airlines. So I said thanks, but no thanks, walked over to "the green airline", and bought a ticket for R800.00, and, we in fact, left 10 minutes before the SAA flight anyway. Now, I must spend "my time unnecessarily"getting my refund voucher.!! Just plain infuriating.! Okay, gotta go phone SAA.!

I know its been discussed before, but I think it may be worth mentioning a situation like this again. All manufacturers today have an international warranty system, they have to, the world is no longer flat and folk / business operators etc travel - they know this well. The issue is local agents (in many countries, not just here) hide behind the clause that the product must be returned to the AGENT WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED for warranty claims, and refuse to touch the product if it didnt come in through their line of distribution. However, there was a recent case in the USA where this was challenged in court, the court decided that for FREE warranty claims, it was fair the product was returned to the original seller, however, the LOCAL (USA based) distributor was ordered to repair and offer back up service to the item, but was allowed to charge for spares and labour. The court found it was not in the "spirit of the warranty" that the local distributor refused to even offer repairs or service to the item because it came in through alternative channels. Now fair enough, this was a big case and involved a substantial amount of money, but the principle remains the same. I dont believe the distributor / agent etc locally will be supported by the courts if someone challenged on this matter there, they will very likely be required to provide support, the differance been they do not have to provide a "free" service and can charge for it. Now they may very well do this here already, in which case, its a moot point, but I dont know, perhaps someone else do's.? porky2009-07-30 00:16:30

Its strange how peoples buying and expectations differ. For me I dont want to be the LBS owners best friend, I dont care if he knows who I am or what I do, I dont want to hang around the counter on weekends shooting the bull, I dont expect him to open for me when he is having a braai at home and I need a spare tube, frankly I dont care much about him and I dont expect a reciprocal feeling - all I want is to walk in, get served in an effecient manner, pay and walk out. For me buying something is just a means to an end, I want a product and if you have it at a fair price, I'll buy it, I dont need to feel warm and fuzzy doing so. I am not knocking your post Cbrunsdon, please dont get me wrong, but I always chuckle when I read these kind of posts cos it just shows how differant we all are,.......... and thats a good thing dont' ya think.?

Hmmm, I wonder what time all this occured, before light, between light and 10am, in the evening? It dos make a differance because this little road is actually very busy from 6.30am onwards. I know cos I run around there, and occassionally cycle down to the Circus and back (on my own) in summer - too cold now.! It seems odd to me that someone on the road can be attacked like this (in, I am assuming daylight!) and not be seen / assisted by a passing motorist / trucker.! If you ride there in the dark, well, you only have yourself to blame. I have to say I have never felt nervous or even concerned in the area before, of course this may mean nothing, but I tend to go with the one of the other posters that hostility and revenge is not the answer. I cant see it achieving much, except to increase tension. Probably best to just avoid the area for a while if you are on your own. Its unfortunate we have to avoid areas, but maybe its just a short term thing and the officials will get on top of it.

Aren't the rainbow stripes enough reward? I liked Bettini's style more. Hmmm, yeah, some guys can pull it off, Bettini and Cippolini were two of the best, but on others it just looks silly.

Ha,Ha, - Yeah Yeah Christie! Havent been here much lately, so its the first time I read this post, Hell, man, I am not surprised,............. but did it not make for great viewing??

Where exactly were the incidents Wendall, you mention the steps but surely not all of the incidents were there.? I cant say I ride in the area much, but I do run there on the odd morning and as I am usually alone (although not much to steal) its quite concerning. On the other hand I can say I have run there for years on and off and never had any incidents, I expect the incidents were off the road?

I agree, dead boring so far. On the plus side, I start to watch, last 10 minutes and I am fast asleep, - so getting in an extra two hours of sleep every day has made me feel like a new man.! Give me the Giro d'Ilalia anyday over this yawner.!!

Probably are,..............let us know which one it is, cos the one I am watching,........ the "Le tour" is a complete yawner.!