Karooryder

What a Champ...in every sense of the word.

Peculiar day of racing for me. Started my morning on the way to the starting blocks with that wonderfully discouraging psssss shhhppp-shhhhpp-shhhhpp sound (by the way, I’m very quickly losing confidence in Gatorskins…fitted a pair before Amashova and, where I never had a single puncture before, I now stand at five with the Gators…). Change the tube, speed back to my car (parked halfway back to Pretoria) to get a new spare, and make it just in time to catch the start of the last of the C’s…did a reasonable 2:41 but I would have liked to sub the 2:40 mark in the B batch with more consistent bunch riding in the wind. Maar dit was lekker!

Well done man, you should consider changing your profile name...LOL

Also don't see the problem here. Looking beyond the implied injustices and emotional rants in the letter, one senses a wee bit of suurgatgeit from someone who deep inside realises that he did not keep track of the dynamic evolution of the industry he is competing in...a bit like Oscar Pistorius after he was beaten at the Olympics... Adapt or die, as Gunzo says.

I think we have by now established that DG might have many things, but character is not one of them...

On the contrary, I think that the consequences of this reach far beyond the top level, ultimately cyphering down to participation at all levels of sport. Cycling is the fastest growing participation sport in the world and along with this it has become irrationally competitive at all levels. To reiterate pervious comments by Anton, Rouxtjie, Showtime and Dangle; these days even at the smallest races in Gat-sonder-rand you not only compete against strong legs but oversized egos, driven by their local club “racing team” who scrutinize Racetec results on a Monday as if it were the JSE. I suspect that you would be unpleasantly surprized by the amount of amateur riders lining up next to you at 94.7 who are on EPO or some kind of performance enhancing juice….Just a thought.

This probably belongs in the Song of the Day thread but it seems strangely appropriate here...

I'd rather be here right now:

For the same illogical reason that one shave legs: It feels faster...

I've got a noob question (or perhaps an I'm-too-lazy-to-search-the-forums question)...do you get special washing detergent for bibs / cycling shirts? I know the washing instructions for any kind of lycra is very specific and I'm always worried that my usual powder might damage my cycling clothes.

LOL - I might just get moer'd with a Rock Shox! Deal!

I'll be there! Will also bring my shox and a bit of Kaptein Skuim, Langarm style ! Thanks man!

Keen on joining the Groenies ride but I will definitely consider doing Voortrekker as well!

Can I come?

Hehe - no man the 120km is just the trek up to Cuillinan...halfway LOL. Cool beans, will PM you and if keen join!

Hehe - I suppose it would be too late to add that those were my girlfriend's battered tootsies... Done the pantyhose trick a few times, works well!

Ahh I miss the MTB - can the road season end already! Yep on Saturday with the Bruces guys, Sunday morning a couple of us want to do a lekker long distance 120km ride out to Roodeplaat and Cuillinan.

+1. Works wonders...you need the old skin over the raw bit to reduce discomfort, but the blister needs to drain and be disinfected at the same time. Like so:

Yep, even if it is for a cold one (or a few cold ones) at the fninish! You doing training / club rides on the weekends until the race?

Reminds me of this comic strip:

Hey, after losing you at Silver Oaks I can try to keep up with the break-away this time . Hehe...

I agree...my credit card usually starts shivering uncontrollably around 2 weeks before the 94.7 and ARGUS weekends...

T-minus 3 weeks...can't believe it's that time again! Did Solomon Mahlangu (Hans Strydom) a few times this morning on training route...and I think the legs are reeeeaaaady . Where do you live? If you're in Pretoria, taking the train is super easy as the Sandton Station is just around the corner from the Convention Centre. Make a morning out of it; visit the exhibition, spend some cash and get with the vibe.