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Fast Forward

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Everything posted by Fast Forward

  1. Great day in Mkuze. Some superb singletracks. Tmorrow its the long haul - think i'll have one extra beer tonight. Plenty bald guys here....
  2. Dirtracker is probably packing right now. Im also in final preps - G&T out in tha bush - difficult but someone gotta support tis event.... fitness is a rumour. Can u imagine a mtb race with a big 5 safety talk. Ha ha - all ya okes behind the desk - i wont b thinking of you.
  3. Im going. Cant wait - safari and mtb all in one.
  4. The post mortem confirmed the cause of death as a massive heart attack. According to some who were with him they 'attacked' each other on the decent and as he stood up to sprint he just slumped back and fell. Seems he was dead before he even hit the ground. I have followed many debates on health issues on the hub - especially about heart conditions. Christo was very fit and healthy. This just goes to show again - as you get older you need to have yourself checked out. If there are any signs - consult a doctor - do not diagnose yourselve. Ironically just a week before I consulted a specialist and discussed the findings with Christo. Basically what I was told is not to overtrain, rest enough, stop if you feel dizzy or uneasy whilst cycling and accept the fact that you are getting older. also, Check your heart rate - if any unusual heart rates - too slow or too fast, then consult your dr.
  5. Part of his legacy...now to pick up the pieces and try to get these youngsters back on track.
  6. The cyclist was Christo Vd Linde, the owner of Pro Deo Cycling Acadamy in Ermelo - a great friend and mentor to the whole cycling community in and around Ermelo. I'll try and give perspective - if only to inspire others and to vent my sorrow. Christo was a big man - I'd guess around 105kg, he loved road cycling. He once told me that he took up cycling just to be closer to his 2 sons that were also avid cyclists - they were part of the Mecer team. Looking at his size one would not think that he could cycle for long distances - let alone on a road bike. Many of us soon realised our mistakes as he made us eat our words. He could hold his own and was a very strong and experienced cyclist. He was always cycling at the front doing all the hard work for the rest of us. My 9 year old son always marvelled at his calves - big enough to kick start a Jumbo Jet. The past few year he started involving school kids in cycling with great results. Two of his juniors participated in the National champs at Durban this year with podium finishes. We were still joking the day before his passing that we'd better get their signatures now before they become famous. He also involved the Ermelo schools in the Spur MTB series this year with great results in the first round. On Friday afternoons he would always invite all for a braai at the shop. Saturday was our last MTB ride together. I had just purchased a new bike for my son and he was laughing at me when we realised that I had to put in some effort to keep up with the youngster. He was so excited about the difference the bike made and commented that he cannot believe there are still people that argue that equipment does not make a difference. After the ride we had coffee as usual and discussed Darryl Impi's predicament. Like Andrew McClean, Christo believed in his innocence and still mentioned how he personally knew Impi and talked to him on the day of the TT at the nationals and how Impi made time to talk to his 2 riders and inspired them. That was the last day I would see Christo. A group ride was arranged for the Sunday - this was in preparation of the Jock coming up. They would ride the Ermelo-Lothair-Amsterdam-Ermelo route - some 180km. A very scenic route. They had a back-up vehicle. His son was also present. About 90km into the ride - some 3 hours later they were on a decent, hitting speeds between maybe 60 - 70km/h. This was when it all happened. It is not known yet why he fell off the bike. it is speculated that he may have had a heart attack, but an autopsy would have to confirm this. It can be said that, despite the media report, there was no mechanical problem with his bike. His regular road bike was a Merida Scultura 907. It seems that when the first person reached him, within seconds, he was already dead. I was on my way to Musina at the time and only learned of his passing the next morning on facebook. I'm devastated. He was only 45. My sincerest condolences to his family. In true fashion the Pro Deo team, with his son(s), will still participate in the Jock tomorrow. RIP Christo, you will be missed dearly.
  7. Whaaat? Jens 42? No one warned me - lol(newbie). I'll take yellow for the day thank you very much.
  8. I'd like to hear more about the 'diesel engine' vs 'petrol engine' debate. My max seems to be around 198. I checked all the past few months Strava segments and compared to my Polar RCX5 stats to see where I maxed out - always around 198 - so I'm quite sure about this number. Thing is I'm 40 next month. Comparing my max HR with others' they run around 170 - 160, few years younger than myself. So, do some of us run on petrol engines and others on diesel and what are the benefits, if any, of a petrol engine? My polar also spikes from time to time but you'll know when its a faulty reading and if not. Going over 200 bpm - you feel like dying. PS: got my booking to have the clock checked out so I can keep on beating a few youngsters.
  9. Minimum Sentences - Act 105 / 1997: section 51(2) schedule 2 part 2 - first offender - 15 years imprisonment for ie. 'Any offence relating to exchange control, corruption, extortion, FRAUD, forgery, uttering or theft (b) involving amounts of MORE than R100 000.00, if proved the offence was committed by a person, group of persons, syndicate or any enterpriseacting in the execution or furtherance of a common purpose or conspiracy." Just saying....
  10. By own definition/admission : Forget about fraud, think racketeering (organised crime), counterfeit goods act, sars, import of counteirfeit goods etc... This is prison stuff!!! Say 'hello Oscar!'
  11. You also need to understand the process and the importance of this meeting - this consultation process forms part of their preparation of an environmental management plan. Once DMR is satisfied with the EMPR the prospecting right gets approved. A mining company must comply with the EMPR - if not - its criminal. Normally they should also have environmental authorisation from DEA and a water use license from DWAF - if not - its criminal. Put them on terms - if they start prospecting without ALL the authorisations and licenses - they will be charged. If the prospecting right is approved - get a copy of the EMPR and police their compliance - DMR does not do it.
  12. 2 Days is an unreasonable notice. If you think that this application to prospect may influence you in any way ie - water, downstream etc - then you need to register and voice your concerns, if you don't it is difficult to stop any activities ex post facto - like the e-tolls. Yes, its only an application for prospecting - but what follows thereafter if they find what they were looking for? Yes - a nice big mine on your doorstep. If you are an interested and affected party - attend the meeting. Voice your dissatisfaction regarding the short notice and ensure it is noted. Another thing that is important is to know as much possible regarding the applicant company - who are they, who are the directors, are they financially stable enough to rehabilitate the mined area afterwards etc... This info normally comes into play later on when everyone realises the company have mined in an irresponsible manner and left the scene - then all of a sudden there is no one to hold accountable. Been there, done that - got the t - shirt....
  13. (warning graphic)or search 'htc drunk driving' on youtube. Know I'm probably showing this to the wrong people but maybe we can at least each send it to someone else or post on facebook & get the message out.
  14. Thing is that sentencing is a very subjective issue. In this instance the accused' guilt lay in his negligence. It is actually so easy to be negligent when driving - the threshold is very low and the test is that of a reasonable man. Good example is the disparity with, for instance, the sentence the Waterkloof 4 got - (think around 8 yrs?)and that was for murder which imply an intentional act. 12 years do seem light for the death of 5 people but if it was me - 1year in our prisons would kill me.
  15. Seen it. Try to merge..?
  16. Today Judge Bam sentenced a mechanical engineer to 12 years imprisonment for killing 5 joggers. The accused was driving under the influence of alcohol when the incident occured. Not all will agree with the sentence, but let that be a wake up call to those who drink and drive. That one extra beer may be one too many.....
  17. Great idea. Pro active. "All that is necessary for evil to truimph is for good people to do nothing".
  18. Easton ea 90 xc wheelset. What a smooth ride.
  19. Geez you guys r full of testosterone. Im trying to keep this on track. Lets work towards a solution, dont you agree? Let me try again... if money is less of an issue, then an interested party can appoint an attorney on watching brief to ensure a criminal investigation & prosecution agains a driver does not get derailed along the way & he is dealt with the full force of the law.
  20. Ok. Ok. Holster your gun & get back on your horse. Lets not derail this thread. If my suggestion aint gonna work what do you suggest cyclists do?
  21. "your worship, i bow to my uneducated collueges inferior knowledge..."
  22. I talk from experience. I stood up to bad drivers and still do. Easy to comment here & actually still do nothing bout the real problem. If all put their money where their mouths are get off their buts & actually do something then well make a real point. Your comment is unsubstantiated & thumbsuck. Also, read my post carefully - situations differ. Stop being negative. What r u actually doing bout the problem apart from blaming government officials? Have you ever taken such a case to a prosecutor or went to question a prosecutors decision, did you ever lay a charge or went to the trouble to follow up on a complaint? Im directing this to all - do we keep on complaining or start being more proactive.
  23. What will happen is that a prosecutor will make a decision to prosecute (go to court or set a fine) or not based on the evidence that is provided to him via the investigating officer. You do not need a photo of video clip of the incident. However, any material or corroborating witnesses will only strengthen your own evidence. this will make it easier for the prosecutor to make an informed decision and if the case should go to court the chances of a conviction is so much better. My point is that, even if you are a single witness, and even if the driver does not get a fine or get prosecuted, by laying a charge your incident will become part of the statistics (which is what we need - more stats on cycling accidents - more reason for government to react) and also, important, the driver would still be 'harassed' / 'irritated' by the police looking for him & taking his warning statement. To some extent this will put stress on the driver and he will think twice in future before he drives like an idiot again. Technically we are all able to police our roads, we don't need traffic cops to do it alone. Imagine driving through an area where you know cyclists are known for laying charges against reckless drivers. If you are that driver - would you not drive with more caution in that area in fear of a cyclist laying charges against you?
  24. If they do not want to take your complaint you take their names and report to the ICD (independent complaints directorate) its not for the saps to decide on cases , its the prosecutors mandate.
  25. Solution: you really want to do something? Then take the registration no of an offending driver and lay a charge. All cyclists do this and keep at it. Eventually motorists will realise they need to be mindfull not driving negligently or the SAPS will come for a warning statement. Depending on the strenght of the case this could at the least scare the **** out of them when police come knocking or even lead to emense legal fees when being prosecuted. The road traffic act has a provision that assumes the owner is the driver of the vehicle. The police has to investigate & go knock at the owners given address. All we need to do is keep track of the investigation & irritate the investigator & prosecutor. Doing this will help statistics build up & gov realising something need to be done. Try this - i did it. Got a truck driver in court with R1500 fine.
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