straatvark

They opted not to vote by hand - rather went the secret ballot route <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

We must try this out in a smaller race/funride one day and see how it goes. Interested? Dont know if one need permission etc.

Used cycling.tv (free part) Saturday night. Was fine, but after a while my eyes were not fine any more and went to bed The map part of your url would be cool to use at same time

Read your post twice and then I smiled Apologies to ALL about by negativity. Was thinking about this, twice a day, for the past week passing there and wondered when all this is going to be stopped/fixed. This are a good project, please keep me up to date dirtyhippo - as you can see this hit close to home. Thanks euraquila...

I did actually (after my first negative impulse) to inform myself and search for an indication that it will reduce cycling related crime in the area. Well i did not see that, only projects (with very good intentions and reasons) that channel much needed money onto very valid projects. Also noticed along the way: "Despite a low literacy rate and widespread unemployment Kayamandi is a home to many who embrace and practice with pride their rich and colourful Xhosa culture and heritage. This vibrant culture is based on ?Ubuntu?, meaning, humanity, resulting in a proud, hopeful and strong nation blooming with potential." This wonderfull - but I personaly did not experience the "humanity" part (even from the none-thugs that just walked past, and more than once - it is "normal" practice and known under cyclists AND known to the members of the community) What i was trying to say is that there is nothing wrong with the project, but I will not be personally envolved, until a project like"BringTheCyclingThugsToThisSideOfPaintedWall" is intiated by Songo or made part of the BMX track one. The thugs need to be prosecuted, my wife should cycle safety past Kayamandi on her own and Papegaaiberg should be safe to MTB for me after work. AND Kayamandi might have my contribution to the much needed BMX track. That is then "blooming" ALL the potential of the Stellenbosch area from my perspective. Then I might really REALLY be a very active partner to projects like this BMX track one. - And might stop at the track on my commuting trips to assist or "check in". My perspective at this stage is that i just might not ride home.

My first reaction was same as popeye - extremely negative. (The seniors members of this community will walk straight past you while you stand there bleeding after brick attack, while the thugs visibly stand and laugh at you from close distance. Also dodge a knife. I know of someone that seen a gun pulled at him and his wife. ) BUT, Maybe hippo & sponsor etc have the right contacts that can response: On how they as a community themselves work together to throw the thugs out. I'm all for projects like this and will contribute, but in my own small personal world i need some concrete ations from THEMSELVES inside this specific cummunity to win my heart again. Please relate this message to someone that actually live their. (Or i'm uninformed of existing such actions) I'm sorry, maybe i seems "cold" - but i was made to feel like that by members of this community. I was NOT like that before, confirm that with my friends and family. This is their oppertunity to convert me back.

I might be incorrect, but as I read the articles of the last week: it was the Tour of SA organizers that could not get sponsorship (And they was represented by a well spoken and clothed person on SuperCycling a couple of months back)<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> I might also be incorrect in assuming COO has something to do with ?Operating? / ?doing stuff? & not how good PR ?spinner? you are. Pardon the pun, but on the ?Show me the money? side of things, Carinus get my vote. (But to negative that with a black t-shirt??? ) But, on the actual topic of the tread: Not a good answer at all (nothing?) ? I?m 100% for something like a public CSA business case on the licenses that I could not find on http://www.cyclingsa.com/ tonight ? then Latrinus can just read that next time maybe?

Is that new white shoes? Cool - goes with the shirt!

They drink whiskey, but what become of us? Can i now get a polar from CWC?

I never used online cycling retailers before (local or international) I only bought panniers direct from US & Canadian manufactures when it was not available here.<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> The LBS (those offering good service) might become less but will never, ever disappear: we (Willehond that is me and the missus) & other cyclists don?t go to malls ? but go to the LBS any time. (But we use PnP online home shopping every month) I?m extremely loyal to the PEOPLE at the LBS. But people (cyclists) are different so different LBS will be the ?perfect LBS? for different cyclist. And that is what do it for me. I did try CWC and it was not a match, end of story. My first memory before I could even cycle of a LBS is where the owner of a shop in Stellenbosh allowed me to pick up silver ball bearings from the wooden floor at that stage. Many, many (sigh/sug/sulk) years later he and his staff still greet me on the street. Today I?m a bit out of the area but my current LBS cheered for us on the tandem at the top of Helshoogte in the Burger 2007 because they know us. Guess where i will get met my alternative hub when i dont get love from the Mavic importers? (Ok with my results i need to buy supporters) Rumors of cartels and <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Bermuda triangles where heart rate monitor dealerships disappear is sickening. Please smoke them out! The account issue (not the topic) seems to be explained but the "cartel meetings" are not commented on or just ignored. hmm...

WE != me and the mrs WE == Willie Engelbreght

WE have Titanium bolts in all the size and color that you would want. Expensive...

ok, to start the year on this note is The final straw in the Camels back was when I spoted the Mavic "unauthorized dealer warning" add in Bicycling a week ago and by now I'm hopefully a bit less pissed off & less sarcastic. I'm waiting now for two months for a small part that i ordered trough my "authorized" LBS when it broke in my Mavic rear hub. Mavic SA are unable to get the "thingy" to the LBS (I do have part numbers etc) The story orginally was that they just got the Mavic agency in SA, could i please give them some slack for an interrim period. Nice guy mr Straatvark - "sure man, will use my old wheel" I even phoned the Mavic SA "office" myself at some stage in December to do a follow up after I started to mistrust my LBS who gave me the number to phone. But the LBS were right - the guy that answered could not tell me when my part whould arrive: "maybe another week, please call then" He did not even ask trough what LBS my order came - surely there must be a list of who ordered what and in what stage the prcessing of the order are? So what should i do now? (and in the future) Wait more? Wait the same amount off time if something break again, or ask a buddy in the UK to drop the tiny part in a envelope and mail it to me? Similar trend was when my LBS were unable to source a Shimano XT freewheel hub from Shimano SA in a two week period because they did not had stock. In the middle of winter - i would say that is peak MTB season. WDF? I end up "strip my moer", put the old one back on and keep on riding untill no more, only noice... Isnt there laws that enfource stock levels that must be carried for a number of years? On the other hand, Attie Slabbert from Token just mailed me set of bearings for a headset from China/Taiwan - how is that for looking after the people that use your products? Can someone from Mavic please PM me to sort this out or give me permission to source from "host of other sources"? Maybe i can give my wheel a ride without missing a full quater of a year. Regards

Well part of my problems is tandem wheels Maybe i must tell my LBS to use incorrect size spokes and add washers

I'm learning here (to understand why the wheels that my LBS true/build don?t last), so I got to ask this:<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Why would/should my LBS shop fit spokes that have play in the first place? The washers might be only a fix for something that was done wrong in first place. Shouldn?t there be standard dimensions/tolerances that should be adhered to? Should I accept the practice as "standard" or can I go back to my LBS and tell them to fix when I spot that they used washers on my wheel. (Currently my LBS don?t use washers but their wheels still don?t last)

And all of a sudden I realize that the ?kef? ?kef? ?kef? that I hear is from my PC?<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Actually, I experience it the exact opposite, very informative thread, thanks to those that are willing/able to give input. If I compare the wheel ?user? references (that JB and other get) with the number of issues I had in last year with my ?high tech? LBS wheel building skills ? I know how (tools, science & ?art?) my next wheels will be build.

Hi Attie, If i take a roll - can I get a Token headset bearing to finish the boss's MTB headset service? Tell the Chinese if they want to sell products here they must supply support and spares as well. Gert

In the last pre-event DC email i got from Fritz Grobler it was said that the top racing teams would be tracked by GPS. Was this done? On the hub it was said: "if we only knew it was 21 seconds" - so the question is or simply would be interresting to know it it was used by top teams to take split times of other teams - anyonewant to share strategy?

What do you like for you birthday mrs?

Same story line, less serios injuries and different outcome: Mrs Straatvark was send over car bonnet 2 weeks ago. She gave him a piece of her mind. (i can just think how that went - ) Driver appoligised and carried her bike home for her on foot. SMS later the day to hear if she is fine and even did a follow up SMS today. WTF? Why cant everyone that make a mistake not be like this? If you are guilty, be man and take it like one. I would have him when i got him at our front door the morning , but at least he kept some respect from me

Allez Marc! This man is unreal! Followed his progress on cyclingnews.com in the Crocodile Trophy. http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/oct07/croctrophy07/index.php?id=/photos/2007/oct07/croctrophy07/croctrophy078/A-shattered-Marc-Herremans-finishes-stage-8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Herremans

Sit more oggend 'n masker op - dan kyk ek uit vir die bene

aaaarrrggghhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wou se^ jy loop so glibberig in die stad vanmiddag. Probeer die chemiese metode volgende keer, baie vinniger.