BigDL

Apparently advice from one of the parents on the side. He/she obviously only read a bit of the rules. Is that the right message to give your kids? Trying to decide Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

A few recent pics in Northern Ireland with my iPhone 6 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There were many guys who recorded their rides on strava. Does that not count?

The company I now work for does not allow us to accept anything at all, no exceptions. Not even a cup of coffee. Really quite refreshing. Also does not allow us to buy anything for a prospective customer, not dinner, coffee or anything.

Apparently not as someone bought into them enough to pay for their Epic adventure

They get the association with the personality. They get to use them for events to attract their customers. They get to roll them out when it suits them. The senior management get to be all buddy buddy with them and tell their friends about it. The corporate hospitality world in SA is completely over the top. Helicopter rides to Sun City for a days golf or weekends away hunting and drinking, all because we want your business and the best way to do that is not by product, but by relationship (corruption comes in many forms). How much better if we invite a "big" celeb along for the trip, especially a sports star.

Don't disagree on the principle, but the reality is that the epic is a business as is ABSA. What they fee they need to do with their marketing budget is for them to decide. If we don't agree, we don't have to buy their products. However, if you decided not to support a large company in SA because they sponsored the wrong people or events, you might have to go and live in a cave. We would all like to see deserving people sponsored rather than celebs (by the way, saying Joel is famous for one lucky kick is a bit rich), but that is unfortunately not the way business works, rightly or wrongly.

Lots of bitterness here. If someone offered you a free entry and a free bike, I am sure all you folk would turn it down because you were undeserving. Me, I would take it and say thanks.

Indeed. Regretted fairly regularly through the ride, but shorts nonetheless

Great ride at Kilbroney Forest park in Northern Ireland. Still the best cycle trail I have ridden.

All I could find here in the UK. Quite a price imported I would imagine

Ouch.

Been off work with flu today. Being able to reach for the iPad in between sleeps and catch up on this thread gave me guaranteed humour all day. Boom

Indeed. 87 k's of ice cold wind and rain.

Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland.

On the Shore of a very cold Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland at Dawn yesterday.

Would you mind sending it to me as well please?

Please let your wife know that she is in our thoughts FWIW

Don't fool yourself that paintball guns and pepper sprays work. I have seen people sprayed, shocked etc and continue their aggression. Someone high on drugs can resist a lot. Not saying they don't have a place, but don't think they provide anything near total defense. Ultimately, if you decide someone needs to be stopped, a firearm is really the only solution, but make sure that you know how to handle it and that you train constantly for real life situations. A man is no more armed because he has a gun than he is a musician because he has a guitar

Imfolozi MTB challenge yesterday. Wet, muddy, cold and constant rain, but what an awesome ride through proper wilderness.

A couple of days of lekker riding in the Clarens area on the weekend. What a beautiful country we live in.

Quality

What has happened to Frail. Seems to have gone quiet.

Merry Xmas Frail. Well done on an impressive year

Awesome. That's effectively only R450 for the membership then if they are paying the licence fee