GLuvsMtb

We did the 2014 edition this weekend past. Thanks to Patrick and his team for a good weekend, despite the tragedy that unfolded on Saturday morning. My take on things: http://gluvsmtb.blogspot.com/

That would depend on how long the sponsorship deal runs for. I would not exclude some sponsorship branding for an additional contribution from the likes of RMB Private bank. It would fit their profile nicely.

I think the luxury tents is a good business model: 1. Get the demand for tents upfront, ie. 100 race, 120 adventure and 80 ride 2. Calculate revenue = R1 500 000 3. Buy 120 tents and equipment = (estimate) R 1 200 000 4. Rent nice loo's and showers and store tents for 12 months = (estimate) R300 000 5. Re-use tents in 2015 (option to expand on the 120 tents bought) in a revised "luxury entry" option, i.e. fix the number of luxury entries to get 100% utilisation) The event is working hard to create its own brand and need items that is unique to it. The luxury tent option is a good way to re invest in higher end equipment. The alternative would have been to do what the Cape Epic do and pre-book all available guest houses and sell it on at a profit. This has its own shortcomings, ie: - rider transport to and from accommodation - variance in accommodation standards and service experience from various service providers - no re-investment to acquire race village hardware, pure profit taking on re-sale margin Note that they may be renting the tents from a service provider, but that would be short-sighted.

You get the race vibe without needing a back massage after a long night sleeping on the ground even with dropping another R2500 it still works out way cheaper than Sani2C.

Are these guys softies too?

popcorn time... this will soon become the whines to whails... If its too expensive for you, then don't book it. I for one am considering it

Blaming all the current shortcomings on Apartheid.

Sorry to hear about the fall. Try swimming to get the lung capacity up. It is also low (i.e. zero) impact. Some Pilates routines may also help your core and flexibility. Just keep off the bruised areas.

List the components less the wheels, frame and fork and see what the second hand value on the separate components come to. Should you feel like "upgrading" to a 29er / 650B these would be the items that you will be re-using.

I was about to post something similar to this article, but this sums it up nicely. It is not what your sponsor can do for you. but what you can do for your sponsor. It should be a symbiotic relationship with mutual benefit for both parties, unless you have a rich uncle looking to write off some profits. You seemed to have identified the various sponsorship needs that you have, now work out who you would like to approach and how you will reward the various sponsorships. Set out your goals for the season and what is required to attain those goals (race calendars, training schedules, travelling requirements etc). Approach each sponsor with an individually written proposal giving an overview of your sponsorship requirements and where they fit in. Get involved in your community. Sponsors like it when you are actively trying to make your community a better place. This does not have to be cycling specific. Go help out at the SPCA, volunteer some of your time to Hospice or assist as a marshall for the local community fun run.

With Schultz in your side the other 4 pacers will have to do a lot of bowling. Cant remember watching him ever get through a game without a niggle (all 9 tests he managed to pass the fitness test for in the first place)

Why I'll pick Adams...

If it means that my wife can keep up while we go uphill and I am spared the agony of trying to push her uphill I'm all for it. The real question is where to draw the line, i.e. when does an assisted bike become a motorized bike? I have been looking at these for some time now and it seems like the initial issues are being resolved slowly but surely (weight, poor components, poor build quality and poor battery life / farmed energy retention).

ok my All Star SA (post isolation) test side: 1. Graham Smith 2. Gary Kirsten 3. Jacques Kallis 4. Hashim Amla 5. AB de Villiers (wk) 6. Shaun Pollock 7. Dale Steyn 8. Brian McMillan 9. Paul Adams 10. Makaya Ntini 11. Alan Donald 12th man - Jonty Rhodes

Kallis bows out of all international cricket: http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/765649.html sad loss for SA. I would have loved to see him lift a world cup in 2015

Jip! Mistakes happen, we all get that, its how you deal with it that counts! Often making a mistake and rectifying it beyond the customers expectation is very good for business...

You followed the correct protocol here in trying to remedy the situation with the store first. I had the following situation a while ago. Went to LG in Canal Walk to purchase a new tumble dryer. The lady at the counter charged me for a (cheaper) washing machine. The invoice only had the model number on, so I was none the wiser until the washing machine was delivered the next day. I phoned the store, they said their mistake and gave me 3 options, namely taking a floor demo dryer (as they had no new models in stock) for the discounted price, taking a more expensive dryer and paying in the difference (delivery for free) or getting a full refund for the purchase and delivery. I took the floor demo as the price was R1000 cheaper (washing machine price vs dryer price) and was in perfect nick. Needless to say that when the trusty old washing machine does her last load I'll be back to LG.

I would request a new wheelset, or discount on an upgraded wheelset. It does not bode well that both wheels failed from riding in the car park.

Today's cricket was something special. SA was the wounded bull and Sri Lanka was the matador. 10 stabs to the heart would have finished us off, but we managed through a combination of discipline, skill, application and some luck to fend off the 558 stabs taken at us and only get hit 7 times. At times our flanks were exposed and as the matador danced around the wounded bull I often cringed thinking that the final few blows would be only a few deliveries away. Yet the bull held firm and while tired from dancing around on the dusty arena it was never beaten. The Sri Lankans were blatant in the way that the pitch was prepared for this game. The toss swung it even more towards the home sides' favour and some excellent batting in the first innings ensured that SA was out of the game from the morning of day 2. From the onset SA made it their business to hang in there. Amla led the charge with 2 match saving knocks and everyone seemed to value their wicket, right down to Tahir who's batting more than made up for a disappointing bowling performance. A combination of healthy respect from Mathews (who left his declaration quite late), the weather gods (who added to the drama with some rain on day 5) and luck with a few dropped chances worked in our favour, but none of this would have meant anything if we caved in a pressure filled last session. We have done this often before, Adelaide, Durban and almost Newlands recently. Was Columbo going to be "close, but no cigar" or another spectacular save from SA? It turned out to be the latter and was fair justice for the way in which the # 1 ranking changed hands without a ball being bowled earlier this year. We need to make sure of the Zim test and will have to work hard to beat a West Indies side that is on the up and up at the moment later this year to retain the #1 ranking.

We beat the Aussies in December 2012 1-0 which is in the 3 year cycle to calculate the current rankings. Now if those damn Aussies and Poms didn't feel it necessary to play each other in 5 match test series and 7 match odi's, the rest of the world might actually get to play against them more often.

Sri Lanka batted like a side desperate for a win at home. We had no answers to Jayawardene's prowess. Chasing down 421 with 3 world class spinners was never going to happen on that deck. We played much better than last time in Sri Lanka. It will be interesting to see what Sri Lanka feels is enough.

Well played Hash. QDK not coming off. Duminy lookng solid. If we can hold out till close we may just save this one.

Faf fell to some awesome fielding. Now if only Alviro and Elgar had the same resolve... 121 for 2 would have looked and felt a lot better than 98/3. Big session tomorrow morning for our boys.

Yes! do it this way because when you are on stage 2 of a wet stage race and need to tube a tyre, you can have a tube that is full of holes from the mud and dirt that forced its way into the crevices and chafed the tyre into a sieve. When I do not ride with my camelbak (think short rides under 2 hours or commutes) I prefer a saddle bag for a tube, inflator and tyre levers. I also use a top tube baggie for my phone, keys and energy bar. The back pockets of my shirt is then reserved for the wind jammer, leg warmers, arm warmers and buff as I peel off layers. If you get a decent saddle bag and inspect the zip frequently you will never suffer the fate of the bust zipper. I have used them for 8 years now and never lost a single item.