DJ84

That is 21 rides in a year, for you average person they will not ride that many times in one place in a year. I think it is fair although it could be cheaper to get more people. Business sense make it that you take an average. if that is 20 rides in a year per person then it should be about 15% cheaper as you are receiving your money upfront. Also the cheaper it is the more likely you will have regulars that will bring along their friends drumming up more business. I reckon R 500 would be spot on or do a half yearly for R 300.

How quickly does the long one fill up normally? I really want to do this but have been ill and can only get back on the bike Mid Feb (and have been off for 2 months already), need to assess my fitness before I enter.

I have done it before, used veld grass and took maybe 10-15min. Worked well considering. I had a big sidewall cut and it wouldn't seal and was a good 10km's away from the car. spelling edit

And if you don't have a spare tube and cant re-seat the tire, try packing grass into the tyre and ride it home carefully like that. Sure beats pushing the bike.

I Really like my Fizik seatpost, Think its got one of the best clamps around and have no worries of it breaking.

For how many bikes are at Northerns and this the first I have heard of anything like this it is still damn safe there. I wouldn't stress about it.

I was referring to an ODI opener and not a test opener. Two very different roles.

One of the best ODI openers who later became a test opener was Virender Sewag who started his career down the order. I think at 6. Gilchrest is another obvious that played down the order most of his career. You have to remember he WILL be keeper and you cannot expect him to be both opener and keeper it is just not realistic. By starting him down the order you give him freedom in test, if he is with one of the main batsman he can form a partnership. If he is with the tail he can have a go, same roll Gilchrest filled, same as Dhoni tries although he is not a good test batsman. By starting him at 7 and not keeping he can focus on batting and when ready he can take the gloves. AB has already said he wants to play at 4.

Rohit Sharma just recently, I will have to look for names but Rahul Dravid and Kepler were talking about it the other day and they both said start him at 6/7. Another big reason for starting him at 7 would be that he will eventually take the gloves and his batting would have adjusted to that position, therefore only placing once set of pressure at a time. As for saying he is a better talent than Smith is jumping the gun by 4 or 5 years. Smith is one of the best openers of all time never mind just for SA. QDK has also never played test and as we have seen with many players they just don't cut it although I hope he really does prosper. I Think that Faf would be the more likely person to be dropped, I doubt his average over the last few games is much better than Alviro and in a much easier position.

The reason why an opener often starts his career at number 7 or gets shifted down to 6/7 depending on the strength of the team is that is a second revival area in general for both teams. They often see the second new ball and are resilient against it, a lot of middle order batmen fall quickly to new ball bowling as well as early morning bowling. That is the simple logic behind it although there is a lot more to it.

QDK will more than likely be given a chance in the Australian series at number 6/7, watched an interview with Kepler. It will be a tough choice of whom to drop is what he said and QDK may not even keep. Might be placed as a specialist batsman until his glove work is up to scratch for test. It would more than likely be between Alviro and Faf who gets dropped and AB will stay at No.5 as he will maintain the gloves.

Since his inclusion of the starting line-up again he has scored 609 runs at an average of 67.7 That is very impressive. If he manages to score at that rate for his next 4 games he will be the quickest to 1000 runs. I hope his future is as bright as it seems to be. Maybe keeping him out of the test team and letting him grow a little more is a good thing.

It sits at 9.2kg's now in race mode. With dropping the fork and going to 1*9 it will be just under 8kg's. Might use the stronger XT's with chunky tires for this race though so 8.5kg's

I ride the area every now and then so know roughly what is in store for me. climbs wont be an issue on a sub 8kg steed, but I know the downhills are going to break me a bit. Will need to go for a good massage the day after.

Wont do singlespeed, 1x9 for me. Just need to get the fork (JCMeyer I still have to measure) and then find myself a pair of big boy panties.

Keen for this, Who has done the 80km on a rigid and just how tough is it. Only long one I have done is Lionman and that was super tough for me.

Im no cannondale fan but man alive that is sexy. Who knows a rough cost and weight?

Thami is in the team for one reason only. QDK is a better batsman by far and a better keeper but not by much. For McLaren to take Kallis's position in the team once he goes he will need to be a better batsman as well as a better bowler. I honestly think that our test team will have a few issues in 3 or 4 years. Smith/Kallis/Steyn/Morkel will all be on their way out or gone at this stage and unless we get a few guys up and running we will have a big void to fill.

That's pretty much the nail on the head right there. Those few spots are hotly contested at the moment and will always be a bit of a disagreement. One thing that we armchair selectors will never know is how each player affects moral and I think this is the reasoning for them keeping Faf even though he is underperforming. Kallis will be in the test arena for at least 2 more years (provided he finds form again) and will start bowling less so that number 7 spot is going to become even more on an issue in my opinion.

Agree with Elgar, would prefer De Kock there. Same as ODI, would love to see Smith in instead of Miller at number 6 (who has done nothing)

Kerry McGregor He is a lucky guys

Imraan did play one test but scored 20 runs.

In test? we only have three debutants to score centuries. Faf Rudolf Alviro

Yes Ravi is good, forgot about him, but Umar is a fast/medium unless he has slowed his pace.

I hear what you are saying, but Johnson and Starc have barely if ever played together. Finn also very seldom plays where Morkel hasn't been an opening bowler for a long time. These things are always largely based on how we feel although the stats show what you are saying to be true with Siddle ect, in bowling it is difficult to be the 3rd best bowler when number 1 and 2 are in your team. With spinners as a change I don't see it that way, most spinners do not want the new ball and therefore bowl later by choice as that is when they are at their best. Mediums are few and far between nowadays and cant really think of any off the top of my head.