stringbean

So it seems carbon repair guys are also part of the loop now.

Haven’t been following thread but just something that happened to my buddy in the last month regards insurance. Bike insured couple of years,never claimed. He crashes at W2W and end up with a cracked seatstay torn off rear derailleur and cracked carbon rim.Bike was insured for 90k. Now the insurance comes back to him and offers him a second hand rear chain stay for bike or for a repair by CBR Durbanville.replacement of carbon rim with rebuild and new rear derailer. Now the fighting starts.So it seems that there are a few insurance companies that are starting to push this “repair” scenario so KNOW THE FINE PRINT of your policy. Who and when is a bike determined as a write off since I’ve seen carbon bikes broken in 3 places that have been repaired and sprayed that not even the agents would notice. What pisses me off is that brokers are quick to get you to insure for replacement value but then come pushing this “repair “clause to clients. “

I think you hit the nail on the head Robbie and bike manufacturers are waking up to this.Most peoples purchase are not really going to be determined by influencers with tick-tock following etc but will be a personal choice.I think manufacturers also realise a young influencer is not really going to influence a group of people with huge amounts of buying power so would rather back the older crowd or bike shop owners on any deals.

Was chatting to one of the big 3 importers a month back and we touched on this as well as sponsorship. Most of the big players in SA are in the same boat that ,all their stock that they can get and bring in at the moment is pretty much sold before it even hits our shores.Having influencers etc ain’t gonna do anything to sales.They simply can’t keep up.When the guy told me how much they pumping into the Mtb team(you can imagine a couple of top end bikes etc)as well as the demand of local cyclists I was shocked at the cost.I’m sad to say what’s happening to the influencers will trickle down to the smaller teams as well.Sorry if I burst some bubbles but seriously,if they got WT riders and teams under their belts do they really need you. Post Covid in corporate world there were obviously lots of retrenchment and introspective looking at everything in the company.I know from corporate buddies they are looking at things like,how can I tell my employees no bonus this year,or X amount were retrenched when at the same time we spending X on marketing that isn’t increasing sales or influencers.

Nothing new here. Sorry but ALL business are there to make money.Of course the influencers are going to go on about how they add value,blah blah blah but Covid has made business take a good hard look at value of ALL employees. Those around here long enough will remember when Cannondale agency went from CCS to Omnico it was relayed with a 2 line mail.That after 20 odd years. Thats brutal.

Lots of tears and violins playing the way Spez have given their ambassadors (I see sponges) the boot.In an environment where manufacturers are struggling just to supply stock I’m not surprised they can no longer give freebies away or have they just realised influers and likes don’t bring in sales. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/dumped-per-phone-email-or-simply-ghosted-specializeds-sudden-termination-of-its-ambassador-program?fbclid=IwAR1ufLcyOEpX2QIBLzC4pqHhuiSK5WsosgSNlt9fPiB13migGuJPNB4BPJc

But it’s CSA that chose him to represent,where were the checks and balances especially since he was flagged as been dodge. Unfortunately he won’t be the last in SA.Talk to anyone racing league and they will give you a couple of names of suspicious people (men and women). How is it possible that someone wins virtually every league race in season and then on the last race(where everyone physically comes together for race) gets absolutely caned.Like race is finished and ready for prize giving and they still on the course 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

After couple of rides under the belt all I can say this is one insane machine.

Ride JHB has become the premier racing event in SA. Seriously impressed with the organising,prize money,big names it attracts. A bit embarrassing coming from Cape Town how watered down the Argus Cycle tour has become.Just a fun ride around the mnt with YouTube coverage. They could at least put some of the profit back into the riders like JHB is doing.

Imagine been a ginger that owns a ebike at the moment 😳😳. They will be too scared to go out and cycle for fear of reprisals.

Just a note that I do sometimes buy local( sometimes it’s not worth the import to save 100 bucks)then Evobikes is usually my go to place.Jano goes out of his way and it’s refreshing talking to someone that knows their products.It’s just unfortunate sometimes that their hands are tied by poor suppliers.

That’s where Aramex global shopper comes in.When I joined it was for free( might be about 200 bucks now)then you get access to Aramex postal address of about 30 plus countries.If I buy something from Germany I ship to my German Aramex address who will then ship to my SA address.NOTE THAT THIS WAY YOU PAY DOUBLE VAT(country of origin and Sa)but even that often ends up less than retail price of our local online shops( just goes to show how we get shafted)and I get item in about 10 days( none of this wait for 3 months for stock stuff.Currently waiting for a s works crux from UK to arrive.Cost around 5% more than would have cost local( if local Spez had stock)and local crux eta arrival April 2023🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

I just use Aramex global shipper to ship to the local Aramex who then ship to SA. Yes you end up paying double vat but often with shimano and sram it still works out cheaper than any online shop in SA and I don’t have to wait months for local guys to get stock. Very seldom do I buy sram and shimano local any more.Guys most of time don’t have stock,prices are insane and offer no backup

What is supposed to happen and what actually happens are two different things.Yes there are teams who sometimes have cars following (legally with a manager in the vehicle) but I’ve seen on numerous occasions individuals who have cars following (usually mom or dad).It’s usually individuals that have athlete or cyclists on their social media profiles 🤦🏻‍♂️.Men and women races and sometimes even in groups like C bunch.On more than one occasion causing chaos in the bunch as mom or dad try to pass bottles or cold towels to so called riders.You got to understand people,sometimes winning that C bunch sprint is serious business.

It’s become a catch 22.I understand the organisers trying to increase numbers so invite the ebikes.I found myself in this predicament at the durbie dash Mtb. been the ou toppie my fitness wasn’t at the level to comfortably ride the long route so entered the 45km(52km).First impression was “”hell there are a lot of young guys on ebikes with heart conditions “.Now I don’t mind them been there but when racetec just throws all the results together of riders and ebikers that just pisses me off to the point you won’t see me there again.So yes they open up to ebikes,but the numbers don’t necessarily increase.

With gravel races been added to the calendar riders are now spoiled for choice with what they want to do.A vast majority of riders own more than 1 bike so a weekend race can be road,gravel,xco or xcm or just cruising with my buddies. Here in CT a road race in Wellington would cost me about R1200 ( me and wife,petrol etc) to go do the same boring route I’ve done 1000 times.Wife and I nowadays just do a gravel ride to Wellington and spend the money on a lekker lunch. As far as away events we would happily go to things like amashova or 94.7 but are less inclined to go to a area that is possibly unsafe or fly to do a race on pot holed roads with no road closures etc.Unfortunately road racing numbers are only going to get worse as more competition for events increases.Remember the old days of Knysna when it was a Argus seeding and thousands would be on the start line. Organisers have to realise if the area you are doing the race is deemed unsafe and unpleasant you won’t get people coming from other provinces.Sorry if I’m giving Durbs a bad rap but organisers of large events need to get the municipality’s to realise people will just stay away.

And hear I thought it was only some of the lady rider's who were like that,I’ll grab my cap and run( it’s almost Friday)

🤦‍♂️

This here is a huge problem in SA.Too many youngsters ( and even older SA ‘pro’ riders) just don’t understand the level needed to ride WT.And even if you do have the ability it does not guarantee a job.And even if you get a job it might not be long term.Too many SA coaches lead their students to believe there is a chance that one day if they work hard enough they could turn pro(John is one of the few coaches around that are direct and honest right off the bat as to your ability.Often sometimes what parents don’t want to hear.) Fly by night coaches are for another thread,don’t want to open that can of worms until it’s a Friday.

Some interesting names near the front there. Couple of things stand out for me.Lopez riding after doing the 250km Lombardia race the day before . Lakata good result at 41 years old.💥 David Rebellin ahead of some of our saffas at 51 years old💪

The gravel calendar says same place for next near again.

Lots of complaints from the gravel brigade about course,altitude,technically etc. I still believe regardless what course they set the WT riders would still dominate.If they set a course more technical and climbing I believe the time gaps back to the gravel brigade would be even bigger.Next year will be even harder as I expect more of the WT riders to be on the start line.End of season for them so would be a bit of fun for them.Imagine Poggi and Pidcock on the line👍🏻

Matt and Marc still with front group👍🏻

Not negative against the saffas Just the ones that want to use world Champs to “ gain experience “🤦🏻‍♂️

😂😂I’m the ou toppie on the other end of the scale. The one that pays while the youngsters “ live the dream “