Andrew Armstrong

Just an update on the Cycle Science saga, I laid a criminal case, however the Randburg prosecutor declined to prosecute as they deemed it a civil matter. I issued a civil summons for my money back only for Cycle Science to issue an action to defend. In Cycle Science’s response, they said: · I asked for a Chinese manufactured bicycle · The fake bike was assembled by J & J Wholesalers · Cycle Science is claiming damages from me of R450,856 for loss of earnings owing to saying I purchased a fake bike on Carte Blanche and Cycle Hub (sic) I responded that I did appear on Carte Blanche but they must prove that the statements I made were ‘misrepresentations’, especially as Cycle Science itself admitted on Carte Blanche to selling fake products. Finally we asked how did they come by the fact that I was responsible for the R450,856 in damages. They have until today to respond, thereafter I will request a trial date from the court. The wheels of justice turn slowly but they turn…

I was also concerned about cholesterol in fact i didn't just check my cholesterol (numbers in op) but all the other markers too and did a heart scan. Such was my suspicion of HFLC but all improved for me. One post stated that my success is owing to a reduction in calories but the reducing of my sugar and simple carbs intake, is what curtailed my appetite. I also agree with the post that said the first couple of weeks is tough...

I hear you i still miss marmalade on toast and the convenience of Frosties!

I just cut out sugar (chocolates, cakes, sweets, etc), potatoes, wheat (pasta, bread, etc) rice, oats (except when going long) and beer. I only had 3GI if the ride was over 2 hours long otherwise I just drank water on the bike If the ride was over three hours i would have oats for breakfast. Other than that I went full fat everything, yogurt, cream, chicken skin, fat on biltong, etc

High Fat Cycling On the 2nd of January 2013 I decided to ride the 235km Three Peaks Challenge in March 2014. At the time I was 49 years old, I weighed 88kg and stood 174cm tall, in fact I still stand 174cm tall! In order to tackle the over 4,000m in climbing, I realized early on that I needed to lose some weight. In addition to being fat I had high cholesterol at 6.2. (HDL 1.9 and LDL 4.1) and was on statins (Crestor 10mg). I managed to bring my weight down from 88kg to 83kg by the end of March 2013. However, despite Herculean efforts (or so I thought) my weight plateaued at 83kg till 26 July 2013. On 27 July 2013 I decided to cut out sugar and simple carbohydrates and increase fat consumption. (I read Gary Taubes, Jeff Volek & Stephen Phinney and of course Tim Noakes) On 26 October my weight was 76.5kg. Of course medical and dietary paradigms are a bit like religion, we hold on to them, despite contrary evidence and I was no exception. My dad died at 55 from a heart attack so using my own body to experiment did make me feel a bit, no a lot, apprehensive. I stopped taking the Crestor in October and on the 13th of November I went to see a cardiologist. My total Cholesterol was 5.0 (Triglycerides 0.4, HDL 1.7, LDL 3.0) and was advised to stay off statins. This is when I decided to buy new bike, if only I knew then that my health wasn’t going to be the biggest obstacle I would face to complete the event. With the benefit of hindsight I should have been more concerned about dodgy carbon and less concerned about dodgy arteries. At the time of the race March 2014, my weight was 72.2kg and I am still 174cm tall. I am not a nutritionist nor do I have a medical background, this is just an anecdote to riding a race.

All the publicity surrounding fake Pinarellos can't be good for brand, perhaps this is why ASG aren't saying anything publicly. However, riding fake bikes with fake components all of indeterminable quality are surely a safety issue as much as a criminal issue and that requires an industry response.

I have opened a criminal and a civil case to recover my money and costs incurred. Aside from one person who got his money back before the programme on CB, I'm not aware of anyone else getting their money back. I expect there will be some legal developments in the next few weeks.

The legal wheels turn slowly,

The Bianchi is genuine, the serial number is on the inside of the rear stay, so for every dark cloud...

You will recall in my note to self while overseas that I purchased a Bianchi from Cycle Science for my son (his first racing bike), in June 2011 and that I should check whether it is a fake too. I have attached two pictures, and note that there isn’t a number on the bottom bracket. As with Pinarello I have no idea who the agent is for Bianchi? Perhaps someone knows someone who can verify whether this is a fake bike or not? I plan to issue a civil and criminal summons this week and perhaps I should include this bike in the action if it is indeed a fake?

Just back from overseas, first ride this morning. The legal process continues, I don't expect a quick resolution in the case of the fake bike. Hopefully this post serves as a lightning rod as I am sure CS isn't alone in this type of scam. Especially with accessories such as saddles, wheels, and components. Just like the software industry formed an industry body to combat piracy of software perhaps the cycling industry should do something similar. If not the honest LBS will face an uphill battle and be disinter-mediated by the internet and unscrupulous bike shops.

Sadly I have not been able get a refund from Cycle Science (CS) for the fake frame and accessories I purchased from them. In fact, if anything their newfound notoriety has emboldened them. The sky hasn’t fallen. This is what CS proposed: initial cost of the fake bike R91,000 less R51,000 for Campag Record EPS, less R,1,500 for saddle (which is fake but they insist otherwise), less R1,000 for two tyres and tubes. Proposed refund R37,500. (The attorney on record for CS did not respond to emails enquiring whether he was still the attorney on record. I know you couldn't make this up, it is like a parallel universe.) The insouciance with which they presented this offer, once again, a handwritten note with arbitrary numbers scribbled on it, shows for some at least, crime does indeed does pay. The fact that it can be business as usual after their scam is exposed in the media demonstrates that the wheels of commercial law turn slowly if at all. On the face of it, it seems it is up to the individual or companies to pursue illegal business practices while the state does nothing unless prodded to do so. I disagree, in part, with one comment on this forum that says, South Africa should forget about fraudulent sale and worry about bigger problems. (I am not saying we shouldn’t tackle the other problems he highlighted in his post.) But if the authorities do not proactively enforce commercial law and intellectual property rights we can expect an ineluctable decline in honest businesses. How can they compete? Even in this post a large number of people suggested I should have known better and stop being a crybaby. The victim of a crime is somehow complicit in defrauding himself. Some have suggested that I should go to the police and lay a charge. Besides the fact that I am in Amsterdam, why should I have to? Has no member of the police force read the posts on The Hub or seen the perpetrators of a blatant fraud on TV? Don't police have a duty to catch criminals; surely it is in their job description? “Catch baddies”. Perhaps as Mr. Corleoni said to me in this post, we should shut up and let crime pay; John and Robbie have families to feed.

Look Ma, no fakes...

This was written yesterday on the aeroplane so most if not all the points raised have been addressed already. While I do agree that I shouldn't expect ASG to fight my fight. One point I made (if you scroll back to my earlier posts) is that I wasn't aware of the existence of ASG before buying the bike. (Just as I am similarly unaware who the local distributor of Rotel amplifiers or Burberry Handbags are). So I wasn't knowingly buying a "grey" import to cut out ASG. However, what I did say to Cycle Science (CS) and later to Carte Blanche was that if the frame or accessories were genuine albeit 'grey' I would keep them. For example, I have no qualms keeping the group set, perhaps CS imported that directly too? How would I know? I bought a second Dogma in Australia and I couldn't tell you who the distributor for Pinarello is in that country either. Although it would be ironic if my second Dogma was "grey" import too!! I trusted the LBS on both occasions. (The one in Oz is my family there's LBS) On my return, my attorney found out who the Pinarello agents in South Africa are as he didn't accept the document from Australia that my bike was fake. ASG were very helpful in certifying my bike was indeed fake at short notice. Initially CS said I knew my bike was a "grey" import all along, when we proved that my bike was not a "grey" import but a fake, they then modified the story to "I knew my bike was fake all along". While ASG is standing up for the brand integrity of Pinarello what of Swiss Wheels? The bike came with fake wheels too and I still don't know who the agent is. The other bikes as far as my memory serves me also had fake wheels on. The fact is some, more than others, rely on the bike shop. Written on BA 430 LHR to AMS and no one told me to switch off phone or take out my headphones for the duration of the flight. Wish the Kalula air crew could act similarly instead of making you switch off 20 mins before landing for no reason whatsoever. And they seem to get a perverse pleasure from telling you to switch off "right now".

Dear Mr. Corleoni Of all the noms de plume to choose from you decide that being known, as a gangster is most apt for you. So tell me how is this nom de plume working for you? I am not sure how the LBS shop in Australia, ‘forced me to buy a new bike’ especially as you suggest I knew my bike was fake before going into the shop in the first place? After being presented with the fact that the bike that was sold to me was fake; this is how Cycle Science proposed to remedy the matter as received from their attorney Vaughan Hattingh. “However, entirely without prejudice to our client’s rights (which are reserved) we are instructed to propose, as we hereby do, that our client forthwith market and sell the bicycle (excluding the group set) for and on your clients behalf. Once the bicycle is sold our client shall pay to your client the entire proceeds of the sale which our client estimates should, given the prevailing market conditions and taking into account your client’s substantial use of the bicycle, fetch between R 25 000.00 and R 28 000.00. So presumably they see nothing wrong in the selling of counterfeit goods. When it comes to ‘jeopardising someone’s livelihood’ your ignorance of law is superseded by your ignorance of economics. It is Cycle Science that is threatening the livelihood of every honest bike shop. What of the bike shops that have closed or downscaled owing to fraudulent competition? Why aren't you upset for them? I have taken responsibility for getting my money back, Cycle Science have until tomorrow to refund me, failing which I will issue a summons. Sadly, as I mentioned in an earlier post, ‘when all options are bad, people are prepared to take a gamble’. Might I suggest that up until this point this strategy hasn’t been working too well for Cycle Science? But you are right on one point, I only have myself to blame, let the buyer beware is as true today as it was a hundred years ago.