Once

The Life Cycling Academy has been around for 4 years now and has a solid infrastructure from which we work. Our programs start with school based cycling education programs, through to club programs and then on to elite level programs. Visit the websites - www.velokhaya.com and www.lifeacademy.co.za in order to see that the fears that you are all displaying are not relevant to our efforts. Once again lets be positive.

I think you guys are missing the point. This is part of a very big, sustainable transformation program with the objective of attracting more funding and infrastrucure into the transformation and development of cycling in our previously disadvantaged communities. Lets not let this thread go the negative route of most other transformation/development threads.......................lets be positive about what's currently happening and what can happen through everyone's support.

Velokhaya is the concept of the Life Cycling Academy, SA's most successful transformation cycling initiative, with over 500 participants and 4 bases of operation. Unlike other transformation initiatives, the LCA is based in solid business principles and a complete understanding of the fact that the infrastructure is what supports the cyclists participation. Over and above this is also an understanding of the requirements of members of our PDC's in order to make thier participation successful. One of the objectives of the organisation is to be able to have programs in as many provinces as possible in order to promote mass participation and competitive cycling, along the same principles as the present programs. In addition to this Velokhaya is aimed at raising the funds to establish a cycling centre in Khayelitsha where top level elite cyclists can be accommodated, mentored and trained. For more information go to the "our purpose" page and read more about the LCA's vision for the future and the planned role out.

As part of the international launch of Velokhaya, six kids from previously disadvantaged communities will be leaving tomorrow for France where they will spend a week in the Alps. During this time Velokhaya will be launched in Europe along with the official partners Team CSC, CSC, Decente and Cervelo. This is going to be a phenomenal experience for these kids who are going to rub shoulders with the best in the world, not to mention experience a side of life that they have no idea of. To give you an idea of what is going through their minds at the moment: one of the youngsters, who has never flown before, asked today how the plane stayed in the air. This trip is going to be classic! Once2007-07-10 13:47:59

For those who watched Supercycling this evening you would have seen the South African launch of Velokhaya, an initiative to promote awareness and fundraising for cycling transformation. Go and check out the website - www.velokhaya.com - for more information and to enter the competition to win a genuine Team CSC Cervelo autographed by Carlos Sastre and Cervelo designer, Phil White. The aim of the SA competition is to raise funds to purchase 100 bicycles for use in transformation programs in both road and mountain biking. The HUB is a proud supporter of this initiative. Admin2007-07-10 14:42:38

Sorry Fly, I meant Hawk. We are in Glenciarn so we do most of our trainng in and around Tokai. We do alot of road work for the miles though. Lately we are doing more out of town rides, we did Grabouw a few weeks back and the lads did Lebanon yesterday. Next weekend Jonkerhoek is on the cards. Do you ride on a Saturday or Sunday? My prob is that I have to be at races on Sundays in the morning.

Hey Fly, we are in the same boat, first timer also. I am really looking forward to it but am also a bit nervous of not making the grade. My partner is also a first timer and we have decided to just go and enjoy the experience. Have fun and try and get through each day with the knowledge that we are threre for the experience. I dont know, but I think one of the most important things is that you and your partner are on the same wave length in terms of your expectations from the event. Where in the WC are you, perhaps you can link up with us for a few rides.

The Liberty Life Under 23 team, as for the prize giving the organisers know about it, I dont think it would be fair to the rider to bring him into it now. The point is not to highlight the transgressoin but to highlight the lack of consistancy and it would seem the lack of attention payed by the comms.

Got to add my ten cents worth here as I have been engaged in discusson with the organisers since my entire team was disqualified from the Worcester race. The team was disqualified because the manager on the day went and registered at the wrong table and therefore the league table didnt have record of them. Now, bearing in mind this is a new system, my team then went and started the race, how did this happen? What this tells me there is no communication from the sign on table and the starting line. So I beg the question of what is the point of having the sign on table other than to assist the administartors in the administration? The second question I ask is; does this mistake deserve total event disqualification or could the team have recieved a written warning and maybe even a fine? I have sent numerous mails and the answer I have recieved is that the comms on the day have made their descision. A request for a meeting with the PPA league committee has not yet been answered. Lets progress to Red Hill. Having recieved a very swift wipping from the first event we went to the second one prepared to the hilt. So imagine my surprise when a major transgression took place and on my bringing it to the organisers attention I was told that the comms of the day didnt see it so that is that. The only prob with that is that the transgression took place at prize giving, when everyone their was looking in the same direction. Here my question is why werent the comms paying attention, surely if they can disqualify a whole team then they must be so on top of their game that they cannot miss a blatant transgression such as this? Yes I am a bit pissed off about this and I certainly dont want to cause ^@$%for the winner as he truely deserved the victory BUT it is the consistancy of the enforcing of the rules and the punishment verses the crime that I really want to get some attention focused on. Nowhere in the rule book does it state what the punishment/s for offences are. I hope this is food for thought for Francios and the boys, as they are doing a good job but need to be clear on a few things