EigerSA

Got sent this by a mate this morning, seems that cars and bikes are just not meant to share a road anywhere. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-12-05-italy-cyclists-killed_N.htm

My ex and I both bought Mr. Price mtb shoes nearly 2 years ago, and we both still use them. They were R300 then I think, and they've outlasted my mates shoes and I do put in a lot of mileage. I looked at shoes at maverick and cyclelab but quite honestly I'm just going to go back to Mr.Price, they look pretty good as well. Just out of interest, where did she go for the skills course?

I've used pepper spray before and it's effective, what's the problem with that? The guy was angry to begin with. To be clear, the spray is not there for you to tackle the guy and make an arrest or something stupid like that, it's purely there to give you the slightest of gaps to escape.

If you offer/pay/accept a bribe in any way whatsoever, you are simply part of the problem, there is just no excuse. When people talk of corruption, it's you they talking about. It's pretty simple really... Be the change you want to see in the world.

I got a nice compact cp-1 nine that I tried figuring out a way to carry while riding, just couldn't figure out a place that was comfortable, accessible and secure. In the end just left it at home. But I agree with you, expect the worst at all time, it can always happen to you!

How? It's one thing to know how to use it, it's quite another to be able to draw it quickly while on a bike?

Those that commit serious and violent crime?

This is long but perhaps it'l help...

ride in a group, avoid areas that have high incidences of crime, don't switch off when riding, give people a wide berth when passing, be aware. Don't carry a gun, that's going to get you killed, rather use pepper spray and and use a whistle or siren or something when in trouble.

The answer to that question has so many different facets to it that I think it's pretty much impossible to answer. I think that in order to even try to answer it, you have to put yourself in their shoes...

head to "instructables' or do a google search, there's a couple of ideas you'll find I'm sure

Not arguing, it's just how it was. We weren't actively allowed to target taxi's unless the blatantly did something illegal in front of us, and even then we had to use our discretion, there was a special unit created specifically to deal with taxi's, remember this is going back about 8 years now.

Actually taxi's were the best to deal with. If we spotted a taxi doing something we didn't like, we just phoned the taxi organisation, told them we wanted to see taxi number 'x' with driver first thing the next morning and the next morning there he would be, patiently waiting, quite amazing really.

It still stands, it's the alternate fine you pay (I think it's R250) when you show your drivers license when paying the fine.

You can't be arrested for not carrying your license, you just get a nasty fine with an alternate fine. With regards to traffic offenses you can only really be arrested for "reckless and negligent driving" and if I remember correctly "inconsiderate driving". For both you would be released same day pending court. My advice to everyone, play stupid but be polite and respectful, and as soon as you get pulled over call a family member right off the bat. If you are threatened with arrest inform the person on the phone immediately and don't start crap, be nice. I often stand up for cops and metro since I used to be a cop and still have mates in the saps and metro but quite honestly I'm getting effing tired of them myself. I got stopped, knew my rights and still got cr@p from them. Fortunately I know the man in charge for the area as well as his number and basically threatened the cop with a law-suit that would have him working for me until the day he died! Not recommending that it's the way to go, I was just lucky. But it was satisfying to watch him turn a paler shade of white and backpedal big time. Maybe that's an idea, find out who's the main guy in charge of your area and put his number on speed dial?

I prefer v-brakes, for their simple maintenance mostly. I'm often telling mates I wont switch over simply because it's just way too much trouble to maintain their brakes, but realistically, none of my mates ever seem to really have a problem, it would seem the disks are just as reliable as v-brakes if you look after them. It also seems to me that fewer bikes are coming out with v-brake mounts so might not have a choice in the future.

@fleming: I really like this! Interesting color scheme

I'd give it bash just to make a point. Hmmm... maybe I should quickly create a few ficticious gmail and hotmail addresses!

I get that companies have these types of promotions, though to be honest it's the first time I've come across it. I just feel that to be offered a free 'something' only on the condition you fulfill some sort of requirement is short-sighted, they didn't win any points from me and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one out there not impressed. If you want to promote your organisation then promote it to everyone fair and square, but do it without condition, that's the whole point of promotion! I also didn't like the way it was done... big email with "free shirt" plastered in nice bold letters, only when clicking through do you get the "catch", they could've just mentioned that little point in the mail. I just feel that my loyalty is not highly valued is all. And as you point out, it does boil down to choice, something maybe Silverback should've considered. Just my humble opinion anyway

I think this might be the best idea yet! I would definitely be more interested in something like this than a club as such. Would be cool if we could do something along the lines of the ss world championships, a full weekend maybe of ss riding with a race on one day and a "critical mass/costume" ride on the other.

I think it's a pretty good idea, I would just add that you should break it down into individual chapters, as in a KZN ss chapter, a cape ss chapter etc... And naturally we would need kit

@joggie: Not quite sure what your point is here?

Serves you right!

This morning I received email from Silverback, nice big letters saying "free shirt giveaway, click here". Just before anyone flames me, I am (or maybe I should say "was") a Silverback fan, and have owned a number of silverback frame with my apline being the favorite, so I'm not biased against them here. Back to the email... I honestly thought Silverback had this offer to reward their customers, or fans who took the time to register their site and read the monthly email. But I was mistaken. On following through with the link it turns out you have to give them the details of 5 of your friends (which you need to gain permission from first) in order to be considered for a t-shirt. Personally I think that it's an underhanded way to go about boosting membership. Basically my reward for being a fan and customer, is to harass 5 mates into signing up. So presumably Silverback's marketing department aren't really into doing work, essentially they want their customers to do the work for them? Why not give the shirts out to registered users, if the shirts aren't junk and look cool they will be worn and the brand will gain exposure, it's absolute b#llsh!t to do things this way, dishonest if you ask me. Personally I think Silverback's marketing department needs a tight slap. I'm definitely de-registering from their email lost now. What you all think?