fourbar

In an effort to get my lean, mean winter hibernated body squeaky clean- I need directions from the Hubbers where to turn to for a professional leg wax in the Pretoria area...please!

Sean:Pity cos I'm trying to write a lot of constructive stuff about these guys and now is not a good time to turn down positive media exposure opportunities.The next day the story is no longer news... Opportunity lost. Pity. I find it interesting to note your comment on "timing". You do not say for which publication the exposure was considered, but I assume its for Bicycling. If so, I further assume your magazine has longer "time limits" on stories being mainly a monthly publication. Or are you referring to the deadline for publication of the next issue? How do you guys time your coverage of long "real-time" events like the TDF and Giro?

A-HA! Don't they have media liason officer(s) or have they been fired in advance? Surely you should be liasing through their agents/liason officers...? Barloworld in my opinion created more damage by jumping the gun and creating a lot of media flack through their hasty public announcement. The legalities of the contractual relationship as it currently stands is also to be addressed- a valid contract is still in force and I assume the four remainding riders are complying with their end of the bargain. Or do they have the same "agent" as Bakkies Botha...?"Haastige hond verbrand sy mond?"

My deepest sympathy to the Cox family during this time. Draw near to God and He will give you strength and peace. Ryan will be fondly remembered.

THANKS Amoryns, at least we can have a chukle without feeling guilty...

Do you think the Dutch TV will now also join German TV and stop broadcasting the tour?

Rasmusen refused to sign it. Christie: You're 100% correct regarding tests etc. but this forum has had this discussion going for ages and the same conclusion is drawn every time: they do it and it's for the labs to catch them out/ the organisers of races look the other way/managers try to bend the rules etc. etc. If I were a sponsor, I will immediately withdraw under these circumstances. The issue of Rasmussen's refusal to sign also confirms my point on honesty and the slapgatgeit of team management. "You don't sign-you don't ride- on behalf of my sponsors, the public and millions of cyclists out there!" Fact is, it raises the suspicion of how many administrators are in on the deal. We all know how it works in the corporate world out there- you scratch my back and I'll do the same one day...!

[quote name=Christie Rasmusen got withdrawn and fired from his team because of suspicion' date=' there is no proof that he doped. [/quote] Even if there is no proof, the suspicion confirms his intent: to lie. Rasmussen lied to his team, management and himself. This goes to the core of the relationship: dishonesty. I surely don't want somebody to work for me who is a hardcore liar!!! fourbar2007-07-26 03:01:08

Vino protested. Is it a case of him protesting one time too many or too hard???

Thanx to everyone who has replied in the meantime! Looks like we're going to discover some interesting stories on this one and that the old rule will eventually prevail... consumer-BEWARE! Please share or re-direct us to previous discussions in this regard. It also becomes clear that one should opt for a broker rather than faceless call centre quotes, insist on clear, understandable definitions of what's in and what's out, insist to be told and shown all conditions of insurance and to remember that the Ombudsman is also there... Which makes me think- does'nt the ombudsman originate from the industry and will he/she be impartial/fair in assessments...?

Delgado: exactly my point. These matters/conditions of risk acceptance and the conditions under which it occurs must be disclosed in the fine print before you sign...

slowpoke: premium compared/short term insurers? I'm scared of these &*^%$$'s that take your money and when you have a real loss, they decide what you had and did not have...

Fandacious: thanx for the reply. Did your co. insure the bike specifically, i.e. frame by brand/model, pedals, wheels etc. If so, may I ask which co it is? Fb.

Advice please... which insurance company(ies) for the best results regarding one's full cycling kit (bike included, of course!)

Pantani: if it is a common thing nowerdays, I'm scared-very, very scared. It's not as if we're winning the battle against the already "made up"perceptions of cyclists out there only to be confronted with a new breed of "hooliganism" amongst ourselves! Holy cow! if the fight started over a water bottle and ended up in hospital, way down the field- whatsup with us...? Perhaps we deserve the tagging to an extent?

Nope, an old school friend of mine came to the rescue of the guy. Apparently he missed the incident with a few minutes, the aggressor having "done the deed" and chased off. Wish I was there though to witness it. Regardless of the level of provocation, you don't bump a guy off at 30kph! Had a similar aggressive b#stard at the recent Barberton race!

Did any Hubber perhaps witness the scuffle that broke out between two riders on the 40 k route at the weekend? Apparently it statred over a waterbottle and ended up in the one guy being bumped off his bike and ending up in hospital with a broken shoulder!!! Anybody witnessed this or know of somebody that did. It apparently happened at the 18k water table... EISHHHH...!!!

Nothing like an unbaised opinion' date=' ne Cruxie [/quote'] Nevvveeerrr! The un-adulterated balance of convenience, a.k.a preconceived opinion...fourbar2007-02-19 07:22:14

Windbreaker: you're 100% correct, Mc Bride's is still under criminal investigation. Even if the Ekhuruleni Municipality does not charge him, he/ his case is in the open and ordinary people feel a little vindicated. In my humble opinion, the other option is we "rant and rave" on this forum 'till the blue thunder appears, accept that we lost before we tried (anything) and ride our bikes off into the sunset... and chalk this one down as another 'stat'! Viva!!!fourbar2007-02-06 04:41:06

Crux: Check that the file with the SAPS does not disappear. The Investigating officer should have regular contact with you/ Barend. This is a criminal matter(alleged RECKLESS/NEGLIGENT DRIVING) and a matter that has relevance on the code of conduct of the officers. They are employed by the Metro municipality and have conditions of employment which contains a disciplinary procedure. Make sure that a charge is laid at the Director of that Department so that the officer is investigated in terms of his conditions of employment. This MUST be followed up in order to give effect to a disciplinary tribunal. He has the opportunity to state his case there (as with the criminal case) in terms of the labour law. The law is there for everyone. Metro officials left no stone unturned during the festive season to curb down on the public for traffic related offences. They are subject to the same laws and we must see that is executed. If you need more advice, pm me.

... and GT with Tektro Auriga comp discs...?

nkob: I also did a few of the Leppin Ironmans in the 1980's. What worked for me was a banana or two strapped to the bike frame just to put the "murg terug in die pype"! Swissvan: also remeber the one that finished at Kyalami? Was one of the hottest (temperature-that is!)races I ever did!

"PS- Please dont start a thread in reply about the (or any) cyclist who was run down by a motorist and the ..............................................!!!" ...we are not that naive/desperate... but if someone choose to start it, you can surely choose not to participate?...