mazambaan

Good post Spinnekop and I like Eldron's variable "fit the crime" sentencing not one size fits all crimes. Not easy to do everything yourself as an athlete, you eventually have to rely on others. Not all doctors are knowledgeable as regards medication and its side effects, let alone whether it's on a banned list. Mr Stone, being an motor bike enduro (ex?) rider, I'm surprised it's such a complex drug - thought it would be good old aaptwak. Flame suit on.

look forward to paying R140 for a "smart" ID card. To keep Shaik in golf balls I guess.

:clap: see you and raise. Great stuff

I see Richardt Strauss of Leinster (& Ireland), Andries' cuzzie, out for the foreseeable future with a hole in his heart. Hope he heals well.

Interesting to see that KTM in their offroad motorcycles follow the broad ideas set out by Cy Turner with a "steel" CroMo anyway frame and aluminium swing arm. The majority however (Japanese manufacturers) seem to have have aluminium frames with sections specifically formed by expensive processes to meet the stress demands.

What a bummer! Such a disappointment and wish him strength to overcome it.

On one of the 4x4 forums there was a guy who fitted a diesel loco hooter. That should do the trick.

Hopefully this will have a happy resolution now that Mr CWC has stepped in. My experience, including quite limited at CWC Belleville is that a lot of South Africans are tightly wound (me included) and can come unwound very quickly. Retail staff and managers aren't exempt but need to know this. Then my overall bike shop experience has been that owners/founders are mostly passionate, knowledgeable, dedicated and mostly excellent with customers. Staff, often not so much. They are often young guys (very few girls) who are promising and good cyclists (my guess) but aren't dedicated sales people. They are often patronising and disinterested towards run of the mill cyclists. Some of the *** I've been told! This has been my experience at CWC, Specialised in Somerset West, Leighs, Hattons, and a few others in Durban and Hillcrest. Worst for me had to be Specialised in Somerset West where I picked out about R2000 worth of kit (bib, gloves etc) and went to the till. Salesman was chatting to a mate; maybe a customer but he ignored me. Eventually I left the goods (even though I really wanted it) and walked out. Someone from the workshop tried to politely intercept me but I had my head down for Cyclelab by then.

Interesting thread but more so with the comment from one RobbieH based in Europe with a KTM 1190. Go Robbie! http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=134632.40

Slightly off topic the once porky (maybe still?) Nigel Mansell owns Team UK Youth.

Trying to stay away from violence (very difficult if it was my wife) I think PPA should get involved by paying for an investigator and legal assistance for the prosecutor (if this can be done legally). Certainly by publicising the guy's prosecution (if it gets to that) and highlighting what can happen to motorists who attack cyclists. In the meantime cyclists - I suggest sticking to the rules of the road. Don't piss these mad pigs off.

"Chee Ting Twat"; sounds Chinese to me.

Big H knows his dirty play. He's a rabid Blue Bulls and SANRAL e-tolls supporter.

I'm sure some of you have seen this but quite interesting - the comments not so much. http://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-13-00-fixed-assets-a-bicycle-frame-of-mind

whinging is a bit wasted with SARU useless as they are. I don't really watch anymore but if no one whinges the incompetent and the crooked get away with it. Like SA. Unless of course you are Mac Maharaj or Steve Hansen then I fully understand your point. Less whinging is more better.

To sort of link with the trolling thread on the same subject methinks some advanced 'spruit MTB skills are needed. Forget da bunny hop of da half brick beloved of real MTB'ers. I'm think of "how to ride over a dog" by Dylan Victor; you know lean back, unweight the front, berm off the ribs watching out for the snapping teeth etc. But remember to be relaxed. Hikers are a bit tougher, go for the thin bits, avoiding them as they topple, keep momentum for balance, hands loose on the bars, weight neutral, kick away grasping fingers and snagging clothes. 29'ers have the advantage here, small dogs go under almost unnoticed with 1,5bar in Geax Wolfskin tyres. Suspension settings are important to absorb small dogs but not bottom out on bigger beasts and humans.

I'm with cpt armpies, Grebel and Niterider as well. You want to tear along single track - find a regular venue (Giba for the durban dagga rokers), try enduro or downhill. I did, put me back in box very smartly. (I had to get off and push on the downhill, manshamed).

I'm always amused at these whines. The easy answer - ride faster or be prepared to be patient. The klap and go through anyway comments need to consider that slooow okes are often biiiig okes. Not a good unit to try barging tactics on. If you were that fast on single track you'd go through without a problem. Lots of single track speedsters are legends in their own eyes only.

I think it would be foolish to expect any positive result from government intervention anywhere, let alone CSA. The sports bodies have the same outlook as government SA, Afrika and geenral 3rd world style. That is to maximise personal benefit, then push a broad political agenda, then maybe only, dead last, do something about the sport itself. That is after all what makes us, and them, 3rd world, almost by definition. In the 3rd world responsibilities are taken on individually and sub contracted out as needed. Think education, security, health etc then sport. Reliance on government is optimistic, foolish for the pessimists. So the rant; well done Gerald, CSA will not be changed from the inside by trying to appease the crooked beast. Keep up what you are doing, try and fend off interference, treat CSA and its fellow travellers with suspicion and disdain. The odd one may prove otherwise but it isn't the rule.

Nice work from Mr Hicks WCDH (retd.)! Is it my imagination or is GM looking leaner and meaner than ever?

@madbradd; technically you are correct but I think quinton is just talking a dedicated pavement. He, he, I'm waiting to see which one of the MTB races has to have an EIA to take out x sqkm of vegetation. Don't larf; it could happen. quiton - try Carlos Esteves (good solid citizen; um, engineer though) at eThekwini Municipality; he's Mr Traffic I think. If he says no, I suspect it will be no.

One of the Lesotho riders took a proper plant coming down the logs in the Amphitheatre. He hardly missed a beat from flying W, smacking the ground, summersault a few times then back on the bike. Tough and pumped.

Since encountering the "devil thorns" and 'paper thorns" that gave multiple punctures in the good old days of ride wherever you like, I ran slimed tubes and liners for a long time with about as many punctures as with the tubeless I've run for 4 or 5 years now. Both have their weak points. Tubes must be pumped a little harder and the liners can chafe and cause punctures. But you can run just about any tyre and rim and changes are quick and easy; no seating issues. A puncture in a tubeless can be a bugger to fix with plugs and fitting a tube can leave you vulnerable. I've always been cautious of using a plugged tyre for races so that blows R450 whereas a new tube is much cheaper. I have to be careful when pumping a tubeless tyre not to disturb the valve seal. Ja, break this just putting a few more squeezes of air into your tyre 10 minutes before the start of a rocky race can bugger up your day. Of course seating a new tyre needs good technique and maybe a compressor. Some new tyres leak. Look after your spare tube; powder and in an old sock or something. Change it every year or so (if you haven't punctured).

Thanks Meezo. I'm feeling sorry for myself of late - poor decisions and robbery but this puts it very much in perspective. I'll remember to send a message of hope for him.

Well done Fires!!! Again great work Wayne. I'm having a slightly hard time. This makes me feel better and brings a tear to my cynical old eye.