Icycling

Did anybody what the Super cycling last night? The telephone interview with D Ballairs - was rather …. - I wonder what his body language was like. He started with really down playing the protest and the shortened route in rather babbling and a soft tone of voice. By the end of the interview I recall him referring to it as a Riot in rather a firm tone of voice. If anybody has the interview on PVR please confirm that what I recall is correct.

Look agreed excepting we were no longer going thou Simonstown. The report on ENCA yesterday morning there were about 300 protestor already on the road at about 05h30 on 12 March 2017. Please don't get me wrong the event needed to be cancelled for the safety of the cyclist -not to be sent into a "war zone" that decision had to be made by the organizers. The weather decision well nobody was forcing anybody to ride - those of us who did get to 20km mark would probably say it was the safest ride we had had. I had not seen any accidents like last year a 40 man pile up going down Hospital bend in $ group etc. Cyclist are generally more cautious in wind like that.

Unfortunately and I looked I a have a receipt of entry for the 2017 Cape Town cycle tour and not the 40th cycle tour. But now they can flog the same merchandise again next year - less waist assuming the 40th cycle tour merchandise does not have 2017 on it!

I still prefer the truth - and given that the 1st group that started $ a cyclist had to be loaded into an ambulance before the mats (think collar bone), if weather was the season surely the organizer would have stopped the race then. Don't the organizer potentially face legal claim for gross negligence for starting another 3 groups, that's assuming they were not waiting for the phone call from the Police from the other side on the mountain saying we cannot guarantee the safety of the riders - they basically entering a "war zone?"

And for this reason and not the weather (I got the 1st 20km done) I am very pleased the event got cancelled. I had not reason on my 34th cycle tour to be taken into a "war zone." Just don't know why the reports are UP playing the weather - to that point from the timing mats it was the 1st cycle tour in many years I had seen ZERO accidents in my (@) bunch. Cyclist seemed far more cautious and chilled gaps were bigger we all new a sub 3 was possible far less risky etc. Why are the reports DOWN playing the protesters? They had already affect the event by making sure the 109Km route entered was not going to happen - they had already "won!" I can appreciate that they don't want the protestors to feel the victory - but I think even they know they manged to "get their way."

Issue in April is daylight hours. The 1st group would probably start about 30 min later - way more like my getting up time. One would hope they can the cut off at 18H00 but I recall some issue with this. I cannot recall what.

Yes indeed - a lot of people come from all over the world - to do nothing? I think 47km as a last minute plan even can be change once race has started (that's if they offer a short route anyway like most funrides do) is better than nothing.

The 47km route always need t be an option on the day. Read my post on page 5 "Cape Town cycle tour 2017 cancelled."

Now I see the reason why the vent was cancelled - black hill -as said a few min ago on the other thread below: Here goes and this was my started of my 34 Cycle tour so now what I have to my 50th at 61years of age and not 60! I also was stopped at Tokai Bridge (end freeway) more or less 1st man of @ group. What should have the Cape Town Cycle organizers done? 1. At the start of my group, remember $ was 8 min ahead - 3rd group off, they should have moved the whole group forward. I personally did move forward, way easier then the rest, as I had an interview been moved ahead of the ropes. While walking forward alone, I even walk past David Bellairs and shook his hand and carried on man alone to the point where the riders from the other side start came to our side start. If the whole group were allowed too - apparently the start marshals were been quite insistent about not allowing riders to follow me - the idea should have carried through all the groups. If this was the course of the event been cancelled then the Cycle tour may still have happened. At the end of the freeway the wind was not bad at all. 2. We now live in a way different country / world to what we use too. After the short 47km route, I on the hub made comments that this should always be the cycle tour route - somebody else who know how to find old post can try find them. I am now changing that statement that this route should always be the possible route of the cycle tour - and if they have a long route and a short route Cape Town cycle tour on the day that's fine. If thing in the south get bad then everyone rides the short route - easy to change even 15 min before the start possible even after the start has taken place. I not saying that then people will not try and burn tires on the freeway - but I think the police could possible control this quite well. I do really believe that what happened today could have been avoided and was even kind of predictable to happen at some point. Maybe the start mats should even only be on the free way - all that is need is a start timer for the groups. remember the 1st Cycle tour started at the castle. Thus I do believe the Cape Town cycle tour possible should consider offering every participant a full refund on their entries. But why should charities suffer due to the lack of foresight by the cycling bodies representative at the Cape Town cycle tour?I wait for all the details of exactly why the event was stopped - windy weather cannot be the final argument!

Here goes and this was my started of my 34 Cycle tour so now what I have to my 50th at 61years of age and not 60! I also was stopped at Tokai Bridge (end freeway) more or less 1st man of @ group. What should have the Cape Town Cycle organizers done? 1. At the start of my group, remember $ was 8 min ahead - 3rd group off, they should have moved the whole group forward. I personally did move forward, way easier then the rest, as I had an interview been moved ahead of the ropes. While walking forward alone, I even walk past David Bellairs and shook his hand and carried on man alone to the point where the riders from the other side start came to our side start. If the whole group were allowed too - apparently the start marshals were been quite insistent about not allowing riders to follow me - the idea should have carried through all the groups. If this was the course of the event been cancelled then the Cycle tour may still have happened. At the end of the freeway the wind was not bad at all. 2. We now live in a way different country / world to what we use too. After the short 47km route, I on the hub made comments that this should always be the cycle tour route - somebody else who know how to find old post can try find them. I am now changing that statement that this route should always be the possible route of the cycle tour - and if they have a long route and a short route Cape Town cycle tour on the day that's fine. If thing in the south get bad then everyone rides the short route - easy to change even 15 min before the start possible even after the start has taken place. I not saying that then people will not try and burn tires on the freeway - but I think the police could possible control this quite well. I do really believe that what happened today could have been avoided and was even kind of predictable to happen at some point. Maybe the start mats should even only be on the free way - all that is need is a start timer for the groups. remember the 1st Cycle tour started at the castle - the start line is not cast in stone. Thus I do believe the Cape Town cycle tour possible should consider offering every participant a full refund on their entries. But why should charities suffer due to the lack of foresight by the cycling bodies representative at the Cape Town cycle tour? I wait for all the details of exactly why the event was stopped - windy weather cannot be the final argument!

In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria. Dink wine or beer!! But after you have finish the ride.

For cycling unlike running for example (which may come closer) the numbers will not add up. Sex change XXX hundreds of thousands of rand maybe million. Winning the Cape Town cycle tour - not even a R100 000.00 - reportedly on super cycling this week about R50 000.00

What about a sub 2h30? I would hate to see in a few (3 to 4) years many girls have more sub 2h30 than me!!! hahaha

2 years back / due to fires the race was shortened to 48 km - believe it was still the same line honors winner as the year before - and that year a track specialist Cav road!

Believe it or not most races which are short are hard and many a TDF shortened stage has proven to be the most important - all the way back to 1996 - Bjarne Riis when he basically won the tour on a shortened to about 45 km stage due to weather.

I see almost 1000 cyclist getting a time on race tec - well done (PPA) for having a road race. Where on the PPA calendar do you see 1000 cyclist timed at a MTB event. Remember the Cape Town MTB challenge is not on the PPA calendar! PPA should start doing what the majority of their active members want them to do. - road cycling.

@ and # - From David C - Will probably have to send an explanation to those groups tomorrow. Basically all racing age groups split equally across those 2 start groups.

I have been riding in Cape Town for about 34 years when there were very few bike paths and currently I am wishing that the same was still the case. The City does not plan bike paths correctly and in most case leave cyclist worse off rather than better off. They seem to want to be able to say - wow look what we doing for cycling - but the reality is leaving cyclist worse off. Even the 1m meter law leave cyclist worse off considering the previous law which was never enforces was a vehicle overtakes in a separate lane. When they brought in the one meter law they then added that a vehicle may cross a solid barrier line while passing a cycling - what can I say only in Africa. The barrier line is their for a reason. On one of my favorite training routes, new bike path are about to be opened and they are terrible - I have written letter to the city including PPA but nothing seems to be done. The new bike path on Firgrove way - Constantia although in my opinion in the correct place the surface is so bumpy - I don’t know why the put tar over it - I am a road biker. Below some of my communication with the city - but yet nothing happens and PPA who probably should be offering way more advice on the road bike path seem more interested in MTB bike paths. I have left the email address as if other cyclist using these route are also concerned maybe write an email thus getting more cyclist voices heard. Please also see my email to PPA just below expressing this - PPA have been told about the problem and now the answer is don’t use the cycle path! Great solution by PPA for road cycling - NOT. From: Peter <> Subject: Cycle path and Roads Plumstead / Tokai / Lakeside / Muizenberg area - PPA Date: 06 September 2016 at 7:50:45 PM SAST To: robert@pedalpower.org.za, Cc: Steve Hayward Hi All Andrew and I examined the various bike paths around Constantia, Kirstenhof and Lakeside this morning, so as to get an understanding of areas where improvements could be made and new facilities could be implemented as a recommendation to the CoCT. Simultaneous to the site visits I received the mail below from the City, which raised a concern for me. Andrew will raise this at a meeting with the CoCT on Thursday. The general motorist accepts when there is a bike path that all cyclist should be using it. When I receive a communication "We accept that professional cyclists (sport cyclists) will be more inclined to remain on the road in this instance", this sends a red flag to me – as many motorists are aggravated by cyclists in the vehicle lane next to them when a separate facility is parallel. Robert, you mentioned to me that one committee member is active in the advocacy for bike paths, which is great. Quote from email from Robert 29th August "The City has asked for a Cycling Strategy and one of our Exco members was part of that project and has submitted the first part to the City." My view is that this needs to be explored further, as in many instances segregated facilities are not the answer – rather it is one of keeping the flow as normal as possible so as to not interrupt the direction and speed of both cyclists and motorists. What is needed is signage, and a facility that can be seen and respected by the motorists – but that does not diminish from the levels of quality that cyclists now enjoy. My fear is that segregated facilities worsen the flow of cycling traffic. I would be greatly encouraged if PPA can apportion more of its considerable budget to ensuring road safety and giving more time and effort to aspects governing road cycling. Whilst I can respect the need for efforts to look after MTB trails, PPA was born out of a road cycling event, with the ambition to create safer and more user-friendly routes for road cyclists (sport and commuter) and this has, to a large extent, been lost. Is it possible that PPA could reassign a staff member (or strengthen the support of an existing one) to put more time and value to addressing the road issue? This would be most appreciated. Andrew and I hope that the specific guidelines and focus areas will bring about an intervention that addresses the facilities in the southern peninsula, including cycle paths currently under construction on Firgrove and Tokai roads to ensure that they are suitable for all cyclists. The City is demonstrating a commitment to spend money on cycle paths - surely PPA should be there to assist that they spend it correctly? Regards Peter Wheeler Dear Mr Fortuin, With regards to this comment "We accept that professional cyclists will be more inclined to remain on the road in this instance.” It is clear that the law does not allow for this. When a cycle lane exists, in whatever shape or form, the law is clear – it must then be used by cyclists. This does create a problem in the event of the bike facility being less than adequate – surface quality, non-maintenance, or other design imperfections currently noticed on the Kendal road bike path. More information can be found at: http://www.bicyclecapetown.org/bike-law/rules-of-the-road/ "Duties of cyclists 3. (1) A cyclist riding on a public road must— (a) if the road has a pedal cycle lane, ride only in the pedal cycle lane and may not ride on any other portion of a public road except when crossing the road; or” Regards Peter Wheeler On 06 Sep 2016, at 11:48 AM, Brendon Fortuin <Brendon.Fortuin@capetown.gov.za> wrote: Dear Mr Wheeler I have copied in the depot manager for this area to assist you. Wrt to the NMT along Kendal Road, as this is an off road facility it is accepted that the use will mainly be for commuter and recreational purposes with a yield to vehicles at all intersections signalised or not. We accept that professional cyclists will be more inclined to remain on the road in this instance. Regards Brendon Fortuin Pr Tech Eng District Manager : Plumstead (South) Infrastructure and Plant Maintenance 2nd Floor, Municipal Office No. 3 Victoria Road, Plumstead Fax: 021 444 3808 brendon.fortuin@capetown.gov.za <image001.png> From: Peter [] Sent: 05 September 2016 03:09 PM To: Brendon Fortuin Subject: Re: Roads Plumstead / Tokai / Lakeside / Muizenberg area Dear Mr Fortuin, I hope you don’t mind there are quite a few pics in this email. I met with some your pot hole team hard at work today outside Pollsmoor (they had already done the other 2 potholes in the middle of the M42 I had reported), after I explain what was wrong with the current repair job in terms of riding a bicycle - fortunately at the time the road was wet and puddles of water were very visible in the repair job - they understood my explanation and have proceeded - pics below. As cyclist we are expected to hold our line and stay left and thus most of my reports are to do with the road - within 1 meter of the side of the road and the condition of the road in this area. I will also report potholes noticed further into the road - like on the M42 repaired today. I am also very interested to know how the signage will work on what I believe is going to be a cycle path along Kendal road - I am not sure if you have the answers to this. What concerns me is if this is going to be a cycle path who is going to be expected to yield at the intersections Edison drive and Owen drive. At present cycling on Kendal road if continuing straight then car turning into these 2 road should wait for cyclist. I hope with these new cycle path this will remain the same otherwise the cycle path has basically rendered itself useless to cyclist out training and cyclist training will probably end up back on the road. Please let me know if I must send a report via the city website for all the concerns below in this mail or if it will been seen to by yourself? Below are some areas work on already, the ones worked onto day and some areas which need work. If you feel it would be helpful to meet with myself I will quite happily make the time available. Regards Peter Wheeler

Hubber before you just "throw a fellow cyclist under the bus" for a doping offense of this nature - as some hubber are now finding out its not that easy to know what is or is not legal and yet can be bought at PnP. Apparently sponsors are again pulling out the sport.

This is not an excuse for bad cyclist. But Motorist have to do a test by law in order to drive on the roads - cyclist don't and in certain cases maybe well under the age of 17 years of age. Thus the onus is on the motorist to obey the rules to the T when it come to encountering cyclist esp with regards to overtaking cyclist and doing it only when safe to do so. If the cyclists are not obeying the rules this is not an excuse for a motorist with a license to dis-obey the rules. How many people in RSA, when crossing the road, walk to the crossing points and if possible press the button and wait for the green man as apposed to J walking? Does this mean the pedestrian should become target practice? How many motorist have never have J walked in RSA - my guess NONE, but it still is not legal? Sometimes as a road biker I feel motorist think it's a game of target practice. And as posted before: Here lies the body of Jonathan Gray Who died defending his right of way. He was right, dead right, as he sped along But he's just as dead now As if he was wrong.

Sorry for posting this pic again. But why do PPA put boards up - ditching their own sport people on Chapmans Peak drive - this is one road due to the speed limit, solid white line and the fact that most people are looking at the scenery, that cyclist should and I would go as far as to say, be encouraged to ride 2 or more abreast and not single? Enough cyclist are breaking the speed limit any way. How about PPA lobbing for Chapmans Peak dive to be closed to motorized vehicles on weekend from sunrise to 09h00 from Sep to June each year.

I don't know - but I am not sure if it changes anything at all in SAIDS eyes!

Yes they do - you are meant to disclose what you have been using.

"One study demonstrated that a 30-minute sauna session two times a week for three weeks POST-workout increased the time that it took for study participants to run until exhaustion by 32% compared to baseline.4 The 32% increase in running endurance found in this particular study was accompanied by a 7.1% increase in plasma volume and 3.5% increase in red blood cell (RBC) count.4 This increased red blood cell count accompanying these performance gains feed right back into those more general mechanisms we talked about earlier, the most obvious of which being: more red blood cells increase oxygen delivery to muscles. It is thought that heat acclimation boosts the RBC count through erythropoietin (EPO) because the body is trying to compensate for the corresponding rise in plasma volume.4 (Note from Tim: If “EPO” sounds familiar, it’s because it’s commonly injected by Tour de France competitors. More on that here.) In other words, hyperthermic conditioning through sauna use doesn’t just make you better at dealing with heat; it makes you better, period. I do want to mention that while these gains were made with a small sample size (N=6) some of the later studies that I point out reinforce this conclusion" But there quite a few studies on this (google it - there quite a bit of info). On a personnel level I have noticed thou Blood tests and using a Sauna my Haematocrit and been tested at 50 - this was the legal limit of been safe before they could test for EPO.

I hope you referring to this part of the statement as you stated that it's a masking agent, as this is why I re-posted from the other track unedited! But it should read - The testers need to test for these substances and not masking agents. "I just think the list of ban substances is way to long knowing that only a few have GREAT impact. The test need to test for these substances and not masking agents - the test designers need to do a better job, hopefully possible job."