Icycling

The best cyclist of the championship has to go to Stefan de Bod. He won both the U23 road and TT champs but in doing so finished 2nd in on both occasion in the "open" race and two 2 separate elites!!! If it was a points based system he won the elites over the 2 competitions too.. This is after winning the 94.7 last year yet even after winning the Junior road champs was excluded in the same year by the National selectors for the SA worlds team. I trust Douglas Ryder will be aiming too move this young man to the DD World tour team shortly, while looking after him for the long term. Stefan is a Class act something I indicated to him, about 5 years ago when I rode a team team trail with him (think he was still U14) - his power through high cadence just meant going far and fast - and that was then already!!!

I have stated that probably half the fund received from the cycle tour should be going to road safety - I regard this as part of road safety. What is very surpassing to me is that PPA feels the need now to do a press release every time they spend money on what we the members want them to spend money on - doing the job they their for. They did the same about a month ago when they put R10 000.00 for a National track cycling event in Cape Town. They did the press release had banner / feather flag at the event and wanted so much marketing for R10 000.00. Since the AGM it seems like PPA may have woken up a little bit and now are spending money on cycling. But now they feel the need to advertise every time they do what they have been entrusted by the members to do. P.S. For that track cycling event I made a sizable donation from my own pocket without doing press release, banner father flags etc - it was just a donation. Could I try to derive direct benefit from it - well yes I am a wholesaler in the cycle industry, probably YES. But seeing cycling been successful is far more important.

Great news and appreciation from the cycling community to Dimension Data for their ongoing support to the sport of road cycling. Doug and his team - well what can I say - keep up the good work and the "surprises" in excellent performances. Look Like July will be spent in France again this year or will that be May, July and September.

I hope you right for the riders who are currently part of the feeder team. The article does not make that 100% clear, unless you understand this to mean that: "With the team‘s focus on developing cycling in Africa as well as raising global awareness for Qhubeka this partnership is a perfect fit and will allow us to further invest into our development program.”

What Local road Pro teams are left in RSA next year? As per a post I made in another track page 74, 2015 Momentum 947: "Agreed - Looks like the men's roads racing scene in RSA is also falling apart. Not sure even which teams will still be operating next year. The events need the “Pro's” the “Pro’s’ need the event. The sponsors need the (TV) coverage! The balls seems to be dropping in RSA road cycling.” The flip side is with a Super RSA registered team riding the grand tours - small sponsors possibly feel they cannot compete and is there now even a place for regional RSA teams? Where will this leave RSA road cycling when there is no longer a Super team in the grand tours - very much on the back foot? What is going to happen to all these local young “Pro’s” left now without sponsorship, not only MTN feeder team but the other teams as well? Lost too the sport? Where will the RSA super team pick new RSA road riders, in years to come, to ride in the Super team - what development systems are left in place and how will they be funded? A lot of questions - not many answers!

I must admit I am rather surpized that PPA members were awarded 5000 slots yet no slots were awarded to club 21 members or rider who had done 10 or more Cape Town Cycles tour - previously known as The Cape Argus Pick ’n Pay cycle tour. One would think the Cape Town Cycle tour would give prefrential treatment to those who have supported the event for a number of years. What a lot of successful commercial companies do with loyalty programs. On the flip side maybe PPA need to try and get road cyclist to joint them by offering something - as currently they don’t offer their road members much!

You than more than welcome to send it on to PPA

PPA good corporate governance? They have just appointed a member of the EXCO to be the CEO with out resinging from the EXCO before applying for the job!!! To top it all it was a secret ballot off the remaining committee member off which about 6 are part of his MTB club, who voted on the final 3 candidates without even seeing the CV of these candidates! I don’t even know if this new CEO qualified to get past round one of the interviews i.e. 3 year of tertiary education was in the ad for the job! Two PPA - EXCO member I have spoken too could not confirm this for me. PPA has hit rock bottom on corporate governance!! All this was only brought to my attention last Friday by means of a letter been put by hand in my letter box and since speaking to some PPA committee members who are in in “shock” as to how PPA has been “taken over” by a club! I am not say new CEO is or is not the correct man for the job - I don’t even know him and did not know his name until after receiving the letter in the post - but corporate governance was thrown out the window!

I cannot comment on Cherise and Olympics and you may find CSA did their best anyway but teh SA Olympics decided they were not taking cyclist! They dont have the money for all the rest - it's just that simple. Even I understand that each year (for the past 3 years) I need to be self funded to go to World track champs which I am fortunate to be able to afford!

I quite enjoyed watching the 3 UCI road race CSA put on recently in Natal trying to get our rider points to go to Olympics. Not too mention all the MTB UCI event that have happened in RSA (I don't follow MTB cycling so not sure exactlly how the organization works their) in the past few years - even Worlds champs. Personally for the amount of money CSA get each year, I am surprized they are able to host events and try get riders to Worlds and Olympics, it is such a small amount of funds compared with other countries. Not sure what their entire mandate is but I know it is more focused on the racing snakes!

Why you paying R1200 - most pay R120. Most people probably give more than that away to car cards in a month and still pay insurance on their cars. Full License holder something like R300!

Two years ago I got the proper permission (email below) - this year I neglected to do so!!! Contary to some belief I am not against PPA but rather would like to see them do the maximum for the sport - and I know they can do more but choose not too!! "From: Peter Date: 28 February 2013 1:03:15 PM SAST To: denis Subject: ACT invitation race cycle jersey Hi Denis, As per our tel conversation and as I am not a sponsored rider would you allow me to ride in the Safe cycle campaign jersey below.

Hope I went un-noticed by the governing body in the $ cat this past Sunday!!

How about just some signage along popular routes with beware of cycles or stay wider of the rider!!! I see signs for leapod toad / horse riders / walkers - where do we see sign along Muizemberg main road to Fishhoek or say for example Tokai forest for cyclist? When I was in Klerksdorp about 5 years ago their were massive sign (about 3m x 2m they looked quite old even then) along training routes used by cyclist, slogans like caution future Springbok cyclist in training and some current ones - I assume these were commissioned by the other body which some people believe do nothing for the cycling masses. In past years the advert in the Cape Argus giving guide lines for project funding deliberately excluded any form of competitive cycling - well thats the way I read it. I wonder if the advert will change for this year!

Having 20 million in the “bank” and claim to be a non profit organisation does not sit well with me and a lot of other people! If you have DSTV do yourself a favour and listen to this weeks Business day TV channel 412 episode of Straight talk with Mark Barnes and how he concludes / their a lot off parallels between this and PPA / cycling if you choose to open your eyes and see them. Not all people think like you and not all people think like me!

When PPA were part of CSA before the “fall out” as a PPA member you also were part of the bigger CSA membership and your PPA anual membership was increased to cover your CSA membership which is now R120.00 (then I think PPA had it initially negotiated at R65.00) - did PPA every reduce their PPA anual membership fee after the “fall out”? Possibly an accountant can look at the finical from years gone bye which I think maybe on the PPA web site to confirm what happened! Or is this just another case well PPA is a business?

http://www.capetownetc.com/blog/formula-1-racetrack-looks-green-light-cape-town/ In a move that could only means good things for the local economy, it would appear that it is all systems go for a brand-spanking new F1 racetrack in Cape Town. In 2016 the racetrack could be a reality, with the proposed route passing through Cape Town Stadium. Africa is the only continent without a F1 racetrack and what better city to host such a prestigious event? Cape Town – we could very well be the face of the new ‘African Riviera’. According to officials the infrastructure is already there from the World Cup to accommodate the racetrack and the beauty of the plan is that it will be a regular money spinner for the city, not just for F1 in the long run. This isn’t a first for Cape Town however. In the early 1960’s Killarney hosted Formula 1 before being moved to Kyalami in 1967. British business magnate Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that he is looking to make the racetrack a reality in 2016. Nothing is as ever straight-forward as it seems and we can be sure that there will be protests against the racetrack due to the potential noise pollution and other knock-on effects. Personally I feel that if it boosts tourism and brings in much needed additional money into the city, then I cannot say that I’m against it. - See more at: http://www.capetownetc.com/blog/formula-1-racetrack-looks-green-light-cape-town/#sthash.JBRJH665.dpufhttp://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/F1-CAPE-TOWN.jpg

I will take the liberty to say on behalf of all licencse cyclist (and some non licensed) and the spectator who like to see the best feild at this event in action - Thank you to all parties involved to working out an agreement on behalf of the cyclists. This does indeed make us “the cyclist” not just feel like “pawn" but rather the people / members that all the parties are serving. Hope the decission is not to late for the likes of CAV to ride!

http://www.highwaycode.info/images/hc_rule_163_give_vulnerable_road_users_at_least_as_much_space_as_you_would_a_car.jpg

Surely PPA should be advocating the highway code (an example below - not sure which country but I am sure all are more or less the same) and that is it? http://www.highwaycode.info/using-the-road-159-to-203 If anything the slogan should be something on the line of cyclist stay alive when overtaking procedure are adhere to (RSA one’s below) or cyclist stay alive when vehicles overtake in separate lane (motorised or non motorised) https://www.arrivealive.co.za/Safe-Overtaking-and-Road-Safety 1. Asking the question – Should I overtake? Any driving movement can be considered with reference to the questions “Is it safe, legal and convenient?” A decision to overtake should start with the question "Do I really need to overtake"? There is often very little advantage to be gained for the risk taken! Only after answering “YES” to the following questions should you start to overtake: Can I see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe? Can I overtake without affecting any other vehicles' position or speed? Am I able to pull back to my own side of the road in plenty of time after completing the manoeuvre? Can I abandon the overtaking manoeuvre if another hazard comes into view? Will I come into conflict with any other road user? Will I end up making a third line of vehicles abreast at any point during the manoeuvre? Will it be legal to overtake here? I would like to suggest that PPA did cyclist a disservice by the slogan at 1.5 cyclist stay alive and rather should have got Government to enforce the rules of the road as they stood! What I believe PPA should doing in campaigning that cyclist may ride 2 abreast (we the only country in the world where this in not legal) - riding 2 abreast should have no impact on the way motorist overtake a single or 2 abreast cyclist if the overtaking procedure are stuck too by the motorist. Then on a more sensitive issue and some country / states have made it legal - PPA should be campaigning for cyclist to be allowed to go through red robots when it is safe to do so.

This was posted o Colnago facebook page 25 October Today, 42 years ago, Eddy Merckx realized the hour record in Mexico city: 49.431 km. His bicycle, built by Ernesto Colnago, weighed 5.75 kg. My question is thus why is this record still recognized? It should also be thrown out for not been within the current rules of the UCI - no diffrent to Boardman's, Obree and ... records etc. The UCI require a bike (even a track bike) to be 6.8 kg! Lets face it the UCI has made a complete mess up of this record and allowing progress in technology of the bicycle. They should get control of dopping before they impose stupid rules on conventional (non fairing) bicycle!

Please read the reply posted today SAIDS sent to myself - doing basically what you have stated. I am not a professional athlete - I am almost 42 years old but I like any other funrider with a CSA license (day license included - i.e. all Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay cyclist) can be subjected to a dope control. Regardless of your cycling capabilities your name will be dragged through the mud!

What I am ultimately saying is sports people who are NOT trying to cheat but want to look after their health by using thing like Multi Vitamin (lifepak Nano) / other items for example Airmune which help you not get sick while traveling may suddenly produce a positive test. Their name gets dragged through the mud / ban from sport for 2 years never to be trusted again etc. Is this really what WADA / SAIDS is job is? So where do you draw the line? My argument is that their are too many substances on the list of which many have little or no effect (positive or negative) for sport (cycling) performance - yet they still on the list. I would like to think when I am competing I would always be negative as knowingly I would never take anything that maybe positive - but now as per the response by SAIDS this morning I cannot be sure. My solution would thus be reduce the list to those substances which are truly beneficial and not something you can buy over the counter at the local supermarket / chemist. You had to knowingly be cheating. Otherwise SAIDS in this country need to make every product purchasable in RSA over the counter as Green or Red an added to the Cal count / Nutritional information block, but that request is naturally a very big request which no doubt SAIDS does not have the funding for as it would run into million thus an unreasonable request - turn it around make the testing / banned substance list reasonable! The comparisons has been made to speeding in this thread - why do you see Camera signage up where they may do speed control! The law is not trying to make guilty people out of innocent / not aware/ negligent people. Thus the warning! WADA / SAIDS on the other hand seem to possible think differently!

I would argue that WADA / SAIDS are kidding! Their list is so long yet certainly in cycling their very few items on the list that make a huge difference. But the list is that long as they have not designed test for that that really need to test for. In recent time Contador served a 2 year ban for a substance which was hardly detectable in his blood. What WADA really needs is a test for blood doping - not a positive on a cover up. It in my opinion make WADA look incompetent. Currently their is a NO Needle policy in place for Grand tour etc again because they have not designed a test for what they try to test and it's not a B12 injection! So as Eldron "made us "day to day" okes have to check what brand of toiler paper we use in case it has a fragrance that is banned."

Maybe this is why I believe the list should be about 10 items long. WADA / SAIDS I believe put way to much responsibility on the Athlete. Surely they should be testing all product available from Herbal teas available at the local grocer - to prescription drug? If they are not then to have such a comprehensive list of ban substance in "not fair" on the sports person. Is that "playing fair?"