Squier

Agreed, the definition of sport changes when it becomes someones livelihood. There's obviously a couple of different definitions, but fundamentally fraud is defined as "wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain". That's pretty much the definition of doping too.

Don't think I agree. To what extent supplements are performance enhancing is debateable, however, it can definitely not be grouped in the same category as drugs like testosterone, HGH, steroids and EPO. Giving everyone in the pro-peleton free reign with EPO would not be the issue. It'll be managed by team doctors so should theoretically be pretty safe. The issue comes in when this culture starts to fizzle down to the non-pro peletons of the sport. Juniors deciding to dope themselves etc. We've all heard the stories of people not waking up the next morning. The other thing is; imagine one of your kids were keen on cycling and now needed to inject themselves with all kinds of drugs just to have a chance of getting in...

Wonder no more.

Positive, I tested it again before Baviaans. 10 hours on full power before it switched off. I could then still run it for 30 minutes on a lower setting. Rode Baviaans with it and we did roughly 6 hours after night fall. Ran it at full power the entire time.

I vaguely recall mine being a Magicshine.

I bought the "cheapie" from cwc about 4 years back. It think I paid R699 back then. Still use it on Trans Baviaans every year. It gives me 10 hours on full power. Great light.

The problem with riding a chain and cassette well past it's prime is that when you replace it you also have to replace the chainring/s, which then inflates an already expensive exercise. You got some proper mileage though!

Searching for it but can't find it.

Still remember this clearly!

There's an app called 'ASI Snakes' which helps with snake identification, first aid guidance, etc. Looks to be quite useful.

I'd have to agree that it's a bigger problem here than elsewhere. Our rugby culture is one of size trumps skills, which gives rise to these sort of things.

He was, indeed. He did get a two month reduction though. That was 6 years back though. I doubt that his info is related to the current investigation.

My point is specifically around the availability of the drug, EPO. Even though ill-advised, there's nothing stopping anyone from getting it and doping up themselves. but look, it's only my opinion... Can someone ask David George?

Can you imagine an African state sponsored doping programme? That would make one epic Police-Academy-vibe comedy movie. It could start with Khalid Galant standing in line behind Nene in Saxonwold to meet the Guptas... Anyway; If you read books like Hamilton's Secret Race or even the LA's Reasoned Decision, there was never a massive scale operation to obtain the EPO. It was as simple as getting it from a pharmacy in Switserland and giving it to a gardener on a bike. Yes, that was way back but even today EPO needs to be available to patients with kidney diseases, chemo patients, etc. so it is still widely available. It's not cocaine or sacred donkey balls testosterone. It's a relatively widely used medicine for people with chronic kidney ailments. Perhaps someone saw a gap in the local market and started bringing in a few extra batches to make it easier for his friends to buy, the same as someone would bring in chinese carbon frames or something similar, but I highly doubt that we're looking at a mimic of Pablo Escabar's drug cartell here. Like I said, to us it's EPO (OMG! Gasp!), to the other 99% of the world it's Granma's kidney meds. I'm not downplaying EPO as a PED, I'm just saying it's probably easier to get your hands on by the average Joe than we think.

Well done on the analysis. Really cool stats!

Everyone is looking for information from dopers on suppliers etc like it is one giant drug ring or organised syndicate. I don't think it's like that at all. I googled "erythropoietin shop" and the first two hits were places where you could buy EPO online - the one place being local. To us, it's the biggest and baddest performance enhancing substance. To non-cycling folk it's just medicine. My point is, it doesn't seem as if you need a drug cartell or an organised crime syndicate to get it. From a 1 minute google search it looks to be pretty easily obtainable.

I have an Elite bottle cage on the back and I've never dropped a bottle. It's also easy to remove and put back whilst riding. edit: The bottle, not the actual bottle cage.

Terrible news! Hoping for a speedy recovery.

Wouldn't neccesarily agree. That there are risks is not debateable, but it is well managed for the most part. This was a freak accident. As the cliche goes, this is Africa. Most races have a risk factor to it. Whether it's Trans Baviaans going through the Baviaanskloof where large game roam freely, Sani2c going through the Umko valley where Black Mambas are very common or any other ride going through any part of the country where anything from a spider, snake, dog or malevolent human can be found, there are risks involved. The organisers do not leave this up to chance and they do try and ensure that big game aren't on the racing route, however, this can only be managed to a certain extent, as was seen over the weekend. Like I said, this was a freak accident. Wild animals aren't out to get you. Personally, I remember three instances where I had close calls with mother nature. I was chased by an ostrich once in the Gariep Dam Nature Reserve. Luckily he lost interest before he got too close. Then, I was once chased by a donkey in the Waterberg. We weren't actually sure whether we were being chased or he was just following us but I've seen videos of donkeys trying to "mount" their "victims" so wasn't going to stick around to find out. Lastly, was when a mate was stung by wasp in the face at the old Teak Place trails in the Cradle. He swelled up like the Michelen man and we had to rush him to the emergency room. Yes, these sort of incidents are rare but they do happen.

Yes, I've heard that he is ok. Probably down to the fact that he was able to be airlifted out and got swift medical attention. Apparently he got a heart attack in the starting chute, even before setting off. 30 year old dude.

So what you're saying is we need to drink more to raise our metabolism?

Heal up soon. Sounds hectic!

Right you are, indeed. I checked mine and most of my results are also now missing. Maybe I should test myself? Point being; I don't recall seeing him at any of the local races of late...

When last did Max race? I checked SAseeding but the only results on there are from 2015. Nothing since. Does smell kinda peculiar...

Yup, and with every birthday he gets closer to getting to the end of his lifetime ban.