Edgar

Still no response to my email from Fahmy Galant of SAIDS. Tick Tock..... I might be waiting as long as the french have for a Frenchmen to win the Tour.

If that was the case, then we can expect some more busts? And some interesting implications....If this makes the sport cleaner and it harder for others to dope or as a major deterrent for future doping then all is well. How will we ever know? If I was one particular athlete that has recently dealt with SAIDS, I would be fairly upset with what seems to be varying standards. (Not a defense) SAIDS seems to work in a very cloak and dagger way and is not accountable to any higher body.

So this seems to be the extent of the response we are getting from SAIDS.... http://www.drugfreesport.org.za/2014/09/david-george-two-month-reduction-in-sanction/ I would think that is not the most transparent statement I have seen. It is a lot like JZ hiding behind a SIU and ad hoc parliamentary committee. As participants in a sport we have the right to know why a athlete that should be serving a ban is no longer serving a ban. So we are no closer to knowing the truth. Smoke and Mirrors. I still wait for the response to my email. cheers

Hey, To those saying it is right that he got a reduction in his sentence for assisting SAIDS, maybe you can fill us in on what assistance he provided. I have not seen the benefit of his assistance, no visible change in testing regime, no names of suppliers given, no additional busts. Maybe the peloton is clean since he got bust. If he has materially assisted and changed the way SAIDS operates then fair play to him. Normally athletes that want to return to sport after an adverse analytical finding do have to submit to testing prior to returning. Has this process been followed? Why did he apply for a two month reduction? What does he gain from it? I have written to SAIDS and formally requested a detailed explanation as to how DG complied with the rule cited in the statement. This was post a twitter interaction with their account. @Edgartheathlete is my twitter handle. I will let everybody know the outcome. Cheers

great time dot co dot za

If you are in Illovo, head to dunkeld cycles in the Dunkeld West centre (fournos) Speak to Mark or Merlyn, otherwise CC Cedar and Ricky Locally they are your best bet. Enjoy the new machine when you get it.

That should have been called the Brutal. It was a sufferfest from start to finish. Good to see some of the boys at the finish.

Hey Chukky!

I live in Jozi, I will eat my carbs.

Brilliant ride. This should be snapped up.

No batman lid at the moment, so all the power is gone. Haven't done this ride for so long because the scars were so deep last time. I think I'm just going to have flashbacks of the pain. Looking forward to seeing the remodeled Rouxtjie. All the watt bike sessions he and the Oom have been doing is very impressive. You know the motto... go till you blow! This is going to be a training ride for rainbow challenge and elites for me and the missus.

Do it on what ever you feel like. I would suggest if speed is what you after go with the HT, if a comfortable finish then take the FS

My wife was at the 3rd WP and watched the 1st riders come through, she says none of the riders were washing bikes at the WP. They just did to have enough, a few 25l containers of water. When I stopped there they were just starting the river runs and they had a only a few 25l containers to fetch it in. It is the the poor ladies at the WP's fault, they had never done anything like this before and had no idea what to expect. Credit to them for trying to make a plan and not packing up and going home. Advendurance can put their hands up for this one. It is their responsibility to make sure the WP have the equipment to handle the requirements. It is pre entry race, no excuses for not knowing the numbers and what to expect. They have been doing this long enough. It was always going to be the risk of using a new venue and does not have the advantage of the tried and tested. It was a great course, except for the merging at the end. Lets get SS Timing back for the results, those guys know what they are doing and run a decent operation. Powasol, that was a joke. Fair of them to give the pre booked riders preference, but don't get greedy and take on more than they can handle. The shower trailers were a win. Learn, improve otherwise we vote with our feet.

Comparing marathon canoeing is not accurate, we do perform well in the marathon distance at worlds. We perform very badly at sprints which is the Olympic discipline a lot like XCO. Here the similarities are many. Little funding and support and the sponsors and media don't get behind it. The athletes are certainly not helping either, the best performing athletes are trying and living in Europe so don't give sponsors coverage. Same problems in these minor sports are going to battle. Although there seems to be a change in MTB with teams giving the up and coming athletes a chance and encouraging them to do XCO. Velolife, Kargo and ASG seem to be doing great work.

Hey, sorry for the slow reply. 25k-30k and took some parts across from the old bike Frame was a test/Demo frame so I cant give you a new price cost.

Cruising around Magoesbaaskloof

Here is a pic of the Zero650C on a ride last week. It is a great bike, set up with a 120mm fork.

Use the Velolife site, and the have a shop in Somerset for you WC boys

Go to spectrum sport. Don't worry bud, my better half is not in the results but got called up for the podium. Explain that?

As well.

I have had a few Novatech hubs. Always enjoyed them, although the freewheel body is soft. Cracked quite a few of them. You can get replacement bodies though.

I think the smiles say it all.

Got it.

The Zero 650 C in action at the Berg and Bush.

Made it up, it was a grind though. Very rewarding when all the geared boys were walking or standing. For the 2 day obviously. Maybe consider a 32/19 for day 1 if you want to make it up. With 3 tree hill climb before that you might be better off looking after the legs and change to the 32/18 or 32/17 for day 2. It is flat except for the river crossing to mikes and most of it is district road. Good luck, I'm happy to spin a little more on the flats and ride the bumpy stuff than walk the climbs and fly on the flat.