Pieter Henning

Check out http://www.teammedscheme.co.za/ for the BH's.

Heard Minolta is riding Pinarello Prince's, but only getting them in a week or two. Pretty bikes those. The Nashua Bianchi's are also very nice. Neotel still on Silverback I assume?

I just got my SMS and I'm only starting 6h55... Strange.

Nope, he won't be allowed back later.

Groot Lem, see http://www.drugfreesport.org.za/pdf/The_Athletes_Guide_to_Drug-Free_Sport_2008-7_Edition.pdf

Both are banned (but are allowed in prescribed doses if you have a Therapeutic Use Exemption from SAIDS/WADA). You might wanna get a TUE from SAIDS, or rather opt for some asthma medication that is not on the banned list.Phen2009-01-18 09:11:02

Is this a personal thing or you just happy for the occasion to rant and rave? Rant and rave thats all. Lack of anything better to do?

What teammate are you referring to here? Or am I missing something?

My reason for not commenting is simple - Nothing I can say will change anyone's opinions and I do not wish to engage in any kind of mud slinging as it would be pointless. Whether Eben's positive test was due to ignorance or not, it still sheds a bad light light on our team and nothing can change that. If I get a decent result in a race now (despite the fact that I'm training my arse off every day), people will doubt my performances and start nasty rumours (as is happening already), and I'll have to deal with that despite the fact that I've done nothing wrong. Hence I haven't commented on the issue. Believe me this is not a nice situation to be in, but I can go to bed at night knowing I'm 100% clean, and I guess that in the end that is what counts. Despite that it still hurts when people say stuff about your whole team, all just because of one rider's mistake, but I guess we'll just have to deal with that. I'm still glad to be a part of TCS.

Haha, okay dis great. Dis omtrent 'n derde van die prys wat Panorama Tour kos so dis goed.

Sounds good. Entry fee?

Cool foto's Ronelle

Lem' date=' Why not the have SA in the Winelands, Stellenbosch, Paarl or Mossel Bay? We need to take these big races to the people, where a family can pack a picnic basket, find a nice spot and watch the riders come past on a lap course. Who besides the silly ostriches is going to watch the riders in Oudtshoorn ? I remember when we use to do the Tour de Eden, the only time you saw people was when we finished the stages. [/quote'] My thoughts on this: Very few people who don't have friends or family taking part go to watch SA Champs regardless of where it is held. I think the majority of spectators at any SA Championship are generally parents, spouses, siblings or friends of riders taking part so they will watch wether it is held in Oudtshoorn or for example Stellenbosch. I think few people who aren't cyclists will bother to go watch even if it is close by. At least the can run a really hard circuit in that area, so the racing should be good with sttrong riders claiming the titles.

If this is true it will be the news that makes my week

I really, honestly hope some sponsor comes on board and rescues the Giro. Without that, what real races have we got left in this country? The Jock? Har har.

Expo wasn't too bad at all. Paid through my nose for a substitution plus late entry (but that wasn't unexpected at all). Although, I must give credit to them for efficiency - Everything went swiftly and I never spent much time in a que (which was unexpected). At the display stands I was missing a few brands and a few bike shops, but not really a big deal. Ran into our newly crowned continental champ, which was cool. No Barlo stand and also no pro's promoting their teams' title sponsors (none that I saw) Might not be worth the trip, so if a friend can fetch your number rather take that route. Phen2008-11-13 08:27:57

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=33382&KW=champion&PID=539328#539328 Remember this thread Colonel? Yup.

I'm sure there are a bunch of other good reasons for SA's in March. So what are the reasons to support SA's in June? I battle to think of one. Anyone? Phen2008-10-31 01:39:17

Reasons to have SA's in March: Better weather conditions Less ilness amongst potential participants (flu, colds, etc.) It's a feasible time for our European pro's (yes, all 5 of them) to make the trip and compete. That way our national championship jersey might possibly end up racing in the Tour de France, or at least other big international races The 3 riders on Barloworld might already be here for the Giro del Capo The sun rises earlier and sets later during the summer, meaning those riders who are in school, at university, or hold full time jobs (eg. vets) will have more daylight to train in (from about November to March), giving them the opportunity to prepare better for the event. Schools and universities usually have exams in June, so March is a more favourable time for u14's, u16's and juniors (as well as some u23 or elite riders who do study. BTW quite a number of local pro's study through Unisa) A lot of people (again especially the scool riders u14, u16 and junior) have a longer holiday during December/January allowing them to do proper base training for the race in. Riders working full-time (vets, masters) will perhaps also have a week or two to train around Christmas and New Year's. For junior riders that wish to go to Europe for a couple of months, SA's in March is also better, since the European junior season is from about mid May to August. Otherwise they have to wait til after SA's to go and that could mean going for a much shorter time. Local pro teams that wish to race abroad (like Konica Minlolta did in 2006 and 2007) end up with most of their riders missing SA's becuse it's not financially feasible to fly back (eg. Jay Thompson, Herman Fouche, Christoff van Heerden and Pieter Seyffert all missed SA's in 2007 for this reason, meaning the u23 field was depleted of some of its best riders).

This topic has been discussed to death every year now for I think the past three years. There are infinitely many good reasons why it should be held in March, and most people (as far as I've heard) agree on that, and yet it has been in other months of the year for the past three years (June, June and May). I say we make a petition where all those potentially taking part, as well as others affected by the championship (family, managers, mechanics, supporters, coaches, whatever) can put down their name if they are in favour of SA's in March. Then atleast the relevant authorities will know how the riders feel about this when they decide on a date. Or what do you guys think?

Was just about to post that! Gotta be the song of the year!

I wonder if they will. Maybe the teams with their so-called 'independent anti-doping programmes' had a warning on the developement of the CERA test. I mean that Damsgaard guy must be in the loop, knowing what advances are being made in dope controls. The pattern so far has been CERA positives mostly in 'smaller' teams (Gerolsteiner, CSF-Navigare, Barloworld, Saunier-Duval Scott). Hope I'm wrong, but I think the bigger teams won't be linked to doping by testing urine/blood - They'll only get caught be thorough investigations of bank accounts, phone records, etc. which is fairly unlikely to happen.