gtr1

This is really sad, especially after all he's been through. I raced against The Idol in his heyday ( although he was a good few years older). Can't say he was the perfect role model, but we all aspired to be as good as him. Definately the best we ever had. RIP

I went to Cajees in 4-ways about 5 years back to get a bolt for a child seat for the bike. They didn't have so the guy went into the back to look through all the old stuff. Found an old used bolt in a box of nuts and bolts. The owner then told him to charge me R80 for the bolt. When I complained and said u gotta be kidding, I was basically chased out the shop and told to f-off. I vowed to never shop at Cajees again, which I haven't, and to tell anyone I can about how *** they are, and I'm still doing that.

Here is an extract from an interesting article in the Business Day. Adds weight to the comments about riders like Lance that have never been caught only because they are ahead of the game. It is one thing talking the talk, but in practice anti-doping agencies are always a step behind the drug users. At any given moment there are drugs that are simply not detectable. ?We do not know how to detect undetectable drugs,? says Noakes. ?All the best athletes with unlimited budgets have access to the undetectables and the ?scientists? who provide them. The market appears to be very large.? Galant agrees that anti-doping agencies are playing catch-up, and that testing is unable to keep up with rapidly evolving drugs. ?Our resources allocated towards testing are not sufficient to really say we are winning the fight.? For the whole article..... http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=86123

Unfortunately, every good story probably has a bad story. When I was looking to purchase a new mtb a year back I went to FPC in Paulshof. I had a hardtail and was looking for the same. The sales guy did a whole sales pitch as to why I should buy a full suspension. My comment that I had never ridden one prompted him to comment then how can you make an informed decision. So far he was doing well. He then suggested I try one of their demo bikes for a week and then decide. I thought that was great. Unfortunately after a week I had not received the promised call that the bike was ready. I gave him a chance and called him to remind him. I was told there was a delay ad it would be a few days and he would call. I am still waiting, and have since bought a hardtail from Finish Line Cycles where I always received great service. ( before anyone says the thread is for comments on good service )

I seem to remember him coming here once before.......he cancelled at the last minute.

If you look I have already deleted the comments....about all the shops. So I stand by my comment of "Find the LBS that you can trust and feel comfortable doing business with"

It was my view as to why I don't support the LBS. Much the same as the reason i don't support the other lbs'.I stand by my statement, as the incident did happen, but I don't think I need to provide all the detail of when and how for everybody. And I don't know the why. HR knows the man, I've provided him with my views, and the detail of the incident. He is welcome to discuss it with him.

Holy roller, sent you a pm as I don't think the detail should be on an open forum.

Maybe everyones getting tired of people bitching about everything all the time but never doing anything constructive. Looks like you went to a lot of trouble to to see just how bad they are. So was your plan to get the rest of us p#ssed off at these guys as well or are you hoping someone will go have that quiet word with them and be constructive on your behalf ????? Just a side thought.....anyone recognise the actual riders ?.....maybe just a bunch of guys in Neotel kit. But then again, who knows, we never asked. You're right, if they are the "professional" bunch it's not your duty. Just like it's not your duty to report a crooked cop (professional), or known thief (professional), or a paedophile etc. etc.

This could become like a "them and us" or "mine's better tahn yours" scenario. Find the shop that treats you well and gives you good service and stick with them. Personally, I live in Benoni and go to Finish Line in Kempton for everything. gtr12009-10-22 01:13:31

Did you bother turning around and having a nice talk to them suggesting how they should maybe ride ? Or do we just watch things happen and then bitch about it afterwards ?? Oh and take pictures as proof we aren't talking nonsense.

Looks like we should have a "HUB" party at the local CNA

Maybe this thread was posted by staff from bicycling. A good marketing ploy to up sales.

The girls should've raced the Rossgro MTB challenge in Delmas. Good prizes for all ages in both the 70 and 35 k ride. Had ladies overall first 3 as well as first 3 in Vets, Sub-vets etc. Support the rides that support the girls.

I learnt that a flat course is not an easy course Especially 70k's when the wind blows.

Will be the usual s&!t. You pay lots of money to enter, pay to have timing, and guess what, nobody will accept repsonsibility, will blame each other and the cyclists will suffer. Just my humble opinion.

Unsure of route, not unsure if new to area.

No problem. Are you new to area ? If unsure PM me and I can explain in a bit more detail.

When I did those rides taxis weren't an issue and not as much traffic, but depends on the time you ride. I would go out on high road toward R21 up to Kaalfontein. Right past Motorvia, then left and right into Olifantsfontein and down to Irene. From Irene carried on straight down to Fountains. The other alternative and maybe a bit longer depending where in Pretoria you want to be is to go out past Putfontein toward Bapsfontein. At 4-way stop go left and continue to Pretoria. You come out behind Rietvlei dam and if you keep starigh will hit Rigel Rd.

All depends what you are training for. If it's to ride the Cape Epic maybe not enough but if you want to ride a 50km funride, maybe too much. The over training has more to do with how much rest you give yourself in between the high intensity rides. If you don't rest then probably over training if you do this every day. 2 rides a day with a total of 3 hours would not be over training. Years ago I raced competitively and trained by cycling between Benoni and Pretoria every day, so 3 to 3,5 hours a day with long ridesa and races on weekends. But I made sure I took a day off and had at least another day of a short ride at low intensity. So over training is all about when you start getting stale and not improving because your body never recovers from previous rides. That's all my humble non-scientific opinion.

2 weeks ago on the Emperors route behind the runway I heard a nosie and caught something out the corner of my eye. I stopped and just off the single track was a hugh Rinkhals with his head raised. Was really fat and dark. I must have scared it as I passed coz it was facing away from the track. While I watched it it slithered off into the thicker grass.

I've had 2 encounters with snakes in the last few weeks. Yesterday morning there was a huge Rinkhals on the sand road leading into the service entrance of Serengeti. I almost rode over him. A truck had stopped and was hooting as I approached and waving out the window. I was so busy watching the truck and trying to see what they were waving for that I didn't see the snake and rode past it. I turned back and when I stopped next to the truck, there was the snake coiled in the middle of the side of the road I had just passed. Still dunno how I missed it. Good thing I didn't ride over it.

Maybe a side-effect of steroid abuse.......oh sorry, it's the gym work that changes their physique so.....and it's only cyclists that use "performance enhancing drugs"

It really gets to me the fact that so many cyclists couldn't be bothered with greeting another cyclist. Maybe it's because I come from an age when there were only a "handful" of cyclists so we knew everyone we passed on the road so we greeted them I especially get peeed off when you greet and the other person ignores you. I then wish they get a flat and have to push home. In cycling, like any sport, there are guys taking part that in their day were some of the best. There is so much youngsters could learn from these guys. You never know, greet the person and in the long run yu might even learn something from them. Even if it is just how to be friendly.