Pundit

anyone?

does anyone know if this tour is happening again in 2012?

I like this race and the organisation was great, a few thoughts: - too many inexperienced / weak riders in the racing categories - the finish (also the 94.7 finish) could do with a re-think in my opinion - they should finish the sprint on the main road. odds are these races end in a sprint and as it is, you need to take a lot of risks to be at the front. every year there are crashes and lots of near-crashes - negative racing - perhaps hot spots / sprints / kom's could be included for all / some racing categories

incredibly slow at times - was actually surprised we averaged 41 in the end and surprised the VB's didn't go that much quicker than us

there was a dip in the road and he lost control - possibly (probably?) not concentrating fully

at least today's stage has given our foreign guests an authentic experience! i give credit to CSA for getting the tour going again, but from an operational point of view today's route was very naive - they underestimated the challenge of rolling road closure through busy areas. running an event like this requires serious attention to detail - it's clear this is lacking (i was at SA's and it was obvious there too). let's see if they are able to think on their feet now. hopefully the remaining stages will be re-evaluated to make sure we set the bar at a realistic level

whats the ETA on the hub calendar Admin?

was there any progress with this idea, or does anyone know if the 2011 CSA road race and mtb calendars are available yet?

although the revised system has its merits and i'm cautiously optimistic about it, i have a few questions / comments: 1. i still disagree with bringing Vets teams into Cat 1 - they should just ride as an elite team IMO. 2. also, factors such as safety (150-200 size bunches) on our roads etc. these are fine with full road closure but will be a challenge at many events. 3. a credible seeding system will be a challenge, particularly for 2011 which is just around the corner. Perhaps the changes should have been phased in for 2012 to allow the systems to be in place and better understood? If one wanted to form a Vets 30+ top team now time is very limited and i know top level Vets riders who have poor seeding right now as they live off the beaten path etc. The seeding system will need to be dynamic and allow movement up and down (faster than it currently works) 4. i do think the Vet scene is quite healthy right now and i wonder whether this system will have a negative impact on that? speculating but i have heard a number of Vets unhappy about changes to the system already (if it ain't broke...) 5. lastly, will this re-organisation raise the standard of elite riding. i am not convinced mixing a few vets in with the elites will do anything. if anything, they'll just make up numbers (in most cases). on the other hand, the system should help raise the juniors and the ladies standards - but not sure the vets system needed an overhaul for that reason

for those interested I am reliably informed that the latest updates to the .pdf are identical to what andrew mclean proposed at the beginning of this post

i agree with spinnekops proposal, vets who want to race pro should race as pro / elite. for the rest, strength versus strength is fine. that said, i don't personally think there is that much wrong with the existing system for Vets

it's not clear so i guess it would make sense that 40+ means anyone over 40 on the team. just a guess though, but it would be logical. i am not sure how much scope there are for sponsored 40+ teams though so i still assume it will exclude a large number who will ride as individuals in the seeded bunches

that seems a good summary of the implications for vets 30+ spidey. for the other vets 40's will need to be part of a Top Team (see above for criteria) or else they will ride seeded. Vets 50+ etc will all ride seeded. Once you are done with riding as an elite, the only way is down!

ok, the version of the document attached above is different from the one i was sent and that i've been extracting from. my version says it is approved by the road commission on 11 Oct 2010 and was sent out yesterday by CGC. I am assuming my version is a final one and the one attached above was a draft? one difference i've spotted is the vets 30+ Top Team in Cat 1 versus Recreational Team in Cat 2. I can't attach it as it is too large, even when zipped

what i find strange about the whole thing is, i cannot understand how any of this will make our elites more competitive, which judging by the recent commonwealth games results should be the main priority of any road racing regulation changes. all these rules seem to do is primarily screw up a vets system in SA which is working quite well already in my opinion

the definition of a Vets 30+ top team, which can race Cat 1, is: B. Veteran Men 30+ 1. Racing Conditions / Basic Regulations: a. Veteran Men 30 + Top Clubs will be allowed to start in Cycling SA Category 1 events and will receive preferential entry and race starting treatment at all Cycling SA Top Competition races. b. Veteran Men 30 + Top Clubs will also be the only teams allowed to start in any registered category racing in South Africa save for Interprovincial and South African Championships. c. Veteran Men 30 + Top Clubs will not be eligible to ride in any UCI Elite or U23 events. d. All teams will have to present a qualified, registered and contracted manager together with the application. Cycling SA to be a co-signee on this contract as well. e. Rider contracts must make provision for penalty and / or suspension if team rides non-sanctioned events. f. Top Clubs with the same name / main sponsor / clothing will not be allowed to start in the same Category 1 event. g. The only recognised contract between team and rider will be one providing Cycling SA as co-signee on it. This contract will be the only contract used during all Rider and Club disputes. Team Composition: a. Min 4 riders – Maximum 6 riders Registration Fee: a. R1500 per team b. Membership & Licensing Application Applies

from reading the doc, the key thing here for Vets 30+ is an explanation of the difference between a Top Team and a Recreational Team. The latter races cat 2 and the former cat 1. The only info on a recreational team is: Veteran Men 30 – 39 (Category 2, Recreational Club) 1. Racing Conditions / Basic Regulations: a. Veteran Men 30 – 39 Recreational Clubs will be allowed to start in Cycling SA Category 2 events b. Veteran Men 30 – 39 Recreational Clubs will not be eligible to ride in the Category 1 events. c. Veteran Men 30 – 39 Recreational Clubs will not be eligible for prize money. d. All Recreational Clubs racing in the Category 2 Events still have to present a qualified, registered and contracted manager together with the application. Cycling SA to be a co-signee on this contract as well. e. Recreational Clubs with the same name / main sponsor / clothing as a Top Club will not be allowed to start in the same Category 2 event. f. Team vehicles have to follow a minimum of 4 riders. 2. Team Composition: a. Maximum 6 riders 3. Registration Fee: a. R500 per team b. Membership & Licensing Application Applies Either way, it still seems as though individual 30+ riders will be forced into the seeded categories.

unless i read it wrong, category 2 still requires being part of a team though, which is part of the problem as the team criteria is too onerous

Has anyone else seen the recently released 2011 road racing regulations? I don't think the Vets will be happy. The rules seem completely bizarre to me, the groupings don't make sense and it forces an unrealistic pro-team type scenario on the local non-pro scene. If you aren't part of a registered team (with UCI rider contracts and licensed manager), you appear to have ride in the non-licensed / seeded categories. I can't see a huge benefit for our elite riders in the new system and don't see the point of forcing Vets to race with elites (unless we are trying to improve the standard of Vet racing which i wasn't aware was (or should be) a big SA cycling priority). Wouldn't a more logical change have been to go to a simple strength based system as they do overseas and get the pro's here riding longer and harder races? Anyway, here is an extract from the new regulations: Local Registered Racing Categories Cycling SA will introduce three categories of racing from 2011 onwards. These three categories will be applicable in all National Series, A and B class events: Category 1: Elite & U23 Men, Veteran 30+ Men (Teams), Junior Men Category 2: Veteran 30+ (non Cat 1), Women Riders (Jnr, Elite & Veteran), National Junior Women Team, Veteran 40+ Men Category 3 (separate optional race): Individual entry: U16 Men & Women, Jnr Men & Women (not part of top clubs), and PDI U23. Host an additional criterium type event for these riders to add to their cycling skills. This will be within the allowed distances stipulated by the T&D Commission. For any National Series, A or B class event, there will be only 3 registered racing groups with Commissaires, judges and time-keepers. Each group will have overall Prize Funding. Category prizing will be applicable to the sub – categories as well. Top Clubs with the same name / clothing will not be allowed to start in the same Category event, but will be able to have another team in a different Category. The rest of the field will be divided into the Cycling for All groups as per choice of each organizer I.e. seeded (ranked) groups from A downwards.

plus no timing either, so i guess no results? pretty lame but not completely unexpected

hehe! apparently you don't need much of a manhunt to find that bar one, it sounded quite easy to find

Does anyone know which shops in Joburg stock Swiss Stop brake pads - i can't seem to find them.

the provincial team suggestion has limitations - in the sense that some provinces have more strength in depth. you get a strong province then excluding potential race winners and weaker provinces still bringing relatively weak riders along. i don't see a major issue with the format as it is currently is - the sport is pretty small the more the merrier, although why not an option to send provincial teams as well as allow other riders to enter as well (individually)

thanks - sounds good

Hi Going to be in the Clarens / surrounding areas for a long weekend from April 10th. Can anyone recommend road riding routes / groups in the area? Is the MTB'ing a better option? Thanks