-I cannot agree more. As a paying PPA Member, many of the cyclists I ride with for just fitness and leisure, do not see why they should pay the PPA R285/yr, when development teams only pay R65/yr. This has been conveyed to me, so don't hold me to the quoted R65 figure. Yes, we need development in cycling, but also we also need motivation for paying members to stay. Let me sketch a simple scenario, as I have experienced from a funride cyclist point of view.. Scenario: Three years ago, I entered my first Die Burger race, yes, the PPA only provides support to the race organisers. That year we received goody bags, the race was well organised, wrt to water and food stalls along the ride. Last year, no goody bag and at the first water stop, the water ran out, and at the last stop, where you need something nice to chew on, only water, and nothing else, but I'm still paying R200!! Yes, the economic situation is tough on all of us. So, as a simple paying member I expect the following: 1. Safe cycling funrides and roads 2. Pay 50% less for funrides, that will motivate more riders to participate and do more funrides 3. Discounts at suppliers, wrt to supplements, clothing, etc. 4. Well organised events, wrt support in the forms of water and sustenance along funrides. 5. At big race events where entry numbers have been reached and you can only get susbstitution entries, at least have an automated process - in other words -setup an automated return race entry process, where members can buy entries from such a pool online. For example, this year I missed getting a Burger race entry and if it was not for a friend not being able to ride, I would not have ridden, because the organisers, simply said sorry, find your own entry, simply unacceptable!! So, I had to post a wanted ad for an entry like many of the other cyclists did and are doing on this forum -not cool. -my humble funrider's view as the millions of riders out there...
