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The Pedal Power Association, South Africa’s leading cycling organisation supports Government’s call to South Africans to adhere to strict regulations as we head for a level 4 lockdown phase, effective 01 May 2020. Click here to view the article

Would you want PPA to bring back the 12hours of Killarney?

UPDATE: Tokai will open on Saturday the 10th of December, jump to the post. Sorry for the copy/paste from Facebook but this pretty much captures the progress from the last few weeks and why #Volunteering is so important. The tweet that seems to have grabbed a lot of people's attention.. can't say we blame them, some of the trails in Tokai are really starting to take shape again! https://twitter.com/CraigRH_10/status/760491199996264449 Reto Mani (from Blackhill fame) has been working pretty hard on the Tokai Downhill track for the last week. With financial assistance from the Pedal Power Association, TokaiMTB has contracted two trail builders to help prepare the trails for December's official reopening. Not to say they will be doing all the work, there is still a lot happening behind the scenes with volunteers pitching in to prepare the base track for the contractors. Debris, branches and erosion all need to be cleared, cut away and filled. Tons of soil and rock need to be moved from our stockpile sites to where it can be carted onto the trail and moved into place. Skill graded trail signage and safety measures to keep people from straying into dangerous areas still have to be installed.. There is a lot of work still ahead but the promise of good trails back on our doorstep is the drive and motivation to get it all done. Join us for our regular Volunteer Trail Build days supported by the Devil's Peak Brewing Company. Dates as follows: - Saturday, 13 August, 2016 (next build) - Saturday, 27 August, 2016 - Saturday, 03 September, 2016 - Saturday, 17 September, 2016 Registration for each build day opens at the start of each week leading up to that event. The notice and registration link is shared on TokaiMTB twitter, TokaiMTB Facebook and here on Bike Hub under the TokaiMTB hosted forum. Thanks for the tweet Craig Rhodes-Harrison, VIVA STOKE! (twitter photo credit: Reto Mani)

Can anyone confirm if this is happening this year? I don't ride my road bike often, but this is one of the few times I did since it's not to far from home. With the Stellenbosch Cycle Tour moving away from Stellenbosch High school as venue I was worried that One Tonner might do the same. I see no mention of it on the PPA Events listing.

Is it just me or is there a lot less mountain biking events by PPA this year? I had a look at https://www.pedalpower.org.za/events/ and was shocked to see there were only 4 (at the time of writing) for this year. Why is that?

The 2018 race calendar for the Cyclosportif is available 28 Jan #1 Windmeul Winery 91 km, 38 km 22 Apr #2 Simonsvlei Wine 97 km; 38 km 03 Jun #3 Perdeberg Winery 109 km; 39 km 01 Jul #4 Windmeul Winery 91 km; 38 km (postponed) 16 Sep #5 Simonsvlei Wine 97 km; 38 km 14 Oct #6 Perdeberg Winery 109 km; 39 km 02 Dec #4 Windmeul Winery 91 km; 38 km (rescheduled) I am sure it will be added later formally in the Events page

Cyclists in South Africa are a friendly bunch, and - most of the time - feel a special affinity with other cyclists. Even if they have completely different jobs, lifestyles and backgrounds, they have something in common- cycling. Click here to view the article

Event Date2018-02-25Distances110 km; 72 kmEvent starting times110 km @ 06h30; 72 km @ 08h00Prize giving/cut off13h00VenueDurbanville RacecourseOrganizersGary TrepesEmailgary@pedalpower.org.zaEnquiries Phone Number:(021) 671-2517Entries close2018-02-19

So, the DC has been announced and on twitter the PPA have mentioned there will be a team event at the Enjoy one tonner this year! Nice addition I think. Lets just hope you get a lekker discount if you enter 12 okes!

Was wondering what the actual state of road cycling was in the Western Cape, compared to the past. There has been many a topic around it on the hub in the past but no actual data, so this weekend did some data mining and found some pretty interesting stuff. http://puresavage.co.za/2017/10/road-cycling-in-the-western-cape.html/ Long and short, road riding getting old, fast. Let us know what you think can be done and if there are any other issues we missed?

Hi Capetonians, Bit of a back story: After having car written off, now a full time commuter to work, trip is from Foreshore to Claremont via Woodstock. Been doing it for almost three months and have had to contend with glass and people parking in bike lane, being under 30 I just moaned on twitter and got a some likes and rewteets. Not much changed. Last week the Cape Town city alerts lodged the complaints for me on their site and the glass has been cleaned on the section I reported. I then went and looked at the how process to submit an issue. Its really simple and rather quick. Having talked to a ward councilor, he was saying that it basically comes down to the issues with the most requests gets the money and time spent on it. So as well as reporting on twitter etc, so every week if their are cars parked in the lane, glass, pot holes or any other issue i will make lodge the complaint. Point of this thread: Keep track of all the service requests and complaints, so we can get the cycle lanes safer for cyclists. If too busy to report - you can send a PM with location, issue, cell phone number and I will submit for you Here is how to do it: Click on this link: https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html Click on create service request: Click on what you want to report - Either street sweeping/parking Add a location so they no where to action your request: You can even add a selfie (No please dont, just a pic of car in the lane/glass) * You do not need a photo Then just add your contact deets so they can contact you and know you are not some random bot: If we can start reporting this regularly the city can start doing things about it. Stay Savage!

This past weekend was the 12 hours of Killarney hosted by PPA. We entered in the solo category and managed 4th place with 117 laps, about 383km. A full write up is coming from the rider. Any body else do the event? Was great fun and saw lots of regulars!

The Pedal Power Association is demanding swift and decisive action after watching a video of Gauteng cyclist, Darren Fitz-Gerald, who was struck down by a taxi driver on Wednesday morning. Click here to view the article

Bring your family and friends and join us on Friday 2 December at the Backsberg Wine Estate near Paarl for a late-afternoon social off-road ride to celebrate the end of the week and the start of the ‘silly season’. Click here to view the article

Warning, serious rant below. The Mangaung MTB 55km / 75km event on 29 October 2016 was the worst my friend and I ever experienced. This Bloemfontein race cannot be recommended. I will only list a few issues, but every issue is serious enough to skip this event in future. 1. MTB Registration: Registration for the MTB race took place only on Friday until 18:00. When I arrived from Pretoria, it was too late to register. They do not cater for riders who cannot make it before 18:00 on the Friday. The morning before the race, there was no one at the registration table and I was informed that the registration officials will only be there at 10:00 for the roadies to register for their Sunday race. 2. The MTB Route: The route was poorly marked and there was a serious shortage of marshals. A lot of us lost our way and after the third time I lost also interest in the race. We were supposed to ride through the botanical gardens but a lady at the gate refused entry. Despite tens of riders trying to persuade her that she is damaging the interest and integrity of the tourist market, no access was granted. In the end, my 75km ride ended as a 29km ride. My Pretoria friend’s 55km race was 20km. That included the additional distances we had to ride to find the route. In addition, there was not a single water table. 3. Road Race Registration: Having finished disappointingly early in the MTB event, I went to the registration table at about 09:30 to register for the road race the following day. There was a guy (I think the supervisor) and three ladies in their red t-shirts at the registration table. The race envelopes were on the table in boxes and I asked to get my number. I was told by the gentlemen that I should have read the SMS, the table only opens at 10:00. I could not believe this and asked him, seen that the MTB race was such a disaster, why can't I just get my envelope and leave. One of the ladies then handed my envelope containing only the race number and 4 pins. Yes, the road race on Sunday softened the disappointment of the MTB race, but few MTB riders entered for both races like my friend. I have spent thousands on entry fees, travelling costs and accommodation. My friend travelled also all the way from Pretoria and went back with only the 20kms on his Polar GPS and an empty purse. I paid on-line R230 for the 70km (although the map's on-line link indicates it is 75km). A PPA member had to pay R200, so R30 of my R230 went to the PPA. Guys, do not consider this as a MTB race weekend in Bloemfontein. To say that the Pedal Power Association (PPA) and the race organisers were poor in organising the MTB race, is an understatement.

Worried about the new higher fuel price, or getting fed up with sitting in rush hour traffic amongst all the fuel fumes? October is Transport Month, and the Pedal Power Association challenges you to see if you can use alternative transport to motor cars. Click here to view the article

Saw there was no thread for this event and that the rediculous early entry fee is closing today. Early entry was only R150! Awesome value for money. Same route as previously for the long route but they have added some shorter distances for those that are warming up for Die Burger. Event Date2016-10-23Distances170 km; 109 km; 58 km (New medium and short routes!)Event starting times170 km @ 06h30; 109 km @ 0815; 58 km @ 09h15Prize giving/cut offFinal event cut-off @16h00. Various cut-offs will be enforces along the routes.VenueStellenbosch High SchoolOrganizersShana / WendyEmailinfo@pedalpower.org.zaEnquiries Phone Number:(021) 671-6340Entries close2016-10-10 Discounted “Early Bird” entries for the new-look PPA One Tonner have been extended until 17h00 on Wednesday 3 August. Thereafter normal entry fees apply, until 30 September.The tough endurance event will in 2016 boast two new routes to cater for cyclists looking for something shorter than the 170 km route: 109 km and 58 km. Both the 170 km and 109 km routes will be seeding events for the 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour. Late entries will be taken from 1 - 10 October. No entries will be taken after 10 October, or at the event. http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_2054-300x200.jpg ROUTE DESCRIPTION The PPA One Tonner long route (170 km) and medium route (109 km ) are both Official Premier Seeding events for the 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour. The 170 km route is a tough ride that includes two challenging climbs. Right after the start, you’ll head up Helshoogte for your first big climb of the day. After a left turn onto the R45, you’ll tackle the undulating roads out towards Paarl, Wellington, Hermon and Riebeeck Kasteel. The second big climb of the day waits just after Riebeeck Kasteel: Botmaskloof Pass. From there you’ll pedal through Malmesbury and along the R304 past the silo’s and back towards Stellenbosch via the Kromme Rhee Road and the R44, finishing again on Helshoogte Road shortly before the start of the climb. There will be a neutral zone back to the venue. http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_2754-300x150.jpg The medium (109 km) route will follow the long route before turning left at Windmeul Winery. The short (58 km) route will follow the other two routes until the R101, joining up again with the longer routes on the R302 to continue to the finish. http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_9245-300x200.jpg DIRECTIONS TO VENUE From the N1: Take Exit 39 (R304) and head towards Stellenbosch. Continue straight through the R44/ Bird Street traffic lights. Turn left at the Merriman traffic lights. Continue straight across the traffic circle and then turn right into Jannasch Road and then left into Endler Road. Follow the signage and marshals to the parking area. From the N2: Take Exit 43 (R44) and head towards Stellenbosch. Once in Stellenbosch, turn right into Merriman Avenue. Continue until Jannasch Road where you turn right and then left into Endler Road. Follow the signage and marshals to the parking area. http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_2253-300x200.jpg NOTES The 2016 PPA One Tonner’s 170 km route will form part of the 2017 Official Premier Seeding Series of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Cyclists can either start in their seeded groups, or are welcome to fall back to ride with a participant with a lower seeding if the event is treated as team training for the Coronation Double Century. Please note that no seconding vehicles are allowed to follow cyclists along the route and that teams/cyclists will be disqualified should vehicles follow them on the ride. No participants u/17 on the long route. No children u/15 on the medium route. Children u/12 will be allowed on the short route and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Various food stalls will offer tasty treats for sale at the finish. ‘Early Bird’ Entries (until 1 August at 12h00) Online Entries (1 August – 30 Sept.) Distance 170 km 109 km 58 km Entry Fee R320 R150 R120 PPA members’ discounted entry fee R150 R120 R100 Entry Fee R400 R200 R180 PPA members’ discounted entry fee R200 R160 R140 Late entries will be taken from 1-10 October. No entries will be taken after 10 October, or on the day.

The Pedal Power Association is excited to launch the PPA Academy, an opportunity for promising young riders to gain international racing experience. Click here to view the article

I've been meaning to give some praise and thanks to Cycling South Africa for a while and have finally got round to doing it. As a CA and a PPA ExCo member I always though CSA were a greedy and wasting money on travel and entertainment so never renewed my membership when it lapsed a few years ago. I elected to ride the 99er this year, which was a CSA sanctioned event, and I was presented with a choice of a day licence at R35 or an annual membership of CSA at R120 I think. I had seen a few tweets and articles on what CSA was doing for members and I thought I would support them. I chose the membership. And it was without a doubt the best financial decision I have made recently. I had a really nasty crash and shattered my shoulder. Badly. CSA has an automatic insurance policy for medical expenses up to R20,000 if you are injured, get this, riding your bicycle. Not even racing or training. Just riding. Can you believe it? Well, I phoned CSA, they put me in touch with Hollard. I filled in a form and got my orthopaedic surgeon to fill in a form. I sent the surgeon's quote with the 2 forms to Hollard. 3 days later R20,000 was deposited into my bank account to cover me for medical expenses not paid by my medical aid. I've said if you ride your bike without a rear light you are an idiot. Or if you believe guys win a Grand Tour without doping you are an idiot. Reality is, if you ride a bike and don't belong to CSA then you really ARE and idiot. R120 for a year with real benefits. Compared to PPA membership and what you get there it's a no brainer.

Saw in the PPA news letter that there is a league for the 6 PPA summer events. (Every road event on calendar except 99er, Burger and CTCT) Where you get your own seeding for the event. Great news! Only draw back is there is a R600 registration for the league and then you pay the normal entry fee per event. Due to commitments and life, most of us can probably do 2/3 of the events. Just want to see the vibe from CT riders who plan to do league or not? If I was able to do 4/6 I would be keen, but as it stands I would be paying R500 per event.

With the obesity statistics amongst kids on the increase, it is important to get children back on bikes safely to improve their health and fitness levels. The Pedal Power Association in conjunction with the Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN) is launching a safe cycling school programme on Thursday 29 September at Bergsig Primary School, Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats to introduce children to cycling whilst focussing on road safety. Click here to view the article

I've noticed a few themes developing in forum threads about the lack of road events and how PPA is dropping the ball. Don't bash the PPA here. It's pointless. As a member driven organisation it is run by a 12 person executive committee elected by the members at the AGM on a 2 year cycle, 6 members are replaced every year. Joseph de Maistre said of democracy that every nation gets the government it deserves. And this is true of the PPA. At the last AGM a staunchly pro road riding list of candidates, drawn from the local road clubs and others with credibility in promoting road riding and racing in the Western Cape, appeared on the ballot for election to the committee. Not one of the pro road candidates was voted in while the mountain bike sympathetic candidates all got voted on or returned. I was one of the casualties, as was Lance Burger who had served on the committee for many years and was instrumental in the court case against CSA about sanctioning on fun rides. It is the right of members to choose who they want to represent them. I respect that. Of 15,000 members less than 200 can be bothered to spend 3 hours at the AGM. As Joseph de Maistre said, you get what you deserve. But if you don't go to the AGM and vote for the candidates that will represent your needs then please don't come to the hub and bash the PPA for doing what those members who turn up and vote want the PPA to do. Stand as a candidate or vote and make a difference. Or stop the bashing. Full disclosure: I was forced to resign as a member of the PPA and am no longer eligible to be a committee member. While a committee member I was instrumental in locating and purchasing the offices the PPA now occupies, a task that had been on the agenda for a number of years prior to me being elected. I was also the chairman of the safe cycling committee that launched the stay wider campaign on a national basis using celebrities like the late Gugu Zulu, DJ Fresh, Joel Stransky, DJ Suga and Anne Siroky. We sold thousands of stay wider shirts and had a presence at every major road race nationally. Edit: Removed the facts that may be construed as "sour grapes" to avoid issue of voting being clouded. Edit: Made title more relevant.

Took some photos today at the PPA Signal Hill, Hill Climb! They were taken with the iPhone 5s. I'm a cyclist not a photographer so sorry I could not get everyone! He are some compressed photos. If you were lucky enough to get snapped you can send a PM and I will email you the uncompressed version. Just include the number code on top of the image! Cheers Be patient it will take a few posts 1854 1855

Hurry! Entries for the Tiletoria Elgin Valley MTB close next week… Don’t miss out on this iconic MTB event on 28 August near Grabouw. Click here to view the article

Joining the Pedal Power Association is easy, with a variety of options available. Membership brings many benefits, including discounted entries to many events, a seeded funride number and timing (results) at selected events. PPA members also qualify for several discounts and membership benefits from our external partners. Download attachment: 2016.05.02 - PPA Bike Give Away.jpg Click here to view the article