Cape Town Cycle Tour 2017 cancelled

[scotty]

More footage

 

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2017/03/12/cape-town-cycle-tour-cancelled/

 

 

Edited March 12, 2017 by scotty

[Patchelicious]

Yes Patch, but in this country we will always have the haves and the have nots. It is the very nature of this world, and especially the 3rd world.

 

Does this mean that we are then not allowed to have a mass participation cycling event where most of the money gets plowed back into charities and the community? If this is so, I spell a bleak future for this event, and the country as a whole.

 

It is time the WC government get off their backsides that they have been patting so much lately for doing a good job, and get their fingers on the pulse of the poorer communities.

Yes there will always be haves and have nots. It's not just the governments problem, it's ours too. The least we can do is show some compassion to those who have not.

 

"Does this mean we can't have mass events?" No, that's not what I said. No need to make it about extremes.

 

Does most do the money actually go back into charity? Or is that just a story we tell ourselves to make us feel better while we watch the news of people's shacks burning down, on our 50" flat screens, while sipping our R40 per bottle craft beers.....

[dev null]

It is funny that all of the videos are of the cursed wind tunnel. Most of the roads were actually quite fine. Our cycle back to the Waterfront was quite chilled, except for one idiot motorist in a BMW X3 that wanted to drive over a few cyclists.

[Loose cog]

Any F head can fly his glass bike in the wind but takes a bit more to ride in these conditions, but not impossible. 

[Tubehunter]

Hey guys and girls! SUPER sad for everyone that put in all the months effort to be here for this event, wherever you're from. All those hours training, the sacrifices on family and other endeavours, potential travelling and accommodation statistics, ready to challenge yourself against both you and your other competitors lined up with you, suddenly not coming to fruition. It is almost the ultimate letdown, for each and every person who woke up this morning, put on their bibs, got all their gear together, got in the zone, ready for their "EVERYBODY SAY HHHOOOOOOPPLLLLAAA" moment and then be off! This outcome has never been considered, with a complete cancelling of the race as that has never happened before. I would like to say I'm sorry that you did not get the ending you had imagined when you started the journey to this day! I truly feel for you.

 

If your disappointment has left you angry I would like to challenge you to what you think Tumbles would have said about this all, had he still been with us! 

[Karooryder]

It is funny that all of the videos are of the cursed wind tunnel. Most of the roads were actually quite fine. Our cycle back to the Waterfront was quite chilled, except for one idiot motorist in a BMW X3 that wanted to drive over a few cyclists.

 

Agreed - we trook a chilled ride back along Sea Point on the Promenade and what a beautiful day, heading down to the beach soon .

[Pikey]

It's *** disappointing and even if the weather was rideable on the blue route and beyond.

 

And let's say hypothetically there were no fires or protest action.

We probably all would of had a go at it right ?

How many people would of even got 2km's down the road without injury?

 

Am as disappointed as the next person. But hey life go's on.

[dev null]

Yes there will always be haves and have nots. It's not just the governments problem, it's ours too. The least we can do is show some compassion to those who have not.

 

"Does this mean we can't have mass events?" No, that's not what I said. No need to make it about extremes.

 

Does most do the money actually go back into charity? Or is that just a story we tell ourselves to make us feel better while we watch the news of people's shacks burning down, on our 50" flat screens, while sipping our R40 per bottle craft beers.....

 

Yes, we do however believe that participating in this event is showing compassion. And maybe that message is not getting to the communities. And we all trust that the PPA is getting the money to the charities.

 

And not all of us participating are this fortunate either to be able to sip on expensive beer. On the way back, I saw a bloke driving back to the Cape Flats in his busted old Passat, with a cheapy MTB strapped to the back of the car. He probably saved all year last year to be able to afford the entry fee. I am already over my disappointment. I am not sure how that poor bloke will handle it.

[Icycling]

Here goes and this was my started of my 34 Cycle tour so now what I have to my 50th at 61years of age and not 60! I also was stopped at Tokai Bridge (end freeway) more or less 1st man of @ group.

What should have the Cape Town Cycle organizers done?

1. At the start of my group, remember $ was 8 min ahead - 3rd group off, they should have moved the whole group forward. I personally did move forward, way easier then the rest, as I had an interview been moved ahead of the ropes. While walking forward alone, I even walk past David Bellairs and shook his hand and carried on man alone to the point where the riders from the other side start came to our side start. If the whole group were allowed too - apparently the start marshals were been quite insistent about not allowing riders to follow me - the idea should have carried through all the groups. If this was the course of the event been cancelled then the Cycle tour may still have happened. At the end of the freeway the wind was not bad at all.

2. We now live in a way different country / world to what we use too. After the short 47km route, I on the hub made comments that this should always be the cycle tour route - somebody else who know how to find old post can try find them. I am now changing that statement that this route should always be the possible route of the cycle tour - and if they have a long route and a short route Cape Town cycle tour on the day that's fine. If thing in the south get bad then everyone rides the short route - easy to change even 15 min before the start possible even after the start has taken place. I not saying that then people will not try and burn tires on the freeway - but I think the police could possible control this quite well.

I do really believe that what happened today could have been avoided and was even kind of predictable to happen at some point. Maybe the start mats should even only be on the free way - all that is need is a start timer for the groups. remember the 1st Cycle tour started at the castle - the start line is not cast in stone. Thus I do believe the Cape Town cycle tour possible should consider offering every participant a full refund on their entries. But why should charities suffer due to the lack of foresight by the cycling bodies representative at the Cape Town cycle tour? I wait for all the details of exactly why the event was stopped - windy weather cannot be the final argument!
 

[SwissVan]

Sorry for all the people who devoted time and money and were looking forward to the event... I can imagine the disappointment especially for those who traveled far.

 

Perspective: At the end of the day it's just a 100km race / fun ride.... there will be more.

It's not all about the day, hopefully you enjoyed the journey... the training, buying new stuff, etc.....

 

Easy to say I know

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

Tactically, if I was to protest against the 'authorities', then the CTCT was the best event to do it in. OMTOM, will be next.

[dev null]

Agreed - we trook a chilled ride back along Sea Point on the Promenade and what a beautiful day, heading down to the beach soon .

 

LOL. It was not good beach weather though. Maybe if you had a kite. 

[bikebloke]

 

Does most do the money actually go back into charity? Or is that just a story we tell ourselves to make us feel better while we watch the news of people's shacks burning down, on our 50" flat screens, while sipping our R40 per bottle craft beers.....

 

its not really about charity we need these type of events to work and so do the less fortunate folk because tourism does contribute in a really big way directly and indirectly to the western cape economy (we don't exactly manufacture or mine down here )

if the tourism and especially these short special events cash injections stopped we would all be in the dwang together in the kaap

 

#just saying

[Frosty]

Not 100% sure if this was today - truck blown over by the gusts.

trim.FC30713E-8BC0-41F9-9624-0D12F98673A8.MOV

Edited March 12, 2017 by geraldm24

[Karooryder]

Poor people who have lost everything and are angry don't see us as a "cycling community" they see us as a bunch of middle aged dudes who ride bicycles which cost more than what they earn in a year....

 

When you don't have its human nature to hit out at those who do.

 

Yes somebody probably told them to do it, but they wouldn't have if the underlying anger wasn't there.

 

If my and all my friends family's houses had burnt down and it seemed to me that the City cared more about a bunch of "rich" people on bicycles, I would be pissed off too.

 

You know what Patches, I agree with you in principle; the immedate observation is the unsettling contrast between Pinarellos's and burnt down shacks which should act as a clear reminder to those of us more fortunate to not only be grateful but also to become involved in poverty alleviation. But this also touches on the short-sightedness of such protests - it makes a clear (and often valid) yet momentary point, but the long term results are usually to the detriment of all involved, rich and poor alike. And I'm afraid we are going to see this here in coming years.   

 

Ps - do we know what the protests were about as details seem to be sketchy? Stories are doing the rounds that the was planned (i.e. before the fires) and, coming from Gauties where there was talk of "third forces" behind xenophobic attacks to destabilise the newly elected Pretoria and Jhb municpal managment, I cannot help but wonder if there is not some political move behind what transpired this morning...I'm probably wrong though   

Edited March 12, 2017 by Karooryder

[Patchelicious]

You know what Patches, I agree with you in principle; the immedate observation is the unsettling contrast between Pinarellos's and burnt down shacks which should act as a clear reminder to those of us more fortunate to not only be grateful but also to become involved in poverty alleviation. But this the touches on the short-sightedness of such protests - it makes a clear (and often valid) yet momentary point, but the long term results are usually to the detriment of all involved, rich and poor alike. And I'm afraid we are going to see this here in coming years.

 

Ps - do we know what the protests were about as details seem to be sketchy? Stories are doing the rounds that the was planned (i.e. before the fires) and, coming from Gauties where there was talk of "third forces" behind xenophobic attacks to destabilise the newly elected Pretoria and Jhb municpal managment, I cannot help but but wonder if there is not some political move behind what transpired this morning...I'm probably wrong though

You make some very good points.

When you live hand to mouth, you don't think about the day after tomorrow, you only worry about the now.

Edited March 12, 2017 by Patchelicious