Ashamed to be a Capie (Saffer)

[ShortLegs]

So last night I managed to drag myself up to Bellville to witness some 's of the future and a great nights racing at the velodrome .

 

I'm sad to say that the support from the local cycling contingent was abysmal. We should all be ashamed.

 

I hope there are copious numbers of supporters at Sunday's road race and these kids don't get to suffer in our beautiful city with little or no support .

 

Come on people, it's the World Championships ffs

[Dirty Twin]

Hey SL it was not much better in PE at  SA Track Champs. Then again it was not very well advertised.

 

However PE does come out in the thousands to support Ironman real festival feeling that time of the year in PE

[Shebeen]

Do they ever get people to the velodrome for cycling events? I've only been there for rock concerts.

 

I didn't even know it was on. final's tonight, right?

[Napalm]

I agree - I was there on Monday.  The rent a crowd thing will put asses in seats, but it's useless in my opinion.  What should happen is that clubs in the area should round up members and go.

 

[fiasm]

tonight/this afternoon is the final day of racing at the velodrome. Events are mens sprint final, onmium and womens keirin.

[Dirtbreath]

I see some development guys are sending some underpriveleged kids to the TdF. I don't know if that is money well spent. If I was supporting a cause like that I would rather see busses taking kids to something like this and have some chow for them and a big screen show the Tour. You could get 100s of kids in on the thing and get support at the same time.

[Willehond]

Cycling is unfortunately a niche sport in SA and track cycling is even more of a non-event.  The World B's last year were also very poorly attended and nobody pitched to watch, not even cyclists!  You would have thought that a country that proclaims itself to be 'sports mad' would actually be just that, but the stark reality is that if it's not played with a big ball nobody cares.  SA really is not such a big sporting nation.  It's a delusion that makes us feel good about ourselves.  Australia on the other hand...

[Jean-Jay]

Hey Wille

 

How is Holland?

 

I will be there on Friday, i saw pics of Holland and all the cyclists and the bike paths - looks very vintage and nice.

 

I will be in OSS.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Hey SL it was not much better in PE at  SA Track Champs. Then again it was not very well advertised.

 

However PE does come out in the thousands to support Ironman real festival feeling that time of the year in PE

 

the year before's event was not much better. most of the spectators were riders themselves!!!!

[TNT1]

Right, the moral of the story is that track cycling sucks, it is not advertised, and even if it was, no-one would go and watch it. Cool.

[ShortLegs]

Right' date=' the moral of the story is that track cycling sucks, it is not advertised, and even if it was, no-one would go and watch it. Cool. [/quote']

 

That's bollox. This (Junior Worlds) has been advertised a bit and regardless of advertising, everyone on the hub knows it's going on.

 

If we don't start by supporting our own sport, how the hell is it expected to be dragged out of niche-ness into main stream.

 

 

[Willehond]

Hey Wille

How is Holland?

I will be there on Friday' date=' i saw pics of Holland and all the cyclists and the bike paths - looks very vintage and nice.

I will be in OSS.
[/quote']

 

It's relaxed and great for bikes.  Rent one at a station when you are here and leave your helmet at home.   You will have a blast, but bring a warm jacket.  It aint exactly summer over here...

 

(sorry for the Hijack ShortLegs, but TooHot started it)

Willehond2008-07-16 02:53:44

[javadude]

I was there on Sunday and the Aussie supporters in the stand were making more noise than the locals. I was also a bit ashamed. That said, i haven't been able to make it during the week due to work and family commitments.

[Red Zone]

Its in Belville, nuff said!

 

I will support the road race, no passport required.

[ShortLegs]

I was there on Sunday and the Aussie supporters in the stand were making more noise than the locals. I was also a bit ashamed. That said' date=' i haven't been able to make it during the week due to work and family commitments. [/quote']

That's cause there were no local supporters there

 

Its in Belville' date=' nuff said!

 

I will support the road race, no passport required.

[/quote']

Another k@k excuse, I'm sure you can do better than that

[The Crazy German]

Don't know which crowd you got but on junior track world in belgium a couple op moons ago there where maybe 100-150 spectators in the venue on weekdays.

 

Pro worlds Palma de Mallorca 5000 seats final with local hero(lives 35k from track as a favorite well about 4000 spectators though we did kill the roof of the Place. Most other days 2000 spectators pro event that is.