Cape Vs Jhb (Selection)

[pedal]

Under the heading of TH Resigns, I would never have thought to find a whole speel on CT teams....... my 2c worth.

 

Yes, I do agree that JHB holds more for a youngster who wants to go places with their cycling, but..... they need to WANT it badly enough to survive..... then Europe is the next step, and again, tough going, but necessary, and only then do I believe one is ready to accept cycling or 'job' as a career. (Could take three years, and a lot of 'Family Sponsorship).

 

Cape Town did produce some of the best riders in the Country.... James. Jeremy, Daniel, Jamie, Tiaan,Travis A, just to name a few, but one common denominator is that they all went through the Schools Academy, and coached by Willie E and John..... I truly believe that the gap now left in our cycling Province stems from these two factors.

U16 and Junior Tours were always dominated by WP, as was Eric v Enter, but not so any more,,,, a huge gap is now seen.  Please I know there are a lot of young talented riders here, and I see them in action often, but they just do not stand out enough to catch the eye of a 'JHB Selector'.

 

CW Jnr was in Jhb as mentioned, rode for Microsoft, also went overseas, and is now back home... I do not know the reason, but at least he is still cycling, and not lost from the sport.

 

Believe me, the parents also need 'guts and determination' just to be strong enough to stand by and 'assist' mentally, emotionally and financially, if your child is going this route....... Been there, done that, and my Reward.....(5 years away from home).....

A 'Konica Minolta' cycling top to train in.....  Thanks Pedal Jnr (T)

x

Hang in there Capies, and you can get up into bigger Teams, as there are a lot of talented youngsters hungry, but need the guidance....... (Academy etc).   I see you often, and know you are capable of going places.

Now for the blastings......

[Guest colonel]

Are there no more academies for the young cape riders to go to and get coached to the next step? Im not talking about clubs and the club chairman gives a training pgm and a free helmet to ride in but proper guidance on all the ins and outs of cycling and what it takes to get to the top?

 

We in the Cape may have a handfull of top riders who may make it but in JHB they are outnumbered by what 8:1? Also if the Cape riders got to JHB maybe they scared of just becoming another rider in the Peloton where in Cape Town they are race winners and dont want to lose that status?

 

The 1 kid I train for Motocross is a top National rider in his class (125 Highschool) but he knows to make it to the next step he has to race in JHB not here, so for this year we are flying up on weekends to race selected Regional  (28 in total excluding Nationals) to gain experience and the needed speed to run at the top. Cape Town riders wanting to be noticed or make a career in cycling would need to possibly do the same thing and race in JHB where they can.

 

Should finance be a hassle and cannot afford to do that then they also may need to realise they will not make it and be happy with what they got in Cape Town.

 

My 2c.

 

 

[THE BODY CENTRE]

Hmm... the Under 16 National Tour Sept 2006 was won by a team of 5 riders representing WesternProvince, financed by parents.  3 of those 5 riders ended amongst the first 10 overall, two of them still first year U/16's.

 

The youngsters get very little exposure and recognition in local papers (WP) ..compared to other sporting activities. Would be interesting to know if this is different in Gauteng.

[butafly]

exposure for cape youngsters in local media??? heres a tip for parents/coaches who want exposure for their youngsters - write the article and contact the "sports section" of the burger / argus , if it is topical , they will print it. journalists, dont go looking for articles to write - the big sports (soccer/rugby/cricket) keep them busy enough. if the Argus did not sponsor the "Argus" believe me you wouldn't get read anything about it. my 2 cents

[AuctionLamb]

JHB is a K@K place to cycle......maybe Chris jnr realised that cycling in JHB means getting R3000/month and kit is not worth the effort.

 

Coming back to Cape Town and still cycling very good is a sign that JHB is NOT always worth it to go. If you wanna go pro.......^&*^% JHB and go to Europe and see if you can make it. Robbie H is a good example, but to take that risk to sell all your stuff just to go there and TRY to make it is a lot to ask.....but hey if you really want it you will get it!

[Guest colonel]

AL: If its so *** why arent all the Pro SA Teams here in the Cape? MS riders are paid more than R3000 a month and holding a wheel doesnt cut it on a Pro Team.

[nellie]

Okay, i'm talking about womens cycling in particular;

There just isn't enough competition in the Cape at the moment...i know there are strong riders, but often when i did scholars league we were only three or four girls at the start line, having to start with the boys.

 

I haven't been racing Scholars for quite some time, but about two years back i did every race and won quite a few, but just because we didn't have the numbers we didn't get a yellow jersey and sometimes our league results weren't even posted on the web-site.

 

So many of us just see no point in doing short routes with restricted gears, go over to women's (or now SWIFTS too) league and just loose interrest in junior racing. I loved it, while it lasted, but even riding in my normal seeded groups was more of a challenge!

 

I really wanted to go to the Eric van Enter for my last year as under 16, but my parents weren't up to it and i have been riding with normal gears for far too long to quickly master the restricted gears in time.

 

I don't know exactly what is wrong and have no solution, but this was just my opinion as a scholar/junior.

[rock]

I for one am quite ineterested to what local pro's are earning ?

 

I know its rude to ask - but does anyone know ? PM me if you're shy.....

[mazztazz]

 

I for one am quite ineterested to what local pro's are earning ?

 

I know its rude to ask - but does anyone know ? PM me if you're shy.....

 

Go JHb go . . .

[AuctionLamb]

AL: If its so *** why arent all the Pro SA Teams here in the Cape? MS riders are paid more than R3000 a month and holding a wheel doesnt cut it on a Pro Team.

 

The money is up there.........same with salaries of the normal working person. Why would anybody move to JHB except that the job pays well?

[AuctionLamb]

I for one am quite ineterested to what local pro's are earning ?

 

I know its rude to ask - but does anyone know ? PM me if you're shy.....

Go JHb go . . .

 

bottom line is that most of the "pro" cyclist out there does not earn more than a PA/Receptionist with about 2 - 3 years exp.

[pedal]

At the end of the day, they are still working... so should be earning a salary like us, but in some cases, are they justified?

I do not think is is fair is actually discuss/print their salary, as it is nothing to do with us Hubbers.......

Their office is just a little larger than ours........

[AndreZA]

The only reason I live in Jo'burg is because my bikes are here. Kinda pointless living somewhere without your bikes. Duh!

[MWdeJager]

Mampara jy is 'n nare NAR.

[Guest colonel]

AL: If its so *** why arent all the Pro SA Teams here in the Cape? MS riders are paid more than R3000 a month and holding a wheel doesnt cut it on a Pro Team.

 

The money is up there.........same with salaries of the normal working person. Why would anybody move to JHB except that the job pays well?

 

Theres your answer right there, to get a Job as apro rider in this country you ned to go to JHB. If you not prepared to do that then enjoy your free kit and entry fee in Cape Town

[Crono]

I can tell you now, chris jnr is getting a fat salary in cape town. and i promise you, jeremy maartens won't ride for anything below 7k