Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Roger Longstaff & The Japanese Camera Crew
Moving house is probably one of the most stressful things one can embark apon. It's not only the realisation, that in fact you have become the world's biggest hoarder, without breaking a sweat and without even knowing you were doing it so efficiently. It also looks like you will only need to make a couple of trips, then all of a sudden, 5 trips later you have half moved, it's unreal. Another thing one gets to do is re-buy all the essential household things. Cleaning product, cloths, sponges, dishwashing liquid, etc, which is a real pain.
I have now moved from the seagull infested suburb of Sea Point, to the tranquil existence of Hout Bay, which seems to be on another planet in comparisson. At night, not a sound, which makes a change from the ever present street corner "bergie" experience of " Jou Ma se p&*!" and the roar of cars up and down the road and the dominance of Police sirens at all hours of the morning. I'm a bad sleeper at the best of times. I still can't sleep, it's too quiet. Perhaps I'll become used to it and then get my "log-like" sleep sessions back, like I used to have prior to the SADF ruined it for me.
The other thing is that whenever I ride anywhere it's straight up a hill. Not that I mind hills all that much, but it always helps when you have warmed up a bit, especially at my age. Suikerbossie isn't that fab first up, with cold legs.
We had a rip roaring party for my team mate Keith's 42nd Birthday last weekend and I may have destroyed every bit of training I had done on my bike since June in one evening, great fun. The party will be remembered for numerous reasons, none more than Russell now being re-named Bambi. Keith's ridiculous Hugh Grant in Love Actaully dance moves & Dave's (aka Roger Longstaff, the new RBS Team Mechanic) emergence as a stud of note. The theme song for the rest of the year will be Bob Sinclair's La La Song, and the realisation too that our team manager only wants the best for her boys on the race team. Totally groovy party. I also now know that Tequila has a marvellous influence on me, I just can't remember what it is.
I have also entered the Engen Dynamic Challenge race which is a seeding race for the Argus, not that thats too essential, but it is a provincial Classic, so the racing should be decent. There is a slight climb after about 40km, but the field's contenders should stay together over there and to the finish where there is a downhill sprint. Just gonna try and get some legs back for the Amashovashova, as I feel my bike form has disappeared. My favourite race of the year and a chance to watch th Sharks play at home and see my old buddy, Marco Conte. Marco will decribe often, with total disgust, how I used to clean him up at 100m hurdles at St. Peter's Prep School, an event he rated himself at, so much so, that he continued it seriously throughout high school. He did only go to Kearsney College and St. Andrew's, so the athletics standard wasn't obviously very high. He hasn't ever gotten over those pubescent days of inevitable defeat and humiliation.
It should be a fun time and I always look forward to going to Durban to race, something very vibey about KZN which appeals to me.
Well done to the Kiwi's for beating the miserable Pakis. Grant Elliott you little beauty, you remembered everything I taught you in Holland. I also love it when Pakistan lose, because when they win, they win badly. Then there's much over exhuberance and showiness. Bigger than the game type behaviour. It belies the very nature of their virtues and cultures they profess to hold so dear to their hearts...the growing of ridiculous sized beards, peace loving and apparently God fearing. They could almost fit in in Noordhoek or Kommetjie. As for Afridi, don't get me started. Boom Boom indeed. Did he actually kill Bob Woolmer, or was that a malicious rumour someone started?
Pity about the final though, tough blow losing so many players of the quality of Oram, Vettori & Ryder for the one Day game anyway. Not sure about Ryders physique, he may be mates with Graeme Smith and follow the same diet.
Just another note on the Proteas. 3 Senior players, 4 weeks from the start of the Champions Trophy were seen out drinking and engaging in all night socialising on a Wednesday, then the Thursday and finally at HQ on the Friday in Cape Town. No wonder they were Dog Shit in the tournament, thats the sort of preparation I expect from myself, not proper cricketers, representing proper cricket countries....
I have now moved from the seagull infested suburb of Sea Point, to the tranquil existence of Hout Bay, which seems to be on another planet in comparisson. At night, not a sound, which makes a change from the ever present street corner "bergie" experience of " Jou Ma se p&*!" and the roar of cars up and down the road and the dominance of Police sirens at all hours of the morning. I'm a bad sleeper at the best of times. I still can't sleep, it's too quiet. Perhaps I'll become used to it and then get my "log-like" sleep sessions back, like I used to have prior to the SADF ruined it for me.
The other thing is that whenever I ride anywhere it's straight up a hill. Not that I mind hills all that much, but it always helps when you have warmed up a bit, especially at my age. Suikerbossie isn't that fab first up, with cold legs.
We had a rip roaring party for my team mate Keith's 42nd Birthday last weekend and I may have destroyed every bit of training I had done on my bike since June in one evening, great fun. The party will be remembered for numerous reasons, none more than Russell now being re-named Bambi. Keith's ridiculous Hugh Grant in Love Actaully dance moves & Dave's (aka Roger Longstaff, the new RBS Team Mechanic) emergence as a stud of note. The theme song for the rest of the year will be Bob Sinclair's La La Song, and the realisation too that our team manager only wants the best for her boys on the race team. Totally groovy party. I also now know that Tequila has a marvellous influence on me, I just can't remember what it is.
I have also entered the Engen Dynamic Challenge race which is a seeding race for the Argus, not that thats too essential, but it is a provincial Classic, so the racing should be decent. There is a slight climb after about 40km, but the field's contenders should stay together over there and to the finish where there is a downhill sprint. Just gonna try and get some legs back for the Amashovashova, as I feel my bike form has disappeared. My favourite race of the year and a chance to watch th Sharks play at home and see my old buddy, Marco Conte. Marco will decribe often, with total disgust, how I used to clean him up at 100m hurdles at St. Peter's Prep School, an event he rated himself at, so much so, that he continued it seriously throughout high school. He did only go to Kearsney College and St. Andrew's, so the athletics standard wasn't obviously very high. He hasn't ever gotten over those pubescent days of inevitable defeat and humiliation.
It should be a fun time and I always look forward to going to Durban to race, something very vibey about KZN which appeals to me.
Well done to the Kiwi's for beating the miserable Pakis. Grant Elliott you little beauty, you remembered everything I taught you in Holland. I also love it when Pakistan lose, because when they win, they win badly. Then there's much over exhuberance and showiness. Bigger than the game type behaviour. It belies the very nature of their virtues and cultures they profess to hold so dear to their hearts...the growing of ridiculous sized beards, peace loving and apparently God fearing. They could almost fit in in Noordhoek or Kommetjie. As for Afridi, don't get me started. Boom Boom indeed. Did he actually kill Bob Woolmer, or was that a malicious rumour someone started?
Pity about the final though, tough blow losing so many players of the quality of Oram, Vettori & Ryder for the one Day game anyway. Not sure about Ryders physique, he may be mates with Graeme Smith and follow the same diet.
Just another note on the Proteas. 3 Senior players, 4 weeks from the start of the Champions Trophy were seen out drinking and engaging in all night socialising on a Wednesday, then the Thursday and finally at HQ on the Friday in Cape Town. No wonder they were Dog Shit in the tournament, thats the sort of preparation I expect from myself, not proper cricketers, representing proper cricket countries....
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The summer is here...the Proteas are not!
So, I guess summer has arrived in the mother City, as there is no shortage of high velocity wind abounding out of the South East, tired of it already. Probably about as tired as I am of watching the Proteas trip and stumble their way around tournaments, whenever they are touted as favourites, which isn't as often as a Blue Moon. So much for standing side by side with the man in the melon hat and banging the boards to support our boys play and watch the enemy being humbled...(Standard bank needs to redo there wording of that advert, and as for the slogan "moving forward", all the Proteas have done is regress)
As far as I'm concerned, it started as early as day one, when Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bowl...what? I was always taught, when you win the toss, nine out of ten times you bat first, the tenth time, you think about it, then bat. It is totally exaserbated by the mere fact that SA hadn't played competitive cricket for 4 months, something you can only pull off successfully if you're playing League Cricket in Holland. Funny, but true.
Mark Lifman may have not been found guilty of "playing around" with under age kids, but when the Proteas play like under aged kids, someone has to be found guilty. It's all cool to talk the talk, of brave cricket and doing the basics right, but if you fail to produce the trophies for the cabinet, then someone has to be accountable after the umteenth time of doing so. In my opinion, there are no accountable people in South African cricket, from Smith, Arthur, all the way to the fitness trainer and Gerald Majola. Vince Barnes, heard of him? He is the bowling coach. Long have I moaned that he is not qualified, just in terms of not being a good enough bowler when he played, and also that South African bowlers seem to get the same things wrong day in and day out. Wayne Parnell took wickets, so too Dale Steyn, on occasion, but for the rest, what a load of horse shit. Too many of the "nearly made it's" go and play cricket abroad to make a living, knowing that the procedure here for selection is unjust, and good for them (I did exactly the same). Our depth has, as a result, suffered severe losses. There is no accountability and there's nobody knocking on the door. There is too much comfort and we all know that the best way to get results is through pressure and feeling like you need to perform to keep your place. Long has it been known that due to the selection protocol within South African teams, key players, in positions of power, care only about their pay cheques and not really about results. It is with this in mind, that when I received an sms from Herschelle Gibbs after the loss to Pakistan in the World Cup T20, he said he was so "f*@ked off", which truely surprised me.
The arrogance in how thay have presented themselves publicly on many occassions, leaves one wondering who they think they have become. Tom Cruise? Certainly not, he at least looks fit, albeit short. They always say, shorter people make the best batters. Bradman, Tendulkar, Ponting, Gavaskar.
Don't even get me started on the rotund shape of these players. A few kilo's here and there may have been lost over the winter, but the only two who look like athletes are Johan Botha and Herschelle Gibbs. Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn to a degree, but they are still young and should have no body fat yet anyway. Give them a couple of years under Graeme Smith's dietry regime and watch them bloom. To me, the fitness trainer should have more of an influence on the cricketers, although at this level, players should take pride in being fit and athletic, as they represent the country, in their cricket and their physical appearance. So far not a good example by a few larger members of the team.
My idea would be to dock players financially for every point they are over a certain Body Mass Index (BMI). That way, they would eat, drink and make merry at their own expense. It would soon lead to South Africa having the leanest, meanest cricket team on the planet. They are professional athletes and they should look and act the part, and I am convinced that there would be fewer examples of cramping and fatigue if this were the case.
Get these over-weight Miami fatties on bicycles, is my call, and I mentioned that to the former Physio, Shane Jabaar, but it seems there is too much at stake and far to much red tape to get that idea implemented. Laziness, over confidence and comfort have all led the Proteas to talk a good game and not be able to deliver on their rather verbose statements when it comes down to the nitty gritty. I also can't fathom why in the name of the "Death Star", do SABC 3 Sport invite a studio guest such as Clare Cowan (I think) to pass her comments on ANY cricket match, let alone an international best seller. It's not that I don't value what a woman has to say about a cricket game, (except Cass Naidoo) I just don't value what a woman has to say about a cricket game, when a South African Professional, who has actually played a game of competitive cricket on this level, could get to do the same...properly. Is SABC Sport run by Leonard Chuene? Or is it Danny Jordaan...hard to keep track of all the inept twits in charge of sporting codes these days.
As far as I'm concerned, it started as early as day one, when Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bowl...what? I was always taught, when you win the toss, nine out of ten times you bat first, the tenth time, you think about it, then bat. It is totally exaserbated by the mere fact that SA hadn't played competitive cricket for 4 months, something you can only pull off successfully if you're playing League Cricket in Holland. Funny, but true.
Mark Lifman may have not been found guilty of "playing around" with under age kids, but when the Proteas play like under aged kids, someone has to be found guilty. It's all cool to talk the talk, of brave cricket and doing the basics right, but if you fail to produce the trophies for the cabinet, then someone has to be accountable after the umteenth time of doing so. In my opinion, there are no accountable people in South African cricket, from Smith, Arthur, all the way to the fitness trainer and Gerald Majola. Vince Barnes, heard of him? He is the bowling coach. Long have I moaned that he is not qualified, just in terms of not being a good enough bowler when he played, and also that South African bowlers seem to get the same things wrong day in and day out. Wayne Parnell took wickets, so too Dale Steyn, on occasion, but for the rest, what a load of horse shit. Too many of the "nearly made it's" go and play cricket abroad to make a living, knowing that the procedure here for selection is unjust, and good for them (I did exactly the same). Our depth has, as a result, suffered severe losses. There is no accountability and there's nobody knocking on the door. There is too much comfort and we all know that the best way to get results is through pressure and feeling like you need to perform to keep your place. Long has it been known that due to the selection protocol within South African teams, key players, in positions of power, care only about their pay cheques and not really about results. It is with this in mind, that when I received an sms from Herschelle Gibbs after the loss to Pakistan in the World Cup T20, he said he was so "f*@ked off", which truely surprised me.
The arrogance in how thay have presented themselves publicly on many occassions, leaves one wondering who they think they have become. Tom Cruise? Certainly not, he at least looks fit, albeit short. They always say, shorter people make the best batters. Bradman, Tendulkar, Ponting, Gavaskar.
Don't even get me started on the rotund shape of these players. A few kilo's here and there may have been lost over the winter, but the only two who look like athletes are Johan Botha and Herschelle Gibbs. Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn to a degree, but they are still young and should have no body fat yet anyway. Give them a couple of years under Graeme Smith's dietry regime and watch them bloom. To me, the fitness trainer should have more of an influence on the cricketers, although at this level, players should take pride in being fit and athletic, as they represent the country, in their cricket and their physical appearance. So far not a good example by a few larger members of the team.
My idea would be to dock players financially for every point they are over a certain Body Mass Index (BMI). That way, they would eat, drink and make merry at their own expense. It would soon lead to South Africa having the leanest, meanest cricket team on the planet. They are professional athletes and they should look and act the part, and I am convinced that there would be fewer examples of cramping and fatigue if this were the case.
Get these over-weight Miami fatties on bicycles, is my call, and I mentioned that to the former Physio, Shane Jabaar, but it seems there is too much at stake and far to much red tape to get that idea implemented. Laziness, over confidence and comfort have all led the Proteas to talk a good game and not be able to deliver on their rather verbose statements when it comes down to the nitty gritty. I also can't fathom why in the name of the "Death Star", do SABC 3 Sport invite a studio guest such as Clare Cowan (I think) to pass her comments on ANY cricket match, let alone an international best seller. It's not that I don't value what a woman has to say about a cricket game, (except Cass Naidoo) I just don't value what a woman has to say about a cricket game, when a South African Professional, who has actually played a game of competitive cricket on this level, could get to do the same...properly. Is SABC Sport run by Leonard Chuene? Or is it Danny Jordaan...hard to keep track of all the inept twits in charge of sporting codes these days.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
3 Funerals...but no weddings.
Julius Malema, Kanye West and Serena Williams are my new favourite three and have just won a paid up holiday for themselves to my Infectous Island. Julius, just cos he is the definitive idiot and had another brace of bad publicity, apparently taunting and assaulting a neighbour, during a shindig he was holding at his Sandton home, and the other two for their part in the folly which was the MTV music award ceremomy and the US Open Semi Final respectively. Disgraceful.
One league race under the belt and already controvesy abounds and funnily enough it involves the same group of cyclists all of last seasons controvesy and ill tempered outbursts came from, formally Sotherby's Vets team. It's amazing how this group of individuals manage to attract so much negative exposure for themselves and through their ridiculously impetuos and child-like behaviour, have become the village idiots of vets Cycling in the Western Cape. Shame. Like attracts like as far as I'm concerned. What an unpleasant lot.
Our RBS race team had a disasterous start, with one member not starting as he had a family emergency and two of the four who started had punctures, so has effectively ruled us out of the team competition on day one. The race itself was ok, with one section of dirt of about 1.8km, where the split in the bunch came. I led Keith out at the finish and he managed to sprint and get third place. I got about 6th or 7th, but by the time I got over the timing mats, was 17th. Same time as the front guys, so no matter. The hill climb on the 24th will decide the league, so hopefully we will have a good showing as a team.
I am travelling up the Knysna today to do some riding with 2 of my team mates, which incorporates a long weekend. The weather looks good on Windguru,so hopefully we will get in some mileage. My friend and Dutch National Cricketer Mauritz van Nierop tragically passed away a year ago this week and shall spare a thought for him on Heritage day. Hopefully there will be a couple of Weddings shortly to compliment all the funerals I have been to this month, 3 in all. Not a great stat.
Graeme Smith won the toss on a wicket which looked grass-less and could only help the spinners in the second innings (only Murali and Mendis) and still chose to bowl. I knew already South Africa was in trouble. Having not had any competitive cricket since May, the area which is most vulnerable to opponents is the bowling, and the match consistancy of line and length was sadly missing. After 9 overs, with Sri Lanka on 70/1 I had seen enough rubbish to warrant a game of beach bats on Camps Bay with my old friend Derek Lloyd. We played for 90 minutes and after being 2 stroke wonders to start, not being able to get anything going, the longest rally was 88 shots, 5 short of our 14 year record of 93. Not bad for a winter recess and no bats. Such a pity that we don't get to do that often like in the days of the 90's when we had nothing else to do between bar shifts and cricket practices.
One league race under the belt and already controvesy abounds and funnily enough it involves the same group of cyclists all of last seasons controvesy and ill tempered outbursts came from, formally Sotherby's Vets team. It's amazing how this group of individuals manage to attract so much negative exposure for themselves and through their ridiculously impetuos and child-like behaviour, have become the village idiots of vets Cycling in the Western Cape. Shame. Like attracts like as far as I'm concerned. What an unpleasant lot.
Our RBS race team had a disasterous start, with one member not starting as he had a family emergency and two of the four who started had punctures, so has effectively ruled us out of the team competition on day one. The race itself was ok, with one section of dirt of about 1.8km, where the split in the bunch came. I led Keith out at the finish and he managed to sprint and get third place. I got about 6th or 7th, but by the time I got over the timing mats, was 17th. Same time as the front guys, so no matter. The hill climb on the 24th will decide the league, so hopefully we will have a good showing as a team.
I am travelling up the Knysna today to do some riding with 2 of my team mates, which incorporates a long weekend. The weather looks good on Windguru,so hopefully we will get in some mileage. My friend and Dutch National Cricketer Mauritz van Nierop tragically passed away a year ago this week and shall spare a thought for him on Heritage day. Hopefully there will be a couple of Weddings shortly to compliment all the funerals I have been to this month, 3 in all. Not a great stat.
Graeme Smith won the toss on a wicket which looked grass-less and could only help the spinners in the second innings (only Murali and Mendis) and still chose to bowl. I knew already South Africa was in trouble. Having not had any competitive cricket since May, the area which is most vulnerable to opponents is the bowling, and the match consistancy of line and length was sadly missing. After 9 overs, with Sri Lanka on 70/1 I had seen enough rubbish to warrant a game of beach bats on Camps Bay with my old friend Derek Lloyd. We played for 90 minutes and after being 2 stroke wonders to start, not being able to get anything going, the longest rally was 88 shots, 5 short of our 14 year record of 93. Not bad for a winter recess and no bats. Such a pity that we don't get to do that often like in the days of the 90's when we had nothing else to do between bar shifts and cricket practices.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Island Of Infection
My very good friend Derek Lloyd lost his mother on Sunday after a short illness. My thoughts are with you my friend. What a year for you. What a couple of weeks for me, losing 3 people in my life whom I knew. Things happen in threes. The power of 3, lets hope it ends there. My condolences and best wishes in this time of sadness to Derek, Tammy and the immediate family.
Another South African leader in hot water over botched decision making, Leonard Cheune has become the latest fumbling fatality of ineptitude and short sightedness. Having been given the recommendation to not send Caster to the world athletics championships in Berlin, he firstly ignored the medical advice given to him by Dr. Adams, and secondly he is now trying to disassociate himself and ASA from any responsibility he had in making the decision. What a clown. Can they not send him, Malema, Winnie, Judge Motata and Shabir to the same island asylum, along with Pinky, The Brain and Brandon Huntley? They could then get Mark Bayly over there and film a reality TV sequel to Survivor South Africa part 2, with the winner getting permanent immunity from the infectious disease they all deserve, but remain on the island forever. Oh, a perfect world. To follow, a list of other island asylum candidates… there are so many.
In the most freakish event of the week, a drunken man in France fell asleep on a railway line and a high-speed train ran over him, missing him by 10cm above his body and 20cm on either side, he didn’t even wake up. When the train came to a stop some 200m down the tracks and he was awoken by the driver, he proceeded to give the driver the middle finger for waking him. He wasted his luck there for sure, missing out on a definite chance of winning the lotto.
If you steal a sim card from anyone at anytime, the lesson is clear, do not enter a “win a BMW competition”. Having sent in the region of 28000 sms’s to the competition, the man won the car, drove it across town to another dealership and instructed them to sell it on his behalf. The car was worth less than the sms’s cost, but was taken ownership by the municipality the thief worked for when they eventually cottoned on after the first bill was R72, 000. Maybe this guy should also go to Survivor Island with Mark and the gang.
The weather this week has played havoc with riding plans for those who haven’t done enough preparation for the Spring League, starting on Sunday in Worcester. Check out our facebook page for our racing team. Facebook pages, RBS Vets Racing Team. I will keep it updated with results, pics and reports over the next 6 months. Our team seems to be ready and keen to get going and looking forward to a hard race on Sunday. The wind may play a part and positioning when it does will be vital, as a break will probably get formed here. Daikin will be out to prove a point as to how strong they are, but the reports coming back are that most teams have put in a really fabulous effort to be strong. This improves the racing, makes it harder and sorts out the men from the boys, just how it should be.
With my chest infection easing its way outta my body slowly, and without mechanical problems, hope not to lose any time on competitors on Sunday before trying to take some back in the Hill Climb Time Trial on the 24th October.
Another South African leader in hot water over botched decision making, Leonard Cheune has become the latest fumbling fatality of ineptitude and short sightedness. Having been given the recommendation to not send Caster to the world athletics championships in Berlin, he firstly ignored the medical advice given to him by Dr. Adams, and secondly he is now trying to disassociate himself and ASA from any responsibility he had in making the decision. What a clown. Can they not send him, Malema, Winnie, Judge Motata and Shabir to the same island asylum, along with Pinky, The Brain and Brandon Huntley? They could then get Mark Bayly over there and film a reality TV sequel to Survivor South Africa part 2, with the winner getting permanent immunity from the infectious disease they all deserve, but remain on the island forever. Oh, a perfect world. To follow, a list of other island asylum candidates… there are so many.
In the most freakish event of the week, a drunken man in France fell asleep on a railway line and a high-speed train ran over him, missing him by 10cm above his body and 20cm on either side, he didn’t even wake up. When the train came to a stop some 200m down the tracks and he was awoken by the driver, he proceeded to give the driver the middle finger for waking him. He wasted his luck there for sure, missing out on a definite chance of winning the lotto.
If you steal a sim card from anyone at anytime, the lesson is clear, do not enter a “win a BMW competition”. Having sent in the region of 28000 sms’s to the competition, the man won the car, drove it across town to another dealership and instructed them to sell it on his behalf. The car was worth less than the sms’s cost, but was taken ownership by the municipality the thief worked for when they eventually cottoned on after the first bill was R72, 000. Maybe this guy should also go to Survivor Island with Mark and the gang.
The weather this week has played havoc with riding plans for those who haven’t done enough preparation for the Spring League, starting on Sunday in Worcester. Check out our facebook page for our racing team. Facebook pages, RBS Vets Racing Team. I will keep it updated with results, pics and reports over the next 6 months. Our team seems to be ready and keen to get going and looking forward to a hard race on Sunday. The wind may play a part and positioning when it does will be vital, as a break will probably get formed here. Daikin will be out to prove a point as to how strong they are, but the reports coming back are that most teams have put in a really fabulous effort to be strong. This improves the racing, makes it harder and sorts out the men from the boys, just how it should be.
With my chest infection easing its way outta my body slowly, and without mechanical problems, hope not to lose any time on competitors on Sunday before trying to take some back in the Hill Climb Time Trial on the 24th October.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Champions Of The Tri Nations...Well Done Boys.
What a beautiful day. Spring has truely arrived, but apparently more rain forcast for tomorrow. Well done the Green and Gold Boks, you made me proud today, a better performance, but nowhere near the best, still some basic errors and slightly off the pace towards the end, but enough to win the Tri Nations trophy, no mean feat.
I get slightly frustrated with South African sport, always inconsistent, except for our athletes, then it's a real mixed bag, pardon the pun.
I Had a wonderful memorial ride for my late friend, Nick Slack yesterday, may he rest in peace. He passed away last Sunday morning after a prolonged illness, he was 4 days older than me. We shared each others pockets for years and lived in each others company and I will miss him. I sat on Chapmans Peak at the time of his memorial service and gazed over the breathtaking view, hoping he would join me in form of a whale spouting or jumping or some sign to show he was there, but he never pitched, hopefully he was elsewhere exploring his new domain. He missed a wonderful half hour, filled with beauty and sadness. I will always remember Mauritz and him whenever I visit there in future.
My sinusitis has now moved into my chest and hope it will have removed itself by next weekend in time for our Spring racing League. I am about as excited as a jck in a box and can't wait to get amoungst it, lets hope it's a good challenge, which I have no doubt about actually. Our boys are looking strong. Lets hope we have fun doing it and the sportsmanship reigns supreme within our category. No reason not to, the Poison Dwarf is no longer present, no one should miss him.
I get slightly frustrated with South African sport, always inconsistent, except for our athletes, then it's a real mixed bag, pardon the pun.
I Had a wonderful memorial ride for my late friend, Nick Slack yesterday, may he rest in peace. He passed away last Sunday morning after a prolonged illness, he was 4 days older than me. We shared each others pockets for years and lived in each others company and I will miss him. I sat on Chapmans Peak at the time of his memorial service and gazed over the breathtaking view, hoping he would join me in form of a whale spouting or jumping or some sign to show he was there, but he never pitched, hopefully he was elsewhere exploring his new domain. He missed a wonderful half hour, filled with beauty and sadness. I will always remember Mauritz and him whenever I visit there in future.
My sinusitis has now moved into my chest and hope it will have removed itself by next weekend in time for our Spring racing League. I am about as excited as a jck in a box and can't wait to get amoungst it, lets hope it's a good challenge, which I have no doubt about actually. Our boys are looking strong. Lets hope we have fun doing it and the sportsmanship reigns supreme within our category. No reason not to, the Poison Dwarf is no longer present, no one should miss him.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Attack of the Romany Creams
A recent survey in the Uk has revealed that about 50% of the British population, the number being close to 25 million people have been injured in a tea break. Tea break constitutes, eating biscuits, dunking biscuits, and generally participating in the time honoured tradition of 4pm cuppa chai indulgence.
Apparently 500 people had been hospitalised, and the most dangerous of all the biscuits was without doubt, the "man eating" Custard Cream, with the "least likely to cause damage" award going hands down to the Jaffa Cake.
Injuries caused by sticking biscuits into ones eye, a pet biting a hand with a biscuit in it, burning ones finger tips on the beverage. Give me a break...it's tea!
Its a good thing that we in South Africa have not, as yet, been exposed to the unpredictably savage antics of the Marie Biscuit, or the cruel intentions of the Ouma Rusk (especially the Muesli flavour), as there would be far more people like Brandon Huntley fleeing the fair weather of the Cape Penninsula for fear of losing a limb to a gang of rampant rusks or malevolent Chocolate Romany Creams.
We are, as cyclists, always moaning about bad driving, but I'm so glad that these are the least of the world's worries and that there are far more sinister forces at work. Can you imagine if Julius Malema got onto this, it would be carnage. There would be racist remarks about the fact that the gang of Chocolate Eclairs, were really run by the white stuff in the centre and that all the brown chocolate on the outside did, was take the first impact of an attack.
The rediculousness of the Poms knows no bounds, and only a "verlep" bunch of total under achievers would come up with a stat on injuries done by biscuit eating and the much raucous sipping of tea in the late afternoon. Sad bastards..
Apparently 500 people had been hospitalised, and the most dangerous of all the biscuits was without doubt, the "man eating" Custard Cream, with the "least likely to cause damage" award going hands down to the Jaffa Cake.
Injuries caused by sticking biscuits into ones eye, a pet biting a hand with a biscuit in it, burning ones finger tips on the beverage. Give me a break...it's tea!
Its a good thing that we in South Africa have not, as yet, been exposed to the unpredictably savage antics of the Marie Biscuit, or the cruel intentions of the Ouma Rusk (especially the Muesli flavour), as there would be far more people like Brandon Huntley fleeing the fair weather of the Cape Penninsula for fear of losing a limb to a gang of rampant rusks or malevolent Chocolate Romany Creams.
We are, as cyclists, always moaning about bad driving, but I'm so glad that these are the least of the world's worries and that there are far more sinister forces at work. Can you imagine if Julius Malema got onto this, it would be carnage. There would be racist remarks about the fact that the gang of Chocolate Eclairs, were really run by the white stuff in the centre and that all the brown chocolate on the outside did, was take the first impact of an attack.
The rediculousness of the Poms knows no bounds, and only a "verlep" bunch of total under achievers would come up with a stat on injuries done by biscuit eating and the much raucous sipping of tea in the late afternoon. Sad bastards..
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
R.I.P Nicholas
My old friend and brother Nick Slack passed away on Sunday at the young age of 40, he was 4 days older than me. I will miss him and remember with fondness all the great moments we shared at Michaelhouse and then almost every day throughout our 2 years in the SADF, including a wild 2 weeks leave to Cape Town, where we got into too much trouble I think we just kept it a secret. Travel well my old mukka and keep a seat for me next to you, wherever you may go, so we can continue our friendship in the future. My thoughts are with your Mom and your two boys. I'm sure brother Matthew is happy to see you, but down here, we will all miss your enthusiasm, energetic demeanour and rediculous chin. I will miss you and not having you around is a deep loss to me personally and this planet in general.
Brandon Huntley's Colourful Past
A quick note on Brandon Huntley: it was revealed today than our refugee friend in Canada, comes from a long line of inter-racial relationships, dating back to his great grandmother who was a "lady of colour". Irony certainly comes thick and fast for some people who stick their necks out too far. A self fulfilling prophecy is much better than "they lived happily ever after..."
Monday, September 7, 2009
Seeking Asylum From The Asylum
The issue with Brandon Huntley in Canada has to make you wonder about many aspects of various systems in place all over the world. Aside from him there are over 600 registered refugees from South Africa worldwide. Germany has the most. How they got their asylum isn't really important, what is important is what happens if Brandon Huntley is deported back to south Africa?
I agree with common sentiment, that he probably over exaggerrated and compounded his experience of violence in South Africa when he was still here in order to get a favourable judgement, not thinking that his statements would be made so globally public and open up a mighty can of worms for all and sundry. The Canadian authorities, now trying to spare their blushes, probably also didn't research the claims thoroughly enough either, and this has now created an international incident.
So what happens to Huntley when he returns. My belief is two fold: he will either be dead within weeks of getting home, killed by some vigilante angry ethnic person or he will become such a household name that harming him would become so unthinkable, even for the intrinsically stupid violence lovers our country has so readily available. If he gets killed, the world's eyes may be opened to the very violent crimes which happen here on a day to day basis and many more asylum seekers will be granted swift refugee status, or if he doesn't get killed he will become the equivilent of a non rugby playing Luke Watson. Loved by some for his candid outspoken truthes, and hated by more for his dragging South Africa through a puddle of mud, and "dissing" his homeland, ala Kevin Pietersen. Either way, one can quietly say that he has made a name for himself. All that talk about bad publicity being better than no publicity will be tested to the full here.
I agree with common sentiment, that he probably over exaggerrated and compounded his experience of violence in South Africa when he was still here in order to get a favourable judgement, not thinking that his statements would be made so globally public and open up a mighty can of worms for all and sundry. The Canadian authorities, now trying to spare their blushes, probably also didn't research the claims thoroughly enough either, and this has now created an international incident.
So what happens to Huntley when he returns. My belief is two fold: he will either be dead within weeks of getting home, killed by some vigilante angry ethnic person or he will become such a household name that harming him would become so unthinkable, even for the intrinsically stupid violence lovers our country has so readily available. If he gets killed, the world's eyes may be opened to the very violent crimes which happen here on a day to day basis and many more asylum seekers will be granted swift refugee status, or if he doesn't get killed he will become the equivilent of a non rugby playing Luke Watson. Loved by some for his candid outspoken truthes, and hated by more for his dragging South Africa through a puddle of mud, and "dissing" his homeland, ala Kevin Pietersen. Either way, one can quietly say that he has made a name for himself. All that talk about bad publicity being better than no publicity will be tested to the full here.
New Bicycling Blog
My new Bicycling Blog will be published today. The Vuelta Espana http://www.bicycling.co.za/articles/blog/29
Thursday, September 3, 2009
New Bicycling Blog
My newest blog is up, follow link http://www.bicycling.co.za/articles/blog/29/4546/
More here tomorrow.
More here tomorrow.
Loss Of a Great Cricketing Icon And Mentor
My former Coach and cricket mentor, Hylton Ackerman passed away yesterday after prolonged illness, he was 62 years young and still had a lot to offer the game. He was a passionate motivator and often brought the best out of players he coached, I think I was one of those and I certainly wanted to do well for him. He inspired me and was easy to talk to and relate to. He had a mischevious side to him and I related to that and his methods of coaching. He will be sorely missed by cricket on a National level as well as locally. He was a great batsman in his time and the second youngest player in South African history top score a first class hundred, even though it was against the Poms. He occassionally tried to bowl to us in the nets, but I think his skills were with the bat in hand. Condolences to Dawn and his two children. May Dutchman rest in peace and tell his legendary stories to the Angels above.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Only A Few Hills To Go Up
This past weeknd saw our RBS Racing team go away for a training weekend to Wellington. The plan was to watch the Boks thrash the Ozzies, then do a tempo ride for the afternoon, over du Toits Kloof pass, down towards Rawsonville, back past the back of Goudini Spa and over Slanghoek, join the R43, then finally go over Bain's kloof back to Wellington. The problem is, that when you put 5 cyclists together who are of a decent level, it's very difficult to keep the pace down to a bare minimum, hence the result. 115km at 31.5km/h average with 1450 metres of ascent thrown in for good measure. My ave HR was 147 for the ride, which is high for a training ride. It was great though, albeit hard, and it wasn't so much that the climbs were tough, it was harder on the undulations into a block headwind, all the boys putting some power into the cranks.
The ride the following day was meant to be the front side of Bain's kloof, to Worcester, via Villiers Dorp, over Franschoek pass, lunch in Franschoek and back to Wellington, for about 165KM. Unfortunately, the braai we had, got out of hand and we ended up only riding from about 11.30 out of Franschoek, over the pass, down the other side and back to Franschoek. The boys were a bit tender, but the climbs were good and the whole weekend was highly beneficial for all concerned and the team as a whole. We are looking on track for a good racing season, Keith is riding very well and expect him to really have a good showing on the over all General Classification in Spring League.
Personally, I am in decent shape, but will do what I can to ensure a good team result in the Spring League, as this is our main objective with R3000 prize money at the end of it and support Keith, Russell or Andrew if they manage to get into the leaders jersey at any point. Craig will ride himself back into form and is doing really well considering his heart operation in June.
The rugby was fabulous, but watching it in a smokey bar in Wellington was an eductaion, given the typical clientel which frequent these small conservative Afrikaans towns. Lots of Brandy, Coke, rugby shorts and shouting at the television. All par for the course. We all drank Coke as we had to ride, also a new experience. The post ride lunch at Col Cacchios was a good relaxing occassion to celebrate Paul Kaye's coming of old age and we welcomed him into the ranks of the decrepit successfully. Lots of awesome people, good chow and a few beers to crown off a memorable weekend. Thanks to the team and especially donnay and mike for the supporting jobs they did and to Darren (and his Laboradoodles) for the good video footage.
I have to say at this junction that I think Julius Malema is an absolute clown (not that this is a magnificently astute observation). He is a total disgrace and the ANC should shut him down before he undoes all Zuma's good work 'til now. Our President certainly gets around and, is doing a better job than I ever expected, he certainly didn't get my vote, the criminal that he is. Not that I like to talk politics or religion, but credit must be given where credit is due. The Shabir Sheik thing however has been an absolute debacle and a complete hoot, pardon the pun. What was he doing, just taking a last drive around his beloved home town, looking for a deal on a fake gold ring from one of his childhood tjoms? Or maybe he had run out of mango Atjar to go with his mom's curry and all.
After Trotty's brilliant start for England, it went quickly downhill, as the first ODI for his adopted country started with a duck against Ireland. What a leveller the game can be. More of those to come towards the end of the year against your old country.
The Vuelta Espana has started too and after the prologue and first stage, predictably Fabian Cancellara was in the leaders jersey. I didn't see Contador in the start line which is a bit of a surprise given that he is the defending champion and a spaniard. I think Cadel Evans has a lot to prove, as does Carlos Sastre, so look out for these two come the mountains. Another rider who has made his return is Alexandre Vinokourov, and I expect him to be very competitive and has a massive amount to show on his comeback after a drugs ban.
The weather is grim in Cape Town and so have decided to take some days off the bike and will remount, both the bike and this Blog on Friday again.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
My Big Fat Italian Passenger
This whole gender issue with our South African 800metres WOMANS world champion, Caster Semenya, got outta hand. I had to stipulate that she is our woman’s world champion in the 800m, as we also have the men’s world champion, and not from that same race either. Poor girl, just because she is not aesthetically blessed with the most womanly features, isn’t strange for a woman athlete of this calibre. Maria Matola, more butch than most of the Blue Bulls players, and definitely more butch than all of the WP Rugby team, but she didn’t get this treatment. Most, if not all the former Soviet Block and Eastern European Athletes were far more manly than our petite Caster, but then again, they probably were men. All those genetic cattle modifier hormones, surreptitiously found their way into a human bloodstream..
I, on the other hand, had no such help when I rode this last weekend. ’Rode”, would actually be unkind to the effort my legs put out, “raced”, was more to the point. It all started very childishly, once again by Keith Milner and it became a stand- off between our RBS Team and an opposition Vets race team called Superwatt, and riding for them, Brett and Nico. Lots of fun, mainly at high intensity, race simulation type riding, lots of fun and great training. In the end we did 4 hours 50 with 129kms and 1515m of ascent. Good day out. This was mixed in with a coffee stop in Noordhoek at the farm village, a short and sweet celebration for one of our riding mates, Brit, who is shortly going to Ozzie to race Triathlon World Champs. Good luck Brit....stay clear of those gender tests, not that you would ever be mistaken.
A woman in Italy, who weighed 99kg, was told to buy two tickets on an Easy Jet flight as she was too fat. She was told to stand on the scale and pretty much faced public humiliation from the other passengers checking in and was told she was too heavy and needed two seats. The policy, according to an airline spokes person, was that if there was less than 43cm gap between seats, then a person would need to buy two tickets, for comfort sake. There cannot be any comfort if you’re so broad that you need to buy two tickets. Comfort and that person’s life do not deserve to be in the same sentence. Lose some weight and come back when you can fit into one seat you enormous rotund individual. No sympathy for people who cannot respect themselves, unless they are medically unwell and obese as a result. Massive sympathy then.
My mate Rich brought me down some chilli jam from Kwazulu Natal, delicious. I am a chilli nut, love it! Thanks to Jan, for making it so brilliantly, need to get hold of that recipe.
I went out to view the most marvellous property today. A development out on the Karwyderskraal Road near Bot Rivier. Simply gorgeous, but more about that as it developes into something more definate.
Other great news is that newly promoted Burnley are making a mockery of some top flight Premiership clubs, but the best result was the absolute thrashing of my not so favourite Manchester United. 1-0. Sorry Stuart, (a Man U fan, who also hasn’t ever been to Manchester, along with 90% of their other fans). Stu is a powerhouse on the bike, almost gender test material, but has bad taste when following football.
Brilliant that England re-took the Ashes, not that I care either way, but it’s good for the game, globally. Basically, just like last time, it was a South African at the Oval who helped win it back. Kenny was there, and must have loved watching his brother get a Test hundred on debut, well done Trotty. Now you’re stuffed though, you have to stay and play for England for a while and when England tour here at the end of the year, will get an absolute trouncing, and Trotty will soon have wished he was playing for the opposition. Freddy Flintoff can at least wave goodbye on a high from Test cricket, having been a steady servant (when he played), but fell miles short of the original label given to him years ago, of “The Next Botham”. He never drank or womanised nearly as much as Beefy, except for maybe during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. That was the best Botham impression he ever did, capsizing the peddalow, pissed at 4 am before a match.
Finally, I hope our RBS training weekend this weekend in Wellington is a great team building experience. We should have good weather, awesome hill training, the opportunity to work with our manager Donnay and to get to know each other as cyclists and team mates a bit better before we start racing together on 20th September. If we have a quick ride, we may average 37.6km/h in a race, the very same average speed of Usain Bolt over 100 metres when he broke the world record and ran 9.58s. Ridiculous thought.
I, on the other hand, had no such help when I rode this last weekend. ’Rode”, would actually be unkind to the effort my legs put out, “raced”, was more to the point. It all started very childishly, once again by Keith Milner and it became a stand- off between our RBS Team and an opposition Vets race team called Superwatt, and riding for them, Brett and Nico. Lots of fun, mainly at high intensity, race simulation type riding, lots of fun and great training. In the end we did 4 hours 50 with 129kms and 1515m of ascent. Good day out. This was mixed in with a coffee stop in Noordhoek at the farm village, a short and sweet celebration for one of our riding mates, Brit, who is shortly going to Ozzie to race Triathlon World Champs. Good luck Brit....stay clear of those gender tests, not that you would ever be mistaken.
A woman in Italy, who weighed 99kg, was told to buy two tickets on an Easy Jet flight as she was too fat. She was told to stand on the scale and pretty much faced public humiliation from the other passengers checking in and was told she was too heavy and needed two seats. The policy, according to an airline spokes person, was that if there was less than 43cm gap between seats, then a person would need to buy two tickets, for comfort sake. There cannot be any comfort if you’re so broad that you need to buy two tickets. Comfort and that person’s life do not deserve to be in the same sentence. Lose some weight and come back when you can fit into one seat you enormous rotund individual. No sympathy for people who cannot respect themselves, unless they are medically unwell and obese as a result. Massive sympathy then.
My mate Rich brought me down some chilli jam from Kwazulu Natal, delicious. I am a chilli nut, love it! Thanks to Jan, for making it so brilliantly, need to get hold of that recipe.
I went out to view the most marvellous property today. A development out on the Karwyderskraal Road near Bot Rivier. Simply gorgeous, but more about that as it developes into something more definate.
Other great news is that newly promoted Burnley are making a mockery of some top flight Premiership clubs, but the best result was the absolute thrashing of my not so favourite Manchester United. 1-0. Sorry Stuart, (a Man U fan, who also hasn’t ever been to Manchester, along with 90% of their other fans). Stu is a powerhouse on the bike, almost gender test material, but has bad taste when following football.
Brilliant that England re-took the Ashes, not that I care either way, but it’s good for the game, globally. Basically, just like last time, it was a South African at the Oval who helped win it back. Kenny was there, and must have loved watching his brother get a Test hundred on debut, well done Trotty. Now you’re stuffed though, you have to stay and play for England for a while and when England tour here at the end of the year, will get an absolute trouncing, and Trotty will soon have wished he was playing for the opposition. Freddy Flintoff can at least wave goodbye on a high from Test cricket, having been a steady servant (when he played), but fell miles short of the original label given to him years ago, of “The Next Botham”. He never drank or womanised nearly as much as Beefy, except for maybe during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. That was the best Botham impression he ever did, capsizing the peddalow, pissed at 4 am before a match.
Finally, I hope our RBS training weekend this weekend in Wellington is a great team building experience. We should have good weather, awesome hill training, the opportunity to work with our manager Donnay and to get to know each other as cyclists and team mates a bit better before we start racing together on 20th September. If we have a quick ride, we may average 37.6km/h in a race, the very same average speed of Usain Bolt over 100 metres when he broke the world record and ran 9.58s. Ridiculous thought.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
The March Of The Cyclist
This week has been a week for putting in the scrapbook, for no other reason than to get it out of the way, not for looking back at and reminiscing on with fondness. I had a dodgy stomach after something I ate at Keith Milner's braai last weekend, (or it may have been the bottle and a half of cheap red wine I drank) which pretty much kept me in bed until Wednesday afternoon. I made a decent enough recovery to go to a casting (a type of employment I vowed to not revisit) and march around a hall like a soldier in front of the camera for 5 minutes. Hopefully the payment for the job ( if I get it), will spare me the blushes of having to use something the SADF taught me, something I never thought I would be grateful for. The amount of pain and suffering I had to endure to learn how to march, and even when I had, I still wasn't any good. I was however excellent on Wednesday, as was probably the oldest at the casting and nobody else knew how to march, what a giggle and totally ironic. When the lady in charge applauded my marching, I grinned and thought if only my old corporal could see me now.
The foul weather, plus the case of the bad gut, compelled me to not ride (which was the plan anyway), so hopefully after a short hour ride (and a drenching) today with my friend Mark Nel, my legs will be right for the long ride tomorrow, back around Cape Point with Stuart and Paul again. Don't hurt me Stu...
The Red Point Audi TT is on Sunday, but due to no TT bike, will not endevour to compete, as that would be farcical, about as farcical as the Australian batting effort. It's embarrassing.
Next weekend is our RBS Racing Team training weekend away, and am really looking forward to riding some serious k's with the team and discussing our team policies for the Spring League Racing season which starts on the 20th September. More about all of that soon...
The foul weather, plus the case of the bad gut, compelled me to not ride (which was the plan anyway), so hopefully after a short hour ride (and a drenching) today with my friend Mark Nel, my legs will be right for the long ride tomorrow, back around Cape Point with Stuart and Paul again. Don't hurt me Stu...
The Red Point Audi TT is on Sunday, but due to no TT bike, will not endevour to compete, as that would be farcical, about as farcical as the Australian batting effort. It's embarrassing.
Next weekend is our RBS Racing Team training weekend away, and am really looking forward to riding some serious k's with the team and discussing our team policies for the Spring League Racing season which starts on the 20th September. More about all of that soon...
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Kind Pirates Of Terror & The English Foreigners
Apparently, Somali pirates who captured some Egyptian Sailors and held them hostage for four months were rather "peeved" when the Egyptian sailors escaped captivity and in the process shot seven of their pirate gang in the process. Oops!
"We were upset when we found seven of our pirate crew floating dead in the sea", apparently one reported, from the pirate base somewhere. "We have always respected the Egyptian sailors and treated them well, but the next lot we capture, we will have our revenge on!"
So, let me get this right Mr. Pirate, you treated them kindly, by keeping them in captivity for 4 months and then feel slightly hard done by when they escape in a gun battle and shoot 7 of your esteemed colleagues? Right. Those inconsiderate Egyptians, at it again. They may have been slightly annoyed and missing home. Just a thought..
Jonathan Trott, half brother of my former Boland and Western Province Team mate, Kenny Jackson has been selected in the England squad for the final Ashes Test at the Oval. I'm sure he will start tomorrow and bat at no 4 for his adopted country, poor lad. Having played for SA U19, I'm sure Trott and all other members of foreign teams (Holland, New Zealand, incl) would far rather play in the green and gold of their native South Africa. Kevin Pietersen included. He, (KP) has made such a song and dance about disliking South Africa for various reasons, such as the inequality towards himself and his frail little ego, that we, as South Africans are quite happy that he left. He fits in perfectly, all tattoed and money conscious, like a real football chav.
One story about KP goes: when he arrived on a tour to South Africa, he got hold of the one friend he had left in Kwazulu Natal, Grant Rowley, and having not seen him for many years, the first thing he showed him and could talk about, was a picture he had in his wallet of his new sports car. Poor lad. No great loss, people like that, but he can bat. Trott joins the list of many non english born cricketers to play for England, and good luck to him. At least he will feel at home amoungst Pietersen, Strauss and Prior.
On another front (not too far away), the Zimbabwe cricket team rattled up enough runs to defeat the Bangladesh team in a ODI recently. They scored 300 odd. Bearing in mind that the ever improving Bangladesh team had just put the West Indies to the sword in a series away from home, makes this victory even better for our neighbours, who have had not had a great time of it recently, both on and off the field. Corruption, misplaced funds, ex-players burning down pavillions, etc A bit of a shambles.
Then, a bit of inspiration from nowhere to beat the high flying Tigers. Was it that Morgan Tsavangarai was semi saluted and shown a small amount of respect by 2 of Mugabe's generals, which has not been seen before? Perhaps this is the sign Zim have been waiting for to make thier political, economic and cricket turn around and take the world by storm? Pinky and The Brain beware..
Meanwhile, I'm still in bed, three day on, suffering with a stomach bug of sorts, while the weather outside is showing all and sundry, who is boss. Some horrendous rain and wind wouldn't have allowed for any cycling anyway and plus, I need the rest. I'll be better tomorrow and look forward to my flat ride out to Melkbos on Friday with my faithful companion, Gromit (aka Russell).
I'm busy with a book (Tour De France by Graeme Fife), which is an absolute must if you're a Tour De France fan, as I am. Fascinating detail about history, past winners, their fortune and mis fortune and how Desgrange, the father of the Tour, invented and applied the strictest of rules to make the course as tough as possible. It's comparitively easy now compared to the days of steel 12kg bikes and tubes around the shoulders and 300-450km stages. Can you imagine how the spruced up euro-racer type would react to news of a 350km stage every day. The 1926 tour, called "The Tour Of Suffering" was 5795 km long. You had to start and finish with the same items, same amount of tyres, shirts, jerseys, nothing could be discarded. Tough school back then. Arguably the greates cyclist of all times, Eddy Merckx, describes (in this book) entering the Tour and penetrating it's strange world as a quasi-religious experience: "The paradox of the test condems the champion, by definition, a public figure, to the life of a recluse for 20 days." Jacques Ancquitil, who always rode his bike for a living not due to his love thereof, commented, "A minor at the end of the day, does not love his pick." Both 5 time winners.
"We were upset when we found seven of our pirate crew floating dead in the sea", apparently one reported, from the pirate base somewhere. "We have always respected the Egyptian sailors and treated them well, but the next lot we capture, we will have our revenge on!"
So, let me get this right Mr. Pirate, you treated them kindly, by keeping them in captivity for 4 months and then feel slightly hard done by when they escape in a gun battle and shoot 7 of your esteemed colleagues? Right. Those inconsiderate Egyptians, at it again. They may have been slightly annoyed and missing home. Just a thought..
Jonathan Trott, half brother of my former Boland and Western Province Team mate, Kenny Jackson has been selected in the England squad for the final Ashes Test at the Oval. I'm sure he will start tomorrow and bat at no 4 for his adopted country, poor lad. Having played for SA U19, I'm sure Trott and all other members of foreign teams (Holland, New Zealand, incl) would far rather play in the green and gold of their native South Africa. Kevin Pietersen included. He, (KP) has made such a song and dance about disliking South Africa for various reasons, such as the inequality towards himself and his frail little ego, that we, as South Africans are quite happy that he left. He fits in perfectly, all tattoed and money conscious, like a real football chav.
One story about KP goes: when he arrived on a tour to South Africa, he got hold of the one friend he had left in Kwazulu Natal, Grant Rowley, and having not seen him for many years, the first thing he showed him and could talk about, was a picture he had in his wallet of his new sports car. Poor lad. No great loss, people like that, but he can bat. Trott joins the list of many non english born cricketers to play for England, and good luck to him. At least he will feel at home amoungst Pietersen, Strauss and Prior.
On another front (not too far away), the Zimbabwe cricket team rattled up enough runs to defeat the Bangladesh team in a ODI recently. They scored 300 odd. Bearing in mind that the ever improving Bangladesh team had just put the West Indies to the sword in a series away from home, makes this victory even better for our neighbours, who have had not had a great time of it recently, both on and off the field. Corruption, misplaced funds, ex-players burning down pavillions, etc A bit of a shambles.
Then, a bit of inspiration from nowhere to beat the high flying Tigers. Was it that Morgan Tsavangarai was semi saluted and shown a small amount of respect by 2 of Mugabe's generals, which has not been seen before? Perhaps this is the sign Zim have been waiting for to make thier political, economic and cricket turn around and take the world by storm? Pinky and The Brain beware..
Meanwhile, I'm still in bed, three day on, suffering with a stomach bug of sorts, while the weather outside is showing all and sundry, who is boss. Some horrendous rain and wind wouldn't have allowed for any cycling anyway and plus, I need the rest. I'll be better tomorrow and look forward to my flat ride out to Melkbos on Friday with my faithful companion, Gromit (aka Russell).
I'm busy with a book (Tour De France by Graeme Fife), which is an absolute must if you're a Tour De France fan, as I am. Fascinating detail about history, past winners, their fortune and mis fortune and how Desgrange, the father of the Tour, invented and applied the strictest of rules to make the course as tough as possible. It's comparitively easy now compared to the days of steel 12kg bikes and tubes around the shoulders and 300-450km stages. Can you imagine how the spruced up euro-racer type would react to news of a 350km stage every day. The 1926 tour, called "The Tour Of Suffering" was 5795 km long. You had to start and finish with the same items, same amount of tyres, shirts, jerseys, nothing could be discarded. Tough school back then. Arguably the greates cyclist of all times, Eddy Merckx, describes (in this book) entering the Tour and penetrating it's strange world as a quasi-religious experience: "The paradox of the test condems the champion, by definition, a public figure, to the life of a recluse for 20 days." Jacques Ancquitil, who always rode his bike for a living not due to his love thereof, commented, "A minor at the end of the day, does not love his pick." Both 5 time winners.
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Cracking Weekend & A Tragic Waste Of Life
About time the weather got slightly better, although not feeling great physically (and a bit anxious about the symptoms being that of the H1N1 strain...not!), I have at last been able to get out and do some riding. I'm sure there will be some folk out there who would refer to my riding as "training", and to a degree it can't be denied, but the reason, first and foremost that I do ride, is because I love it. Simple.
There is nothing better to me than getting on my bike on a crispy morning and heading out, wherever that may be. That’s the other great thing about Cape Town and the cycling here, is, that no matter where you decide to ride, it's gonna be pretty. Chapman's Peak has to be my favourite road to ride, especially now that it's closed to traffic...well, mostly, but the whole vibe of the place is awesome. Slightly challenging, which is a must and breathtaking views,something that never goes unappreciated.
The farce of pretending to have it re-opened by mid August is another thing which irks me non-stop. Entilini Projects, also known as Murray and Roberts, have a contract with government which states that they will get 5 Million ZAR per month in Toll fees, whether the road is open or closed, so hence, no great rush to finish repairing whatever it is they have to repair and re-open the road. It's a bloody joke and the government should apply more pressure for the "project" to finish a.s.a.p. Not only does it adversely affect businesses and commuters, it affects us cyclists too. In order to get to the other side and around to Cape Point, we have to ride over Constantia Neck, which is cyclist’s worst nightmare.
Every time I cycle up that hill I nearly get taken out by one vehicle or another and feel it is almost a matter of time before another cyclist gets killed on that stretch of road. The fact that Capetonians, and/or South Africans have squat respect for cyclist is part of the problem, and when taking ones driving test should have to ride a bicycle for 2 hours in peak traffic, to gauge some idea of what we have to deal with daily. Motorists often try and drive so close to you in order to almost show that they are teaching you a lesson. What lesson? That we shouldn't cycle, that we should try another sport? That the asphalt surface is for motorised traffic only? Which one, cos none are ever going to change my mind about cycling, and I think I speak for the majority.
My mate Paul recons it's ‘cos South Africa is an emerging culture, and a car is like a symbol of status and power. It doesn't help that the penalties incurred by motorists who knock cyclists over are rather pathetic, and one case of a motorist who killed a cyclist got a 3 year suspended sentence. So what? Big deal! I'm sure that's no example to other reckless drivers and certainly no consolation to that man's parents, loved ones and cycling mates. If I had my way, if you knocked a cyclist off his bike, it would become so financially crippling, that all you would have left at the end of the prosecution would be the shirt you were wearing when it happened. That’s how it works in Europe and that’s how it should be taught from a young age here.
Where I lived, in Holland (for four years), even if the cyclist was in the wrong and got hit by a car, it was still the motorists fault and had serious implications, so much so, that it's great to ride over there, cars just give you a properly wide berth, as they should. Holland also has a cycling culture, which helps.
So, I managed to get about 7 hours on my bike in thus far this week, but don't feel great. I will probably ride for 3-4 hours tomorrow, including a Time Trial on Chapman's Peak and a further 3 hours on Sunday, so should have done about 13 hours this week by the end of the weekend, which is about my 2009 weeks average training/riding time.
There are 5 weeks left until the start of the Spring League, so will still need to have 3 big weeks, one for time, one for hills and one for speed work and then taper off in the last two. All the guys in the RBS Wrx team are starting to get into some good shape, but we will all be working primarily for our main guy, Keith Milner, who is a good cyclist in his own right and extremely strong and focussed already. We are looking to be competitive in the team competition and hopefully will also have a crack at the overall GC, but that will be an added bonus to the team award.
It is now Monday. I have been in bed with a headache and a dodgy stomach most of the day, so don’t feel brilliant, but at least it’s not swine flu. The weekend may have taken it out of me slightly too. Saturday was wet from the minute I set out and by the time I had ridden 40km, was on my way home and I accidently bumped into my team mate Russell, who had wisely sought shelter in bed and outta the rain, whilst I was foolishly getting drenched. We then met Stuart and Brit and the four of us, with the weather ever improving, ended up riding another 65km.
Sunday was another 4hours 50 on the bike, all the way round Cape Point and over Red Hill from the back. A superb climb, not too tricky, but challenging enough. 2.7km at about 5.8%. The reward at the top is a breathtaking view over Simon’s Town and False Bay, how lucky we are. That ride eventually ended up being 130 odd km with 1450 metres of ascent. Throw in perfect conditions, great company and power-house Stuart Vorster to push the pace, we really did have a special ride.
The day culminated in a gathering of special friends at my favourite haunt in Camp’s Bay, The Sandbar for drinks and dinner and a memorable sunset, all together a fabulous day and an awesome weekend. I’m resting until Friday now, with no riding, and hope I am gonna shake this pseudo H1N1 disease I have grabbed hold of from somewhere.
At the point of uploading this, another South African cyclist was killed on the road on Sunday in Pretoria. A person over took a car and hit them head-on. Tragic! My condolences to his widowed wife, family and friends. Another shocking waste of life brought on by yet another unaware South African motorist. C’mon Government, do something about this mess.
There is nothing better to me than getting on my bike on a crispy morning and heading out, wherever that may be. That’s the other great thing about Cape Town and the cycling here, is, that no matter where you decide to ride, it's gonna be pretty. Chapman's Peak has to be my favourite road to ride, especially now that it's closed to traffic...well, mostly, but the whole vibe of the place is awesome. Slightly challenging, which is a must and breathtaking views,something that never goes unappreciated.
The farce of pretending to have it re-opened by mid August is another thing which irks me non-stop. Entilini Projects, also known as Murray and Roberts, have a contract with government which states that they will get 5 Million ZAR per month in Toll fees, whether the road is open or closed, so hence, no great rush to finish repairing whatever it is they have to repair and re-open the road. It's a bloody joke and the government should apply more pressure for the "project" to finish a.s.a.p. Not only does it adversely affect businesses and commuters, it affects us cyclists too. In order to get to the other side and around to Cape Point, we have to ride over Constantia Neck, which is cyclist’s worst nightmare.
Every time I cycle up that hill I nearly get taken out by one vehicle or another and feel it is almost a matter of time before another cyclist gets killed on that stretch of road. The fact that Capetonians, and/or South Africans have squat respect for cyclist is part of the problem, and when taking ones driving test should have to ride a bicycle for 2 hours in peak traffic, to gauge some idea of what we have to deal with daily. Motorists often try and drive so close to you in order to almost show that they are teaching you a lesson. What lesson? That we shouldn't cycle, that we should try another sport? That the asphalt surface is for motorised traffic only? Which one, cos none are ever going to change my mind about cycling, and I think I speak for the majority.
My mate Paul recons it's ‘cos South Africa is an emerging culture, and a car is like a symbol of status and power. It doesn't help that the penalties incurred by motorists who knock cyclists over are rather pathetic, and one case of a motorist who killed a cyclist got a 3 year suspended sentence. So what? Big deal! I'm sure that's no example to other reckless drivers and certainly no consolation to that man's parents, loved ones and cycling mates. If I had my way, if you knocked a cyclist off his bike, it would become so financially crippling, that all you would have left at the end of the prosecution would be the shirt you were wearing when it happened. That’s how it works in Europe and that’s how it should be taught from a young age here.
Where I lived, in Holland (for four years), even if the cyclist was in the wrong and got hit by a car, it was still the motorists fault and had serious implications, so much so, that it's great to ride over there, cars just give you a properly wide berth, as they should. Holland also has a cycling culture, which helps.
So, I managed to get about 7 hours on my bike in thus far this week, but don't feel great. I will probably ride for 3-4 hours tomorrow, including a Time Trial on Chapman's Peak and a further 3 hours on Sunday, so should have done about 13 hours this week by the end of the weekend, which is about my 2009 weeks average training/riding time.
There are 5 weeks left until the start of the Spring League, so will still need to have 3 big weeks, one for time, one for hills and one for speed work and then taper off in the last two. All the guys in the RBS Wrx team are starting to get into some good shape, but we will all be working primarily for our main guy, Keith Milner, who is a good cyclist in his own right and extremely strong and focussed already. We are looking to be competitive in the team competition and hopefully will also have a crack at the overall GC, but that will be an added bonus to the team award.
It is now Monday. I have been in bed with a headache and a dodgy stomach most of the day, so don’t feel brilliant, but at least it’s not swine flu. The weekend may have taken it out of me slightly too. Saturday was wet from the minute I set out and by the time I had ridden 40km, was on my way home and I accidently bumped into my team mate Russell, who had wisely sought shelter in bed and outta the rain, whilst I was foolishly getting drenched. We then met Stuart and Brit and the four of us, with the weather ever improving, ended up riding another 65km.
Sunday was another 4hours 50 on the bike, all the way round Cape Point and over Red Hill from the back. A superb climb, not too tricky, but challenging enough. 2.7km at about 5.8%. The reward at the top is a breathtaking view over Simon’s Town and False Bay, how lucky we are. That ride eventually ended up being 130 odd km with 1450 metres of ascent. Throw in perfect conditions, great company and power-house Stuart Vorster to push the pace, we really did have a special ride.
The day culminated in a gathering of special friends at my favourite haunt in Camp’s Bay, The Sandbar for drinks and dinner and a memorable sunset, all together a fabulous day and an awesome weekend. I’m resting until Friday now, with no riding, and hope I am gonna shake this pseudo H1N1 disease I have grabbed hold of from somewhere.
At the point of uploading this, another South African cyclist was killed on the road on Sunday in Pretoria. A person over took a car and hit them head-on. Tragic! My condolences to his widowed wife, family and friends. Another shocking waste of life brought on by yet another unaware South African motorist. C’mon Government, do something about this mess.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Swine Flu Debacle
The World Health Organization stats read that between 250 and 300, 000 people die of Influenza on a global scale each year, so far the apparant pandemic called H1N1 or "Swine" Flu has killed 814, go figure! A media hype, to keep people in suspended fear is what I think.
However if the weather hadn't been dog-shit this week and I hadn't felt the beginnings of swine flu coming on I would have been telling you about my cycling experiences instead of describing how torrential the rain has been in Cape Town and how massive the swell of the ocean has been. It has, both of them. Both been large, prominent and rubbish for both cycling and boating in that order of importance in my life.
Tomorrow is another day and I plan to be out on my bike, going for a ride, not going for a cycle as my dear friend put it. We don't go for a jog, we go for a run....same thing, different words. Get it! Got it? Good.
Forecast for Thurs, Friday and the weekend is all favourable for riding big miles. Awesome.
However if the weather hadn't been dog-shit this week and I hadn't felt the beginnings of swine flu coming on I would have been telling you about my cycling experiences instead of describing how torrential the rain has been in Cape Town and how massive the swell of the ocean has been. It has, both of them. Both been large, prominent and rubbish for both cycling and boating in that order of importance in my life.
Tomorrow is another day and I plan to be out on my bike, going for a ride, not going for a cycle as my dear friend put it. We don't go for a jog, we go for a run....same thing, different words. Get it! Got it? Good.
Forecast for Thurs, Friday and the weekend is all favourable for riding big miles. Awesome.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
A Brief Intro
I will publish this blog weekly on a Friday and it will follow the progress of my life on and off the bicycle, from training, thoughts on riding, about incidents while riding, competitors, races and my general life surrounding my time involved with sport, both past, present and future. I hope you enjoy this weekly in sharing my experiences and my time being a sponsored cyclist with Team RBS WRX.
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