Hi All,

Well if there is any doubt about winter having arrived I think it was dispelled this past Saturday.

Pretty good turnout what with Wendy and her merry DC span just about at full strength raring to go and then of course the traditional Die Hards. Pretty chilly with a prediction of 30% chance of PLEK PLEK reën. Die ou Transvaal, Springbok Radio news on weather gesegte.

Sadly Wendy (after a call going the coastal road and all of us men telling her “not a good idea”) has handed in her resignation. Effective from the first of December of course after the DC of course. What a delightful soaking wet and cold ride we had. But hey if u want to stay with Wendy’s team u have to be tough. No place for the feint hearted. Let me tell u that even Paul Lewin hacked it out in the rain. Maybe Paul is just generally more sensible on the occasion.

Well, this coming w/end many I suppose, will be making there way up to the Knysna area if u can afford the petrol costs that is. Traditionally a great w/end. The MTB ride on Sat and the RR on Sunday. Plenty to do over the w/end. Enjoy and have a safe trip.

We have had a mishap or two these past couple of weeks. BJ coming down after hitting a tar obstruction and Pieter staking claim to a piece of turf on a downhill section at Thandi. Both up and running I trust and hope.

Would appear that we have a bike shop up for sale and at the same time a bike shop that is soon going to open its doors. Coincidence? Wonder maar net.
Speak to Hertzel.
Must be something happening out there that I am not aware of in the cycling business. Could it be the petrol price? The vehicle market is struggling as we all know so maybe, just maybe, it’s going to be a boom time for the cycling industry. Let’s hope so.

Safety en nogmals Safety.

Taking into account the amount of cyclists that have ridden with us in groups and the man hrs x years (or should it be bike hours) that we spent on fixed routes its quite incredible how few incidents we have had.

Accolades to all of u.
In saying that just a word of caution to everyone when we do the Rooiels run. As one hits the coastal road the drainage area and little bit of safety margin that we have there is actually fraught with danger.

U will all have noticed the drainage holes on the left going out. U will have also noticed the grid and how the pipe work is running parallel to the road. Manne en meisies if one of us hit that drain at 20/30 or what ever kilos per hour it’s going to be nag. Be very very mindful of these drainage points. We did try and get them changed right in the beginning maar het gefaal.

We also have several on the way back to Waterstone. Two come to mind and I ALWAYS signal them. The one on the turn/corner intersection of Broadlands and the Coastal road and the other turning left off the R44 into main road going back to Waterstone.

Well what do the experts have to say this week?

They say its winter time-- Wet weather time. Towards the bottom of the saddle down tube most of us have a water bottle cage and of course very important we have a PUMP. Many is the occasion when I have had to stop and help a person and I have found that both my pump and the other persons pump doesn’t work. How often do we check these tools of ours? About time we started doing something about it.
Pretty easy according to the experts. Make sure the pump works. Then--- either GLAD WRAP the PUMP or put it into a PLASTIC Bag. All the mud, muck and water is thus prevented from getting into the PUMP, and of course the PUMP is very grateful. Simple hey. Let’s see how many PUMPS are looked after.

Attached something to think/chuckle about.

Have a great week,

Ek