Good day to all the Wannabees
Thanks to Charles's perseverance with the name change at CSA, we are now officially "THE WANNABEES CYCLING CLUB"
Another week nearer to the Argus start. The morning sessions are being attended by more and more riders. Make an effort, would like to see even more cyclists.
The 'Medallion' race is on Sunday next. Most riders will use this as a gauge to see how the training program has improved their abilities. For the others, we shall still have a pack ride over the weekend. Please take note of Michel's safety tip.
Heard that Neil Koch was one of the cyclists in the pile up at the last race. Hope you are also getting better.
Please drop me a line if you have any news of club members who did well or of any one that needs help. Any other social news is also welcome. I seldom get the news first. We are a big club, so communication is very important.
Remember to keep Sunday the 28th open for the club ride. Details later
With the weekend packs now well over 50, there are still plenty cyclists that enjoy the privileges of being a member without having paid fees for the 2010 year. Please join up and be counted.
MICHEL'S SAFETY TIP FOR THE WEEK
Weekly Safety Tip on Bunch Riding
Point out obstacles
Point out obstacles such as loose gravel, broken glass, holes, rocks or debris on the road, calling out "hole" etc as well as pointing is helpful in case someone is not looking at your hand when you point. It is just as important to pass the message on, not just letting those close to the front know. Another obstacle is a parked car, call out "car" and sweep your hand around your back to let people behind know. Point out runners or walkers and slower bikes if you are passing someone on the road.
CLUB NEWS
I include a report received from John after the Franschhoek ride. Thanks to all the comm... members and others who maintained the sanity and regulated the speed during the ride. Apparently even John could keep up!!!!
On all accounts everyone really enjoyed the Sunday ride to Franschhoek.
We were a little disjointed at the start as some of us waited for a member who had a flat prior to setting out but we joined the rest of the group in Stellenbosch. We were close to 50 odd people (not all Wannabees as there were some invited guests) heading up Helshoogte but thereafter a few turned back and a few turned left at the bottom of the Boschendal road. The rest really enjoyed a true LSD ride to Franschhoek and back via Klapmuts and Salvation Army (Joostenburg Farm Stall where we stopped for a quick coffee break).
Unfortunately on the return trip from Joostenburg to Somerset West the wind picked up and was blowing head-on as well as the pace but nonetheless almost everyone remarked that this was one of the nicer rides and this was borne out by the sheer numbers on the morning.
Thanks to Alf Robinson who set a very even LSD pace up front for the majority of the time and to Michel and others that ensured a fairly orderly cycling group.
A definite "do again" ride as it enhanced the camaraderie within the Wannabees. The group consisted of a wide spectrum of cycling abilities with the result that over the last stretch from Stellenbosch to S/West a few of the slower rides got "dropped" but hopefully arranged themselves into a workable group.
I would be interested to hear of any feed back you receive
Please get onto the BLOG for the training program on weekdays. Come and join. You can only benefit
The 05h30 sessions start from W/Stone village and with only 6 weeks to go time is tight
REMINDERS
We are setting up a pre ARGUS club ride for the 28th of FEB. (Sunday). (Coffee and muffin breakfast.) We have a plan and will accommodate all levels of riders. If there are any other great ideas on what to do that day, drop us an e-mail
Two weeks after we will have our prize giving as per last year. This will be after a family ride and a lekka cup of coffee and a muffin (Once again).
There have been numerous requests for a long sleeve top. Pieter will design one and put on the BLOG. Comments please. It will be made of a different/warmer material.
SAFETY
Please ensure that all your contact details and especially medical aid details are in your SADDLEBAGS in a waterproof container/Type of Ziplock or bank 'sakkie'.
It will also be imperative to have an ICE number on your cell phone
It is also getting darker. Make sure the batteries in your lights are new
Morning rides
Riders will met for the training program at 05h30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Weekend rides will still start at 06h00
Saturday and Sunday rides will be coordinated as usual from Waterstone village at 06h00.
Please try to wear your Wannabee top on a weekend ride.
A new batch of riding tops is available. Please contact us if you need a new top
Membership
We ask all the riders to please rejoin for the next 12 months.
Contact us via the gmail address or Charlesnesbitt@woolworths.co.za
RACE ENTRIES
Remember that those who want to enter the big races, our club name is still officially CYCLING CLUB HELDERBERG and not the WANNABEES.
We are however trading as the WANNABEES
Check the Dirtopia website and the PPA websites for the latest in racing and fun ride fixtures.
Wannabee Entry forms for club membership are available at Cycle Addiction and Helderberg Cycle world
Please put the blog address on your computer as a hotspot
http://www.wanna-b-team.blogspot.com/
Our official e-mail address is wannabteam@gmail.com
Yours in safe cycling
Danie Morkel
0845133246
