est. 1891
A Special General Meeting was called for on the 4th June and the members present endorsed the executives committees decision to seek partners to grow the club. The result, so far, is that the "social club" of Cycle Lab and City Cycling Club have agreed to join forces and form City Cycle Lab.
From City’s point of view we will gain a social side, in that the club will be active every weekend in some form or another (racing or social rides). A section of Cycle Lab’s premises will be devoted to the club for amongst other things, trophies, jerseys, photos etc which will be on display promoting the club, the "clubhouse" will therefore be accessible to members during working hours. For Cycle Lab , they will gain a club infrastructure that is involved in racing at a level higher than social , this will enable members to graduate from social riding to more serious forms of cycling. We think that the most important feature of this coming together , is that we will have the ability to attract potential sponsors more easily . Cycling clubs need to move with the times and be pro-active. The sport is going to go through major changes in the next few years and only the fittest will survive , there will be no place for clubs that are run by dreamers , one man committees and a few cyclists. Development , schools and elite teams need to put into place and the only way to do that is to do what we are doing.
South African Road & T/T Champs – Kimberley
Here’s your chance to take on the best in your age category in South Africa . Seniors/elite will have to take on the local and overseas pro’s but one must remember that they won’t have the benefit of full teams as a lot of their team members will compete in the u23’s race.
Please note that should you wish to enter , your application must be sent to the Western Province Cycling Association for their endorsement and they need to get it to the SACF by the 13 July.( if you haven’t received forms give us a shout )
Do you want to pool your resources with others and go as a group i.o.w. Arrange a bus and accommodation as a club etc etc , give Graham Ward a call on 914 2011 (w) or 5580 582 (h) by the end of June. Please try and respond even if it is to say no!!! "I’m going in my own car , see you there"
Inter Club Racing
So far , the Saturday racing has been blessed with good weather , in some instances going from one extreme to another very hot for Ocean Wheelers to very cold for Bellville's race. Results for the club has been very favourable , with Mark Wilcox , Robby Rodrigues and Willy van Zyl all getting top three places at one time or another. The Veterans section has been split into unders and overs (under 40’s and over 40’s) which has resulted in more tactical racing with Darren Cronk , Patrick Gaertner , Mike Jones , Gary Cloete , Charl Le Roux , Charl Marais , John Eloff , Jan Wiehman and Gerard Genis are featuring on the podium so far this season. The women are racing with the ‘overs’ which is quite tough for them , should all the young ladies pitch up together on a Saturday, they would be able race on their own , each weekend they seem to throw up different winners. Nicky Andrews is trying to co-ordinate more women to give winter racing a bash . This past weekend there was a big enough response to warrant a separate race for the girls .
To the newcomers to club racing "hang in there" the more often you race the easier it becomes . Come September those fun rides are going to be just that "fun".
Results for all categories appear in the Monday editions of the Argus and the Burger , there are also race reports in both newspapers during the week.
Will Hein survive?
The WPCA is currently chaired by Hein Kroff , on the 18 June 2001 , the WPCA AGM will be held in the Bellville clubhouse at the Velodrome. Hein has been challenged by that "gangster" Chris Willemse . We have a bizarre situation where Hein announced in October 2000 that he would be stepping down as chairman of the WPCA at the next AGM as his commitments as vice-pres of the SACF takes up too much of his time , nine months later he has a change of heart!!!
UCT Race – 30 June / Tygerberg – 21 July
The last we heard was that UCT had not submitted their maps to the Province which means that no road permission has been requested , so its quite possible that no racing will take place , Tygerberg’s is supposed to take in Tiekiedraai which is undergoing a facelift so the road might still be being repaired . Internet users are at an advantage here as we will be able to inform them as the situation develops , if you are desperate give any one of the members at the top of the newsletter a call.
Leon Jonker has been promising to get Gerard in a sprint , and he managed this on the Fesantekraal circuit this past weekend . His legs were fresh as a daisy because he didn’t do any chasing , most of our guys initiated the attacks , but we also chased them down i.o.w. we chased down our own members . Leon , Gert , Francois are strong enough to work for themselves. Don’t score an own goal.
Club races
Our current Club Champ Jeremy Maartens , who is now riding for the HSBC team managed to win a stage in the Tour of Ireland , so it wasn’t such a disgrace to get dropped by him in last years club champs.
We are trying desperately to revive races for club members on a Sunday morning as we do have some magnificent trophies in the club to be won , the club also has a healthy bank balance for prize money. As an added incentive you will maintain your fitness longer through winter if you race twice over the weekend , and take it a bit easier during the week with track training , spinning classes and maybe grab a ride with Gerard Genis on a Wednesday afternoon , SA champs here we come…….
Abbreviated calendar
Saturday 30 June – UCT (see above)
Sunday 1st July: Nick the Demon , Sacks Circle , Bellville South , trophy presented by Nick Sparapolus , a well known wrestler.
Saturday 7th Eric van Enter / Knysna
Saturday 14th Rhadsport
Sunday 15th Andy Arnesen Trophy , Potsdam Ext. N7 . Andy Arnesen was an accomplished cyclist and former vice President of the club many moons ago.
Saturday 21st Tygerberg CC
Sunday 22nd Paquet Shield , Red Hill , viewing point above Simonstown. The trophy was presented to the Harries section of the club in 1905 by LMJ Paquet and reverted to cycling in 1946.
Saturday 28th Paarl CC
Start time for club races will be 9 o’clock but be there for 0830.
All the venues are pretty central , we know the distances to be raced are not so long but if you haven’t got the stamina in your legs now you never will please make an effort to attend. There is a R5.00 entrance fee which will be used for prize money. Races will on a handicapped basis and we won’t have to contend with Jeremy.
You snooze you lose
If you are using Formula 2000 , stop , it has been found to contain banned substances.Fresh from the press: Hein survived , we have another two years to experience the Kroff era .
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