Cape Town Cycle Tour 2017 cancelled

When I heard it was cancelled I thought it was a joke. Why not postpone the starts with an hour or so, but seeing all the other contributing factors I personally think the right call was made.

It is what it is.

We will get over it.

Please Please Please can we find why there was a protest........I live right next to where the protest occured and can you believe that a security guard working in our complex had to call last night to say he wont be coming to work because theres a chance of a protest.

So its clear this was a planned move if he knew about it......

This was an attack on the cycling community and a political move and thats it...

This is a good gesture, they probably didn't budget to transport it back, but it's still good.

Maybe move the race to a different time of year. Cape Town has known windy periods, maybe September or October.

March - April are supposedly the best times wind wise in the Cape, but you pay your money and take your chances. 

Well for us locals it is normally, by May - June the wind is the from the NW and as *** if not worse together with driving rain.

Please Please Please can we find why there was a protest........I live right next to where the protest occured and can you believe that a security guard working in our complex had to call last night to say he wont be coming to work because theres a chance of a protest.

 

So its clear this was a planned move if he knew about it......

 

This was an attack on the cycling community and a political move and thats it...

Definitely an attack on the cycling community. And I can guarantee you nobody there can tell them why they had to throw bricks in the road. Somebody just told them to do it. Next year they must bypass that place, because I can sure tell you next year the same will happen.

One have to wonder about the new fire also in Houtbaai, not the one that destroyed the shacks.

March - April are supposedly the best times wind wise in the Cape, but you pay your money and take your chances. 

 

Well for us locals it is normally, by May - June the wind is the from the NW and as *** if not worse together with driving rain.

Sort of. But the bad storms normally only start around late June early July.

And in their minds their prostest effort was effective. Maak my die moer in.

Two loads of washing done 

Cleaned the kitchen

Feel like chocolate

Need a power nap soon 

Time to unpack my kit from the car...

Damn.

That Cadence CarboFuel sure packs some woema if not used at threshold. 

Definitely an attack on the cycling community. And I can guarantee you nobody there can tell them why they had to throw bricks in the road. Somebody just told them to do it. Next year they must bypass that place, because I can sure tell you next year the same will happen.

 

One have to wonder about the new fire also in Houtbaai, not the one that destroyed the shacks.

Poor people who have lost everything and are angry don't see us as a "cycling community" they see us as a bunch of middle aged dudes who ride bicycles which cost more than what they earn in a year....

When you don't have its human nature to hit out at those who do.

Yes somebody probably told them to do it, but they wouldn't have if the underlying anger wasn't there.

If my and all my friends family's houses had burnt down and it seemed to me that the City cared more about a bunch of "rich" people on bicycles, I would be pissed off too.

i dig the guy 'who won'

Definitely a day to sort out the selfish from those who care about others.

Yes it's sad but if 35000 riders endanger one persons life then it should not happen.

Is a finishing medal worth somebody dying for?

It is interesting that you guys all say 2009 was ok to ride. Yes I did 2009, and it was fine. Yes, I got blown over at the start.

BUT. Most of us posting here have decent bike skills. We have experience at riding in these conditions. However we are a small % of the cycle tour.

I was cycling at the back with the back markers in 2009, taking it easy. Seeing so many of them fall coming down chappies with the swirling wind was a disaster. Guys and Girls being blown close to the edge.

What you are all forgetting is in 2009, they stopped the ride on the top of Suikerbossie at about 13H00 or 14H00 I cant remember. Yes, they stopped it due to dangerous wind conditions.

Now, factor in the road conditions in terms of protest. Then factor in fire in hout bay, AND the fire on the mountain and the need for access to emergency vehicles to both shack fires and bush fire.

Excellent call by the organisers.

Its not like last year, where they knew the route would be in danger for like 10 days before the start.

The wind was not the problem, it was the wind AND the protest action AND the fire risk.

Poor people who have lost everything and are angry don't see us as a "cycling community" they see us as a bunch of middle aged dudes who ride bicycles which cost more than what they earn in a year....

 

When you don't have its human nature to hit out at those who do.

 

Yes somebody probably told them to do it, but they wouldn't have if the underlying anger wasn't there.

 

If my and all my friends family's houses had burnt down and it seemed to me that the City cared more about a bunch of "rich" people on bicycles, I would be pissed off too.

Yes Patch, but in this country we will always have the haves and the have nots. It is the very nature of this world, and especially the 3rd world.

Does this mean that we are then not allowed to have a mass participation cycling event where most of the money gets plowed back into charities and the community? If this is so, I spell a bleak future for this event, and the country as a whole.

It is time the WC government get off their backsides that they have been patting so much lately for doing a good job, and get their fingers on the pulse of the poorer communities.

More footage

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2017/03/12/cape-town-cycle-tour-cancelled/

Yes Patch, but in this country we will always have the haves and the have nots. It is the very nature of this world, and especially the 3rd world.

 

Does this mean that we are then not allowed to have a mass participation cycling event where most of the money gets plowed back into charities and the community? If this is so, I spell a bleak future for this event, and the country as a whole.

 

It is time the WC government get off their backsides that they have been patting so much lately for doing a good job, and get their fingers on the pulse of the poorer communities.

"Does this mean we can't have mass events?" No, that's not what I said. No need to make it about extremes.

Does most do the money actually go back into charity? Or is that just a story we tell ourselves to make us feel better while we watch the news of people's shacks burning down, on our 50" flat screens, while sipping our R40 per bottle craft beers.....

It is funny that all of the videos are of the cursed wind tunnel. Most of the roads were actually quite fine. Our cycle back to the Waterfront was quite chilled, except for one idiot motorist in a BMW X3 that wanted to drive over a few cyclists.

Any F head can fly his glass bike in the wind but takes a bit more to ride in these conditions, but not impossible. 

Hey guys and girls! SUPER sad for everyone that put in all the months effort to be here for this event, wherever you're from. All those hours training, the sacrifices on family and other endeavours, potential travelling and accommodation statistics, ready to challenge yourself against both you and your other competitors lined up with you, suddenly not coming to fruition. It is almost the ultimate letdown, for each and every person who woke up this morning, put on their bibs, got all their gear together, got in the zone, ready for their "EVERYBODY SAY HHHOOOOOOPPLLLLAAA" moment and then be off! This outcome has never been considered, with a complete cancelling of the race as that has never happened before. I would like to say I'm sorry that you did not get the ending you had imagined when you started the journey to this day! I truly feel for you.

If your disappointment has left you angry I would like to challenge you to what you think Tumbles would have said about this all, had he still been with us! 

It is funny that all of the videos are of the cursed wind tunnel. Most of the roads were actually quite fine. Our cycle back to the Waterfront was quite chilled, except for one idiot motorist in a BMW X3 that wanted to drive over a few cyclists.

Agreed - we trook a chilled ride back along Sea Point on the Promenade and what a beautiful day, heading down to the beach soon .

It's *** disappointing and even if the weather was rideable on the blue route and beyond.

And let's say hypothetically there were no fires or protest action.

We probably all would of had a go at it right ?

How many people would of even got 2km's down the road without injury?

Am as disappointed as the next person. But hey life go's on.

Yes there will always be haves and have nots. It's not just the governments problem, it's ours too. The least we can do is show some compassion to those who have not.

 

"Does this mean we can't have mass events?" No, that's not what I said. No need to make it about extremes.

 

Does most do the money actually go back into charity? Or is that just a story we tell ourselves to make us feel better while we watch the news of people's shacks burning down, on our 50" flat screens, while sipping our R40 per bottle craft beers.....

Yes, we do however believe that participating in this event is showing compassion. And maybe that message is not getting to the communities. And we all trust that the PPA is getting the money to the charities.

And not all of us participating are this fortunate either to be able to sip on expensive beer. On the way back, I saw a bloke driving back to the Cape Flats in his busted old Passat, with a cheapy MTB strapped to the back of the car. He probably saved all year last year to be able to afford the entry fee. I am already over my disappointment. I am not sure how that poor bloke will handle it.

Here goes and this was my started of my 34 Cycle tour so now what I have to my 50th at 61years of age and not 60! I also was stopped at Tokai Bridge (end freeway) more or less 1st man of @ group.

What should have the Cape Town Cycle organizers done?

1. At the start of my group, remember $ was 8 min ahead - 3rd group off, they should have moved the whole group forward. I personally did move forward, way easier then the rest, as I had an interview been moved ahead of the ropes. While walking forward alone, I even walk past David Bellairs and shook his hand and carried on man alone to the point where the riders from the other side start came to our side start. If the whole group were allowed too - apparently the start marshals were been quite insistent about not allowing riders to follow me - the idea should have carried through all the groups. If this was the course of the event been cancelled then the Cycle tour may still have happened. At the end of the freeway the wind was not bad at all.

2. We now live in a way different country / world to what we use too. After the short 47km route, I on the hub made comments that this should always be the cycle tour route - somebody else who know how to find old post can try find them. I am now changing that statement that this route should always be the possible route of the cycle tour - and if they have a long route and a short route Cape Town cycle tour on the day that's fine. If thing in the south get bad then everyone rides the short route - easy to change even 15 min before the start possible even after the start has taken place. I not saying that then people will not try and burn tires on the freeway - but I think the police could possible control this quite well.

I do really believe that what happened today could have been avoided and was even kind of predictable to happen at some point. Maybe the start mats should even only be on the free way - all that is need is a start timer for the groups. remember the 1st Cycle tour started at the castle - the start line is not cast in stone. Thus I do believe the Cape Town cycle tour possible should consider offering every participant a full refund on their entries. But why should charities suffer due to the lack of foresight by the cycling bodies representative at the Cape Town cycle tour? I wait for all the details of exactly why the event was stopped - windy weather cannot be the final argument!
 

Sorry for all the people who devoted time and money and were looking forward to the event... I can imagine the disappointment especially for those who traveled far.

Perspective: At the end of the day it's just a 100km race / fun ride.... there will be more.

It's not all about the day, hopefully you enjoyed the journey... the training, buying new stuff, etc.....

Easy to say I know

Tactically, if I was to protest against the 'authorities', then the CTCT was the best event to do it in. OMTOM, will be next.