Stuck in a hotel in SA. This must never happen again!

[Globalti]

I'm sitting in a hotel in Johannesburg trying to catch up on work and watching the traffic outside on the highway. Every few minutes a bunch of roadies or MTBers goes past, looking tanned and fit, heading out on a ride.

Next time I come here I'm definitely going to make contact beforehand with a cycling group, arrange to borrow or hire a bike and bring some kit. It's TOO painful being cooped up in here on a lovely sunny day!

 

[mondobongo]

It can be done RR we used to have a guy from Texas who worked away ride with us at Swinley once or twice a year.

 

[Nicensleazy]

I wouldn't want to go riding in Jo'burg.......you would be taking a very high risk!

 

[mondobongo]

Should be fine with a group of locals. S**t can happen anywhere why miss out on doing something good, I would'nt.

 

[longers]

A ride out with locals would be great anywhere, they'd keep you safe.

Maybe close the curtains for today though until you've done your work.

 

[Nicensleazy]

I think Jo'burg was recently voted the most unsafe place to live!

 

[longers]

If he went out on his tod with a shiny bike and his CC shirt and buff on and wandered aimlessly into the wrong side of town then he might get grief, but with local riders it would be fine I'm sure. I'd do it, no problem.

 

[Globalti]

Nobody rides in central Johannesburg, that would be asking for trouble. This is out in reasonably safe areas like Sandton and Rivonia. I'm at a place called Sunsquare Montecasino, which is a really vulgar mall/casino place with loads of restaurants and things but no swimming pool.

A few years ago I did get taken out MTBing but the bike they hired for me was shite, a real Halfords special, with a seatpost so short that I had to ride it way beyond the limit marks and towards the end of the ride it actually came out, bending the top of the seat tube! We followed a route down through some river valleys which cut through the connurbation, using the paths the local use to walk miles to work every day. I think both bikes and routes have improved a little since then, although I visited a bike shop yesterday called Cajees Cyle Corner, see: http://www.cajees.com/Profile.htm which I can see a cross the road as I type this - what a pile of shite! The whole place was jumbled up with all kinds of bikes with no attempt at presentation, the stock filthy and clearly old, piles of cartons everywhere and wheels and tyres stacked up. I looked for some cheap shoes but gave up in dispair, even the white, middle-aged sales bloke was hacked off with the state of the stock.

 

[Nicensleazy]

Sandton is very nice, I stayed there for a short while on business when I lived in Constantia. I remember when Commissioner Street was a lovely place to walk down. Not any more if you value your life!

 

[Globalti]

Well yesterday when I strolled across to the bike shop it quickly became clear that the highway authorities here are not interested in catering for the walking masses. The pavements are badly maintained and not continuous; they come to a stop at corners and road-crossing arrangements are dangerous. When you do walk into a place where normally people drive, you find that there's no pavement so you've got to squeeze in alongside all the BMWs, Mercs and Audis and risk your life dodging through them to reach the shops.

At least in Britain a good pavement of adquate width and smooth surface is always included in new road-building schemes.

 

[Nicensleazy]

Have you been to Cape Town recently, just wondering how things are there.

 

[Globalti]

Haven't been on this trip. Many visitors stay aound the embarassingly-misnamed Victoria and Alfred Waterfront development, where it's considered reasonably safe to stroll around as long as you stay in the frequented areas. Central Cape Town isn't too bad as long as you stay in the main streets.

Durban is another city where you need to be a bit savvy about where you can and can't walk. Nice place though.

In Jo'Burg, Durban and Cape Town people drive from safe area to safe area with their doors locked. You drive from the office compound, which as electric fences and gates to the mall, which has fences all around and security gurards, to home, which is in a white neighbourhood and has electric fences, window bars and armed guards on standby. As always the majority of people are peaceful and immensely kind and polite but there are always a few opportunists hanging around on street corners looking for that open window or handbag to snatch.

It's not just humans either - thieving baboons are an increasing problem, especially in Cape Town where there are lots of properties spread out along the coast.

My friends here wanted me to come down for the Cape Argus, a 100km road race held in March, but the timing defeated me this year. Maybe next year...

 

[Nicensleazy]

Do you think things will improve? Why has it become like this?

 

[Globalti]

Things have improved recently as they have a new Minister for Safety and Security, there's less of a feeling of paranoia and the Police are more under control.

However as I sit here it's clear to me that the problem is the massive inequality between blacks and whites. A black middle class is beginning to emerge and the consequence is more traffic and more, busy, shopping malls. The country has changed visually since I first came here in the early 90s; it used to be mostly whites driving cars but now the number has remained the same while there is an equal number of black drivers. However the majority are still poor, so in common with most of Africa you see hundreds of people walking miles along the freeways while rich whites and blacks sit in their cars. On top of that there are millions of unemployed refugees from Zimbabwe and other neighboring countries; desperation leads people to crime and there are easy targets here.

It doesn't help that with regular SAA flights to Lagos Nigerians have flooded in and are heavily involved in the usual stuff like car crime, cellphone crime, fraud etc. Mind you the Nigerians are doing pretty well out of South African investment in heir own country.

 

[roadiewill]

Have you been to Cape Town recently, just wondering how things are there.

I was in Cape Town in December, only really went to the waterfront so things arent to bad there but still, the taxi drivers are reluctant to stop at traffic lights in the fear of car jacking.

I also saw lots of groups of roadies whilst I was out there, though it looks fairly boring - most roads are just dead straight with just parched land either side and the odd ostrich. Makes a change from snow though...