23 August 2011

23 Aug 2011 23 August 2011

In this newsletter:
* PPA Membership renewal reminder
* EFT payments: Reference needed
* PPA Annual General Meeting
* New PPA Website: Discussion forums are live
* Legislation: A few reminders
* Forthcoming Events: August and September
* This weekend on the calendar: Potberg MTB

MEMBERSHIP  & NEXT SEEDING RUN
The next seeding run is set to take place tomorrow, after which the new season’s numbers (and specifically the new MTB numbers) are posted to everyone in this batch. The old blue seeded numbers are no longer valid. All PPA memberships were due on the 1st July 2011. Thank you to our members who have already renewed. If you have not already renewed, please do so now via our secure online site.  For help or more information, please contact the PPA office on (021) 689-8420

EFT PAYMENTS: WE NEED TO KNOW WHO MADE IT…
We have received quite a few direct payments into our account with no, or very vague references. While we assume that most of these relate to membership fees, unless we know exactly who made the payment, we cannot allocate it to your membership, and the membership will remain inactive.
If making a payment via EFT, please (a) add both your ID and your PPA membership number (b) plus your name (c) plus tell us what it is for 😉 You’ll be surprised at how many members get their membership numbers wrong (which is why we also need your ID) and then the payment is allocated to another member, or how many members share your initials and/or surname…

PPA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Remember to diarise and come to the PPA Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 14 September 2011, at the Canal Walk Auditorium, 17h45 for 18h30 start. For catering purposes, please RSVP to info@pedalpower.org.za by Friday 9 September.

DISCUSSION FORUMS ON OUR WEBSITE
Our website’s discussion forums are live – check them out 😉 You need to be registered with MyPPA and be logged in before you can post comments.

LEGISLATION: A FEW REMINDERS

• If you use a bike rack to transport your bicycle, make sure that the vehicle’s number plate is not obscured; alternatively fix a second number plate onto the bicycles or the rack. You can be fined for obscuring your vehicle’s number plate
• If you have to use a bicycle rack to transport bicycles on a hired vehicle, rather use the racks that go on top of the vehicle
• You may legally cycle on a national road, but not on a freeway. Refer Regulation 323
• It became law in 2004 that you must always wear a helmet

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:  AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
Sat 27 Aug:       Potberg MTB – entries open
Sat 3 Sept:       Citrusdal MTB – entries open
Wed 7 Sept:      Bike to Work Day
Sat 10 Sept:      Marc’s Simonsberg Paarl Rotary MTB Challenge – entries open
Sun 11 Sept:     Orbit Tour de Worcester
Wed 14 Sept:    PPA Annual General Meeting, Canal Walk
Sun 25 Sept:     Penny Pinchers Herald Karoo to Coast MTB Challenge
Sun 25 Sept:      Piket-Bo-Berg MTB
Sun 16 Oct:       PPA One Tonner – Early Bird entries close at the end of August

Discounted early bird entries for the PPA One Tonner close on the 31 August, Click here to enter now!
Don’t forget to order your PPA One Tonner T-shirt when entering.

Check out more online entries and click on the online entries tab.

POTBERG MTB
Saturday 27 August 2011

DISTANCES 75km; 58km; 32km; 10km
STARTING TIME 75km @ 09h30; 58km @ 09h50; 32km @ 10h10; 10km @ 10h30
ORGANISING COMMITTEE Dryland and the Community of Ouplaas
VENUE Potberg Environmental Centre
ENQUIRIES Carel Heroldt / Niel Neethling
PHONE 082 379 1177 / 082 896 3545
EMAIL carel@dryland.co.za
PRIZE GIVING/CUT-OFF 14h00
PRE-ENTRIES CLOSE 25 August 2011

Click here to enter online now

ROUTE DESCRIPTION
The 75 km route has some great single track sections, and received rave reviews from last year’s participants. Expect some 1400m of climbing. Both the 55 km Eland Route and the 32 km Bontebok Route will show you the beauty of the De Hoop Nature Reserve as cyclists make their way down to the rugged coast line. The 10 km route is a safe, fairly flat course on gravel roads through the farmlands and is child/beginner friendly.

DIRECTIONS TO VENUE
Take the N2 to Caledon and take the Bredasdorp turn-off. Continue with the main road through Bredasdorp and turn left onto the Swellendam road, then turn right towards the De Hoop Nature Reserve. You now still have 50 km of dirt road until the venue at the Potberg Environmental Center; expect to take over 2 hours from Cape Town. GPS Coordinates: S 34”22’27.90 E 20”31’53.93. See the PPA website for interactive route directions.

NOTES
Plenty of accommodation available in the area – come on the Friday and join us for a 25 km night ride as well. Non-cycling friends and family members are invited to join us for a 17 km trail run. Note: Prizes and times will be allotted only to cyclists wearing a transponder. All children u/10 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Don’t forget you new 2011 PPA MTB back number – the old 2010 number is no longer valid.

Yours in cycling
The PPA Team