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30 minutes ago, Wyatt Earp said:Repetition is key for natural instincts to kick in.
But I digress, most people could do well with a course that puts them in the right mental state for scenarios unexpected.
Every so often I find myself wondering what I will do if I am confronted in such a scenario where I am needing to defend myself, especially on my bike. How will I react? What will I do? How will I defend myself?
I think it's important to know that before you find yourself needing to figure out the next move and not knowing what that next move ought to be. It could mean the difference between life and death.
It should preferably be a muscle memory situation, really. Your repetitively trained instincts should take over and get you out of immediate danger, and allow you to get to relative safety where you can make clearer decisions.
And as you say, that only comes from being trained, and not as some mental exercise, "hope for the best" situation.
1 hour ago, Wannabe said:You don't draw a firearm if you are not prepared to use it
This is probably the most important comment on this entire thread.
If you draw, your very next action must be to squeeze the trigger whilst making sure you ONLY get rounds on target. By this time there is no more time to worry about emotion or consequence. You draw to shoot. And before you do that you had better make sure you have an adequate backstop for rounds that pass through or miss the target, because you are liable for every round that departs the chamber of your sidearm.
I chuck my kit into the washing machine and in addition to the washing powder I chuck in about a tot of white vinegar. Zero pong. My gloves were getting manky and since I do that the smell is gone. My helmet liner gets a warm hand wash using hand gel in the basin and left in the soapy water to soak while I shower. After rinsing everything smells fresh again. I don't have odour issues anymore.
The new addition to the Hammer trail was officially opened today, and it could not have been a better day. The jumps were perfectly groomed like a fine chocolate cake, with just the right amount of tacky grip in the morning. As the day progressed it dried out nicely and the jumps got even faster. A good bunch of guys and girls were sending that line and the stoke levels were high. All round today was a jol. Even the weather played nice with not a breath of wind making the day even more special.
The drop was conquered in short order by just about everyone. I found the landings a bit harsh and managed to whiplash my neck on the last attempt - the drop time is pretty long - but I'm sure doing it a couple more times will iron out the kinks.
Doing the run from the top of the Hammer all the way through to the end is a awesome experience, and by the time you turn out of the trail your quads are on fire from all the pumping. That line can now probably be considered a full flow line as no pedal strokes are required, yet the accumulated hang time from all the jumps is not something to scoff at.
I think it is safe to say that between Hoogekraal and Contermanskloof, these two trail networks are among the cream of the crop in South African mountain biking. Thanks to the Tygerberg Mountain Bike club for making this all possible.
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This is the kind of NMT infrastructure I don't support.
I wholeheartedly support the city’s initiative to expand non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure in the mentioned areas. However, as others have pointed out, I am concerned that the uptake of these improvements might be limited if cyclist and pedestrian safety is not adequately addressed. It’s essential to recognize that this initiative goes beyond merely keeping cyclists off the roads; the ultimate goal should be to create a safer and more efficient transportation system for everyone.
The specific section between Paarden Island and town has repeatedly demonstrated the challenges faced when implementing cycle lanes. Despite the initial investment, these lanes often become encroached upon by vagrants and criminals, rendering them ineffective. If people fear for their safety while using these facilities, they will opt for alternative modes of transportation, defeating the purpose of the infrastructure.
To enhance the success of this project, I recommend that the city not only focus on physical infrastructure but also invest in a comprehensive security plan. This plan should ensure safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists along the west coast cycle path. By addressing safety concerns, we can encourage more people to use these facilities, ultimately reducing the number of cars on the roads.
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I have this on my bike. it really is a gamechanger
to be fair - that huffy is only a bicycle shaped object. It's a far cry from what I would call a bicycle as we have come to know them.
49 minutes ago, Headshot said:That is probably a really effective gravel bike. I'd ride it, ugly or not.
I saw a chap drop into one the Tokai snakes on a gravel bike while I was heading up to DH0 a while back. It all looked good, except for those dropper bars. They made me feel very wobbly even just looking at him.
42 minutes ago, Headshot said:Custom painted Ti gravel bikes from the CTCT expo - a cool R200k plus.
nee sies man!
3 minutes ago, TyronLab said:Not gonna lie, I think that thing is rad as ****. You'd need to be a very weird geometry human for that to actually fit you, but I think it's awesome. Super-monster gravel bike!
It has that 6 - beer girl / Roxette vibe going for it.
In public, everyone will agree not to like it, but after 6 beers, everyone likes it, and people who say they didn't have a secret Roxette fetish was lying 
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@PatrickR Thanks for the hard graft you, your team of trail gnomes and Mike have done there over the last couple of years. In terms of progression the Leatt Skills Park has made a HUGE impact, not only for me, but for many other likeminded riders. On any given weekend you are sure to see the same smiling faces out there just doing run after run after run, mostly until the wind decides it time to end the fun.
That has translated to better riding skills on the trails elsewhere and the expected escalation of the fun factor. I am stoked to hear that the club is planning on taking this kind of riding even further.
And now to take those skills to the Hammer and do such a fantastic run just bends my mind. We are soooo blessed down here in the Cape to have access to these facilities.
Dankie!
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19 minutes ago, splat said:
I can see why they went belly up.
That run from the top of the Hammer to the bottom has got to rank as maybe one of the top lines in SA now methinks.
2 hours ago, ChrisF said:Rain predicted for Tuesday, again for Friday.
Should help Patrick to wrap up the build
That build has been wrapped up. 😉 I was fortunate to be allowed an impromptu lap or two last Wednesday when Patrick was out putting some water down with a hose pipe. All it needs is some good🌦️and to be given the 👍.
It has got to be the best line of it's kind anywhere in the Cape.
Honestly, muchas gracias to TBMTB club and Duran van Eeden for building more of this.
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Sooooo, after all the rain throughout the past weekend, one wonders if the guru of all trail gurus, Mr Patrick Roberts will be cutting the ceremonial tape on that piece of magic that Duran van Eeden added to the bottom of the Hoogekraal Hammer for the upcoming weekend?
2 hours ago, Headshot said:Greg needs to get on top of his game - that was a silly crash and very disappointing after the "not Done Yet" hype. He did manage to get 32 points though.
He better do that sooner rather than later. I'm no pro and can barely ride a bike, but I'll be 48 in a couple of months, and I noticed a steady decline in my speed throughout the last few years. In my mind, I am going at light speed, but then I see my riding mates, some of whom are 2 decades my junior disappear down the trail while I am barely holding on.
I rode the Conties full Enduro last week and I set my fastest times down all the lines, and still came nearly stone last. There is a point in one's life where you just hit that performance wall and then speed is one of the first things to vacate the premises.
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Carrying while cycling
in Cycling Safety
Posted
It actually does - when compared to similar places elsewhere in the Cape, never mind SA.
Yesterday I was driving past Dunoon to the N7 and passed maybe 3 SAPS bakkies and probably as many CoCT Traffic cars that had boxed in a taxi by the traffic lights and they were busy cuffing the driver in the middle of the road.
Another time I passed the same way and I'm pretty sure all of Cape Town's police and law enforcement descended on that place like it was ground zero for a "eat as much as you can for free KFC buffet", except it was for a shooter at the local Shoprite.
Look, that place has it's days, and the days for cycling past there are long gone thanks to Covid, but apart from that, I still prefer the Cape over anywhere else in SA.