Daft Vader

Did you see 7 year old Mathew do the step down on the Drop Zone?

Nah, weather was a bit dodge. Going on Saturday morning, hopefully the sun is shining. I want to hit a big sketch drop, so will need all the gear. Helmet cam is prepped and on helmet this time. Going to try and capture all the trails.

Funny how all the people who have actually picked up some tools and have built trails seem to appreciate Geoff and his team's efforts. My guess is that the biggest "contributors" to the "constructive comments" have not built a single jump or berm or NS section themselves. If you have, tell us where it is and we can have an official hub test ride and we can give you some hints and tips. I have seen a couple of guys railing the pump track. (including Stifler manualling 4 of the humps.) The problem is not the track, but the vacant space above the shoulders and between the legs ...

A little preview of the Drop Zone and some of Space Junkie at the Toyota Mtn Bark Park. Camera was mounted on my bars, so not ideal, but we're going back tomorrow to try and get some better footage of some of the better trails. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EN6zGKKrnM&feature=channel_pageDaft Vader2008-12-15 01:05:24

I have some comments to update some of the viewpoints expressed. The FR stuff is still going to be built. Some of the Spruit builders are keen to help. It's a start. The DJ's are being built. FR are still the minority, so I'm afraid we have to wait. Do you know how many retards have hurt themselves on the 2 small (read fuggin TINY) jumps on the Space Junkie (Black) run. I have personally seen 6 people carried out of there on backboards. Imagine if it was a really technical run. And you can't blame the bike park for that. As for all things, they will cater for the masses. And they must. Lets face it, the park will not be sustainable if it catered predominantly for the FR brigade. (As much as I would love it.) I have not seen any of the hard-core (by the way people talk) FR brigade there, so when the big stuff comes, I'm sure you will all be nailing it coz you are SOOO good. Personally, I really enjoy 2 trails. One is a green run with excellent flow. The second is a blue run ending in the drop zone. You can get decent air on that trail if you ride it hard enough.

What you can see is definately not the best part. The trails are where you will smile. Try it out. You will be impressed.

I have just received notification from the Randburg SAPS MTB unit that an armed suspect was arrested on Tuesday near 12th Avenue after an alleged attempted hijacking. If you were a victim of a hijacking or attempted hijacking, please contact the Sandton SAPS who will hold an ID parade. Do your bit...

Those cops apprehended a couple of the hijackers that have been terrorising users of the Spruit. I chatted to them for a bit. Top blokes.

Actually, import duties are put in place to protect the local industry. The problem is that SA companies are inefficient and our workforce is lazy and expensive. Where no local industry requires protection, there can be a lobby for the insertion of another duty item at 0% but this is not going to happen for insignificant items (in the bigger balance of payments picture)

Was it you I saw riding upto Emmerentia on Sunday on your 29er?

You will pay 15% on the invoice value (excluding shipping costs) (using the exch rate at the time of shipping) + and effective 17,5% VAT. (VAT is charged on the Customs Value + 10% thereof upliftment, + any duties). If you split the bike up into 2 seperate consignments, then you will not pay the duty, but will still pay an effective 15,4% VAT, but then it will have to be invoiced as such. Asking CRC to alter the invoice is dumb. SARS can impose a penalty of upto 3 times the value of the bike (AND you will still have to pay the duties and VAT) but realistically they only go with once the value + the duties and VAT.

The only thing that's "illegal" from a "grey import" perspective is that there is an infringement by the supplier (i.e. not CWC) who sells a product beyond the market for which his distribution agreement with Mavic is limited. If CWC imported the products legitimately (i.e. through proper declaration thereof and payment of taxes) then effectively there is no crime committed. If however the wheels are pirate (i.e. fake), then that is a different matter. However, if Mavic (FR) has lodged an application against the offending supplier, they may have through an international court confiscated the wheels as evidence against its naughty distributor. But I am just speculating now. I don't see what the basis of the raid was if it was not the latter.

Question. Who performed the raid? SAFACT? Did Mavic lodge a civil claim against CWC?

Pretty much. Everyone is a legend in their own lunchbox

As you are, or are not aware, there is a group of people that have selflessly put their hands up to assist in an effort to improve the Braamfontein Spruit as a MTB venue. These people are representatives from most of the cycling clubs that are in close proximity to the Spruit and whose members regularly use the Spruit. We are following the Johannesburg City Parks' prescribed process in getting the ball rolling and for this we need assistance from every single mountain biker who uses the Spruit. So this is a request to everyone to please be considerate to other users of the Spruit. This means that DO NOT CONSIDER THE SPRUIT AS YOUR PERSONAL RACE TRACK to the detriment of others. I'm not saying don't pin it, I'm asking that you think when you ride. If you are busting a gut and at 13000rpm, give others a wide berth. Don't expect them to yield for you. If there is insufficient space, then I'm afraid, lose some of that momentum and slow down. I have personally encountered far too many people who suffer from delusions of grandeur thinking they are the latest greatest XC pro's. It's funny that people who are winning races are seldom guilty of doing this, so there is no reason for us to do so. We are forging relationships with several institutions who all have the best interests of the Spruit at heart, so lets not be our own worst enemies. Contrary to common belief, the walkers and hikers are starting to warm towards bikers, but then there is always that one megalomaniac who undoes all the good work. I trust we will have your support on this. Heck, don't limit this to the Spruit. Just be considerate when you ride.

Amen brutha. Bike parks = jumps, drops, Northshore, teeter totters and flowing purpose built singletrack. THATs why we want bike parks. It has nothing to do with being mugged.

You are sick... There are more people riding MTBs now than ever. The lines of communcation have opened alot more since 2003. The b@stards have realised the value of bikes and clearly have some sort of outlet for them. BTW, one of the hijackings happened right next to the new bike park. (Now how would that fit into their scare tactics strategy?) Your conspiracy theory is uttlerly risible.

Hopefully they work in conjunction with the Randburg Police who have a specific MTB patrol unit created specifically for this kind of problem. Element of surprise is everything here. The men heading this up are Inspectors Swann and Van Heerden. Sean, please PM me their contact details. As for trail development etc on the Spruit, here is the latest:- Almost all of the clubs who frequent the Spruit got together to discuss a co-ordinated approach to improvements for the Spruit. The challenge is that the process is very bereaucratic and will take significant effort and lots of time of those involved to get it going. There is an informal committee which has started this process but it's going to take time. The new MTB park is not part of this process and is in my view an excellent and much needed resource for Jo'burg which has dismal MTB facilities and I think it deserves full support. Regardless of whether they are printing money or not. Unless you have picked up a spade yourself, I can assure you that you have under estimated the amount of work that is required for any form of trail development. Not to mention the amount of riding time that you lose while putting the proverbial shoulder against the grindstone...

The dude that was putting Butterfly Pig together has emigrated...

Close enough for what?

The only SS I'd ever consider is on a jump bike or a BMX. I always view SS (and even more so rigid SS) and even more so (29er rigid SS) riders in the same light a camry drivers. It is ultimate in its arb-ness. I think it's highly likely a completely misplaced and unfounded preception, but it is my perception. Just riding along doing nothing doesn't do it for me. I don't think it looks cool. Quite frankly, it just looks goofy and not in a good way. Having said that, if you like it, and like riding it, that's ALL that is important. So enjoy it in spite of me.

My backpack saved my butt. I did a big jump, bottomed out my suspension on landing which threw me over the bars backwards into a tree. I fractured a vertebrae, but were it not for my backpack, I may not be riding today...