Daft Vader

where is the Sandton Cronicle? Their clear concern for the community as detailed in previous articles on the spruit should warrant a front-page story. Ja right...

No, the 2 bridges are still there, but I assume they also need to be removed before some pons falls off them too.

Can he corner?

Everything has been dismantled on the Spruit. There are no "obstacles" left. Our group of builders have decided not to continue with spruit "improvements", even with the blessing of CP. The effort is certainly not worth the reward. What has become apparent is how appalling the skill of riders are that frequent the Spruit. Mostly these frikken roadies who can ride fast but cannot make a corner and cut it and make super wide tracks. If you can't at least stay on the single track, stay on the road.

Who said I never tried it. It just didn't blow my hair back.

Track cycling is boring. And I have quite a few mates who have tried to get me involved.

How about a 4X Category. I have ridden 4X here before and it is well worth supporting this. The Hamburgers are worth it alone.

We have already done that. The guy that is responsible is Oscar Olifants. We have had discussions with CP and we know exactly what the process is. We have to put together a proposal to City Parks outlining exactly what we intend to do. This needs to be communicated to the Councillors of each jurisdiction (for example, Councillor Earp is for Bryanston East.) We will need to ID all the jurisdictions as well as the councillors respectively. We will need to involve the community and collate all notices of support and objections from the community. So we will have to hold community meetings in all of the jurisdictions. We will also need to get an environmental impact assessment of the proposed improvements. Only once we have done all of this, can we submit the application which will be scrutinised by CP and then notes in support or against will be formulated as a recommendation, and then the abjudication committee will consider our request. Still keen to get involved. The way we see it, it's a 6 month project to get a decent proposal prepared. Only then can we start building. I must admit, the Spruit is losing it's appeal to me fast...

I think we're going to spend more of our time and energy building stuff in secluded private places away from Joe Public. The residents and hackers on Spruit can have it's crime and squatters back.

I doubt you will see any further developments on the Spruit, as those that are willing to sacrifice their time, money and effort are hung out to dry and criticised etc all the time. Alot of people suggest building an alternative "chicken run" etc, but that is where their support usually ends. ALL trail development activities without permission on the Spruit are illegal, (even trying to arrest erosion) which was an additional reason for the alternate lines. (Have a look at how the entrance (DHL side) to the offending part of the line has degenerated. This is not sustainable for the trail and I can tell you that it will be 100% worse after a year's worth of traffic. This is notwithstanding the raw sewerage flowing freely into the Spruit at this point.

Part of me wants him to be hung out to dry for his ligituous aspirations, but I think we lose ourselves for a minute getting pulled into the emotionally fuelled debate. I have always been fearful that we could encounter a situation such as this, despite many of the trailbuilding gang being doubtful whether it could reach this point.

Eish, 6 pages of lame-o discussion. If there is something that really hacks me off, it's conservative people who think that everyone should conform to their standards. It's 2008, not 1948 FFS...

No I can hold my own when I want to. I just laugh at many of these clowns who think they are Lance friggen Armstrong when they are actually at best mediocre. There is one particular idiot who trains along the Spruit and never acknowledges a greeting and never gives way to anyone. Friggen prude. It was very funny when he rode past us last week as we were sessioning the jumps, when he can past (dead slow) we greeted, he ignored us. Then he nearly cased it on a flat after which I chirped "nice skills". Many of my friends are race snakes. Some even wear green and yellow stripes on their kit. But they always want to compete and cannot see beyond that. They have even lost friendships during the Epic because one was not as fit or inclined to try and finish in the top 50 than the other.

Did I mention that I think all race snakes are egotists?

The desire to position oneself in a race is directly proportional to the size of one's ego....

If SA was serious about developing its sport, it wouldn't put all its cash and resources into only the main sports, such as cricket, soccer, rugby etc. For example, the Auzzie (heaven forbid, no!!!) gov't prioritized its sprots prgrammes and look how diverse and successful their sport portfolios are. What future do you see for a pro lady cyclist? No wonder more ladies are not making it a career choice.

Not that we are aware of. They are concerned about the "structures" which includes the bridges. As I understand it, that will include the teeter-totter, which I have heard has claimed many, many scalps.

I am one of the "Builders" Here is the deal. City Parks learnt about the NS stuff because we contacted them as a gesture to work with them to maintain and improve the spruit as we were fully aware that we had not got explicit (or implicit for that matter) to build the stuff. The person we spole to is a big beaureucrat and cannot get past the fact that we did not ask him first. This is why he is insisting that it must come down. We have been in dialogue with with the affected parties and we offerred that if it was to come down, then that we would do so. (As we want to keep the materials and as a show of good faith that we will work together with City Parks.) The NS stuff is coming down next weekend, so if you want to ride it, hurry. Our next step is a meeting between some of the builders, Bryanston East Community Forum, Councillor Earp and some representatives from City Parks. Personally I view this as a temporary set back and even if we don't get the NS back, I think we will have a fast track into City Parks to continue improving the Spruit as a MTB trail. We have no hard feelings, a little disappointment, but we were always aware that this could and probably would happen. I think we will however need plenty of support from the MTB community so pretty soon I will initiate a petition to show all parties the feelings of the users of the Spruit as well as the quantum of people who derive enjoyment out of it. I will keep you informed of developments. (Anyone know where I can buy a quad?)

Yup, front too. British lad, Grant "Chopper" Fielder

already done bru. I can't remember who it was but they did a tailwhip while rotaing around teh front of the bike in the opposite direction.

Surf down the face of a wave and back up and back down again. They had that sorted in the 70's

Boet I know exactly where you coming from. But you are talking absolute nonsense. If you had any idea at the skill, or courage involved to perform any of the said tricks that the guys are throwing out, you may appreciate the progression of the sport more. But it seems to me that you are one of those guys who criticize on misinformation. There does not have to be a mountain in MTB FR. You get flatland, you get trials and now some german guys are starting a form of parkour style mtb. How is that not progressing? So in my view, anyone willing to put it out there that a sport is not progressing, should maybe be able to put his body on the line to understand it first, and then make a qualified statement about it.

Pointless discussion. You guys have made up your mind. as for the surfing/MTB comparison. Same thing, different medium.