cat-i

There's few people (apart from glenn himself) that knows the trails as well as the review writers. They just prefer to ride rather than stop to take pictures. Doesn't mean they can lift other people's pictures, though

Alex broke a seatpost.

Glenn's blog has very regular updates. Here's a post about the slower riders that i particularly enjoyed this morning - it gives you insight into how hard this race is ... and then about the spectacular performance that we see out there from Martin and Alex, Tweet, Mike, Trevor and everyone else riding. http://glennharrisonsa.blogspot.com/2012/06/for-slower-riders-in-race-across-sa.html

With pictures that I took in 2009: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/38301-boven-last-weekend/ Could have just mentioned they were lifted off the hub

I showed a few friends the route that I cycle to work on commute days. we entered Delta park just next to the school, and then up to the botanical gardens before we turned away for a moyo breakfast at zoo lake. The spruit was on its best behaviour yesterday morning. mud-sections gone, all that's left were fast flowing tracks. With oak leaves everywhere, people walking their dogs, jogging, riding with kids. Lots of people greeted us or smiled at us - it may have been because of the grins on our faces. 'twas a happy place yesterday.

WW we were back waaay to late to catch the spur open. luckily macdonalds was open for a late-night snack and lots of laughter. i'll be writing exams the next two weeks, so no more nightrides for me til end april

Thursday night is an intro ride. And Friday just happen to be a public holiday

We were 12 people. The previous night's storm made the tracks dust-free. Those tracks that we could fine, anyway. Long after-summer grass and lots of building made it hard to find the familiar tracks down Vetseun - we hiked the bikes quite a bit to get back on track. Later we couldn't find quadbuster either. We portaged the bikes up to the birthday-tree, and celebrated dk's birthday with easter eggs, jamcakes and gluhwein. Going down heartbreak-hill was much easier than the usual drag up. Then we went up the St George's tracks (where a new fence made it difficult to get through to the singletrack next to the highway). Then a fast chase down shebeen queen, up Mieliemuur, and back at the Spur just in time to order some hot chocolate and chips before the kitchen closed. Still the most fun you can have on a Thursday night. When did we grow up?

Just do it. Now. I cycled to work today. It's on cyclepaths, some backroads, and through Delta Park and parts of the Spruit. People walk there with their dogs, or run, or walk with their babies in prams. Commuting by bike is one of the most efficient ways that I know of to clear my mind. My dad's in hospital. The middle ear infection turned out to be a benign brain tumour, which then turned out to be malignant, which then turned out to be systemic. There were still some unchased dreams that now may stay unchased forever. A friend died in a motorbike accident in January. He would have done Cape Epic with his wife. She is riding without him. Many years ago a bunch of my friends did the Double Century with me. We were all on mountain bikes, some with slicks. When we climbed Franschoek pass the second time, I passed 2 guys who seem to not have seen each other for a while. the one asked the other how he was doing. "Vrot", came the reply. "No man, I mean in the other life", the younger guy said. "There is not other life. There is only now." It's not important that there won't be time to read all the marketing chapters properly before the online tests. It's not important that Werner again told me how crappy my contribution to the group's assignment was, just to have him present it as his own a few days later. Lots of deadlines before the next block of classes. Not enough time to prepare for the tests or put more effort into the group projects. Good coffee. Friends. Singletrack. My mountain bike(s). Being fully alive, because there is only today. That's what matters. Tonight I will charge my night-light's batteries. Tomorrow morning I will pack the Trance on the car, and tomorrow night I will go ride Dark & Dirty. And I'll ride in purple, because the passion is back. Join me. Irene Mall (spur side) 19:00. Mountain bike, light, helmet, and some money for hot chocolate afterwards.

for a sani2c entry i can get an FB account

You riding with panniers or a trailer? Or everything in your backpack? Planning to camp, or stay over at B&B? You planning to do touristy things inbetween, or only cycle?

The first round of the Gauteng XCO series will be held the 4th March 2012 and will be at Thaba trails. Starting times and regestration closing times Entries will be on the day. Sprogs/nippers/Sub jnr/sports classes start at 08.30 Reg closes at 07.30, Entry R50 Ladies Classes start at 09.30, Reg closes at 08.30, Entry R100 Master men/vet/sub-vet start at 10.30 reg closes at 09.30,Entry R100 Elite men/U23/Jnr/youth start at 11.45 reg closes at 10.30, Entry R100 For more information contact: Terence casey 072 224 3536 Wendall bole 082 900 0749

got dates and venues. anywhere where i can get more info - times? entry fees? edit: here: http://www.cgcycling.co.za/documents/Olympic_Footwear_Gauteng_XCO_Provincial_Championship.pdf The race series will be held at 5 different venues over Gauteng and will count towards the awarding of provincial colours for both CGC & GN. The race’s will be held at the following dates and venues: #1 4/3/2012 Thaba Trails, Jhb South #2 1/4/2012 Monument Pretoria #3 20/5/2012 Phambili Jhb west #4 17/6/2012 Fountians Pretoria #5 1/7/2012 Avianto Jhb west Starting times and regestration closing times Entries will be on the day. Sprogs/nippers/Sub jnr/sports classes start at 08.30 Reg closes at 07.30, Entry R50 Ladies Classes start at 09.30, Reg closes at 08.30, Entry R100 Master men/vet/sub-vet start at 10.30 reg closes at 09.30,Entry R100 Elite men/U23/Jnr/youth start at 11.45 reg closes at 10.30, Entry R100 For more information contact: Terence casey 072 224 3536 Wendall bole 082 900 0749

showers help a lot, but there's ways around it if you can't.

My roadbike. I bought it second-hand in 1998. Broke the front gears on Suikerbossie in 2007, and couldn't find replacement gear levers, so now only have small blade in front. It still gets out every year at 94.7, and sometimes Argus. I have a Capestorm wind jacket from 1995, still use it on commutes - much more often than the roadbike.

found it - thx defender!

on CSA I can see there's an event on 4 March. Nothing more. No link, no venue. Rockhoppers used to have all these dates but nothing. Is there a series this year?

<sigh>

1. check on a map before you attempt to cycle from a new office! My 15 k commute from Parktown to Randburg became a 40 ride past Westdene ... Only when i saw the minedumps at the Maraisburg offramp I realised that I'm slightly too south ... 2. Take a light - just in case

U 7:18.

Is there an XCO series in Gauteng this year? Downloaded the CGC calender, but the only reference to XCO is a high-school league, and the event that Xcosa organised. If there is, where could I find the calendar?

You are cordially invited to a celebration of (insert own reason) on 1 January 2012 at 9:00 on top of the Tugela falls (Amphitheatre, Drakensberg) Dress code: Black Tie We'll most likely leave Gauteng around Saturday morning (31/12/2011). Sleep in the mountain that evening, either at the top, or in Sentinel Cave on the way to the top. It's also possible to to it as a day hike; just be at the top by 8:00 on 1 January to set up your dinner. Windguru forecast rain for Saturday until around 23:00 that night. Clear on Sunday, but cold (around 13 degrees) Make sure you have a rain jacket and something warm. You need a proper tent and sleeping bag if you decide to sleep at the top. More details on what to take with here: XTreme Dining for Dummies We are 8 - hoping to see some other diners up there.

Website is a bit ... interesting to navigate. Found the race details here: http://xcosa.co.za/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/31-race-series-links

We had some close calls. Underestimated the technicality of the pink track and took a newbie there. And after that, overestimated the abilities of another rider and took him on the black. We were very lucky to only have a few bruises and minor blood to show for the weekend ... and a broken derrailleur ... and huge grins, of course!

Mankele \Man'ke'le\ (adj) Superlative degree of huge: big grin, huge grin, makulu grin, Mankele grin. He had a Mankele grin on his face after they avalanched downhill. (interj) An exclamation of extacy, usually after a specifically technical or fast piece of singletrack. Mankele, but that was a good ride! source: Adri's Dictionary of Montainbiking terms The first time I experienced the Mankele-grin was after the inaugural Mankele-Sudwala marathon way back in 2007. Afterwards I vowed to go back there to explore at leasure. Years later I criss-crossed the tracks on foot, this time during an adventure race. The morning after the adventure race (while all other sensible adventurers were sleeping or recovering) team Lickety Split explored the singletracks. Again I vowed to go back to explore at leasure. When Team Clueless finished the 3 Towers and experienced the Mankele-grin again on all the faces around us, we knew it was time to share the Mankele Secret. Quick-quick we identified a few friends, a weekend, a campsite and a menu. Game On. The first few car-loads of people and bikes arrived on Thursday evening before the Reconciliation long weekend. They pitched tents in rain while the left-behinders frantically baked last-minute muffins. On Friday morning the early-arrivers tested their bikes on the orange tracks while waiting for the last carloads of people and bikes. The weekend followed a pattern exploring different coloured bike routes, lazing around in the sun around the swimming pool, eating, tubing and more singletracking. The camping kitchen is well-equipped with kettles, stoves, a fridge, a microwave, sunlight liquid and basins. The bathrooms are kept clean and we had no issues with hot water. There's 2 swimming pools, a small shop, powerwash for dirty bikes and outside hot showers if you'd prefer to shower with your bike after a particularly muddy ride. Some notes on some of the tracks: Orange - I didn't get to do the full route this time, but it's the cross country track and sufficiently technical without being too intimidating. About 8 km of good fun. Includes a climb to get the heart rate up. Yellow - This is supposed to be the beginner route, but two search parties couldn't find it. When we asked the guard for instructions, he frowned and asked why anyone would want to ride a beginner route. Indeed Green - A fair amount of climbing with some excellent rewards through the bushtunnels. The stuff Mankele is famous for, and the reason why we went there. Blue - Around 5 km of moderate tracks, with optional techincal loops. An excellent track for night-riding, albeit a bit short. Add a bit of pink to up the night-distance. Pink - Don't be fooled by the short distance. It includes a descent climbie and some seriously cool flowing singletrack. Red & Purple - I didn't get to ride these the weekend, but from the grins on Mummy Man, Nadine & Donovans' faces, it was some good riding. Black - The best parts, but not for beginners, and possibly not for night-riding. The hardtail managed, but it probably would have been a bit quicker (and safer) to tackle those trails on the Trance. Fourcross-track and kiddies track: great for riding with the kids, night-riding, testing other peoples' bikes, and adding a bit of distance and smileage. Tubing - Tubes are included in the camping fee; collect them from Christopher at the gate. Make sure he pumps them. Small (slighlty deflated) tubes seem to be quicker on the river than the big ones. Remember to lift your bum in the rapids! All the cycling routes are well-marked (except the yellow, which we couldn't find.) Batteries properly recharged. Life is too short to not have a Mankele weekend every now and again