Mamba

35 000 members of that website - and this is the kicker - in just two months. We've got be be doing a lot wrong to piss so many people off in such a short time.

Astana, I had the same misgivings as you however she is wanting to do the Africa trip with a backup crew. Maybe you can volenteer:-) In fact she was thinking about two backup crews - so many months on and then so many months off. However that is still in the planning stages. Never heard that expression. Lovely.

Hi Holy Roller, yes I was there as a representative of the Hub. I picked up her bike to feel the weight of the pack on the back. It was HEAVY. When I think that at times she was doing just under 100ks per day through hilly places like Barbeton and Tzaneen with that on the back I am amazed. Really. Her next task is to go around Africa for two years.

Hi everyone. One of the Hub's members - Jolandie - who has been riding round the circumference of SA for the past few months on her own is due to finish tomorrow at 12 midday. This is the first time that this has been done by a woman. I think we should all congratulate her on this incredible achievement. It's also nice to know that she's one of us - a hubber. You can pick up her website on www.jolandie.co.za

I agree - what an adventure. I'm pretty inspired to do something like that myself. Haven't seen enough of the country. What a great way to do it. Nice and slow.

Jolande has been riding solo round the circumference of SA for some weeks now. She started in Linden Jhb then rode to Richards bay then down the coast through the Ciskei and Transkei, Garden route all the way down to Cape Town through some terrible weather. She then rode up the West coast then turned east going through places like Pofadder etc. she has now reached Upington. She's due back on the 10th of January after riding round the bulge at the top of SA and coming down the East side then back to Jhb. You can link with her website on www.jolandie.co.za (note that the spelling is with a J not a y) it will also lead you to her facebook page. I've been following her on Google maps. That way it's rather nice to see the terrain that she is riding through. She is one brave girl. Her next step is to ride round Africa.

Guys you are right and you are wrong. Theoretically right but practically wrong. Lets go back to my example of the windsurfing nature reserve at Bronkhorstbaai. The windsurfers would pitch up, rig up and be on the water within say half and hour to an hour. They would then land at lunchtime quickly gulp down a pre-made lunch and back onto the water. We all bahaved ourselves when on land. At the end of the day we just packed up and went home. However, the fishermen made illegal braais (this is a nature reserve that I'm talking about). Drank themselves vrot in the sun then drove home staggering drunk leaving behind a trail of destruction. Fishing lines, rusty hooks broken bottles and the carnage it that caused to the local wildlife: Dead birds with line wrapped around their legs, rusty hooks, plastic bits and pieces that killed or maimed the wildlife. They also left fires burning and just went off. I've seen young children burn their feet on the hot coals as well as the veld that has been set alight. Guess who got kicked out. The windsurfers - who were model citizens. Hell we weren't even on the land most of the time. You go figure. When it come to Nature Conservation it is might = right. There were a lot of fishermen that made a lot of noise. Period. So if you think that by being the good boys you are going to fly under the radar. Think again. Been there got the T-shirt and the scars. Incidentally I've most probably put in a hundred hours of riding at the reserve and to this day I've yet to see a birdwatcher. That is, unless they are cunningly disguised as bobbejaans. Which could be the case. When I ride there I don't do it just for the exercise I do it with the prime objective of watching the game. Both birds as well as animals. Now I'm told that people ride around in cars burning petrol and making more noise than I do are going to have me booted out!!!!

Hi SwissVan, If it was a mamba wearing a pair of binoculars it wuz me.

Slowbee I absolutely agree with you. We should work together. However unless I'm mistaken it is not the cyclists that are trying to get the birders off, it's the other way round. I think some of the anger from the windsurfing thing is peeking through. It's just that is angers me that some people feel that it is their right to hog everything to themselves and do their level best to exclude others. Even though it is them making the noise and in addition to that they are just a handful relative to the cyclists. Don't be surprised that we are all excluded from Suikerbosrand by a handful of birders because they are the ones that are being proactive. Don't forget that I said IF they continue. I am also a birdwatcher just in case you thought I was totally against them.

Couldn't agree with you more Steelponyman. I ride around Suikerbos with a pair of binoculars on me. I watch the game and birds as well as cycle. It's wonderful. Who the hell are the birdwatchers to demand exclusivity!! They are the ones driving the noisy cars. However, I've nearly been ridden over by park vehicles travelling in the wrong direction. We have to act very quickly to make our stand. I also do windsurfing and we had much the same scenario with the fishermen at Bronkhortspruit. They had us kicked out even when we only used up about 10 meters of a shoreline that was many kilometers long. I see the same thing happening here. We should have gone in boots and all instead we were defensive and landed up with loosing the entire facility. Of course whenever I'm at Bronkhorstspruit now start on the other side of the dam then I go over to where the fishermen are with one of my boards that has a very long skeg and make sure that I snag every f*&^% fishing line that I can. Unfortunately that is not often enough. But the damage has been done. There are many more cyclist using the facility than bird watchers. We should draw up a plan to get them booted off if they continue.

Take a bow DD and Nancy. I ran into the person that heads up the Braamfontein Spruit trust yesterday just upstream from the bridge. She was very complimentary about the mountain bikers for doing that so take a bow. There were some issues that she had against some of the other bikers that try to run the walkers and dog walkers off the road. We are going to try and educate some of those that are not affiliated to any of the clubs that the walkers have right of way and to ride around them otherwise I can see there is going to be a problem in the future for all of us. We also need to educate some of them that they also need to keep to the left believe it or not!!! Dumbasses.

Thanks everyone for your contribution. Much appreciated. The Spruit is my Saturday ride (sometimes Sunday). Mampara I won't join you at Alberts. I'll ride in the opposite direction and hope to catch up with you at some point. Haven't seen you for ages. I've have been riding on my own since my accident. Needed time to get my confidence back. We can compare notes on the bridges etc. if you would like to. Anyone want to join me going up to Alberts from Fratellis at 7.30?

Thanks all. I guess I'll only be cycling again once my wife is speaking to me again. When hell freezes over.

Hi Mich, thanks for the ride on Saturday. Loved your bike. I should have gone with you Northern Farm. After working this morning I thought I would give myself a treat and go for a short ride. Had an accident and have shattered my hand so badly that they are going to have to put a plate in to hold the bits together. Mommy is not impressed for messing up her mothers day. Wants to break my other hand. It would be my right hand of course. I'm using my left hand on the mouse and typing with one finger again. Thank goodness for helmets. It literaly saved my life today.

Big Ben, if you are fimiliar with Jan Smuts and Hyde Park. If you go down the hill from Hyde Park along Jan Smuts driving in the direction of Randburg. At the bottom of the hill you will find a split in the road. You take the left hand road. (Conrad Drive). Within a few meters you will cross over a bridge. (If you look to your left when crossing the bridge you will see a paved parking area. That is where you are going). After the bridge the first road to the left is Hillcrest. Turn left into Hillcrest and left again into the parking lot that is in front of Fratellis and Manhattan Grill. There is a car guard. Make a BIG fuss over MichH's bike otherwise...

I don't know about Miss V but I'll be in all things being well. The Mamma tag didn't escape me!! Very funny. Say hi to your Dad. You won't believe it but my Dad of 93 has now got a bicycle!!! Can you believe it! I had to stop him getting a motor bike.

Hi MichH, both you and Miss V will have new bikes. Lets see if she also wants to show off her new baby. We can have a girls show-off ride. What time to you want to start on Saturday? There is this thing of the rugby to consider as well. Lots of people have called me a mother. Do you think that is qualifies me to also have a mothers day?

Sorry you can't join us MichH. Haven't seen you for a while. Maybe when you get back. DR. I'm far too woosy to do the race thing. Particularly with my present bike. Strictly pleasure riding at the moment. Thanks for the invite though. Enjoy yourself. Just to warn those new to North Farm. The dust there is 50% cow poo so if you don't wear close fitting glasses you can land up with an eye infection like I did. Thats why you haven't seen me for the past few weeks. I now have much tighter fitting glasses.

Hi Mampara, Mind if I join you. Should we start a new thread?

Sorry that I missed the ride. Sounded like lots of fun as usual. Will there be any rides this week-end?

Hi MichH, That sounds fantastic, I so enjoyed the last time we rode Northern Farm. I've got a lunch to go to so count me out of the breakfast side of things. I'll stay for a while and have a cooldrink or something and then have to run. A great pity. I'd have loved to have stayed. Your breakfasts are legend. I'll try the technical loop again although I may not ride the tunnel. We'll see. By the way, did you see on the Swamp Dog newsletter that they had done a night ride through the Delta and some poor bastard had hit that fallen tree that we climbed over at full tilt. Ouch. My eyes water just thinking about it. Miss V I hope you find us this time. If you decide to come and you need to find us you can phone me on my cell. The number is 082 55 22 52 9. There are tons of people there and its a bit difficult going up to everyone and asking "Are you the guys from the Hub?" I know that a few of the chaps had great fun running around and asking anyone of the female variety if they were Miss V.

Hi MichH. We were talking about bunny hops on Sunday. I found a very nice site with great explanation of the correct technique and videos etc. Have a look at it. http://www.trashzen.com/bunny-hop-with-mtb.html now all I've got to do is try to make it work. At the moment it feels as if I'm trying to jump whilst holding my shoelaces.

I FLY said that my pedals were like chain saws. Now that I see the alternative I think chain saws are more kind than what BG is going through. Ouch that looks eina BG. You're one tough chick and I'm proud of you. Thanks for the tip though I FLY. I'll try the plastic versions.

You're right I FLY. They were having so much fun I think that it's going to be weeks before ewep is going to be able to wipe the smile off his face. He then discovered the downhill section in the Delta between the two lines of trees. Then the fun started all over again. He's still be there now if we didn't beat him off with a stick. There are more sick puppies in The Hub than I thought. I think that if I did that drop-off on my ancient bike you could rename me: I DIE. I hope that everyone had as much fun as I did. Thanks to everyone for making it a great day.

I'll also go with Bosmont. Anything for something new. Stevo showed me that wicked drop-off on Sunday. I can't believe you guys ride that. I've also been runnning and riding past it for years never dreaming that anyone would be crazy enough to ride down it. You guys are all whako.