Bos

I felt pretty broken when I got in bed last night, but happy at the same time. I Really had a great day out there. Had some moments of what coulda-shoulda like: on plummer 2 I just couldn't turn on those rocks while trying to float over them, went off line and had to run to a suitable place to get back on & clip in in the middle of Gnarville and I completely hit the wall right at the top of Armageddon and bled time all the way down. But I had a Great Iron Monkey and felt like I finally clicked with my bike, on the last stage which left me smiling. I'm totally encouraged to get the last bit of kit sorted (Razor Rock on the back in those Powder bowl turns were a stuff up) and train much more next year to give it another go and hopefully make the top 50. Rode with Francoin saw PhilipV die Muishond and Nils on the trails. Spent some time in the hurt-box with a really chilled guy called Sam (Bull) pushing up to #3 and loved the vibe and general camaraderie among riders.

How are you feeling today? So bummed that your day ended prematurely. You were on fire and having lots of fun. Next year!?

Wow, that was tough. But epic! Busy bathing the kids. Will post some pics and share stories later. All I can say is, Nils is an animal.did he end up getting top 10? He was sitting 8th when I left. Ahead of some very skilled riders...dont know how he did that.

Looking at those names on the email list it sure is going to be fast!

Thanks for kind of clearing that up. PS. Are you saying I'm scared of the features? Jokes aside, what you say is true, I've heard it on a trustworthy podcast from Neko! You end up going slower in the buildup for "the big thing" instead of just getting on with it.

Agreed.. A bit of a sweeping statement, but what can make a bike great down gnarly chutes can make it pretty boring on "normal" trails. I know shorter travel bikes are becoming more capable and bigger bikes also more versatile, but in the end there will almost always be a bit of a trade-off.

Anyway, I'm so fricken excited for Sunday, I have butterflies just being on this thread!! And already dreading the climb to top stage 4..

Ya ya ya... I'm getting roasted for asking a question and you are all answering me based on the exact info that I have. But I have also seen exceptions to what is said in the race briefing and it will effect my run/crawl. Its not like It will make the difference between being 100th or 200th Its just the kind of trail that one wants to mentally prepare yourself for what you're about to go through.

So according to the race briefing in our inbox's, it states all features will be open: "All trail features will be open, and well-marked with ridable lines around." However whilst flicking through Instagram, doing my morning business, I watched the latest story by Wildair TV, where they recon the Plumber trail, and specifically say that the rock drops and stepup will be closed. I figured they wouldn't just broadcast wrong info to the world but it is a little contradicting to say the least. Can anyone confirm whats going on?

Since when is trying new suspension settings a no-no. Isn't that what its all about?! Don't worry, I've had my fair share of trials and tribulations from Marathon and road racing days. Apart from slightly firmer suspension, I haven't changed a thing. Not taking this, nor myself to serious, although I did what I could do beforehand to prepare. Of course, we will all have to post our stage times post race? Just to make sure we gave it everything we had

Did what will probably be my last ride before Saturday last night, checking tire pressures and suspension settup. I'm going pretty firm/supporting in the suspension department. Did the second half of the ride in the dark, and the rear was not exactly feeling plush. I find one tunes in on stuff like suspension a bit more than usual in the dark. So maybe just mind games. If one gets it wrong, it can be a long day of puzzling & pondering while climbing to the various trail heads, which is my worse.

I have actually taken some KOM's in trail mode(at the back) shows that whats comfortable is not always faster. But I think my Fox DPS middle mode is purely LSC which blows off once you get into the big hits. I'd like to try and get to Jonkers once this week, ride lower Plumer, and Iron Monkey. But in the end its just a race, and I'm not going to be winning anything either.

What I remember about the canaries and trails back then were that the trails were a little more natural. Apart from the fact that I seriously like jumps and berms in trails, I prefer a good mix of natural and built stuff. I love looking for things to pop or bank off, but when it looks like a gholfcart track in the mountain it leaves nothing to the imagination, and that bores me. Same for the up, like the fairy garden in Tokai use to be.

Hahah.. Ditto. Glad I am not on my own. Plumber 2, Like I just said above, I only rode it once, and actually went to go check out the rock features. I thought, I'd just go fast, float over the rocks right.. I recall Greg Minaar saying that about MSA on a Cathrow Vision. Easy right!? In the first 150 m of Plumber 2, I dabbed after coming to a slamming halt and the same happened 100m further and I almost went OTB.. Rode the second half with more respect and felt quite shaky by the first rock drop, which actually intimidated me like hell. Mark my words someone is going to hit that thing to fast and OTB from the top. The next drop and the step up was actually quite easy by comparison, totally missed that massive rock feature, I saw it out the corner of my eye when I was passing the down slope part, at least I know where to look now, I'll hit it blind on race day @Tim, like you said, I think one must just hold on and hope for the best. I cant even remember where the rock drop on Iron Monkey is.. Oh well. I absolutely hate the saaltjie climb, so I'm not about to go do a recon ride.

Pretty keen for this right now.. Under-prepared, UN- fit, but worst case scenario, I'm still going to ride a crapload of awesome singletrack with a bunch of rad people this Sunday! I kind of have to go to Rotterdam for urgent work trip on Thursday, but I'm totally passing the buck on this one. I have thoroughly enjoyed the buildup to this, exploring and riding some of the sections of trails that I would perhaps not usually have done, and perhaps even developed a bit as a rider. I only reckoned Red Phoenix and plumber, the bottom half once only, I'm quite nervous because I dabbed once and almost crashed once before even getting to the features. But I did the rock drops and hit the step-up and its not that bad, just need some speed. Rode trails in Knysna last week and enjoyed the change of scenery but at the end of my ride I was craving some Gnar! Can you believe Jonkers looked a bit like this once!? Long live #Enduro.

Pretty darn boring actually. However the jump line would surely lure to many into temptation..

Just send it off to the side of the landing a couple of times to get use to the tranny, then you hit it straight when you feel confident

Yea I think I got confused with the lines, which on heatmaps one realizes, there are many of at that point. I am talking about the line by the arrow. I think you refer to the tricky rock drop on the left? I think the POV's are all just gunning straight passed all that stuff. This is what happens If one cant get out and ride and gets stuck behind a keyboard instead I got meetings now. Chat later

The one into the left hand turn? I also remember a awkward blind rock bump one has to roll over just before the big jump on the second section. Its right off the road, but I sure cant spot it on here. The POV also doesn't do the rocky bit up top much justice. Last time I did that trail all I could remember was rocks, and now on the POV I realize its about 10% of the whole thing.

Nice one. Actually not much to worry about. Long bits of nothing in the middle aswell and quite a bit of pedaling. I will be saving myself during that run. I see he doesn't hit any of the gaps up top. I should go easy on myself, although I'm sure he could. When I don't, though just this little devil on my shoulder whispers "chicken sh#t" in my ear..

We have 10 POV's of Stage one but none of stage 4.. Miles is fast hey.. he commits to the switchbacks where I often come in hot tuck in but cant resist braking through the turn which robs momentum and flow, and the result is It steals energy and obvious exit speed. Now the guy has been racing DH since I was Primary school, but still. I need to spend more time pushing the limits of that DHR II. Its basically what causes the above, lack of confidence.

Tell me about it! I know there is one I don' t even consider about 2/3rds down. Same with Zululand..most are really makable there, a couple is just weird and impossible to clear unless you're a pro maybe, or you pull up and rail the berms which I have never been able to do. Doesn't help that by the time I get to this part of the trail, I feel like a spaghetti man.

Are you referring to the "link between old DH and Flow/Slangpad" that is quite a little killer yes, and narrow!

Ya good stuff. Getting to know the trail.. the DH pros do their POV's and rewatch over and over to get the course dialed in their heads. Which is why its amazing to see how the EWS Pros pin it on stuff they rode once or twice. I'm still feeling sorry for myself with a bad flu while everyone is out doing 3 hour rides. Not Ideal for the fitness situation. If I get better by Wednesday I was planning on riding Iron Monkey and Plummer 2 with a Gopro, will have to see though. The gnarly parts demand confidence and momentum, that's half the battle won. Helps a lot when you know where you're going though. The

I'm pretty miserable at the moment. Was planning on doing my last recon ride this weekend before heading to Knysna for the Sept holidays. I need to ride the lower part of plumber and Iron Monkey. But behold, I have a cold! Happy trails guys, don't crash.