THABA TRAILS

www.thecyclehub.co.za.

please go to our web site for co-ordinates. We are at 102 Swartkoppies Road Brackenhurst, Alberton.

Hello Guys and galls, just a quick update on our trails. As some of you may have experienced we have two new steel bridges donated by Eastrand Hydraulics. The value was amplified when MTB007 was casavaced from the trail with a brocken leg...hope you are mending quick. We have changed the "Japanese Garden and Clinic"...we may rename it. One can now enjoy this 2km addition which has been classified as green but will wait to hear more opinions before we finally mark it. Nice drop offs and exciting single track.Come and enjoy. We intend using this as a night race route this winter.

wow, that should have read "your tree" can see I can't sleep and the old brain is back to front

Hello MTB0007, truley sorry to hear about your fall. I will wrap " tree your" in bubble wrap. We will also name and shame the bend so your pain will never be forgotten. Yes, we have some stars at The Vlei and they are excited to recieve your praise and thanks. So often these guys go the extra mile and it is just taken for granted. I would once again thank Tappies Henning from Eastrand Hydraulics for donating the new steel bridges. I shudder to think how the medics would have battled to cross the river previously. All too often we want to be adventurous with the trail building and don't considder for these unfortunate incidences.Thanks Tappies, you are also our hero. all the best for a speedy recovery. Wendell

Hello Moolz, come say Hi, I would love to meet you. We are hosting the Single Speed champs on Saturday afternoon so trails will be closed to public after 12. Come enjoy the morning then check this MAD bunch out.Racing starts at 2pm with a short kiddies race at 1pm.

Hello Frosty, have missed seeing you there. I hope you have seen the new Bridge we have installed and busy with the second one. These bridges were generously sponsored and built by Tappies Henning.....I hope to ride with you when you next take a turn there. Regards, Wendell

Hello Guys and Girls,anyone interested in joining us at The Vlei Cycle Park, Rietvlei Farm Alberton on Thursday nights. We will start at 6pm Sharp. Sunset is about 18h35 so we start in the light. We will ride till 8 or as the mood takes us. If you are interested call us at 011 867 8047. Just so we know you are interested.

Yes my friend and I trust you will spread the news, Wendell

Hey Guys, You are invited to join us in a ride at "The Vlei Cycle Park" on Saturday the 12th at 2pm. We will have a ride around our green route of 11km. We will place a plaque at his worst spot and you guys can then either carry on riding around the park or meet at "The Shack"..... ablutions for a chat. As we won't know how many guys will be there we will have an urn going with some coffee and tea. If you want to bring some beers you are welcome.ps I still have not been able to speak to Kurt and would really appreciate someone contacting him as I feel he should be riding with us. About an hours ride. Thanks guys. Tell someone who may not read this. Wendell. 0829000749 if you want to contact me directly. Cheers.

Mark did a lot of riding and a lot of moaning on Rietvlei trails. There is one spot in particular that he threatened many times to cut down. We want to place a memorial plaque there to to remember a friend passed on. Can anyone put me in touch with Kurt and Mark's wife as I would like to get there approval.Thank You, Wendell

Just an update for those of you considdering but not deciding to do the 24 hour this year. Once again Dimitri of Omni-motion is organising the event for Bicycling. As trail host we are asked so often about the trails for this year... well what must we do? If it rains we complain and when it is dry we complain... so we have taken both options into account this year. As we have a better idea of the lie of the land we are attempting to avoid the harsh muddy patches..after all it's not so cool having to hear the complaints and also the damage to your bikes. We have built an ablution block that I am sure will make you all happy. The wash bay is a must but I hope we don't need to use it for the same reasons as last year..I have talked Dimitri into allowing a "MASTERS CHALLANGE". The format will be as follows..combined age of 220years for four members. That means either 4 members of 55years, but can be a permetation of any ages..we are 1 x 61 1x 60 1x49 and 1x50 the total 220.Each rider must do a minimum of 3 hours riding.So come on guys get your mates motivated..there is a new floating trophy for the winners...Then the BIG news.....Omni-motion and The Cycle Hub are bringing out Tinker Juarez. For those of you who don't know this legend go check it out by googleing his name. I met him at the recent Worlds in Brazil and after chatting we got excited at the prospect of having this legendry ultra rider visit us at "The Vlei Cycle Park" We are planning a "Night Ride with Tinker" for Thursday the 3rd December,after which we will have a panel discussion for questions and answers and then a "Boerie roll and coke". Just to show this man some South African hospitality.

Starting this Tuesday 28th we will be doing night rides at the Vlei Cycle park, Rietvlei Farm, Alberton. We will start at 6pm and late comers will find it easy to locate us. We will have a radio at the gate / security and you can just connect and we will find you.The idea is to get it going again and later when group strengths dictate we will split ability groups. ALL welcome.ps We are not out to break necks but make it fun,so we will stay on mainly the green route.Ride will last till about 8/8.15pm. It is getting too dark at about 6.35pm to be riding without a light.

Hello Chris w 65...these are old reports but htese plans are still on the table. The JHB council is on planning sheet number 20 or more and I am developing trails to run between the proposed developments. We are up to date with happenings and I am trusting that we will be around for some time....at least as long as I can keep on riding a bike... the power balance helps keep upright for now...but I am thinking of putting one on each wrist and ankel...should reduce falls..NO????

Frosty... wasn't that you zipping past me up Wendell's revenge???? sure looked like you! There are some nice new climbs up the " Legend", not many guys have ridden them. Sure, a Saturday pm could be great. Mabe there are some more hubbers who want to get their garmens and pens and papers and all else they need and join us. We can do it this Saturday at 2pm. If you spread the news and there are enough we can do a group ride of the "final" trail ( man, I just walked some new development sections yesterday)The "final" is 20km long. I will arrange for some cold drinks at the end and if guys want to brong their own beers we could have a real good time....man we can even have some fires going for an "after ride" braai.......??????

Hi Frosty, there are quiet a few swctions not on but man this is great.I would truly appreciate you doing the rides with me so we can get a mapalog going.I have been told that it is quiet easy to put onto google earth but man... give me a bike to fix and I can do that but...computors.

Hi Guys, just back from World Masters XC and will get the maps done. I have a lot of peeps who say they will help me but ONE of them will actually show up. Sorry I am not too good at computors. We will focus on getting maps for all trails.

July has gone so now it is an August update..we are nearly done!Nearly there with a twenty km Blue trail. This time we have not opened any of the new sections incase there are more complaints about markings. The new section just opened today,is blue and takes a right turn going up the trail to the camp site. Just about 20m before the fence we have put the entrance arrow and it is a most enjoyable piece of trail. The provincial taking place on the 15th will mainly be on this section. It is not going to be a " walk in the park " but not rediculously technical a challenging strip of note.I know we are going to have moans about the difficulty but it is afterall a provincial. We will now start focussing on the markings but it would be a big help if a sponsor would take the challange of the route branding,with their products or company.. if anyone knows cycling friendly sponsors,it would help. We would like to build a floating bridge over a proposed dam... would any of you be willing to give us a weekend of your time? It will be appreciated! New names: The Legend. Eagles Nest.Come talk to us and we will point you in their direction. A huge "Thank You" to all the patiant regulars, we are getting there.Enjoy your cycling and God bless.

Hi BigS, share them with us...and by the way we wlisten and try and please all. Wendell. 0829000749. Have a great Thursday

Thank you for your interest. Like a map, we are so aware of this shortfall as well, but we are still working on new trails that we can't keep up. I asure you we will fix this as soon as we can.We are wanting to officially open the trail at the beginning of September.Please be patiant.Thanks

Hi Guys, Just an update.The blue route has had some additions to it. They are not as clean as they will be but are rideable ( some walking...just a little )Going up Wendell's revenge from East to west, take the blue arrows and as you get into the small woods turn left for a great experiance. As it is winter we are focussing on opening trails so maintainance is a bit behind..sorry. On the wottle trail see the blue arrow and experiance this awesome cut. Take care and enjoy and finally, the blue section decending from the pool, take the left turn ( bull run ) and enjoy. The entire blue route is 18km and we are aiming for 20km. Please rate the rides and give us feedback so we can give you the best ride you want. You will see that we are looking at 80% of the trails being for 80% of the riders. Showers and toilets at the Shack and we will shortly be diong all the trail admin from there... have fun and keep the rubber on the ground.