Goosebay

Weather update here http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/Updates%202012.html

Updates to the event here http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/Updates%202012.html

Ons verkies dit as jy pre-enter, maar jy is welkom om die oggend in te skryf. Registrasie maak 7vm oop en sluit 8.30vm

You will have access to water and coke three times on the route. We are still finalising the last water point and should have that done by Saturday, and will then add that to the profile

Some more important information regarding race day! There will be fires going all day! Early morning coffee on the house. Hot showers, and farm style burgers, chicken wraps, sandwiches and then some healthy eats (salads, nuts etc - Staci is going all out) as well as juices, coke, and other drinks will be for sale. This will be finalised next week as we might add soup if it looks like it could be cold. Leon Carstens will be providing some live entertainment as well as a very good sound system! We will also be showing some mountain bike clips to keep those who stay behind entertained. Prizes include loads of shark dives and whale trips, awesome accommodation at Grootbos and other great Overberg hide aways. Horse trails and a great beachcomber hike also included. There will also be a hike going up the mountain behind Franskraal to the natural dams and viewpoint. Cost R30, leaving from Panorama restaurant at about 8h15. There will also be loads of happenings at the festival including a beer tent and big screen. We will put up a link to the full festival programme when it becomes available. Other updates can be found here http://mysite.mweb.c...tes%202012.html

Thanks Philip - Jackie has been awesome! Had to do very little this year, so have been able to work on the route with Alwyn!

There are quite a few showers at the venue, obviously the earlier you finish the more chance you have of a hot shower. Mail Jackie at gansbaaimtbfunride@gmail.com and she should be able to organise a Saturday room for you if you would like one. There is also a farmhouse about 7kms up the road that might be available if you are a group.

View from the top of the Flowervalley climb (45km route) on Sunday http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/2012%20gansbaai/flowervalley.jpg

Will be good to meet you Hairy - give us a shout when you are here. Below is a link to Google maps to give directions from the N2 (Mowbray, Cape Town) to De Uijlenes. They say 2 hours 11 min, but 2 and a half hours is more like it if you hit traffic in Hermanus. http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=N2,+Mowbray,+Cape+Town,+Western+Cape,+South+Africa&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=-34.066312,18.689117&spn=0.5654,1.234589&sll=-34.502195,19.35538&sspn=0.281238,0.617294&geocode=FdcD-v0dhBwaASnHHLPtv-aFHjFmicJvfacVAw%3BFXeA8P0dNQwpAQ&oq=n2,+mowb&t=h&mra=ls&z=10

Can't seem to be able to upload photos - but if you follow this link you'll be ble to see them on our website http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/Updates%202012.html

[quote name=Stefan ' timestamp='1335374657' post='1642819] Is there anybody who did both the 45Km and the 60Km? I would like to do the 60Km but the 45Km sounds yough :/ Depending what kind of riding you want to do. Last year the winning times were only 10 minutes apart. The 60km starts with a tough climb with some steep rocky bits and a similar descent, then mostly gravel road till you start the last climb which is on a good surface but long. If you are tired the descent can be tricky if you are still trying to race somebody. The 45km is almost all in the mountains with very little road. The climbs are tough and the descents require good skills and concentration, with not much rest. The route is well marked and you are warned of most upcoming tricky/dangerous sections. If you just chug along this can be an awesome ride, but if you race it then it can be very tough, and because you can achieve seriously high speeds if you are that way inclined on the downhills - it can be dangerous, as any mountain bike race can be. Hope to see you there!

We have test ridden most of the 45km and 30km routes and all the tracks are riding nicely. The heather is giving a lovely pink hue to the fields and the recent fire gives a completely new feel to the first 45km downhill. This area rides much better in winter as there is very little mud you have to negotiate and the gravel and sand firms up to increase traction and the fun factor. If it does rain there are ample changing facilities, as well as warm water showers and huge outdoor and indoor fires! The lunch will again be farm style hamburgers and boerewors rolls, and depending on the weather soup as well. There is a bar on the premises and we'll showing some mountain videos to keep youngsters and others entertained while you wait for prisegiving. The 30km is an awesome ride - and I would recommend it as a ride if you are deciding between the 23 and 30. It has better views and a much better fynbos experience, with some fun single track sections. It has 3 major climbs, with the toughest in the beginning, and the easier at the end, and so your legs should be fine! The route does share some sections with the 45km, so please keep left so that some of the faster guys will be able to pass on the right hand side track. The 23km has been changed slightly to take out the trickier sandy bits and the one muddy hill that we had last year. Although you are riding about 300m more, it should be a better route.

We have uploaded some videos as a teaser. Check them out here http://gansbay.pinkbike.com/channel/Gansbaai-MTB-Funride-trail/

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/2012%20gansbaai/mtb%202012%20colour.jpg

<p>Entries now open at Entry time - see you there!</p> <p> </p> <p>Updated the 30km route as well, bit less road, more jeep and singletrack.</p>

<p>Added the maps and profiles for this year's rides</p>

<p>Testing</p>

<p>ok so where do I find that elusive end tag??</p>

<p>This kind of stuff is not my forte! But thanks anyway</p> <p> </p> <p>Are we seeing you again this year!!??</p>

(deleted garbled post)

Event Name: GANSBAAI MTB FUNRIDE - STERKTRAP When: 30 June 2012 Where: De Uijlenes, Gansbaai, Western Cape Category: MTB Join us for a funride through pristine fynbos, at a farm styled venue with home baked delicacies and good country vibe. The venue has accommodation available for those who want to make a weekend of it. Enter at Entry time There will be rides suitable for children as well as fit non-technical riders, but watch out for the route that is only in the mountains, only for fit technical riders who enjoy a challenge. More details on our website, as well as photos from previous events. Just a few more details re 2012. NEW!! Added the profiles for the new 45 and 30 to the website 2012 Updates 60km - For the race snakes as well as those who don't enjoy too much technical riding. This route is the same as last year. Mostly scenic gravel road, has a fairly technical climb and descent in the beginning and at the end. 45km - For those who are fit and very proficient on their bikes, and who love a true mountain challenge. This route is very tough, the climbs are not easy and you do not get much rest on the descents. You climb more than last year, and the last descent is fast and technical. This is a true mountain ride, you will only do a few km on a road that links the two mountain sections, the rest is either up or down. 30km - We added a new route this year for those who to go a little further than 23km. It has good climbs, as well as fun jeep track and single track. You will need a reasonable level of fitness for this ride. Fynbos and views excellent! 23km - Same as last year. It has some hills, I thought there were only two climbs but was informed by some that there were 200! It is a very nice fynbos ride, nothing too technical but you will get a reasonable workout. 10km - A bit longer than year. Aimed at children getting into mountain biking and those not as fit as they would like to be. There is a fynbos section in the middle of the ride that can be avoided if you find that your child is struggling a little. Kiddies dash - if there are some children on pushbikes or trikes then we do an impromptu ride around the venue. We had a few children do it last year and the cupcakes were a hit! The rides are for your enjoyment - we do not have a cut-off, although you might miss out on lunch or the chocolate crunchies if you take all day. You will also miss the prize giving if you dawdle too long. We give away a load of fantastic local prizes - including shark dives and whale trips and accommodation at awesome local spots, so it is definately worthwhile to have a little burn in your legs to get home on time! Just something about the venue - although it is very rustic, it is a fun family venue. Lot's of little walks and animals, space to run around in and very safe. The view and small town vibe is awesome. There are a number of rooms available as well as dorms. There are very good braai facilities as well as a massive indoor fireplace where some of the overnighters braai'd last year. The hall is huge and we'll have mountain bike clips showing. Best to contact Jackie at gansbaaimtbfunride@gmail.com This ride is so that you can enjoy the surrounding unique fynbos and mountains of the Overberg, as well as contribute to farmworker development! http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/2011%20gansbaai/uijlenes%20web.jpg http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/2011%20gansbaai/flowervalley%20downhill%20s.jpg http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/2011%20gansbaai/new%2045%20005.jpg http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jcl/2011%20gansbaai/new%20descent.jpg Go to Event Page

or... http://www.cyclehermanus.co.za/

Speak to Leon at Hermanus Cycles Contact Information 125 Main Road, Hermanus P.O. Box 1502, Hermanus, 7200 Telephone: 028 313 2052 Email: hermanuscycles@maxitec.co.za

There is a social ride that leaves from the Caltex garage at about 8 on Sundays. Leon from Hermanus Cycles also is involves in one that leaves from the Engen Garage near Hemel and Aarde. Hermanus has a little 15km route and Eoudia are building some trails in the Hemel and Aarde area. Some trails being built in the Gansbaai area, Website, when they are done some details will be posted here, but there are some gravel routes on the website. Salmonsdam has a great climb and descent (mtb) Busy building a G-spot like trail near gansbaai, details soon. Contact us if you're keen to help (pm me), always looking for advice and spades Cheers, enjoy the Overberg!

MMM - seems like the problem might not be the fork (assuming here you are riding a hardtail) Try dropping your saddle about 3 to 4 inches and shift your weight a little back over the rear end of the bike and try those bumps again. What bike are you riding? It might be an aggressive xc bike where your weight bias is forward. A couple of setup changes might help then too. So there are quite a few things you could try if you already haven't done these before you look at spending money on the fork. The changes I have described in my previous posts are for drop offs of over a meter onto a flat landing, and for dirt jumps where my son prefers a stiffer fork. For downhill type stuff we ride a very soft fork and shock. (Sag set at about 25%) If you are new to all terrain riding Brian Lopez's book is awesome, as well as Ryan Leech (?)(Norco sponsored) trials video, with all kinds of very useful tips. Hope this all helps