nigelhicks

i think i may have some in my spares bin - I will check for you

I think this video says it all - No one can doubt these dudes logic! http://www.pinkbike.com/news/ultimate-mtb-wheel-size-shootout-video-2014.html

in queenstown there is proper elevation - just the ride up the Skylift gondala takes you up 800m (roughly the same as going from the base of Tokai to the radio mast) ... then the hill carries on up for another 700m So they have lots of elevation to play with

no they are still processing obviously contact nic venter - his missus may have some - 0847527157

HMMM - so that means our current World Champ, Mr Minnaar, is either on a tight budget - or he is unsure if MTB is going to be his thing ... WOW - then how did he do so well? Must have been fluke!

Well - unlike what Alec says - The Courses are in for BIG changes ... XC will be totally new. Nick has some amazing stuff up his sleeve with a course that will be insanely spectator friendly, but at the same time gnarly. And then the DH - well I'll just have to let you all wait and see - if you are in and around Cascades over the next couple of weeks - go and have a look around Cloud 9, Haibo, and Slip n Slide (where Hill crashed) and maybe you will see some changes

Headshot - as Mayhem said we lack the vertical in most cases - Also we lack the fact of snow in winter ... Without snow the ski lifts are not economically feasable as if you look in Europe the ski passes cost way more than the bike passes - as the bike passes are just meant to tick over ... Thats why Hafjells owners are planning on closing the park as it just costs too much in overheads in overheads to keep the park going in the summer. Here in SA we all know the culture of MTB is to see who can ride up the hill the fastest via strava, so to put in a lift anywhere in the country would only be economically viable if you had buy-in from government who would offset the losses that the lift would initially obtain by writing it off to increased tourism in the region. However - as you have the main attraction being Table Mtn just up the road - a 2nd lift at Tokai would not be feasable as people would do one or the other - not both. (Especially at R200 which is the going 2-way rate at Table Mtn now) ... Also - would you spend R100 PER Run down the hill if you were to pay the Table Mtn fees? I think a ton of people would have a hissyfit. I know i would as its just too expensive - 10 runs = R1000 ... for one days riding. So this is where the overseas parks benefit from the snow season - as they get more clients to compensate for the lack of clients in summer. So unfortunately I do not see an economically viable Mtb-specific cable car in SA for some time.

NEGATIVE - the Act has some clause (that I am yet to find .. and i have read the thing twice) ... that stipulates that the Driver needs to have a PDP - and that the persons need to be seated in a closed vehicle ... (with or without seatbelts - of that im not sure) .... But this then means that we would need 10 bakkies compared to 2 Dynas to shuttle for a Provincial event. This becomes FAR too expensive to hire vehicles.

There will still be trails that will be open for XC between now and the World Cup event in April. Nick has TOTALLY changed the XCO track so there will be some construction on some of the trails through this period - you just need to be considerate and if Nick is working on a trail when you are down there just ride something different so as not to interfere with his guys or machinery. Its as easy as that ... Or just shoot out to KArkloof and hit their trails too

No! I dont know Sean - you will need to speak to Morne about this - I am not sure what they are planning for SA's

KZN MTB will NEVER have the funds or resources to use the entire track for a regional event. This would have to include proper shuttles to the top and 50 odd marshals. ... so no definately not the full track. Track will be similar to what is shown in the attached pic Start next to the pump house above A-frame ... down an old trail we used for provincials last year down a steep bank to the start of the 2009 4x ... right onto the 4x and through the big left hand berm - drop down the bank onto the existing Masters Worlds Track, over the hip and through the rocks - then over the step down joining the Masters Track with the Elite Worlds track. Then into a new section at Slip n Slide (where Sam Hill crashed) that will take us down to below Garys Bridge ... then across the road below the bridge and into the lower rock garden ... then sharp left onto the old 4x track and over the tables before the Money Maker ... then off to the left down the valley before the final hip jump Proposed track shown in red - with shuttle access on the day shown in yellow If you are wanting to shuttle privately you can go up English road - but on the day KZNMTB needs to abide by the Sports and Recreation Safety Act and need to keep off public roads so will be using the route shown in yellow

next track has been set and yes you will be able to ride it on a trail bike - BUT - i suggest you go and start practicing your tabletops on the spruit as there will be a couple of jumps

roox for the win!

when the guy who did the organising actually gets time outside of Provincial events, National events, and World Cup to organise one. Also I had the buy in of GT who had some loan bikes ... this wont be the case as i no longer ride for them. Also Cascades will be under construction for the next 2 months before World Cup - as well as hosting the next 2 provincials and SA Cup round ..

thanks for coming down guys. Was really cool.

I saw.... hahaha I was going to comment but to be honest its not worth it ... The one guy there "Maverick-something-or-other" always choons the track every year. Quite a bitter character .. But I think of it as neither Hill nor Fairclough will win in PMB as they are not suited to the track - so its all about damage control ... So let them have it - There is not another round in the world that brings out this much hype around technology and what people will be riding come race day ... And then when its all said and done - A DH bike has always won ... With Full DH rigs on the top 2 spots at worlds this last year.

well lets see what they think when we build the new sections and i post the pics to the interwebs

And so I can see that the internet is indeed going to have a meltdown leading up to the World Cup round here in PMB. Click here to view the article

thats going to be AWESOME!

not you guys im worried about - its joe soap who thinks he can jump but actually cant.

not sure - you can jump it if you are practicing .. but just remember that the section wont be used for the race

Hi all just an update on Stage 2 of the Enduro this weekend ... A new line was built Yesterday at Giba at the start of Stage 2 just before Richards Rock (see pics) ... This line will NOT ... i repeat .... WILL NOT be used for the Enduro on the weekend as the jump in question is not case friendly and could lead to some proper crashes ... also as it is new the landing will not be hard in time ... So please keep to the EXISTING trail which snakes right then left onto Mainline at Richards Rock .... ------------------------------------------------------ Also - from the video i put up ... There will be 3 options at the start of Stage 2 - so if you dont want to ride the bank or the pallet you dont have to ... You can either ride the Bank and then skirt the pallet, or go to the left down the existing trail and this will also bypass the pallet. thanks Nige

Just a shameless punt ... For those of you who have the DH bug bite this weekend (and are small enough to fit a Small Mongoose Boot'r Frame) .... I will have my Father-in-laws Boot'r Romo Signature Edition bike for sale at Giba this weekend. He has taken over my GT Fury. Will put up some pics, but need to get the bike back from a mate who was thinking of taking it before i can. Small 2011 Mongoose Romo Signature Edition Frame Rock Shox Vivid 5.1 Rear Shock Marzocchi 888 Fork Avid Elixir CR Brakes Sun Ringle Hubs with Colour coded (gold anodised) Superstar Rims Funn Bar and Stem Saint 9spd Shifter XTR short cage 9spd Rear Derailleur Truvativ Cranks - (cant remember which though) E-13 Lg+1 Chain Device. SDG I-beam seat and post. All for R10 000

And Stage 1

will upload stage 1 tomorrow