nigelhicks

Hey ED Ok ... I heard differently from David ... and also from some of the Norwegian guys who were out for Elite Worlds ... BUT i think it would be cool to race the Elite track (with some variations here and there that is). Must keep an eye out and see what comes up on the web -

some pics to get you excited! all courtesy of Jaques Marais photography from the Trailblazer this year.

There is a DH track - and its pretty gnarly! Some MASSIVE road gaps with no real B-lines ... and friss mad rock gardens ... Issue is you need permission to ride that track as you cant shuttle it in an open back van as Sappi wont allow it for safety reasons. The top of the track AFAIK is overgrown, but the lower portion should be clear ... But again that is out towards the Outback Trails and that section is closed at the moment.

Hey all - As i have been asked this by a number of people already - just so there is no confusion later on regarding the World Cup round in PMB in April. ... The dates for the event are the 11th to 13th April ... NOT the 5th and 6th as initially shown on the schedule posted in the UCI's press releases that went out to Pink Bike, Vital and the rest ... the UCI originally posted it as the 5th and 6th - but then asked the organisers to change it to a week later - but the original press releases had already gone out via the net So if you are planning to come up just diarise the 11th to 13th!!! Cheers Nige

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.495104613940645.1073741862.237923096325466&type=1 Pics of the enduro from Quickpix

thanks flyluis!

hahahahahahaha The immediate misconception about "DH guys" being absolutely crazy .... NO - although many of the said "DH guys" ride DH - this does not mean they are all nuts and jump off cliffs - or have to hit big gaps etc. .... The DH guys are probably the BEST people to hang around as they know rider limitations better than anyone else ... So they would be able to help you gauge your ability and would assist you in your skills and how to ride stuff - even on an XC bike on a DH Course ... So no the Enduros (as they are set by the DH guys) will be well planned and will ALWAYS have B- or C-lines around obstacles so as to cater for mass participation and get more people exposed to the discipline in the hope of converting some of you to full on DH ... Again with full on DH - its the same thing - ALL big obstacles will have a way around - so that EVERY DH run is actually rideable on an XC bike if you put your seat down - you wont be fast - but you will be able to ride the track ... so again - dont be afraid - don a fullface helmet and some knee guards and go give DH a bash even one day when the WP guys are having a shuttle day - you will be amazed at the comradery and bullsh!t session that will follow

ya definitely

hey dude - no they are the same thing ... Enduro is Enduro - its just as it is new the term "Gravity" is sometimes used to separate it from "Enduro ... Endurance events" .... A while back before Enduro as we know it began in SA - some events used the term Enduro for 24 hour events and the likes .... So in the beginning the term Gravity was used to separate the two disciplines to not create confusion ...

no i dont mean it like that - im sure that the tracks gonna be rad ... but I just know from experience here that it wont be TOO difficult ... The guys who came out here said that the track here would not fly in the USA as a Masters track as it had too many big hits on it ... they would have had something far tamer. So im expecting big berm rollercoaster with some rocks and roots ... But nothing like what you ride on a proper world cup track ...

if anyone says that those trails are crap they need their head read! .... or they must just go back to playing chess or tiddlywinks!

Also Hylton told me the other day that they are preparing to build a completely NEW 30/40km loop there that will also be wild! .... and that should be done for the Karkloof Classic this year ... so should be amazing

Dude those trails are life changing ... The Outback Trails (60km out towards Lebanon ... and the Enduro Stuff) is off limits at the moment due to road building or something in the forests that the trails are in .... will be open by May though so not to worry. But as the others say - the 30km loop is NUTS! - you link this onto the 15km falls loop for a 45 and you have some of the BEST riding out .... Its good to go and do the race to get an idea of where the trails go - but they are so well marked that you cant get lost even if you are on your own. Personally I prefer it outside of the event as its less crowded and you get to SMASH the singletrack ... Prepare for a tired face at the end of your ride from smiling so much!

results are up on Elite Timing ... go wild!

Ya its a good idea - BUT also - from what i have heard via the UCI - the DH in Norway for Masters will be new and will not use any of the existing World Cup DH ... it will be tamed down and will be more "bike parky" as far as i have been told.

No i cant take more than the one week unfortunately as I am going to Europe with the wife on holiday in July as well for 2 weeks - so I wont have the time off.

oh and just something else - although fitness (marathon-style fitness) is somewhat needed as the event is generally 2 to 3 hours in duration, this is not the actual fitness that is required to win. As the uphills are not timed you can "take your time" riding up to concerve energy for the sprint back down in the actual stage. So explosive 5minute max power is the name of the game (similar to Downhill). So the best way to describe it is a 30km cruise with your mates, but every single downhill section on the trail gets smashed to smitherines leaving you gasping for air at the bottom.

Hey Craig You will be fine with Enduro if you ride Giba a lot. It is a little more technical that your average trail, but nothing that is not manageable - if there is a pallet drop of doom, there will always be a B-line around it that one can take. BUT at the moment - KZNMTB Commission are looking at growing Enduro so the tracks are being kept easy and fun with no big jumps or anything crazy. You can ride the events on any bike so you should be fine. Just remember that although you may know the trails really well, when the clock starts and you are racing - the tracks and times are short so you push yourself and thats when the mistakes happen. So thats why we are trying to keep the trails Noobie friendly to start and then as the discipline grows and the need for more technical tracks increases we will up the level. The next event is at Giba on the weekend of the 15th of Feb - so you must enter and come and ride. Entries will be online on ROAG's website in a week or so's time - so pre enter and come and have some fun with us. Cheers Nige

im looking at it obviously

the results should be up soon guys - just be patient. Elite timing should post them all today or tomorrow

Tiaan Oodendaal took the overall win for the Enduro

These are the only stipulations set out by the UCI for bicycles in MTB § 7 Equipment 4.1.038 The use of radio links or other remote means of communication with riders is forbidden. 4.1.039 The use of tyres fitted with metal spikes or screws is not permitted. 4.1.039bis During MTB races no traditional road handlebars may be used. The handlebars extensions of a triathlon or time trial type are forbidden, but traditional barends are authorized. (article introduced on 1.02.12).

Yes there are no rules as to what bike you have to use. You could even use a triple clamp for XC if you wanted to ... think of the Maverick Upside down fork - that is an XC fork - but needed to be triple clamp as its inverted and needed the stiffness. Same as wheel sizes - there is no stipulation

The Canadian may have got 2nd overall in the Enduro but i think that was his downfall as he blew a gasket in the DH the next day! hahahaha But still - to race Enduro on the Sat and then the DH on the Sunday and still be on the pace 0.1sec back ... thats good going. Must be those 650B wagon wheels that he strapped to his DH rig! hahahaha

I know of gavin ryan. He was on track today. Check out quickpix.co.za. or ill see what he has