nigelhicks

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

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

Looks like everyone had some fun today

thats the long term plan dude All access trails for hiking, and horse riding, and then bike-specific trails. They have a lot of work to do though to put in coffee shops and trail centres etc - but the vision is there

Having spent time on both bikes - I have this to say .... 1. If you are going for the Fury - get the Carbon one if you can ... the Alu ones kept creasing at the shock mount on the downtube. 2. The Fury is a MUCH Better ride than the Goose and (unlike Peach and them say - Id say the Carbon Fury is far more robust than the goose - if you comparing the Alu Fury ... then i dont know.) 3. The pivot system (although looking different) is essentially the same - the Fury has better bump adsorption though. 4. Alu Mongoose's are good and you cant go radically wrong with them - they suit SA's tracks as they are pedal frienly bikes. 5 - So IMO ... if you looking at an Alu Fury ... go for a Goose .... BUT if you can get a Carbon Fury ... definitely without a doubt got for that!

For DH access etc The DH Track is shown in Red in the one image with the shuttle access shown in Green and Yellow. The green is a section of contour road that the DH riders will ride along to the collection point on the main access road. The yellow is the actuall shuttle section.

To all riders thinking of coming to the Provincial Event this weekend - here are the directions. You can enter on ROAG's website. Schedule - Saturday - XCO and Enduro - plus Unofficial Practice for DH (no shuttles provided - sort yourself out) Sunday - DHI - Official practice in the morning with racing in the Afternoon (Shuttles provided all day) Unfortunately i do not have a map of the XC or Enduro but have put up a map of the DHI Access is shown in YELLOW on the image 29°45'21.96"S 30°38'21.91"E Directions. Take the Hammarsdale offramp off the N3. Turn left (coming from Durban) or right (coming from PMB) and travel up the 385 Main Road towards Hammardale town. Take the FIRST road to the right (after 1.4km) at the sign D657. After 50m turn RIGHT at the big Gumtrees into Edwards Drive on dirt. Follow this road up the hill into the Sugar Cane of Hill and Dale Trails. Take the left Turn signposted "Workshop" near the top of the hill for the Parking area and registration etc. As the main Event area is not at the top of the hill as it is centralised for all three events over the weekend, DH riders accessing the Track will do so from the main access road where the DH crosses and then ride down the remainder of the track and then shuttle up to the start to begin practice etc. - Or alternatively they can just ride up the access road for about 100m to the start of the track. Cheers Nige

or you can contact Bike life - they provide finance for bikes through local bike shops - I know Leighs Cycle Centre in KZN does it - as does Morningside in JHB www.bikelife.co.za

Just so you all know - KZN MTB are trying something different this year ... If you enter 2 events for a weekend Provincial (say Enduro and DH) ... the entry for the 2nd event is reduced drastically. So we are trying to make it more affordable for people to do more events rather than just focusing on just one ... Once final things are out i will let you all know the structure - but AFAIK (and please dont quote me on this) ... its R150 for a single event - then R200 for 2 events (so you save R50 per event) .... Pretty cool IMO

for those of you who are coming down from JHB for the weekend for the Enduro - think of staying on and doing the DH the next day - the track is not at all difficult and can easily be ridden on a trail bike.

There is no onsite catering - i am not sure if there will be vendors who will come down that are sometimes at the other races. So just to be on the safe side - bring your own food and drink. From PMB the venue is about 20min drive.

not sure what Sydney has planned for the Enduro - but ALL the trails are BRAND NEW ... The DH i have built is short but fun - but with no rain over this past week it is just powder at the moment. So should make for some interseting racing Will be interested to see how the Enduro fits into the Provincial format with timing etc.