nigelhicks

Stayeasy Hotel is right next to Midlands Mall - its like R700 a night for a ROOM with breakfast. Its 3 minutes away from the race venue

Totally - can even organise an old GT RTS 2 to ride - but there is no way im gonna hit the jumps we have on the new tracks on that bike with those setups

Awesome ... the year i started racing nationals as a young upstart in Sub-juniors! hahahaha We missed that round unfortunately though - was too expensive to go to all of them.

I run the Spank Spikes on my Enduro rig - they are awesome.

Stevie had a superb run ... it looks like Gee was slow in the last split as everyone of the last 10 or so made time on him there. But with 2 to go ... I think the overall is running away a bit ... Stevie is still in with a shout ... but it looks like a longshot for the rest.

There is a BIG battle brewing on the fast approaching horizon ... and its between Greg, Mick, Gee and Gwin. All aiming to peak at Worlds. 3 of the 4 seem to have been trying not to end themselves (well not Gee - hes had a good couple of diggers lately) and are holding back a bit it.

@DJR - not you dude ... the lighties on Vital and Pink bike and Dirt ... hahahaha

I have sent the videos through to Vital and Pink Bike - this one and the Masters Track video. So now its time to sit back and wait for the slating and whinging to start from all the 15 year old, couch racers who frequent the international sites. hahahahaha

this is no surprise Fabian nearly got DSQ'ed in Pietermaritzburg for Illegally practicing the track outside of practice times. He was staying with some ex-DHers from KZN and they were shuttling him on the hill privately. I have met him a couple of times and hes a really nice guy, but sometimes his actions in racing leave a lot to be desired

Just seen Nicks tweet ... hahahahaha If you see an oke coming at you with a schambok followed by a hyperactive staffie ... Id move! hahahaha If any1 is found to B moving rocks logs etc on any of the tracks in Cascades park. You will be Thrashed. Don't bother arriving at the start. CLASSIC

@Gannet Dude i suggest you get hold of Dellah Paul and the event organisers ASAP as i am not sure what the ruling is with riding the track blind. I know for DH you need to have completed 2 practice runs to be eligable to race You will need to have registered and collected your accreditation by Thursday 11am ... As per the Race Schedule. I doubt there will be registration on the Friday or Saturday. So you had better make some sort of plan as you need to be there in person to register. I think you may need to speak nicely to your boss

hahahaha classic Dont worry Dellah will be sending out a mail shot to ALL entrants soon with this in mind. So everyone will know. No we wouldnt dare close it this weekend ... we'd have a riot on our hands! hahahaha

PLEASE NOTE .......... LONG WEEKEND - Fri 9 - Sat 10 - Sun 11 ....... TRACKS ARE OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Weekend before Event - Fri 16th Sat 17th Sun 18th .......... TRACKS CLOSED EVENT STARTS - Tues 20th

IRON ... this weekend now the tracks are open - its just the immediate weekend before the event when the tracks will be closed .... I too have a job and family dude - most people dont realise that this is not my day job. there is nothing we can do about it ... if the okes complain thats just tough ... If they go overseas to worlds they would not be allowed to ride the tracks before hand ... they would only be able to ride during official practice ... so its not unreasonable to close the tracks 3 days before the event.

Sorry Gannet - but this is a necessity from a logistics perspective. Please note that for Cross country you will have Wed and Thurs ALL DAY (9:00 to 16:00) to practice.

While i have you here and likely Fuming ...... PLEASE NOTE - in the guide .... Rider & Team Sites Areas will be available for riders to erect infrastructure and to set up on the day of competition etc but please note that as all the infrastructure will aready be in place for the Elite World Championships that starts on the 26th August, space is at a premium and available land will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If you want a space to be allocated to you, you must register with Carly Shuman from CRA Events at carly@craevents.com before registration begins. Failure to do so will mean that no space will be made available to you to set up on or around the event site. If you don’t have your own infrastructure to set up and would like to make use of the infrastructure being put in place by CRA Events, then this is possible at a nominal daily fee and Carly will be able to assist you with this. Parking Parking areas for competitiors have been allocated alongside the event site and will be available on a first come, first served basis. There is no guarantee of parking close to the site. No vehicles may be parked on the competition site and vehicles will only be allowed to access the site until 30 minutes before the first competition is due to start and once this deadline is reached, the gates will be locked for the day until the last competition is completed for the day. Vehicles may only be brought onto site to offload infrastructure and equipment and must then be removed straight away. GUYS .... please get hold of Carly and organize the team area marquees if you want something - i think its like R300 bucks a day for a BIG marquee that you then dont have to hassle with - you get 8 guys to go in together for 4 days hire and its R150 bucks each .... Also that saves you lugging your stuff from the car park to the venue The car park at Cascades will be CHAOS most likely - so rather think of parking elsewhere .... also think of just dropping your cooler boxes etc at Cascades with someone in the AM and then moving the vehicle away .... Just a suggestion.

Hey Guys and girls After our meeting last night .... the following was decided PLEASE NOTE - the XC and DH tracks will be CLOSED from Friday 16th August onwards for competition completion. LONG WEEKEND - Fri 9 - Sat 10 - Sun 11 ....... TRACKS ARE OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Weekend before Event - Fri 16th Sat 17th Sun 18th .......... TRACKS CLOSED EVENT STARTS - Tues 20th This is to allow the organizers to, mark and tape the tracks and undertake any necessary last minute track repairs without having to dodge riders - We had an issue yesterday when a trail crew staff member was hit by a cyclist. We do not need this. With it being as dusty and dry as it is the tracks are also getting quite blown out and this will give us an opportunity to water sections and make sure that they are prime for the event the next week. Please understand this and organize your pre-event training accordingly .... You are more than welcome to walk the tracks on the days between the 16th and 19th - but you will not be allowed to ride. ALSO any rider seen to be breaking, or moving course poles or tape will be reported to the organizers for disciplinary action. Thanks Nigel and Nick

Im not sure - But as for the baggies ..... http://www.sunshinebicycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Marco-Fontana-on-a-Cannondale-Scalpel-29er.jpg If Fontana can .... you can!!!!

If they run slowest to fastest - you will be chasing me .... and will be last on track .... FEEL THE PRESSURE

A mail shot was sent out a while ago to all participants saying that "Although there was no selection criteria for MAsters, all SA masters entrants were encouraged to race in SA federation kit that they could purchase." Note that the federation kit is different to the Elite kit as far as i know. This request for shirts had to be in a while back so that they could be made. Im not sure who ordered - I know i did

nope - i agree - they all come out of the woodwork for this

well you will need a good start then ... the first straight is 400m long, slightly uphill, with Red Face Hill at the end (a short sharp uphill into a left hander) There may be a bit of a bottle neck here out the start so try be on the outside to ride around the guys on the inside who may get stuck and have to unclip. Then its a straight shoot down a road and into the first twin track .... this is twin track so should flow ok even on the first lap - HOWEVER - there is a little rock garden in the first trees after 1km from the start that may cause an issue - you want to be through here quickly as from here there is a long single track climb up "Cabbage Tree" to the next fire road. From here it should spread out - If i were racing id see what the field is like when i get there - but I would potentially run Kims Corner as it might be faster if you can dismount fast - then run up to the next road and jump on again. the "portage" is all of 20m and saves a slow switchback

http://themozartcafe.homestead.com/files/laughing_wam_on_floor.gif Thats awesome!!!!!!!!