Morne Veer

t is gonna be a tricky one as I leave for a week break (Without a bike), on Sat - think 150 kms over three days on my beloved dikwiel might leave to instant divorce ! and eina boude

...they rode Hoogies yesterday as well

....talking about training, I have one more tip for the newbies to this event. Start going to the casino and sit around the poker tables..... .....do not play obviously, but just sit and observe those folk with the good hands, trying to bluff the others ......this should help come you come Feb, when you are dealing with the ooms at the water tables, when they tell you the climbing is almost done !!

.......only now, pffff, knowing what I know from last years Imbuko, I have already started my hill training in May this year

WALK ??

Two more tips: 1) Get over your fear of heights - you are gonna be up in the clouds all day long !! 2) Service your suspension - riding that route with fork that in the first hour turns into a rigid, is not gonna do you any favors :-)

....and it will probably be a nice and cool day out again.....dis mos winter daai tyd in Wellington ?

One of the toughest one day events I have done, but also arguably the best days out. So much single-track, views, CLIMBS, water points, cramps, CLIMBS, good vibes, great venues and farms, CLIMBS, like-minded folk (with cramps)....did I mention CLIMBS ??

1 Edvald Boasson Hagen 2015 3 x stage wins 2 Stephen Cummings 2015 2 x stage wins 5 Reinardt Janse van Rensburg 2015 8th on stage 19 Michael Valgren 2019 4th on stage 20 Roman Kreuziger 2019 4 x GC top 10 21 Giacomo Nizzolo 2019 n/a 22 Ben King 2019 n/a 23 Lars Bak 2019 4th on stage *as per Into Cycling Newspaper

Afternoon - this will be on 1 July, and details will be given through on our Facebook page.

There are HUGE plans for the future, some which we've been working on for a good three years. Yip, most of these relationships are formed and worked upon, for extended periods, long before an actual trail is built. Landowner relationships are the most critical element in any trail network, and needs to be respected and handled with the utmost sensitivity. Sadly there are always the few that show scant regard for this and simply do as they please, which inevitably puts everything, and progress, at risk. However, as said, there are huge plans for the future which we shared with those at the AGM, and as per fbook announcement comment last week, if we have our way, the Chamois Cream manufacturers will have their hands full in keeping up with the demand. Happy to here folk enjoying the trails - loads of good stuff on the way

Morning Chris Sorry for not answering this earlier, missed this post. We have very close working relationships with all of our farm owners and / or management. So by all means, if something is spotted, please do mail us directly at info@tygerbergmtb.co.za We recently got someone informing us of an injured animal on the farm, where we could fortunately alert the required folk etc. Sorry for not answering this earlier, missed this post.

Afternoon If you take Spes Bona, from Adderley Rd, then you travel as you would normally do towards the exit / T junction of Wellington Rd - it is a little before the T junction, on the left - there is a large A-frame bridge, that marks the start of the trail, the first of a whole lot of bridges :-) Enjoy. ps: for our other hubbers that are not club members, PLEASE respect this is a members-only corridor / trail, and may thus only be used if you're a member, with your membership board fitted to the bike's handlebar.

I rode the course yesterday and told my son how much fun it was, but knew racing it will be a different kettle of fish all together. This turned out to be the case with me taking a proper tumble down one of the rock features, and again later on one of the washed out corners, which was testament to just how technical things become when you are on the limit for most. Really enjoyed the day, and the full series - now on to other kind of events and some ultra endurance stuff in a few months. Well done to each rider who took part in the series or some of the events, and got to agree with Milky, to the handful (really nothing more than that) responsible for making the races happen, no words will be suffice to express our appreciation. See you guys out there on the trails again !

Also just managed to squeak in one quick lap, and it it seems a "fun" one yes, but think it will be a different story red lining it all the way though, as will be the case tomorrow. Forgot my device at home so not sure of the distance and elevation, but did feel the climbing in the start of the lap, and at the end, the lap felts quite long vs other races, but not sure if this is in fact the case. Lots of very tight corners and switchbacks, so need to make sure I keep the tummy tucked in all the way.....

Sad that it is all coming to an end tomorrow......flip man !

Great write-up Ash ! What many folk do not always realise is the huge amount of work that goes into these events - weeks of planning and red tape with CSA and local authorities etc, to make one want to cry....then the venue gets tackled about 4 days prior to the race to get marking and lay out done, etc - on the day these same volunteers are all busy with various activities, and that is why these event seemingly goes ahead without a hitch, because of the enormous work and effort put in by these parents of our kids. As MTB club (TYGERBERG) we are so proud of our association with WP MTB'ing, and the various volunteer groups within. As per a previous comment made, "making xco great again"

Well surely the course can't have more elevation gain per lap than the previous race......wait, this is Paarl and Champs after all

Agree fully with all three points above......and just to emphasize, for me at least, that elevation gain per lap, was hectic.....and coupled with the lack of recovery time / sections, it made for a challenging lap, and one tough race. Let's all spread the word, and do our best to grow the numbers, so much potential in this discipline, yet so many wrong perceptions - will only change when we get our mates to the start line and let them experience this exhilarating format for themselves. In closing, Enduro Kingpin, Rupert von Tsutsek (hope I got that right), gave it a go today and I spent some time with him post-race.....He was blown away by the professional "show" put on by the WP MTB Commission's volunteers & parents, and furthermore, felt the track was superb, with plenty of fun to be had, if you knew where to find em. Coming from The Godfather of Enduro currently in WC, this was pleasing remarks, to say the least. One more to go, before the madness comes to an end for 2019.....sadly of course

Went through for pre race registration, which as to be expected by the good fellas of WP MTB commission, all flawless and very efficient.....all done in less than 30 seconds.....with a voucher to go and select any bottle of wine from a long list, at the Zewenwacht Wine Tasting Room (what a nice touch that was !!) Course : Take the conditions under foot, or rather under rubber / tire, from Rhebokskloof, and times it by 3 or 4, and you know what you are going to be riding on for pretty much 99 percent of the route tomorrow - trillions of billions of those minute sandy marbles, making the most basic turns, going slow or fast, a challenge. The start is on an incline as well, which will be tricky to get away on and then it is one lekker long ass drag race to the top, highest point on route....... You then dive down some lekker singletrack, but fear not, there are no nasty surprises in terms of any big jumps....here and there a small double, but not the jumps discussed / showed here earlier. And yes, Donny is correct, those jumps are huge, as it is basically the main downhill line, which you follow for most, BUT thank goodness, passing all the jumps either to the left, or right, not doing them, as it will be the smallest of few that will have the required skill and courage to do them. Climbing from the course map / profile on the website looked nothing to worry about as they lack the shark teeth we are used to seeing, BUT, be aware, I think this one (or I know this one) is gonna hurt - they are indeed steep in some sections and especially that first one is long.....going at pace, we are gonna burn matches, that is for sure. Only actual "technical feature" is a very lekke rock-garden, which is not that difficult to do at all, but one thing is for sure, if you do manage to go OTB one you committed, you are gonna slam very hard into some nasty snipers, waiting to take one of your ribs.....good news is, the racing snakes showed us that doing A line (rock garden) or the B line around it, is gonna cost you maybe 4 - 5 seconds, if you keep your speed nicely through the B line, so discretion is the better part of valor in my opinion - with so little to gain there, and def a fair amount of risk, the B line has my name written all over it for tomorrow. I believe we have 200 entries and counting, so look forward to seeing the young kiddos from nippers and sprogs, right up to myself and the other old toppies, give it a good go tomorrow, and enjoy the privilege we have to take part in such a well organised series, all with huge investment and sacrifice by a handful of volunteers and parents. See you okes tomorrow !!

.....the image above from Milky is the B line

perhaps you decide differently if you enjoy the free bottle of Zewenwacht red, just prior to the race........

Entered and excited - always fun (I know I know, hurting a lot for the most, but strangely that enhances the "fun"). New venue with good potential for future - let's see how things pan out, I know the organisers and volunteers, are hard at work (as always) to make the magic happen.

ENTRIES FOR #3 CLOSING THIS MONDAY !!! (and as per the social media pages of WP MTB Commission, free bottle of wine for all entrants !!

Not yet - the photographers also took a beating in that heat being out there from 7h30 in the morning up to the close of play at 3 pm. Lets support these guys and buy images from them, even if we look like we're dying on the bikes - lol I know they upload them in the week after the race, but sometimes they snap up to 1000 HD images per event.