Morne Veer

Also see this response from CSA directly : "Hi Morne, No problem, entrants are sorted into their age groups once entries are closed. “Other categories” are for all categories other than junior or Elite. Regards Dellah"

Hi gents - just again to confirm, I am not part of the organizing committee or CSA, etc - merely a passionate parent, who aim to assist the WP MTB association (all volunteers), in any way I can. I am riding in Vets category, and got entered, without a full racing licence, just my CSA membership. See below confirmation. Perhaps you can contact Adelle de Villiers (084 459 5994) to clear up any uncertainties.

Afternoon That will depend on your age (category) - as per the organisers' website : "Cycling South Africa Membership and License Requirements: To register and race (and to qualify for regional or provincial colours), South African riders must hold a valid Cycling South Africa Membership or Cycling South Africa Full Racing License at the time of entry. Juniors and Elites need to have Cycling South Africa Full Racing Licenses and all other categories may have Cycling South Africa Memberships." To enter : https://cyclingsa-events.co.za/app/

HOW DID THIS TOPIC GO FROM XC0 RACING, TO DOUBLE CENTURY ?!!

All good banter & lots of respect for each other........On the bikes, off the bikes, we are all good mates !!

You will notice I referred to "all levels", I have it on good authority that many of Team Gemini can not ride down (or up) pavements, and that all of their members envy the team spirit and fun factor of the yellow train - some even painted their homes yellow in the past !

Yip, sadly we lost our mountain goat, to the dark side - simply could not compete with the savage contract he got offered !!

Talking about MTB Teams, few out there that can compete (on various levels) with these boys :

Great to see the increase in numbers in Vets and Sub Vets - lets try and all work together to get even more of our mates to join. XCO has such a lot of potential, and I am confident that we have a very good foundation to work from, as a result of a VERY special committee, that has made huge strides in the last two years.

Expect more of the same from last week - the xco course from last year was a real tester - a lot of climbing will surely be dished up again, and being a SA Cup event, I am sure they will pull out all the stops to put on a great event. Thanks for your support - look forward to seeing you chase that podium !!

Event Name: Load SA Cup Series XCO #1 (Subaru Cape Town WC XCO Series #2) When: 25 February 2017 Where: Rhebokskloof (Paarl), Western Cape Category: MTB The dust has settled (literally) after a VERY successful first event in Worcester on the past weekend - and by all accounts the 2nd race will be as exhilarating, if not more, as it incorporates the first SA MTB Cup event, which will most definitely attract some well know riders from across the country. However, the event allows (and encourages) participation from the non-professional athletes, and our scholars. At the first event @ Slanghoek (Worcester), we saw record entries in the Vets and Sub-Vets categories, confirming the keen interest from "older" riders in this unique format of racing. An ideal platform for our youngsters to be exposed to the racier side of mtb'ing, and we look forward to seeing them line up, and ask the parents to encourage their little mtb'ers to participate. Entries close: Tuesday 21 February 2017 The Load 2017 SA MTB Cup Series XCO 1 takes place at the Hero Adventure Trails at Rhebokskloof Wine Estate in the Western Cape on Saturday 25 February. This is the first installment of four XCO races of the series taking placing around the country throughout the year. Go to Event Page

The racing was VERY hot - literally !! Ask any of the old toppies that got going around 12h00.......it was brutal !!

I agree, the numbers in the very young categories was low. Unfortunately we are right in the middle of athletics season, and critically, inter-schools. We had a number of parents indicating this as their reason for not being able to join. Also, the event was further away to what most parents are used to - with very young having to start at 8, and reg closing at 7h30, some parents were not prepared to get up early on the morning to bring their kids through. Lastly, some parents still believe xco bike racing is too dangerous for their children, which most of us will strongly disagree with. Even those kids who went down in a pile of dust on Saturday, go up, dusted themselves off, and just got on with riding their bikes. We are continuously looking for ways to address the stigmas of the sport and seeing how we can get more youngsters to join - we have made big strides up to now, but there is MASSIVE potential still.

Sorry to hear man - I saw you went down big time !! Thanks for positive comments. Regards Morné

Hi guys and gals A big thanks to those who came out to take part, and those who came to support. I took part in the Vets category, which had the biggest field yet - also the sub vets had a record number of entries. Great to see the old toppies getting their mojo back and racing faces on. For myself it was pain from the word go - xco def not my strong point, but I do love the thrill which comes with lap racing and pushing yourself above what you normally do, or think you can do. Even in young categories there was lots of good racing taking place, and all round, throughout the whole day, it was clear that everyone had a jol. The calendar for cycling events these days are VERY full, and it has become the norm that one have two to three cycling events on the same weekend. I am sure the numbers will increase even further at the other events, if they are not going to clash with other events. There was some spills, and I also went down hard in one of the berms - due to the excessive heat of late, and lack of proper rain, the course was VERY dusty - that said, most riders, after a few minutes of rest and recovery, managed to pull out a smile and thumbs up for the track, which by most accounts was a true test (short and steep, times a lot, was the name of the game). Next race is at the end of Feb at Rhebokskloof, and I'll post all the info, etc in the racing calendar later in this week.

Great guys - cant wait. Just for the record, I am not the organiser of the event - the event is run by a handful of VERY committed parents and volunteers, who simply do an AMAZING job. I only help where I can - hence I opted to do "create" the event here in the race diary section. It truly is a stunning day out, and best enjoyed if you bring your family and mates around - look forward to seeing all of you there. Kind Regards

So glad that I was not the only one being hopeless out there, in terms of results, BUT I had so much fun at each event. Yip, I had blood in my throat for the most, yes it is tough to ride that hard for a hour and half (basically one big interval), but the experience was great. I am back this year and will again enjoy the races with my wife and kids, and make a lekker day out of it. Pappa bear needs to put on a good show for the family - lol.

....I only used pics from about 10 percent of the total crashes

Event Name: Western Cape XCO Series 2017 XCO#1 Slanghoek When: 4 February 2017 Where: Slanghoek, Western Cape Category: MTB Next weekend (04/02) sees the series kicking off at Slanghoek (just outside Rawsonville). The series caters for all age categories, from the nippers right up to grand-masters. A special invite to young, AND the old, to come and join in the "fun" - live a little !! #xcoracing Here's a video clip with some footage (photos) of last year's series : All the relevant information can be found on the Western Cape MTB commission's facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/wpmtbc/?fref=ts For more detailed race information and entries : http://www.wpcycling.com/event/xco-1-slanghoek-mountain-resort/?instance_id=1949 Awesome newly built course, stunning host venue (Slanghoek), and event hosting of the highest quality (which includes electronic timing, live commentary, vendors, food stalls, entertainment, etc) - bring the family along and come and experience a great day out. Go to Event Page

Ja swaer, die goeie ou dae !!!

I remember back in the day, we used to cycle through the section on the right of the N1, as you head out to CT, through the depot area - not sure if that is a "private" road, but they stopped cyclists from access - they have booms there, and we used to just slide through on the sides and make our way through "harbor" till we got out the other side, importantly, safe and sound and not being mugged. My question : are we still prohibited from going through there ? .....and secondly can they (I assume Transnet) deny us access to that road ?

Running a pair of carbon hoops - they are the business...BUT I do plead guilty to the charge of low pressure, the price you pay when looking for all the grip you can get out of a tire. But then again, have been riding that pressure all the time, and this was my first ever cut on the beading....perhaps just my bad luck, with a little contribution by the low air pressure.

Flip boys, ek weet darem nie..... Ek het myself gate uit geniet - was brilliant event gewees. Die roetes was awesome, alhoewel die eerste 20 en laaste 10 km van dag een, gevoel het soos bietjie sirkels ry in die sand. Dag 2 en 3 se roetes was uit die boeke gewees - asemrowend mooi, en lekker uitdagend op gedeeltes. Niks "killer" klimme nie, maar genoeg om jou 'n goeie sweet-sessie te gee. Ja, die event het min deelnemers gehad, maar dit gee mens ook geleentheid om die trails beter te geniet met amper geen gedeeltes wat bottelnekke gehad het nie. Ek glo die event moet / kan beter bemark word, om meer belangstelling te kweek, maar wat my betref, 'n wenresep, net so paar veranderinge wat gedoen kan word. Dit is 'n "ander" tipe event, dit is nie jou normale stage race en slaap in tentjie op jou eie nie. Mens het geleentheid om eie akkomodasie te kies en jou naweek saam jou familie te geniet - by meeste ander events sal dit nie moontlik wees nie, tensy jy jou vrou en drie kinders saam in daai klein ABSA tentjie wil druk saam jou :-) Ek het 'n wonderlike tyd gehad elke dag op die fiets, en roetes BAIE geniet.Die waterpunte het ons amper nooit by gestop nie, maar ek verstaan by ander dit was van hoogstaande gehalte, en MEER as genoeg hoeveelheid, en verskeidenheid.Die roetes was elke dag BAIE goed gemerk.Die "timing" was akkuraat en in ooreenstemming met wat ons lesings ook was.Free Bike Wash was baie handig.Goeie "goodie bag", met great First Ascent baadjie (en natuurlik lekker wyntjie ook).Ek, en van ander in ons groep, voel dit was wonderlike event - die weer het pragtig saamgewerk en ten spyte van voorspellings, was daar nie een druppel reën die heel naweek nie. Sal verseker voorstel vir enige een wat 'n event wil doen en familie wil saambring, maar ook vir die mountainbiker wat so biejie proper mtb terrain wil ry - lekker as mens van jou fiets klim en jou arms is net so lam soos jou bene ! Goed gedoen, aan elkeen wat klaargemaak het, en hoed af aan die organiseerders. Morné

Just completed the Gravel & Grape on a set of Onza Canis - the "toilet paper version" For those who do not know, the Gravel & Grape takes part in the Breede River Valley, and each day you spend at least a 3rd of your ride going through un-manicured, rockey footpaths and trails. A lot more testing terrain than what the regular Cape Town events offer. On day one, I had my bit of bad luck, when I cut the beading of the tire, which is a true recipe for disaster, as one cannot plug it - it is normally a very tiny cut on the beading itself, just where it enters / meets the rim. Some proper sealant took care of the cut, and I did not have any other problems for that stage, or the rest of the event. The other two stages, was ironically also full of sections of very gnarly rocks waiting to cause havoc, but the tires took everything that came their way. VERY happy with them, again, if the sidewalls withstood the trails of the Breede Valley, it sure is a compliment. Have not read any of the other comments above, but as for tires, I personally believe, if it is your day, it is your day - yes, lighter tires will add more risk, but I have seen my friends on the so called bulletproof tires, get sidewall cuts, whilst I was riding the same events, with a lighter tire (thinner sidewall), without issues.

"Spanish anti-doping authorities raided the cyclist Rourke Croeser’s room two weeks ago, after a tipoff, amaBhungane was told by a number of people with direct knowledge." ​Can not help but wonder who these whistle blowers are - fellow riders who also use needles for a million and one applications ?....