Racestrong

Hey everyone. Thanks to everyone for a great race turnout at our first Gauteng DH race of the year! We where happy with how it went and especially grateful that the medics were not used once Great to see team Malalane coming to support always good to see the commitment. Thanks to everyone involved for helping out, time keeping Danielle Da Silva and Shannon Vd Walt and to Maree Enslin for helping too, and of course our faithful starter James Morland himself. Thanks toMarnus Swanepoel and Joe Du Toit for the bakkies to use as shuttles aswell as the guys who helped build and prep the track on saturday Thank to KITTED clothing for the caps that were donated for the winner of each class. Also big thanks to Monster Energy for donating some drinks prizes aswell as The Water Shed for supplying ice cold bottled water to hydrate everyone in the summer heat, it was well used! We hope to see more people getting involved, great to see new faces lets try keep the numbers coming for the following races. The next race will be at Thaba Trails new track at the entrance on 29 March. It will be piggy backing on the XCO running on the same day which will be great for exposure and will be a crowd attraction. Please feel free to leave any comments below for any other race suggestions, amd anything you guys might want different for the next race. Photos will be posted from the days action, but there are many more on the facebook page. Mountain Bikers do it downhill Results were as follows: Elites: 1) Tiaan Odendaal 2) Ryan Frerichs 3) David Hogan Open: 1) Marnus Swanepoel 2) Callum Orbell 3) Donald Turton Sports: 1) Casey Merick 2) Michane Viljoen 3) Jordan Fritz Kathryn Fourie won a KITTED cap for her efforts travelling all the way from KZN to race. Frerichs and Hogan.

Thanks for the generous prizes! Looking forward to working together in the future aswell.

I edited the post. Due to lots of consideration we have decided to have a full medics team with 2 paramedics, a medics station and an ambulance on call in the area for increased safety and peace of mind. Unfortunately we have had to raise the entry fee to R200. Im sure everyone agrees its a small price to ensure youre looked after.

<b>Event Name:</b> Gauteng Dh/enduro Timed Shuttle Day<br/><b>When:</b> 23 February 2014<br/><b>Where:</b> Helderkruin, Gauteng<br/><b>Category:</b> Downhill & Freeride<br/><br/>The Gauteng Downhill Mountain Bike Series Unofficial first race will be taking place on Sunday 23 February at the infamous Helderkruin DH track. The track will have B-lines for less experienced riders and/or short travel bikes that will be enduro-like technically. Free practice on Saturday, however be aware that track prep might be taking place.Practice will begin at 8am with 2 race runs at 12:30 and 13:30 respectively. COMBINED race runs result to count for the overall.R200 gets you uplifts for the day aswell as as 2 timed runs.for<br/><br/><a href="https://www.bikehub.co.za/events/event/1142-gauteng-dhenduro-timed-shuttle-day/">Go to Event Page</a>

The Gauteng Downhill Mountain Bike Series Unofficial first race will be taking place on Sunday 23 February at the infamous Helderkruin DH track. The track will have B-lines for less experienced riders and/or short travel bikes that will be rideable on any bike and every 'enduro'-like technically. Free practice on Saturday, however be aware that track prep might be taking place. Practice will begin at 8am with 2 race runs at 12:30 and 13:30 respectively. COMBINED race runs result to count for the overall. R200 gets you uplifts for the day aswell as race entry. Beginner Class: Riders riding for <1year Sport Class: Riders riding for 1year and longer but excludes National ranked racers. Pro Class: All riders who have raced a National/cup in the last year (2013 and juniors and subvets included) Anyone who can help we need the following: 1 or 2 x bakkie/4x4 which can tow an uplift trailer (trailer to be rented) 1 or 2 shuttle drivers depending on vehicle numbers. 3x volunteers to run the timing system. Anybody wanting or in the position to provide prizes. Anybody have access to sandbags, logs and wooden pallets for some track upgrades? Any vendors wanting to sell drinks and food please get hold of myself Ryan Frerichs or David Hogan. See you all there

I will have 2 bikes there to sell if you are interested? Will let you test ride them too first.

Im trying to convince my other mates to make the trip. Seen the videos that you posted, and many more hahaha. Excited is an understatement!

Omega, I'm still on the e-mail list with Morland for next year right? This is all I'm thinking about lately!

I missed the original thread. Where do we enter?

I have a Large and a Medium Mongoose BootR for sale. Either as full bike or Frame only if you are interested.

http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/First-Look-DVOs-Prototype-Jade-Rear-Shock,4703/Slideshow,0/sspomer,2

All this talk about the upside downs arent stiff enough. I think you have to be an amazing rider to be able to pin point that the flex of your forks is slowing you down, and differentiate it from incorrect front tyre pressure, wrong suspension settings, crappy cornering or jumping technique, track conditions etc etc. I used Dorados for 2 weeks when I started riding again, and if anyone can honestly tell me they can feel 20% of flex, then I will assume they are world cup level. I like the look of those DVOs. with the claimed weight they should be really light, and upside downs are really easy to service, did some minor service on the dorados in 10min with no experience. Modern MX bikes come out with 48mm stanchions, not much bigger than fox40s considering it weighs 100-115kg without rider. Most mx right way forks were without a bridge in anycase.

What are the chances of having a KZN enduro series next year? You guys have had the Karkloof, Cascades and Giba ones so far that I know off, maybe do it the same as the giba one with the enduro on Sat and DH on Sunday at all the DH provincials? Reason why I am asking is that I am sure there are more people like myself who would like to travel to all these races, but if they are double headers we can justify the costs, aswell as justify racing enduro as it will be a series, not merely a random race.

Does anyone practice at Giba during the week? I am coming down on Sunday to Durban for a week (Missing Worlds View National unfortunately though ) Trying to decide what bike to bring, would love to bring my DH bike if anyone wants to meet at Giba for a ride or 2 during the week.

I have a 2010 Mongoose Boot R up here in Jozi, selling for 15k. I can bring it down, also coming for the race, super pumped to ride with you guys from KZN. PS. I have no objections to someone building a track nearer Ballito, I am there quite alot.

@Patches I want that lumo one so bad!! Yeah they're both top of the range materials, so weights will be similar. From what i can tell, more open around face area, shorter peak and chin bar, more ventilation (no roost to deal with), also a shorter fin that sticks out the back and slightly higher cut around the neck for more movement looking around trees etc. Also its DH specific safety rating, interesting read on pinkbike about this: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/DH-Helmets-vs-Motocross-Helmets-Which-Is-Safer.html Wrist is about 70% there, rode XC for the first time on saturday. Was tender and weak but hopefully 3 weeks now till some DH riding. Thanks for asking bud.

From what I know the SA distributor should have them within next shipment or 2. We have been racing in the Airoh MX helmets this year, (Dave and Matt in the stelt, and myself in the Aviator) and hopefully we will have these bad boys for the Nat Champs. There is a savage looking black and flourescent yellow one, but I cant post a pic.

Hey guys. I am coming down on holiday to Cape Town on the 13th, and would like to bring my DH bike with and do some riding at Contermanskloof. Just need to know if its cool to ride there during the week, and safe to do so? Are there any shuttle days scheduled between 13th and 19th? Plus I also have no idea how to get there ha ha. I will then be in KZN for Christmas and New Years, would like to ride Giba, Cascades and Ricos. If anyone wants to hook up and do some riding you can let me know. Thanks a lot in andvance for any info.

I raced MX for a good couple of years, and Supermoto for 4 years. Now I am concentrating on DH for a few years, see what it is like, and I love it so far! Didnt you bust your collarbone or shoulder at that race?

Hey Behan. Yeah that was me on the Mongoose, my first national race. R.F. or Ryan Frerichs

Thanks Nigel. I found something online on UCI web about the National Series points, there are slightly less points given out for them compared to Champs, and they are further split up into UCI rated Category 1,2,3. Not sure what our Series events are rated, so will have to see.

How many points are awarded for each finish? Does anyone know this? example I finished 3rd in Elites at the last national. How many points is given for 3rd, so I know what is needed to be done at the start of the season next year to make it.

I think its a good thing for the sport! No reason why they both cant exist together, competition always brings new exciting things, and each series will continue to get better. Too much racing? I dont think so! AMA Motocross and Supercross run something like 16SX races and 14MX throughout the year.

www.racestargraffix.com They do all my raceshirts for DH and MX

Capt. Fantastic also join the FB group 'Mountainbikers do it downhill'. Im up in Joburg too, and most of the ride news is posted on there before the weekends rides.