Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Could also include the Bluegums trail as a short sharp special stage after DH0/1/2. Then back up to Vasbyt for the 5th stage and so on. Or instead of doing the beginning of DH1 in the 2nd SS, you could do Boulders into Intermediary or the full Boulders as a more technical, less DH oriented challenge. Cos that trail IS a challenge for most riders.

It does, but not at the right level yet. Liaison 1: Up the JT, to the top of Cobra. SS1: Cobra / Mamba / Boomslang / Snake Eyes. Liaison 2: Back up to top of DH 1 SS2: Down the beginning of DH1 and through the "intermediate" trail or Boulders. Liaison 3: Back up to DH0. SS3: DH0/1/2. Break. SS4: Vasbyt down (more technical than DH3 and more intense from an effort perspective) Break at the quarry SS5: Start of final stage on the jeep track next to the quarry, down through My Roots to the finish at the bottom by the lower entrance to Fairy Garden. As I said - there's enough, but the snakes don't yet have the technicality to make it as viable as the route would be at Jonkers. Still - would be interesting to track it all. I can see what I'm going to do this sunday...

There are only a few places in SA with enough vertical for that. But people on DH bikes would definitely benefit from a shuttle type arrangement in places. Walking up, pushing a 20kg bike with 10kg kit presents its own fitness challenges.

Yo Michael, of the 3, I'd say the Camber every time. More versatile and stronger than the other 2, and has the backup locally to boot. KTM aren't really in the local scene anymore (don't know what happened there, but they were only here for a short time, dunno if the agency has passed on to a new guy or not) Another option to look at would be the Giant Trance 275, which is very decently specced for pretty much the same price. But the Camber is a VERY capable bike, and you'd be better served going for that than the others due to its versatility.

No, they weren't. But then neither was the XCO Masters world champs course too technical for the WORLD CHAMPS. But that got edited in sections. I mean ffs, it was World.Champs. You kinda HAVE to be technically proficient for that to work, or at least be man enough to take the B line.

LOL. No contest. You win. 10 points. For now though. Down 2.8 in 2 weeks. Something's working. And I'm on the way again!

Indeed. Having said that, I LOVE my bike. It's helped me get over the fear of going fast on technical sections and taking bigger chances. Yes, on my HT it WILL be more difficult, and I'll have to take a while to get used to it again, but I honestly believe that it will better my riding even more. And yeah - up to get down. Down to get back up again. I like earning my turns.

BAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I got you, AGAIN!!!

Yeah. It's awesome, isn't it? Enduro here needs the numbers for sure. But also remember that it's trying to change a mindset. A mindset geared towards XCM, where people think that anything more than a 5% grade on a hill is a technical challenge (generalisation) As it progresses, and as people get used to the format, it WILL become more technical (I hope) and therefore people will see that they need to skill themelves up in order to ride it to their full potential. I really hope there's an Enduro at Jonkers & Tokai soon. Tokai can do it now but is lacking the technicality that will be there once the burn has come and gone, but Jonkers has it NOW.

Photos like that just reiterate how much of a machine the Gravester is. I mean, winning the first XC race he entered this year, with a blown-out fork...

LOL. You should have seen the faces of the guys I was riding with on Saturday when they asked how much travel I had, and I answered 170mm... But I can ride that thing all day long.

That nobody in their right mind would say that there was too much singletrack at a venue. Okay - in a "race" like the MTB Burger or theMTB Argus, too much ST is a bad thing purely 'cos of the numbers. But as for normal events with a smaller attendance, singletrack (or dual track so that there are passing opportunities) is the ideal scenario. Threshold all the time, concentration, technical skill and so on. And if you're not ready for a certain section - USE THE B LINE!!!

Rain makes things faster. Except when it's torrential. Then it makes things fun. Like when I wiped out this past saturday. Twice. Laughed so bloody hard at myself. Perfect way to end a kick-ass ride - faceplant in the parking lot. And you know what? It made me feel like a kid again. When I used to purposefully wipe out just to see how I'd land. But yeah. People just don't want to improve their skills. I see it all the time in Tokai. They have no idea that they're missing out on the MTB holy grail - singletrack. It not only improves your skill if you work at it, it improves your bike handling, your fitness (threshold efforts - trust me on this one) and so on. I just shake my head and wonder why.

The CWC one?

Yeah Swiss, but the question begs - if it's too hard (bith physically and technically) why not try it out and get better at it by at least trying it out and assessing your weak spots, then concentrating on them to improve?

Lol. Damn. Can't build it up again THAT quickly. Plus I'm on baby duty. Maybe I'll come spectate. Where is it?

Oh and if there were an xco series here in ct I would rebuild my Hardtail in a flash.

Lol. You trying to tell me what I already know? I tell you, there's no better feeling than clearing a jump for the first time, or doing a drop that scared you shirtless just the day before. The endorphins are mad. Believe me, I rejoice when I have a PR (STRAVA) up the main drag or on the way up to the mast, but that's for main fitness which means I can go harder and faster on the way down without feeling like a loslappie at the bottom (well, I still do but I get there faster)

IMO the school guys would want to get more technical and go for the rush of getting better on rock gardens, jumps and so on. So I reckon the focus will shift over time to one more focused on xco type events. Makes sense as well - less organizational fuss (land access etc) and faster racing. Fields of 200 plus would be fine, as long as there are suitable places for passing (like there are on xco events) and the support increases.

Don't know about you (actually, I know you share my sentiment but you know what I mean) but I ascribe "fun" to blasting down a technical section barely holding on far more than miles and miles of jeep track boredom.

Trek did that quite a whole back. Didn't take off.

100%, ratboy...

Erm.... okay...?

Thing is there's more than one "tribe". As you can see, I'm part of one. But I also see the other lines & allegiances and wonder wtf it's all about from time to time. "What" being the cockfighting...

I'm patchy at best...