JohnnyReggae

FatCyclist.... the name is deceptive no fat there are all. Was good to meet you guys. Keep an eye out for use because we will be there, and we will be doing the most extreme stuff we can find

Thanks Onetime Good to meet another Hubber on the trails. Was my first ride in 4 weeks after being on holiday for 3 weeks. Was a perfect day for a ride in the forest, so really enjoyed it.

Sparzanza - Gone Stoner metal from Sweden. Makes an interesting change from the full-on Death Metal coming out of Sweden at the moment. The Swedes really know how to make some kick-ass music IMO.

Otology From my experience riding in Tokai the guys going uphill generally (voluntarily) yield for the guys going down, which includes guys stopping and moving over for me on my way down the single tracks. I'm always looking out for people and if I see that it's going to be easier/safer for me to get out of the way I do. The only trail where things become a problem is Faery Garden where you can go close to the same speed up as down, coupled with the switches and bush it gets hard to see and hear things. I'd kinda sit on the "downhiller gets right of way" side of the fence, purely for selfish reasons. It's a long hard slog to get to the top and would like to enjoy the downhill as much as possible. There are other saftey issues that some have already brought up about the noise levels ... etc ... but will stick with my selfish reason JohnnyReggae2009-04-30 05:53:45

I could go for a 128GB flash drive at that price .... if it's decent. Got burnt a while back buying a 2GB flash drive that's slower than a Stiffie Drive.

Well' date=' there's your problem right there... [/quote'] lol ... yeah. Not sure why I keep torturing myself by going there. I suppose convenience of living around the corner, but am always disappointed when walking out....

Before I start let me just say that I have not searched much on the topic, so I know I should Google it but am hoping that someone with some experience with this can give me a quick answer. I have a magura brake, which I bought 2nd hand in good working condition. Put it on my 29'er and on it's first ride while riding up Boulders in Tokai I bailed and the Uni hit a rock and punctured the cable. The puncture is close to the brake connection itself on the main line running from the brake lever. I took it along to Cycle Lab and the guys there wanted to charge me a minumum of R400 to fix it, which is twice the amount I paid for it. Is there an easy way to fix it (thinks of cutting the cable and pushing it onto the connection) ... and then to bleed the brake ? Failing that does anyone have a cheap 2nd hand Magura lying around ?

Well Johhny Cash did cover a NIN song' date=' so kinda reversed [img']https://assets.bikehub.co.za/legacy_images/smilies/smiley1.gif[/img]

Dying Rose - Your River

Pick up the Phone-call them' date=' ask. These guys are probably out there trying to fix trails without getting puked apon...[/quote']That's all good and well...... but how seriously do you think I should take an organisation that relies on donations and memberships to do work that doesn't bother to update their primary source of information about who they are and what they are doing .... in the last 2 years. Would you buy items from an online company that hasn't updated their catalogue in the last 2 years ? I'm not trying to bash AMA Rider, really. It would be nice to get updated information. Me phoning them may satisfy me, and I may join in to help out. But that is just 1 person. Update the information, make it more relevant, and you get more people.

I appreciate the fact that erosion is occurring in parts of the trails, and if changes are being made to combat this, then I am all for it. It's just that there is no explanation/information anywhere around about what is happening and where etc.... I've been to the AMA Rider web site a few times, and again after reading your post. There is a link about Tokai projects. Unfortunately the page in question was last updated in March 2007 (2 years ago). Any web page that is 2 years old pertaining to something that is constantly changing is basically useless. http://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_project&project_id=4489&cause_id=1490 When you chat/ride with the guys again, can you make a plea for someone to update the information (if they are the guys doing the maintenance/building) ? Perhaps they can also include when they will be doing maintenance and building so more people can be aware of this and be more inclined to join and offer assistance. Lack of information leads to speculation.... Text of the AMA Rider Tokai page below. "Trails | Tokai Trail DONATE We are negotiating with Sanparks to extend the contour trail systems below level 4. The proposed 2,1km trail will link the ?diagonal' with the masterpiece and offer a contour hugging route option. Funding is also required to actively pursue the elusive 'Offroad route around the Peninsula?. This route is not going to appear out of nowhere. We need research, coordination and planning. DONATE This page was last updated on 2007-03-01"

Frank Black - Ole Mulholland

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Babe, I'm On Fire

Amy Winehouse - Some Unholy War

See my previous post....

Agreed totally. I'm not the only one using the trails, and they are not there purely for my own enjoyment. My issue is that the trails are being made easier to ride for a smaller subset of people using the trails. What about the people who spend time out there, and pay every time to use the trails.... in the end more so that the weekend warrior. So I'm being selfish because some people are to lazy to ride up a jeep track, or couldn't be bothered to work on their skills..... and I have to keep going higher and higher just to find something technical to ride. Who is being unreasonable here ? If you read one of my previous posts I complained specifically about a very small downhill section that has been totally dumbed down, when there is an easier alternative already. I've taken time and effort with quite a few bails to get my skills to a point that I could easily ride it, knowing that if I didn't feel like doing that section I could take the easier loop around it. So why dumb that section down ? Who are you catering for ? Seeing as there was already an easier alternative ? Then tell me again that I'm being selfish.

I don't buy this one. If I can ride up the loooooooong jeep track to get to level 2 on my Unicycle' date=' then surely some nubie on 2 wheels can do it. I've been riding up to at least level 2 (Vasbyt), and nowadays to at least level 4 (Mamba), since my first ride in Tokai. I'm close to 40, and quite overweight and I still make the effort to ride up the steep jeep track.... on 1 wheel nogal !!! If you're to lazy to ride up the hill then stay out of the forest..... and similarly if you don't feel like putting in some effort to increase your skills, then go and ride a stationary bike in the Gym. It's great that there is a "greater plan", which in my opinion is needed and also needs to be constantly reviewed. Do you have details of the "greater plan" ? It would be nice to see what else is envisioned. At the moment I am disappointed that a number of changes have been made to make the trails easier to ride, and if the plan only includes this then I would be so upset. I pay just like any nubie does and would also like to have my skills tested. Are there plans to make more technical sections ? That I don't have to ride to the Mast to get to... seeing as how the nubies need to ride some of the lower trails ? As for getting involved in the trail building I would definitely like to help and get involved. My involvement would be to make technical trails for MUni as that is what my passion is, and if AMARider and Muerant would like to cater for MUni ... then I'm there.

If I wanted a technical easy ride I would go ride on the road.... I don't so I go ride in the forest. If you want an easy ride, go ride on the road.

I have to agree with BTS here. While I really appreciate the maintenance work being done in Tokai Forest, some sections are being "dumbed down" to cater for the weekend warrior. The technical difficulty of some sections is now gone just to make it easier to ride. A specific point in case is the small section on downhill 4 where the trail splits, right for a easy loop around, and left for a downhill section with a few drops. The left section with the drops now has a "northshore" piece added. While it's great to ride along that piece and have a small drop at the end, the initial drops (next to and below the huge rock on the left) are now gone. I've spent a fair amount of time working out the lines and going for the drops and was so happy the first time I nailed it. Now that I can do the drops I always look forward to getting there and doing them..... they are now gone. Can't people spend some time working on their skills, rather than make it easier to ride ? What really is the point of making it easier to ride ? If the trail changes due to weather, change how you ride it.... Isn't that the point ? Working on your skills is the only way to make you a better rider, not making the trail easier so you can ride it

Hitting the dirt, literally, is part of the experience. It is what makes you a better rider, and reminds you to concentrate the whole time. It is about riding within your limits, and if you venture past your limits you know that you're in control and any bail is your own fault .... There is no better "rush" however of venturing past your perceived limit and nailing it !!!

Did a trials session at UCT over the weekend. Was my first real trials session as I spend most of my Uni time riding in Tokai Forest. Trials involves a lot of hopping up, off, onto, from, to, etc..... This is a where a 20" Uni works best as it's lighter and more maneuverable, the 24" makes things a tad harder.... but is a beast for off-road MUni