Greg78

Thanks very much for this "NotSoBigBen" ... saves me from opening an account on FB. Trying to stay off the grid you know ...

Could you cut and paste the results on the hub somewhere? as a PDF or so perhaps ... I don't have a FB account, nor do I want one.

Sho .. this hub thing is series (me being a newbie and all), people getting banned, un approved, etc etc .... So let me try to stick to the thread then ... yes I am keen for lap racing somewhere in Benoni, lets call it the East Rand World Champs? Winner gets gift vouchers to a roadhouse in Benoni

Lekker! Rietvlei is nice too, good climbs, nice flowing single track ... with a couple of rocks thrown in. Thabo is tough .. would also tend to keep that for the odd ride, wouldn't like to ride my luck too much there. Had some close shaves at the race ... pure exhaustion induced though. I do go to the odd roadhouse, though only the fancy ones, where you must have a shirt / vest on to be served ... since I started riding again October, lost 10kg .. trying to keep it that way. Much cheaper than that fancy XT groupset I was eyeballing (which would have saved me 200grams from the slx I got .....)

but do you .... Benoni has better Road houses and slup chips. Did you see there is another Toughee. I may just ride it....

in all seriousness, how is modderfontein though - worth the outing?

hey you guys down south have some awesome trails hey ... think of us in the far east rand, minedumps and dust as far as the eye can see... the new ride at modderfontein, is not a MTB track, more like a park ride I hear ...

There was a guy taking photos - will these be posted somewhere?

Thanks to the organizers for a great race - didn't stay for prize giving, wanted to get back to family. Trail was fantastic though - great downhills. Climbs were tough hey. First half of figure eight rode up most, second half walked up most! Tech sections kept me on my toes. A guy just in front of me joined the Stalone club (went over the top), though luckily fell on the only cactus on the entire trail. He was ok though, and we soldiered on to finish together, well sort of, he did the sprint finish thing at the end I also did indeed see that Pyga. One day when I have the legs to match (and wallet) - will get one, it just looks stupid when you push a bike like that uphills

Thanks for route info "TheV" - sitting at work, wishing I was there now! Ah - one day when my kids grow, riding as a family is what I would love.

Hey Ben - then it's a race for last. I've ridden all at Rietvlei, and at the recent Phambili XC found the tech stuff ok - but I must say, a little nervous about Thabo, heat of the moment does something to people, though it is my full intention to run the really tech downhills! We will see how that goes on the day! Hey I ride the mine dumps in benoni all the time - though when you fall (and I do), it's sandy!

Well I have just entered the Toughee - I will be the guy the back of the race. How many entries are there plus minus?

Hi Richard - details sent via PM. Anyone else keen let me know. Regards Greg

Nice to see so many group rides in Benoni. We do training rides Tuesday and Thursday mornings from BP on corner Atlas and Northrand. Bedfordview loop - avg speed 22 to 25km/h, yes it is on the road. We get technical training avoiding pot holes, pedestrians and the odd truck. Leave 4:50 sharp. I did the recee route with Paul the weekend - will be a nice ride! Not to tough, with some nice sections of singletrack thanks to the illegal miners. Enjoy it - I will be sweating bullets at the XC race at Thabo this Sunday. Next time though!

Thanks for the info - will most likely ride the XC. Even if it's just for training, as I don't think I am going to pushing for a podium place (ever). The pace of the XC at Phambili caught me!

Oh. re: the 3rd - may first ride some of the other XC races first ..... "toughest XC race in Gauteng" may end my budding XC career too early??

Got caught up in the heat of the moment and started the race like a bat out of hell, way too fast (even though I kept on telling myself to start slow), though luckily took a tumble at the end of lap one close to the start/finish line over a tree stump. Chain came off during fall and battled a couple minutes to unjam it. Just meant my HR could come down to reasonable levels. Lap 2 was terrible ... and lap 3 started getting better at least. Did get lapped just before I could start my 4th lap. Really enjoyed the race though I must say, my wife and kids were set-up next to the track - so they could watch me come past. There was one section I didn't even try ride down though - small drop, though I didn't like the rocks to the left, not on the "race line", but I was breathing so hard, I couldn't trust myself to make it down there safely. How much harder technically is Thabo than Phambili?

Hi Wendell If I don't get lapped or severly injured this weekend at the Phambili XC I will seriously consider the Thabo Toughee. You see "I think" I am fit enough.... Thanks for the info you gave me over the phone re Phamnili btw. Most helpful.