Sniffie

Rafiki, my co pilot in the cropsprayer. He loves running through the fields with me, while I am on the mountain bike. The furthest he has gone in one go is 30 km. Fit little bugger.

I know its gonna take a long time, but read through the whole thread, there are plenty of people who have added there personal experiences WRT low carb living, training and racing. To sum it up for you: You can go very long and slow without any carbs, but if you up the tempo to race pace, you will need carbs. End van prent.

No! Bles Bridges definitely Bles Bridges. "Ruiter van die windjie", as its name implies is the best of the lot.

There is a German restaurant in Clarens called Roter Hahn. They stock some German and Belgian beers. Maybe they can tell you who their importers is?

We have some buffalos of our own. We have tested it and will continue testing it, it is very, very stable. Does not move an inch.

Paris has got the Tour de France and the Arc de Triomphe. Bothaville has the 2 River Challenge and the Arc de Two River:

Over sensitive. Multiichoice broadcasts to Africa, not only SA.

Thanks man. That is special. The man is an absolute genius!

Hydrogenated vegetable fat? Eish! Aikona. Worst type of edible fat known to man. My personal opinion: Hou verby.http://www.3fatchicks.com/6-risks-of-hydrogenated-oils-in-your-diet/

Thanks! We are all farmers involved in this event! Better skilled at welding than carpentry though.

Our race forms part of the 2 River festival. http://www.2riverfestival.co.za/ We are expecting thousands of people at the festival as their is a freestyle MX demonstration as well as a Breakfast run and lots of other entertainment. We managed to re-route the cycling through the school grounds, where the event starts and finishes, in a way that no motor traffic will be encountered. The only remaining problem is the crossing of the pedestrian walkway in the first photo. The only other alternative would be a couple of marshals controlling the pedestrian traffic. We expect very heavy traffic at this particular crossing, so marshaling presents its own dangers and difficulties. We have seen similar structures like the one we are planning, being fruitfully used at other events.

Thanks for your and every one else's input, some very valid points being raised.

Ok, I know it's sad to see concrete on a MTB trail but we have a very valid reason. The area on the koppie were we started to cut the single track some 6 years ago is very rocky with loose sandy soil in between. Whenever we used to cut a new piece of single track the cattle starts to use our paths because it is easier for them to get from their water trough to the other side of the koppie were the grazing is. Their hooves work all the soil loose between the rocks and it becomes unrideable even by the most skilled riders. The heavy summer thunderstorms, that Bothaville are renowned for, causes further erosion. We used to fill he soil back in every year, but it is a huge task hauling wheelbarrows up 30% gradients every time. Don't be fooled by the fact that it is concrete, it remains a challenge because of the winding of the track, the steepness as well as the fact that the concrete strips is less than 400 mm wide. Unfortunately I don't have any SS experience so not sure what is doable and what not. But if you were able to ride 95% of Eden, I think you would ride 99% of Two River Challenge. We don't have any long technical climbs, but their are some steep parts. The longest I would guess is about 45 m. Most of the steep bits on the river banks is quite easy if you carry enough momentum. Momentum really is your friend in this race. What I am trying to say you will never have to hike a bike further than 45 m at the most. We are still suffering the stigma that the severe technicality of our first two events have tainted us with, but like I said in a previous post the 65 km would be 99.5% rideable by any fit mountain biker of only average skill level. Our observation over the past 7 years have been that the fitness and skill levels of the average mountain biker has been constantly improving, so that an obstacle that was a major challenge 7 years ago is now doable by the majority of the field.

They have received the Salomon jackets, still waiting for Aca Joe to arrive.

I know, I know!

Is there any evidence to suggest that the design of the bridge had anything to do with the tragic loss of Annefleur Kalvenhaar's life?

You are correct, when we started it 7 years ago it was known as the "Two river technical challenge". We soon found out that this type of event catered for a very limited niche market. We wanted to grow our event, so starting 4 years ago, we removed all of the technical and dangerous drops down the river bank. The technical drops and climbs on the koppie have also been dumbed down to make it more flowing and enjoyable. (See photo) I didn't do Eden this year, but what I remember from doing it last in 2009, it is proper hardcore mountain biking? Due to the lack of good terrain around Bothaville, we have to make use of the river banks and the two small koppies to present a tough but enjoyable challenge. I would say that it is much less of a technical race than Eden, but it still remains a challenge. Hence its name: "Two river challenge". The 65 km would be 100% rideable by a fit mountain biker of average skill level. The short sharp rises remains a challenge though.

You won't be disappointed! Lots of berms, bridges, river crossings and river front single track. Check out the events page: https://www.bikehub.co.za/events/event/1376-2-river-mtb-challenge/ BTW, we get quite a few visitors from Bloemies every year. More photos on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwoRiversTechnical?ref=br_tf

My thoughts exactly.

Considering constructing it from square tubing.

Isn't 30 degrees way to steep? Especially for the approach?

It would be removable, but re-usable for every year's race.

We are planning a MTB bridge over a pedestrian walkway. (See attached photo). The approach is from the far side. The retaining wall is 80 cm high. We are thinking that the lowest point of the bridge should be about 2m above the walkway This is for the Two River event on 20 September in Bothaville. What should the approach and departure angle for the bridge be, to be first off all safe, and secondly rideable by the majority of the field? Taking into account that there will be quite a lot of novices as we are offering 12, 25, 40 and 65 km. Any input from anyone who has planned something like this would be appreciated.

No! On the second.

One of the new berms on the 40 and 60 km course.