ncm

Legend!

This is great to hear. Thanks kandui!

I very much believe in keeping the peace between all mountain users and so I don't want to ride where I'm not supposed to and thus give mtb'ers a bad name. However, keeping everyone happy goes far beyond defining hard rules about where one can and cannot ride. It is a matter of developing an attitude of mutual respect and courtesy amongst all users. If an activity is allowed on a certain part of the mountain this does not mean that it has exclusive rights over that area. Many people feel that if they are allowed to do something, then they can do it unconditionally without considering how it may effect others. A dog-walker won't like it if a mtb inconsiderately bombs past on a fast downhill, but I don't like it much when a dog starts yapping and going for my ankle as I ride past. With a bit of awareness and realisation that we are all out there to enjoy ourselves in different ways, we should be able to happily coexist. Perhaps the singletrack in question can be used as a kind of showcase where we can demonstrate that bikers, walkers, runners, etc. can live in harmony. This could ease the way toward opening up more trails to bikers. Maybe this is an idea to take to SANParks?

For as long as I've been riding a mountain bike (13 years or so) I've been using the section of singletrack just below the Mt Pleasant buildings, starting on the left of the road just above the Rhodes Mem gate. As there is no signage to the contrary, I have assumed that biking is allowed on the trail. However, today on my afternoon commute I came across a couple of SANParks rangers (first time I've ever seen them on this trail) who told me quite nicely that it is not allowed to ride there and I could be liable for a R500 fine. I don't see why bikes shouldn't be allowed here as it is not exactly a busy walking path and apart from the section leading into Newlands forest, it doesn't really go anywhere. Besides, it's a really nice little piece of singletrack! Now, I'm not so keen to be a dick and ride there anyway given that I've been told not to and I'm even less keen to be slapped with a R500 fine, which will most likely happen if I run into these guys again, so I'm not sure what to do... Any thoughts?

Some of my experiences flying with a road bike between SA, UK and Norway: I used a soft bike bag reinforced on the inside with a cut-down bike box and used loads of bubble wrap and padding. Tyres deflated. I once had to endure the pain of watching the baggage handler throw my bike onto the plane ("fragile" stickers are clearly just for decoration), but I didn't notice any damage when I unpacked the bike. As for CO2 (try avoid using the work "bomb" at an airport), I forgot to take some out of my bag before I checked in, but no-one seemed to notice, so I got everything back at the other side. Because of this I snuck some in for the next leg, with the same result! This is probably not to be recommended, though...