Martin Zietsman

Thanks dude. It really was a brilliant event. Racing in a 3-man team like that was unlike anything I've experienced before and it made for very exciting competition. Even the lead-up to the race with our play days and training day was such awesome fun! I tried to get this across in my video edit and I think I just about got it right. I really hope I get to do the race again next year! ...and yes, Matt rode so well. He definitely deserved the national title!

Want to see what Team SA got up to at the EWS Trophy of Nations? Hit the Youtube link above... Myself (Martin Zietsman), Matt Lombardi and Jason Boulle had the privilege of representing South Africa at the first ever Enduro World Series Trophy of Nations, held in Finale Ligure, Italy on the 29th of September. We put together a video showcasing all the behind-the-scenes action leading up to the race, from arriving there, to our play day exploring the local trails, the goosebumps moments during the Nations Teams Parade, the fun we had practicing the stages and the action on race day. The Trophy of Nations pitted teams comprising the top 3 ranked riders from each nation against each other in a 1-day race to crown the overall World Champions. All 3 riders on each team had to drop into each stage within a 1 minute window and the times of all 3 riders are then combined to provide the final result. The winning team is the team with the shortest total combined time over the 5 stages...simple as that. We hope you enjoy the show....

Can't wait for this!

I have travelled on Emirates on numerous occasions since making this original post and never had an issue again. I wrote this post in panic and frustration after being told by the Emirates help line that I will get charged (as it seems they have told other people on here too), but the staff at the counters never bat an eye-lid and just check my bike on. Very confusing that they tell you one thing and do another. Thankfully no charges incurred yet...

Yup, that's correct. I have confirmed 4 rounds for this year (Madeira, Colorado, France & Italy) and am on the waiting list for Ireland. Unfortunately I don't have enough funding to race the whole series so am concentrating on a number of the Scottish and Welsh races.

That's correct, it has been cancelled. Fortunately, Enduro is massive over there and there's pretty much an enduro race every weekend of the year. I will now focus on the Welsh and Irish series too.

I use a broker (Riccardo Stermin at Phoneix Risk), who insures my bikes through Cyclesure. I have all my bikes, kit, shoes, helmet, GPS etc. insured. I have never had an issue with a claim, and they're normally paid out in the same week. This counts for claims on parts breakages (i.e. broken deraileur, smashed wheel etc.) as well as other claims (i.e. lost GPS, broken helmet). Changes and amendments are made on the same day when I email him. They also cover everything during transport, cover me during racing and even when I go overseas.

So bummed to be missing this event! Will definitely be making plans for it next year....

South Industries do a 29 XC rim.The Enduro rim is a 27.5". As an added bonus, their rims are handmade here in SA. The only handmade carbon rims in SA. Nothing like supporting local! Give them a call or email and have a chat. Awesome bunch of guys and they can even do custom decals for you to match your frame or kit: www.southindustries.cc

I had a bash at taking the KOM yesterday. Did a little edit of my effort if anyone would like to watch :

Martin Resting: 35 Max: 178 Age: 32 Star: Leo Sex: Male Posts: barely any (40)

Thanks a lot Myles. The 'step up' is absolutely huge. Don't think a lot of people realise how big. Well, I didn't before I went. Made me soooo hungry to go back and race & train over there now. I'm working on it...watch this space.....

I learnt the hard way and now live by this: "to finish 1st, you 1st have to finish"...no more compromise on tiresw and tire weights

With the speeds that I sometimes approch rock gardens with, I prefer the DH casings on the rear and EXO on the front. When the DD's become available I plan to use them F&R. I raced the Trans Provence with ST Minions in a DH casing and was one of the only riders there not to have one single issue with my tires. Grip for days as well with that ST (Super Tacky) rubber compound. I've never used the Schwalbes so I can't comment.

It does make a really big difference in the mud. I would recommend getting at least one to use on the front when it's muddy, you will enjoy wet riding that much more. Rush have got a huge shipment coming with an amazing selection of tires. They are changing the trail tire market in SA I think. I believe the DD casings might even be here before the end of the year. I personally can't wait for that. I completely believe that Maxxis make THE best trail tires and SA has really been missing out. Yes I am sponsored by Maxxis and am supposed to say that, but I approached Maxxis for help because I was so fedup of struggling with tires. I'm really glad this is changing now.

They have the White with black logo versions available to buy at the Silverback dealerships such as Olympic cycles, Cycle Tecnix and Masons Bike Inn (that I know of). The design is the same as was used by the team riders 2 years ago. They make different kit for the team compared to the retail kit each year. The current team kit will likely be available to buy next year when new team kit is designed.

Remember that the Shorty is a semi-mud spike hey Myles. I have a set that I use when it is really muddy. Used one up front at the Jonkers Enduro. They haven't really featured in SA much as the weather doesn't warrant it but there are some due to arrive very soon. Maxxis is the most used tire for trail/AM/enduro in Europe and America for a reason. They have not featured much in SA due to the lack of supply but that is changing drastically now. I have been riding High Roller 2's, Minions and Shorty's in SA, the UK, France and Italy all year now and here's my suggestions/feedback: Minions - they love the dust and I feel are the best for SA. I run DHF front and DHR2 on the rear and have been incredibly impressed by them. a DHR2 up front also works incredibly well. Santa Cruz bikes come out with DHR2 F&R. High Roller 2's - The most popular tire in Europe as it is very well suited to slightly wetter conditions. I have been running this for most of the Cape winter and I love it. Also been very impressed with its performance in the dry, especially when I was riding in Italy. Aggressor - Not used it very much but was pleasantly surprised with its grip in the slightly damper conditions. I know it is popular in Europe as a rear tire due to slightly less rolling resistance.

Thank you to everyone that got involved and bought a raffle ticket. You all helped to make the trip of a lifetime a reality. I was unfortunately not able to do the raffle draw while overseas but have now done it. A huge congratulations to Mark Moir for winning the signed saddle. He has already been contacted and will collect the saddle this coming weekend. Feel free to head on over to my facebook page to see all the pics and updates that I posted during the event.: www.facebook.com/zietsmanracing

Bummed to be missing another one but it clashes with a WP Enduro race. I plan to be there for the next round and check out all the awesome work you guys have been doing...

This post got a bit more people talking that I expected. Here's an update from my trip: Flying out of SA, I had a bag @ 23kg and my bike box @23kg which was larger than 150cm but smaller than 300cm. They didn't say anything and didn't charge me extra. I suspected the new rule is so new they haven't started enforcing it yet. Flying back to SA from Nice in France I didn't want to take any chances and didn't have money to pay the expected $250 fine so I threw a lot of stuff away (tires, supplements, wasted shoes etc). Had 35kg of luggage (bike box @20kg and bag @15kg). I expected to be fined but they let me through. The lady at the kiosk did um-and-ah a bit before letting me through though. She did measure my bike box to make sure it was smaller than 300cm. I think I got lucky, or maybe they're not enforcing the new rules too strictly yet. Either way, I'll be reading the fineprint more closely next time

Morning everyone. Thank you so much for the support. I appreciate it so much. Here's my official race report from day 3 as posted on my FB profile. I hope you enjoy: Trans Provence Day 3: Somehow I now need to find the words to describe the day that will do it justice. I'm going to try, but I will fail miserably. Either way, this day will be in my memory forever. I was there, I got to live it, I got to experience it and I will cherish that for the test of my life. I almost want to go as far as saying that it was the best day I have ever experienced. I finished in 29th on the day, bringing me down to 28th on the GC. My focus at the moment is to keep it smooth, learn to ride these steep trails and stay on the bike. Today I managed that. It went a little like this : We got dropped off at Col de Champs, at 2080m up, where we had a stunning downhill roll to Stage 1. Unfortunately this stage was cancelled for the day due to municipal issues. This however, gave us the chance to follow each other down. I got the chance to follow Nico Lau and then Matti Lehikoinen for brief periods down the incredibly narrow, steep and winding singletrack. It was so impressive and humbling follow them. They are so good at reading the terain and react so quickly to surprises. I would love to spend morer time watching and learning from these guys! This was then followed by the monster. A 1000m climb up to stage 2 that consisted of about 75% steep hike-a-biking. There were two things that I absolutely loved about this climb : 1) I CAN PEDAL AGAIN!!! It was an indescribable feeling actually being able to swing my leg over the top tube again and pedal uphill. I was back to my normal self. The human body is just a wonderful thing. One day you're half dying, have blurry vision and can't breath, the next your body has adjusted to altitude and you're steam training uphill again. 2) those views, oh my word, those views. This must be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We walked through rock strewn gullies that had been devastated by avalanches, up through the most lush green forest and over never ending high alpine green meadows. It just took my breath away. Go check out my photo journal on my FB athlete top get a glimpse of what we experienced. The reward for that climb? A 948m decent. Take a moment to read that again and soak it in. 948m!! I vienne Table Mountain is in the region of 1100m. Can you imagine smashing a trail from the top of that down to the waterfront? My time was about 11mins for that stage. Again, take a moment to soak that in. Can you comprehend descending that far in such a short period of time? We started high up in the meadows, flew down into dense forest, out into rocky, barren shale rock and finally into another forest. Ask the while hanging on and throwing the bike around the tightest, rockiest switchbacks. The utter exhaustion and elation and exhaustion when you reach the bottom is beyond words. This was only the 1st stage done! I could go on and on about how incredible this day was, or how amazing these trails are, but it just won't do. We were treated to 2 more stages in the day, each just as exhilarating as the last and both being so completely different from each other. I am honoured to able to be here and can't wait to see what the next 3 days had on store for us.

I do yes Malcolm. Sat at the airport now. Will do the draw while here

Please share this very urgent warning to all South African athletes, especially cyclists. After the trauma I have experienced in the past 24hrs, I hope no one else falls into this trap. If you intend to travel overseas with your bicycle, or any other sporting equipment of a similar size (surfing, wind surfing, paragliding etc). Please please PLEASE don't book your flights with Emirates!!!!! You will regret it as much as I am doing now when you pitch up at the airport with your bike bag/box and get slapped with a $500 US (R7500) charge to have your bike on the plane. Emirates advertises a new baggage policy (effective April 2016), with an impressive 2x 23kg pieces of luggage per traveller when flying from/to Africa. What is hidden in the fine-print however, is that they limit the size of these pieces to nothing bigger than a medium sized suitcase. You try fitting a bike, kit, clothes and everything else you need to compete overseas with, into 2 suitcase....in fact, just try fitting a bicycle into that space. Emirates has effectively banned all athletes from travelling overseas on their airline and I am sure there are a lot of people who's travels and plans are going to be horribly ruined in the near future. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHARE!!!

Thanks a lot for the support Myles

Thanks a lot Tony, much appreciated man.