Might not be what you’re thinking... One of the definitions of spadework is ‘hard, sometimes boring work done in preparation for something’. There are others... I’ve been enjoying riding the spruit for quite some time now. It may not always smell great, offer masses of variation or spectacular views, but it’s free, fun and constantly changing. I’ve been repeatedly amazed at the effort expended by a few for the enjoyment of many. I’m talking about trail maintenance. Recently, one particular spot has been irritating me: constant puddle of suspect water that one has no option but to splash through. I found myself hoping that someone would ‘fix’ it and ultimately remembering that problems are best addressed by those that recognise them. So, to add some novelty to the endeavour, I looked for a way to easily incorporate a bit of maintenance with my riding – enter the 'spruit spade': Not too heavy and not so unwieldy as to cramp style (low hanging branches need some care). Made mine by cutting a ‘Ladies Spade’ (yep – 99 bucks at Builders Express Bryanston) in half and re-fitting the handle. Black tape was an upgrade (and does seem to make it go much faster). Took the spade for a test ride last weekend and managed to make that irritating puddle go away. As an aside, with recent spate of bike-jacking incidents, the spruit spade adds an interesting dynamic – puts on poor aussie accent: ‘... that’s not a knife...’ My experience is that it is quite practical to carry the spade, even on longer rides. I’ll probably drag it along on my Sunday Single Speed Spruit Spade Spins. Now... looking at those wooden bridges, looks like there’s an opportunity for some spruit screwing and banging. Give it a go – it’s very satisfying to give something back. Thanks to all those who’ve been looking after the spruit long before I came along!
