dirtman

Apologies for the delay - I know our club secretary's PC and e-mail were on the blink for the last week and will hopefully be up and running by tomorrow. We are definately interested in you joining the club - please phone 072-8528272 (club secretary).

The new Hillcrest MTB trails, after being used for the WPMBA XC race 2 weeks ago, will be permanently opened up for everyday riding this Saturday (12 September). The trail is about 6 km long and received rave reviews from all riders after the WPMBA XC race. Come and enjoy kilometres of flowing single track built by Meurant Botha with spectacular views over Table Bay in one direction and Hangklip in the other. Then fill up on a super breakfast at the restaurant. Hillcrest is situated on Tiekiedraai road outside Durbanville. For directions and more information, please go to www.tygerbergmtb.co.za As the trails will be managed and maintained by Tygerberg MTB club, all members of the club will ride for free. Members must however show their membership cards at the Hillcrest restaurant and sign an indemnity waiver. Non members must buy a R20 ride permit at the restaurant. Restaurant hours are from 9 am to 5 pm. If you start your ride before 9 am, please stop at the restaurant on your way out and do the necessary paperwork. An honesty box will also be put up within the next few weeks to cater for early summertime riding.

What is the ?new? setup riding MTB races with cloth or paper numbers like roadies? All the years I was under the impression that the main purpose for riding MTB events with ?board? numbers was to be able to check that all riders get home safe. The system was simple - your number got ticked off when you get to the finish - if numbers were outstanding at the end of a race, the organisers were supposed to trace the rider allocated to that number to ensure that he or she was safe. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> I did the <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Fair Cape ride this past Sunday (Western Cape) with a paper number tucked under my camelback where no-one could see it. My number and also those of the other riders, were not taken/written down at the finish, so there is no way the organisers could know whether all riders were safely back home or not. I do not blame the organisers, as this ?new? number system is prescribed by the PPA. I am however of the opinion that this system is inherent unsafe and will have serious consequences somewhere in the future. I have ridden races where one rides alone for long periods of time on mountain paths or through forests (especially if you are a slow rider like me who prefer to do the 60 km plus distances). If one should have an accident and went of the side of the mountain or into the bushes without a fellow rider seeing you, you would not be spotted by the sweepers. With no number control system, one would lie there till your family starts looking for you! Am I overreacting?

Just a word of thanks to all the riders who supported the Tygerberg MTB club today by doing the funride through Majic Forest and the nature reserve. But also a HUGE apology for the mess at the start and our negligence as organisers to identify before the start of the ride that there was a vital sign missing. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> I personally came out of <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Majic Forest at 8.30 pm yesterday after spending hours rectifying destroyed or changed route markers ? the work of either some young hooligans or MTB riders who juts did not care a hoot. The worst example was someone ?closing? up the first wooden bridge (the one consisting just of planks) with candy tape and creating a false chute next to it that would have taken all the riders into the ditch. I went up there this morning at 5.30 am again to check if it was still OK. So, we unfortunately had our problems, but this still is not an excuse for not checking all vital markers before then race. This problem however went unnoticed to all of us ? so again, sorry about that. I hoped you have enjoyed the rest of the ride despite the heat. We as organisers would like to get your view on the route ? too much singletrack?, only one lap through Majic Forest?, not going through Majic Forest at all? was the reserve worth all the sweat?, etc. (From the guy in the red shirt and Springbok hat at the first water point)