Muggins

It was a First Ascent one.

Done, thanks.

When I went over the top of my handle bars at Down & Dirty this past weekend two things happened. I hit my head quite hard on the right hand side of my helmet. Not hard enough to loose consciousness but I definitely would of had I not had a helmet on. I reckon I came of at about 30 km/hr. Reckon I should replace my helmet? Nothing appears to be broken on the helmet. I have never believed in skimping on helmets

My problem is I can't do anything in moderation. With me it's all or nothing. I couldn't smoke say 10 a day, it had to be 2 to 3 packets a day. I still remember buying my my bike during the week. Had not been on a bike in 20 years. It was susposedly a midlife crisis purchase. That first Sunday we went off to Hakahana to ride. I remember pulling into the parking area with a smoke in my mouth. An hour of riding later I did not believe it could be so difficult to breath or cough. At one stage I thought well this is it. I would have even sold my bike on OLX.i made all sorts of promises in those 10 km's. When we left I remember pulling out the gate and looking down at the box of smokes and covering them with a loose towel. When I looked in the mirror I could swear I was green in colour. I think I had one smoke on the Monday morning and put it out after 3 puffs. Threw the rest of the packet in the bin and have not thought about it since.

Complex I was referring to was Randfern Village. Entrance looks identical.

Looks very similar to a complex in Randburg that I do work at. Your caretakers name is not Cliff by any chance?

Hakahana was my first race and Down & Dirty my second. Will be back next year for all 5 of them. If this is what MTB is all about then I am glad I had a midlife crisis as my wife put it 3 months ago when I bought my bike.

Mine was a Garmin Edge 800. It was actually quite funny. On that steep rocky downhill section, with the three black arrows, at about 30km when I went over the handle bars. My Garmin came off my bike. A guy and his wife or girlfriend that helped me back up put the Garmin back on my bike. When I started riding again the screen said lost the scale. I still remember laughing because I ride a Scott Scale. Thanks to those two riders that helped me. I have torn the ligaments where my collarbone joins onto the shoulder. Doc says 6 weeks no riding. My wife thinks this is heaven and thinks I should fall off more often. Those last 10 km's were not fun.

My Garmin said 449 meters climbing for the 1/2 marathon. Website said 323m.

Nice post. Yip those hills on the Rhinkals route feel like they are never ending. They are shortish but as you get to the top of one of them it turns and the next one presents it's self. When you go through the fence at the cell tower that view is awesome.

Well yesterday I proved what not to do on one of those downhills. It was on the half marathon at about the 30km mark. There was a steep rocky decline with the 3 arrows. Most people were walking down there. I rode down and about halfway down I released all brakes and went for it. I got all the way to the bottom with a hell of a speed and then I was going over the handlebars. In that split second I still remember thinking this is going to hurt. I remember coming down on the side of my head and the top of my right shoulder. My helmet took a good thud. I wasn't knocked out but I had instant pain in my shoulder. I then soldiered on and the last 10km was painful. I went through to hospital last night because by that stage I knew this was not going to go away. Result torn ligaments and tendons. One times very sore shoulder. One other thing, anybody else battle with that dust getting into your lungs. I am struggling with that. If I cough I can almost taste that dust.

I have just been reading about it on their website. He'll if one was fit and you were chosen that would be one hell of an adventure. It would definitely make it on my top 10 things to do in life.

Is a team made up of 2 riders?

Now I understand all the comments regarding the cost. Not exactly parking meter change. Thanks

I am new to the mountain biking scene as in 2 months. I see a lot of mention about price. What is the cost of entering this race? I assume entering is by invitation or if you have lots of bucks can one enter. Looking at the distance and climbing involved made my legs tired.

These are my machines: Nemo the pot plant cat. Hunni and Riggs my Labs that cant stay dry. Murphy the bed cat.

With the Hakahana race I went past 3 different riders whose saddles had broken off. It will never break on a normal flat section of road. It normally goes at speed and in a technical section as well as 30 km from your car.

I would only do it if I could shower and change at work.

I think it is 323 meters.

Thanks.

Just out of interest sake, what is the damage on those two bikes?

I look at it this way. Where there is an uphill there's a downhill.

I am speechless after watching that. That is someone you look up to. I wanted to say respect but I am not sure it does him enough justice.

The only way to solve this is with the help of the community members in the squatter camp. I would not count on any long term help from the police. They, the community, dish out street justice and bypass the police. Nothing will drive the fear home more than 50 + people beating the **** out of you. I have even seen them beat a guy once that when they started he was fully clothed and when they were done all he had on was his underpants. The idea of rewards as an incentive is also good. Knowing these buggers they will probably have a network going where they pinch bikes and then give the same bikes back for the reward.

There was a 3rd guy that left 10 minutes ahead of us on the same trail and the owner also mentioned to me an hour ago that the guy also had issues with the mud. So lesson learned when it rains stay at home with the wife and score points.