Just to get the hubs opinion on my reaction and if I over reacted. I wrote to the journalist but have been getting a "couldn't care about your sport and it's reputation" attitude. Won't bother her further but this just grates my cheese... Read from bottom up: Dear Jacques I am not going to go into a discussion any further. Point is, if you walk into a shop and someone is washing the floor, anyone can imagine the floor will be wet. But you still see the “wet floor” sign, because it is compulsory to cater for the one stupid person who may not realise the floor is wet and slippery just because it is being washed with water at that moment. Just as well should dangerous or tricky parts of the routes not be marked as such – for inexperienced riders then who do not know the limitations of their skills. It is great that you and many other are experienced and know when to take it easy, but such an argument would not count in a court. It is not only highly skilled adventurers that are allowed on a mountainbike. There should be warning signs, end of story. If it was my farm, I would have put up warning signs for my own legal protection. Why are there warning signs on roads of sharp bends etc? For people’s safety. This is the point. And I have not done damage to mountainbiking’s image. Really? I don’t regard myselfor any one article that important. Best regards ESmé Sent: 04 April 2014 09:07 AM To: Esme Erasmus Subject: Re: TygerBurger - ContactUs Morning Esme, My concern regarding your article is the damage your doing to the image of MTB'ing as a sport. I've been riding here for the past 22 years but still push my self beyond my limits at times but take the blame solely on myself if something do go wrong(not very often) - if on unfamiliar trails I take it easy. Anyone riding the trails of Tygerberg knows the risks involved and to blame the sport/terrain for an accident is just plain wrong. You say the article is factually correct. This may be so but in my opinion it could have been more subjective. When you have the time, walk the trails of Meerendal, majik forest, hoogekraal and then tokai, jonkershoek and any other trails in WC. Compare the terrain to hoogekraal. I can guarantee you it is all very similar. Safety on the trail all depends on self control and keeping within your own limits. Accidents happen world wide on mountain bikes but also on foot. This does not preve nt us from crossing the road does it? To bring my point across, Mountain biking is a great sport that teaches young kids to be kids in the outdoors again. It shows older people how to enjoy life again and that age is only relative. It brings families together. But the article conveys a message of shear horror about mountain biking which will certainly cause many parents to deny their kids(or themselves) an opportunity to enjoy the sport. "’n Vraagteken hang oor die veiligheid van die gewilde bergfietsroetes van die Tygerberg-bergfietsklub op plase rondom Durbanville - veral dié op die plaas Hoogekraal - nadat talle fietsryers al geval en beseer is." I'm also a forum member on Thehubsa.co.za and your article has triggered quite a discussion. https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/137937-article-in-tygerberger-regarding-hooggekraal/ Please do not see my correspondence as disrespectful in any way to the family, I cannot even fathom what it must feel like but can only imagine. Regards, Jacques On Thu, 3 Apr 2014 08:24:53 +0000 Esme Erasmus <esme.erasmus@tygerburger.co.za> wrote Dear Jacques I am sorry you are upset about the article, but if you read it with comprehension, I did not take any stand that mountainbiking is dangerous, definitely not that it is a deathly sport. You have misinterpreted the content. I was stating the fact that this rider died due to complications after his fall, and the fact that the safety of this trail and other trails are questioned after all the incidents in which riders were injured. It is a fact that riders do fell off their bikes and get hurt...seriously hurt. They get flown out with helicopters to hospitals. I know a lot of very experienced riders who ride these trails personally and a lot of them had bad falls, whatever the reasons are for it. So please, donâ ™t shoot the messenger. My article was factually correct and I do not need to put any facts straight. Regards EsmErasmus Journalist TygerBurger Durbanville Tel: 021 910 6553 Fax: 086 636 1462 E-mail: esme.erasmus@tygerburger.co.za 3rde Vloer, Bloemhof gebou, Edwardstraat 112, Tygervallei, Bellville 3rd Floor, Bloemhof Building, 112 Edward Street, Tyger Valley, Bellville Visit our new website: www.tygerburger.co.za From: noreply@netlocal.co.za [mailto:noreply@netlocal.co.za] Sent: 03 April 2014 08:11 AM Subject: TygerBurger - ContactUs Message: Hi, I am highly upset about the article Esme Erasmus wrote about hoogekraal. It puts MTB'ing in a VERY bad light and gives the impression that it is a deathly sport. What about the track cyclist that died after his fall, the two road cyclist that was killed on polkadraai? Please get her to set the facts straight in next weeks publication. Regards, Jacques. PS. has she even been to hoogekraal for a site inspection??
