Dan Dob

Marko35s, the map shows colours for the grading of trail but the key on the bottom right tells the direction of each trail. I think the map can be improved with directional markers...

Rode down Vasbyt yesterday for the first time in ages. Really liked the new divert (so you don't cross the DH line) and it flows well and has a nice rock feature followed by a little jump that boosts you right into the berm-pretty loose but the rain is going to sort that out tonight! The section Bennett has re-done is soooo nice. Not only does it ride fast and smooth but it finally LOOKS pretty too. I can't wait for all those (broken)wood pallets to disappear. Let's hope the water diverts work with the amount of rain that is about to fall.

Good idea Headshot.

Hi all, The Tokai mtb website (http://tokaimtb.co.za/ )is up and running and we'd love for you all to check it out. It's been up for a few months now actually but this is the formal announcement As with all websites, it's a work in progress and we know that it needs a bit more work which the TokaiMTB committee is sorting out whenever we can. The main aim of it is to educate people as to the history of Tokai and the proposed future of it's trails and all that it entails. We've got some maps (which still need work and updating), opening times and directions as well emergency numbers for those horrible accidents. We've also added donation functionality (and will accept credit card payments in the future) so that riders can donate towards funds for trail building, as your Tokai trail entry fees do no go towards the trails (which is also mentioned on the website) The volunteer trail building dates will be updated on it as well as a bit of information about those days. Obviously, we've added a few contact email addresses so that those with complaints and suggestions can write to the committee and we can take it from there and put pressure on TMNP with written proof from the public. Please check it out and we'll be printing some flyers soon to hand out to the riding public in the parking lot. We'd like as many people to know about the website and the committee so that riders know where there money is going and what the committee is trying to achieve which, in short, is better trails & more trails for Tokai.

On days like yesterday the chaos happens mostly because people don't know any better. Signage is one way of educating people but most beginners wouldn't even bother to educate themselves. Deon has spent years getting those trail signs approved and unfortunately they can't change because they are to SANParks rigid specifications. I agree that a big sign at the start of the trail, dictating rules and ettiquette would help. Skills clinics are a great idea but don't think there are many people willing to do it for free (I do educate iRide Africa level 1 skills course riders about trail etiquette and awareness). The same kind of chaos happen on busy days in ski slopes and the best line of defence as a seasoned rider is for YOU to slow down and be aware of the newbies. They are so busy concentrating and trying to stay on their bike that all their senses are focussed inwards and not towards other riders and common sense tends to go out the window! Don't forget that everyone is just trying to have a good day out and we all started out the same way and learn as we go-the best thing we can do as seasoned riders, is to just chill out and slow down when the numbers get high-it's easy for us to pedal up and redo a section if another rider gets in our way, but for a beginner, just the thought of pedalling up that hill AGAIN, is exhausting, let alon actually doing it.

meh! Already rode with the bass player from Simple Minds when they were down here in Cape Town On a road bike though...

I could help out- I have been blogging for my site (irideafrica.com) for 5 years, though I have stopped blogging on that front for now. I am focussing on Enduro races this year so your POC product fits in with that market and I am going to the Alps in July/August for a DH trip so providing a good platform to review and write about your products. The fact that you've used a friends picture of me on your homepage should sway your decision

I agree Shebeen. That sponsorship should have gone to us!

Good job on collecting the data so far! Just to clarify though, I didn't 'want money for my data'-in fact I can't remember getting an email at all about this subject? It's just that I actually don't have the current data in a useful format as I use proprietary software and a mixture of programs to create our maps...just to clarify

Thanks for the references hubbers! Looking forward to meeting you and helping you become a better rider SiriS!

Check out our site www.irideafrica.com for bike rentals and guided trips We have guides that will happily take you on a jaunt around the peninsula!

Just met Steven from Jhb who is joining us on the 2014 July/Aug trip. he was renting a bike from us and going out to Jonkershoek. Seems like a cool guy but, dammit, he got me thinking about this trip! I am desperately trying to ignore it until nearer to the time...

Bought some of these from Olympic cycles. Of all the pads I've tried, these ones were the ones I noticed least, once they were on me. That said, the price tag is super high for what I think, are pads that won't last very long (Lycra sock, with a rubbery cap on it essentially). Sizing is interesting. I have super skinny legs (think grasshopper) and my medium kneepads were super tight! Very tight and yet they still slid down my knee in a crash in the Simonsberg Enduro. Hmmm. I also can't stand the look of them. Wish they would do away with the spider-man style pattern and make something that looks a bit more like traditional guards. All considered though, I still think they are still the best pads for our hot conditions and for (most of our) trails that don't demand full on hardcover, bulky pads. I'll be buying big-boy pads for my DH trip to France later this year!

Went back to a non clutch type derailluer on our last singletrack trip and boy is it noisy! Worth the upgrade just to help your sanity IMO

Has anyone checked that your Quick release springs are the right way around? If they are the wrong way around, the wheel might not sit in the drop outs correctly and seem to be dished incorrectly. If that is the case, it's a very easy fix (though with a very embarrassed look on your face!)

Err, Admin Do you think you could move this post to 'Routes and trails' page please?

Hi Hubbers, With the new trails being finished in Jonkershoek for the season, it's time to update iRide Africa's trail map of the area. I'm having issues with naming the trails though and am interested to see what I could get input from the locals. PLEASE-I don't want made up names or suggested names or names that you would like to call the trails. I am after the official trail names as named by the trail builders if possible. Using Strava segment names is the easiest way to get names of trails but they are often made up by the user and sometimes not fair on the original builders of the trail. What I (think) are correct on my map are the following; Lower, middle and upper canary Boletus Elliotti (masons/never ending story) Radiata (finally back! tiding section!) Patula Fire hut trail 1, 2, & 3 Trails that I don't know the names for; The 3 new canaries above upper? The new dbl black diamond run The flow section that runs from the new dbl black diamond (I have heard it called flow trail) Trail 8 (runs towards gate from dam wall) Trail 7 Specialized Epic 2 section above never ending story Please give me some input-I guess the best is to speak to Meurant and Bennett, but am interested in the response.

Pappa Bear, Is that trail you drew in, on iRide Africa map about right? If so I will update it and put it online as I will only be riding it later this week. Can't wait!

I agree, was a really tough day out there. Gotto say I was disappointed with the route, which felt quite 'Epic'y. Not enough flow and too much grinding straight up vineyards just to bomb straight down them again. That said, the new Banghoek Valley singletrack was incredible and lots of fun (as was the normal Jonkershoek stuff)

Craigwt, I don't normally ride with kneepads and will probably only do so on my DH bike so need a more burly set like the 661's or RaceFace's offerings.

Backpacks aren't mandatory but baggies are

Ja, Meurant tends to keep things raw- he obviously likes it cos he finished pretty high up on the list! With the shorter stages here, I find it difficult to get into a rhythm- I was just getting into Stage 3, thinking that I was only about 1/2 way through it, so wasn't even looking out for the traffic cone warning so was really caught by surprise and went 'flying through the air with the greatest of ease'. Weeeee! On that note anyone want a set of G-Form knee pads size medium (I'd say small)? Used twice, not my cup of tea. R400.

PoS, you must be an English teacher with your clever use of words back there DJR, Thanks! Was quite surprised about 4th place as my back brake was non existent in the first 2 stages and I had a small crash in stage 3 (yep, in *that* final corner). Just highlights that enduro really is more about riding at 80% and most importantly not crashing IMO. The likes of Tom Rood, Gary Barnard and Mark Hopkins and Matthew Lombardi were smashing the stages but all must have had some offs, meaning I could sneak in ahead of them I was on the 2014 Giant Trance X 650B, which I had only ridden twice before and have some way to go with dialing the suspension, but it performed brilliantly and was very happy to have a smaller wheelsize in all those loose corners!

So when is someone going to organise an Enduro in Eselfontein? It is made for this format! Robert Starke of Contermanskloof says he is keen to host one there sometime just before Winter. Would be great to get 4-5 enduro races in a year to keep us all honest!

Loved that stage 2! Tunnel vision of note . Noticed a lot of brown shoulders coming off that stage-and just in case you made it through unscathed, the tag reader was put right next 2 wattle stumps, so that you had to place you wheels right inbetween them, all while trying to brake (offcamber) before smashing into the vineyard and getting your tag to read. Good times!