Dumbass mountain bikers!!!!!

[patches]

Hehe. Counts me out.

 

There is a new small jump on the Spruit going down the slight hill (RHS) towards the Tana Rd intersection before going up to Emmerentia. That one is brilliant because It's nearly impossible to get it badly wrong with the huge downhill landing.

 

Yeah, even if one is horribly short on that, a lie-down shouldn't ensue. I was chatting to The Spruit Fairy the other night and he said he's cut a bit of a path leading to that little jump so that it's a visible option to those heading down to Tana road.

Edited April 16, 2012 by patches

[arendoog]

I was lucky or unlucky to be at the front af a race start and got caughtup in the racing mayhem of the riders going for the bucks.The pace felt dangerously quick and i took a fall that i came off very lightly considering the speed.People forget how dangerous MTB is.I was a novice too and figured out my stongpoints are climbing and endurance and that is where i always pass .Safety is and will remain my biggest consideration .I am always surprized at the rider i have just passed on the uphill, gunning it blindly and dangerously on the downhill to pass me at the least appropriate spot on the course .I will stop if you fall, but i might just press on your wounds a bit harder than neccesary

[nathrix]

Is a mountainbiker on the road a roaddirty ?

 

[dracs]

If you don't like bottle necks then don't do large events. Rather join a club that rides trails. There you will probably find guys who you can learn from too.

 

A few people take naturally to mtbing and do most things correctly but most need instruction. How many novices are actually ever get assisted by experienced riders into becoming better technically? If every good rider passed down some skills to a couple of newbies, the trails and races would be a better place. We don't just hand the car keys to a teenager and hope they will learn to drive it through experience...

 

I often see the following scenario in my skillz clinics. Guy has been riding for some time, he is fit and experienced. He thinks he's okay when the trail gets a bit gnarly but technically he still wallows around in beginnerdom. Somewhere down the line the wife becomes interested in spending more time with him by cycling or he convinces her to try mtbing. Either way, in order to get her up to speed she comes to me to learn some bike handling skills. After a handful of lessons I start seeing big smiles and hearing about how she is now showing him a thing or two. It is funny though that I hardly ever see any males wanting to learn more. When I do get them, most don't take instruction well - preferring to do things their own way. That's because when you keep on repeating the same mistakes it becomes a bad habit.

 

Watching people on local trails or at races, it is apparent that most riders never learn enough to move them from beginner to even an intermediate level. It is a pity because it is not particularly difficult to progress.

sounds good - so give yourself a punt then - this dirt rodie needs some skillz...and would seem I'm not alone. where what when how often and how much?

[Beesrib]

dumbass your face against the tree you dumbass

[Scooterza]

I have to say I get what Crackberry is saying. If even ONE person stops and gets off their bike to push, this very quickly becomes a big bottleneck which makes everyone have to get off. And after standing and pushing your bike with a mass of people you get to the obstacle to find it's a little root across the path or something - or a minor bump etc. Very frustrating!

 

Also, if you do get off your bike to push, maybe consider pushing to the SIDE of the trail to give those that wish to pass a possible chance to do so. I have experienced it that a person gets off at a technical section and then pushes their bike smack bang in the middle so there is not enough space left or right to overtake. If they just moved over a bit, then others could get through.

 

Those that are commenting that you should get there earlier so you are in the lead groups are not being fair - I have had it many times that I start with riders of similar fitness whose technical abilities are not what you would expect with their fitness levels and these guys & gals just get off at the first bit of rock garden or bump. Sometimes I could have ridden over that section but end up walking because of this.

[KiNgL]

would love to put this on the back of our kit for sani just scared im the weak

lol do eeeeet !!

[RockCoach]

sounds good - so give yourself a punt then - this dirt rodie needs some skillz...and would seem I'm not alone. where what when how often and how much?

Hey dracs

 

Where?

Usually The Spruit. I live close to Fratelli's so we take an amble over to Delta Park or up to Emmerentia depending on the lesson.

 

What?

MTB skillzzors for novices. Sometime before the first lesson I need 30 minutes to check your set up and bike worthiness. Some peeps need to seriously upgrade before first lesson. Sometimes all's fine or it's just a new stem.

 

When? How often?

My time is quite flexible. I'm currently running one on Tuesday mornings which should be ending in a week or two. But the four ladies are really enjoying their progress so may extend it. So whenever suits all parties - early morning during the week or a Saturday afternoon. I like to have at least 3 peeps starting at the same time though. Max of 5.

 

How much?

R800 for four lessons.

[EZRider]

Is a mountainbiker on the road a roaddirty ?

 

A dirtroadie is anyone who is actually fit enough to ride and doesn't wear baggies or say gnarly a lot.

A roaddirty is just a slow rider.

[Mojoman]

If we are having a good old moan,... what about the tjops who fix their bikes on the trail without bothering to move off the track? These are the dumbasses of the highest order...

[SwissVan]

 

you all miss the point,

 

i was not slating people for being slow, nor was i stating that they cannot learn i was making a statement about the fact that they cannot as mr single track pointed out, ride over a 5c coin, i do not expect people to be able to do a downhill track in their fist or even 100th race but a 2 ft rise on the path does not constitute a mountain nor does it make sense that when skills run out these people stop in the middle of the track and stop the rest of us, i too run out of skill, more often than i would like to admit but when i do i get the F*** out of the way so more competent riders can pass without having to stop,

 

and that is my point in it entirety.

 

 

Unfortunately starting off by calling your thread “Dumbass mountain bikers!!!!!” you have already screwed yourself, not many people are going to have much sympathy with your “cause” after reading why you say that.

 

Would you (did you) express the same feelings out aloud at the very people who caused your frustration?

 

I’m sure quite a few people who enter mtb races have been in similar situations at some time, its usually a good thing to remember just before you open your mouth that you should treat people the same way that you would like them to treat you….

[covie]

Its official after serious mathematical computations and considering all the variables i beleive the OP must be the Idiot of the Week! can we make a virtual HUB trophy and circulate it on a weekly basis, to these greater than great cyclists? I beleive they need to be rewarded for entertainment they provide.

[SwissVan]

Its official after serious mathematical computations and considering all the variables i beleive the OP must be the Idiot of the Week! can we make a virtual HUB trophy and circulate it on a weekly basis, to these greater than great cyclists? I beleive they need to be rewarded for entertainment they provide.

 

LOL you think one trophy will be enough

[covie]

LOL you think one trophy will be enough

 

well lets start of with one and see how we progress.

[SwissVan]

well lets start of with one and see how we progress.

 

What would be fun...(well ok until I get the award...) is if admin could subsitute the persons avatar picture with a suitable trophy like picture and lock it there for the week...

 

Shudder to think at the possibilities for the said picture

[Eddy Gordo]

http://thepardu.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/trophy.gif?w=182