Slow & Funfit - Fountains/Groenkloof - 10 Nov

[Sidewinder.]

That was a great ride! I'll definitely be riding there again...when I'm more comfortable with clipping in Thanks for organising S.I.R M

[DR ◣◢]

Good ride indeed.

 

Loved fountains. Great potential for skills training.

 

Not too crazy about Groenkloof but ill be back.

 

One or two things didnt quite work out with the group. Hard to control a big group like this and the initial plan to split up after fountains didnt quite work. The pace set at the beginning was too fast and hard for most of the riders. I think some people didnt quite follow the rules about the pace being determined by the slowest rider.

 

I have to apologize to the guys who came thinking it was going to be a slower training ride. This is not the way these rides are done. Unfortunately I wasn't leading the group as I normally do. This was my first time at the venue and I relied on other riders that know the trails to lead.

 

I really wanted to spend some time with everybody to work on the kinks. Those of you who asked questions about tech stuff, I hope the pointers I have given you helped.

 

Those who want to join the next ride at NF next weekend please let me know.

 

The pace will be back to normal and we will be doing it the normal way.

[RockCoach]

The ride didn't really work for most of the slower riders. And they didn't seem to want to stay in Fountains to learn how to ride some of the obstacles.

 

It is very difficult to control such a large group on such tight single track with minimal places to stop and regroup. In retrospect we should have split the group from the beginning.

 

Next time we should make it two seperate rides.

Edited November 11, 2012 by slick

[Witkop]

Fountains is no the right place to discuss skills. Groenkloof actually has a number of obstacles that can be analysed, pointed out, lines explained, ext and there is plenty of gravel roads between the singletrack to be able to go around and redo.

 

Fountains was just too constricted for constructive skill learning.

 

Nest time we should call it slow, unfit and unskilled. Choice two.

[DR ◣◢]

Dont exactly agree with you there.

 

Nothing wrong with Fountains to do skills if the groups are small enough.

 

The skill level of those who asked for assistance was more than good enough to attempt Fountains. They identified that they would like to better themselves on that specific trail.

 

Calling the group unskilled really isn't fair on any of the riders that attended yesterday and actually uncalled for.

 

Sad that some riders feel the need to join a slow group to feel better about themselves.

[MONS]

Dont exactly agree with you there.

 

Nothing wrong with Fountains to do skills if the groups are small enough.

 

The skill level of those who asked for assistance was more than good enough to attempt Fountains. They identified that they would like to better themselves on that specific trail.

 

Calling the group unskilled really isn't fair on any of the riders that attended yesterday and actually uncalled for.

 

Sad that some riders feel the need to join a slow group to feel better about themselves.

Agreed. And Thank you. That was uncalled for. Its insensitive make comments like that when everybody tried their best and you dont know the history behind every rider, for some of us, just getting through the track and attempting the technical bits is enough of an achievement., The whole aim is to have fun and enjoy the technical bits and learn while doing that. Its a natural progression that they then become easier and less challenging in the mind.. That comes with practice and positive re-inforcement from your fellow group riders.

 

Thanks again for the ride - did enjoy it, especially the lovely downhill section towards the road on GK side - almost almost bought some roots to call my own (up close and personal) but the fence had other plans for me (PHEW!!) and bounced me straight back into my bike! that was a wheel plant of note!!! hehehehe!!!

[Witkop]

Dont exactly agree with you there.

 

Nothing wrong with Fountains to do skills if the groups are small enough.

 

The skill level of those who asked for assistance was more than good enough to attempt Fountains. They identified that they would like to better themselves on that specific trail.

 

Calling the group unskilled really isn't fair on any of the riders that attended yesterday and actually uncalled for.

 

Sad that some riders feel the need to join a slow group to feel better about themselves.

 

I was not calling anyone unskilled. The big problem with fountains is that there are few places where you can stop in large groups. Also many of the places where I would like to repeat the obstacle are not easy to get back to and when there is a large group there is not enough space for everyone to watch and learn.

 

For the size of group, fountains was difficult as we were strung out with no place to rest regroup and get a good look at the obstacles.

 

Luckly they group was not unskilled and we rolled through reasonably well. If there were people that were really unskilled, with the size of group we had we would still be there now.

 

My point is that before we start we should all agree on purpose. Is it a slow and unfit, which means slow ride which may be short, with stops to accomodate the unfit, or is it a skills clinic where we will stop at various obstacles, discuss lines, point out burms and technique and then let everyone do it until all are happy. That appoach would be a slow and unskilled (and that is not implying that only unskilled people will be involved. Many are very skilled but just want to dial an obstacle). You cannot do both in fountains there is just not enough space for that approach.

 

So I apologies if anyone took offence to my previous statement. I am the first to claim to be unskilled, and therefore would also like to attend a slow and unskilled day.

[DR ◣◢]

 

 

I was not calling anyone unskilled. The big problem with fountains is that there are few places where you can stop in large groups. Also many of the places where I would like to repeat the obstacle are not easy to get back to and when there is a large group there is not enough space for everyone to watch and learn.

 

For the size of group, fountains was difficult as we were strung out with no place to rest regroup and get a good look at the obstacles.

 

Luckly they group was not unskilled and we rolled through reasonably well. If there were people that were really unskilled, with the size of group we had we would still be there now.

 

My point is that before we start we should all agree on purpose. Is it a slow and unfit, which means slow ride which may be short, with stops to accomodate the unfit, or is it a skills clinic where we will stop at various obstacles, discuss lines, point out burms and technique and then let everyone do it until all are happy. That appoach would be a slow and unskilled (and that is not implying that only unskilled people will be involved. Many are very skilled but just want to dial an obstacle). You cannot do both in fountains there is just not enough space for that approach.

 

So I apologies if anyone took offence to my previous statement. I am the first to claim to be unskilled, and therefore would also like to attend a slow and unskilled day.

 

Thanks for the reply and for clearing up the misunderstanding.

 

You raise some very valid points. Most significant of which is that the group was simply too big and diverse in fitness and skill level to achieve the goal of the ride. The regulars in the group know how it all runs. It's also a lot smaller when we go out keeping things really well controllable.

[Witkop]

Thanks for the reply and for clearing up the misunderstanding.

 

You raise some very valid points. Most significant of which is that the group was simply too big and diverse in fitness and skill level to achieve the goal of the ride. The regulars in the group know how it all runs. It's also a lot smaller when we go out keeping things really well controllable.

Thanks, I enjoyed the ride very mutch, and would not liked anyone to have taken offence.

[Myra]

Agree that the format could have been different but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun.

[patches]

Huh?! There was a goal for this ride?!

 

I just went out with the goal to have fun on my bike

 

Mission accomplished!

[traaidmark]

Hey guys, thanks for the opportunity to meet some of you okes. Had a beaut day out, though I was rather knackered when I got home (Though that is all my fault, ek wil mos soontoe ry en terug).

 

See you guys this weekend for the Rosemary hill ride.

[RudoJ]

Agree with most posts on this page.

It only was my second outting at Fountains and one in a very long time. Yeah, maybe I was slow, but unfit? No. Unskilled? oohh yeah. After many obstacles I though, damn, could have done that one. So yes I think the intention of the ride was good, but it was difficult with 17 riders, as many also said

.

Slick nailed it right on the head, maybe we should have split right from the beginning. (Oh yes, expect a PM from me, need to go to the Spruit School sometime)

 

One group could have done Fountains, and the other Groenies, and then switched around.

 

But its also a matter of repetition and as Ms Slick put it, just to get out there as much as possible.

 

Even with being nr 17 most of the times on Sat, it stil was awesome, had some good laughs and chats and met awesome folk. Definitely the kind of people I would suffer with on a looonnggg ride.

[RudoJ]

Huh?! There was a goal for this ride?!

 

I just went out with the goal to have fun on my bike

 

Mission accomplished!

Did that PPFFFTTTTTT moment u had in Groenies result in new tyre, or was it fixable?

[Lamber]

Did that PPFFFTTTTTT moment u had in Groenies result in new tyre, or was it fixable?

 

He brought 2 guns to a knife fight

[patches]

Did that PPFFFTTTTTT moment u had in Groenies result in new tyre, or was it fixable?

He brought 2 guns to a knife fight

 

hahaha! yeah, I went and swopped out for the other bike. But then later that afternoon I went dirt jumping, so just put a tube in that wheel. So fixable, yes... but if I want it tubeless again, I'll have to get a new tyre