Berg and Bush 2013

[Stretch]

I think one thing most people forget, if the heat and conditions are tough on you, it's tough on everyone else.

If they finish and you don't, come back better prepared.

Too many people winging it through an event.

 

i think thats the point. I reckon a large percentage of people doing these stage events prepare just enough to do the event. Throw in a bit of hardship (heat,rain,snow or mud) and it makes the day significantly harder and above this threshold...and this is when people *** off and complain

[Mike Bike]

I think one thing most people forget, if the heat and conditions are tough on you, it's tough on everyone else.

If they finish and you don't, come back better prepared.

Too many people winging it through an event.

i agree...undertrained completely is your own fault..sitting there for 6,7 or 8 hours is your own fault. be prepared for the sun and heat if you know you are going to sit and pedal for that long. I did day 1 with arm warmers on..i wasnt complaining

[sometime]

Seriously guys your nanny is now probably retired and living in the Transkei and her name is not Gary Green or Farmer Glen. It's time to be an adult and take responsibility for yourself and not expect others to do so for you.

 

If it's too tough for you or you feel out of your comfort zone then stop; no shame in that. But you bring shame upon yourself complaining about tough conditions on a 3 day MTB stage race in the bush in the middle of an African summer.

[BarHugger]

Some humour (don't take it personally)

[Shangri la]

Last year on the back of the Golf shirts we got were the words "Proper Mountain biking"

 

This race IS proper mountain biking, Africa IS HOT and WINDY prepare properly.

 

I find most MTB races around Gauteng, cant speak for the WC or Natal, are prepared for the "new" or "soft" MTB rider. I find them somewhat disappointing.

 

I am 60 and had a ball this year, WILL be back next year.

 

The harder, and the more I have to test myself the better I like it!!

[BarHugger]

A little more training.....

[Fireface]

i agree...undertrained completely is your own fault..sitting there for 6,7 or 8 hours is your own fault. be prepared for the sun and heat if you know you are going to sit and pedal for that long. I did day 1 with arm warmers on..i wasnt complaining

 

Me and my buddy were the last riders in batch K on the first day - the last starters of the entire event. By that time the top guys were almost done. We had all the heat of the day to deal with. But let's remember that we all got an email from the organizers on Wednesday that said "expect hot weather on Friday". I think they did their share, the rest was up to us.

If dudes that weren't even at the race come out and start comparing this event to veldskool we're dealing with serious **** stirring. We lived like God in France in the race village. The race was a test - mental, physical and technical. That's what they promised us, that's what we paid for, that's what we got. It was incredible!

[dino]

Can't stop thinking about this race. Yes it was tough, yes it was ridiculously hot and tested me like no other race yet, but my buddy and I are already committed to doing it next year.

[Stevief]

Damn from what i have read sounds like this is the race/ ride for me most certainly will enter next year.

 

Just have one question to the singletrack dowhill junkies out there of which i am. I hate races of late as unfortunatly MTB has grown so much that the traffic on ST especially tech areas are so bad that most races everyone is walking and pushing the sections i love to ride. Im kuk on the climbs so i always get caught by fatser riders on climbs then they hold me up on the DH sections.

 

So at the Berg n Bush was their a lot of traffic on the tech downhill ST runs or did you guys have free track to blitz the trails?

Edited October 15, 2013 by Stevief

[Sniffie]

I agree whole heartedly with Fireface. Farmer Gary said on at least a couple of occasions during the weekend that berg & bush was designed as a test. A test of your conditioning, your technical ability and your equipment. What normally happens if someone fails in any of these departments is that they lose their sense of humor as well. Guys shouting and swearing at each other. Yes it was tough, warm, dusty, windy, etc, etc, this was how it was supposed to be and if you entered this event and expected anything less then maybe mountain biking is not for you. I say again hats off to Gary and his team! Excellent, we will be back.

Edited October 15, 2013 by Sniffie

[Sniffie]

 

So at the Berg n Bush was their a lot of traffic on the tech downhill ST runs or did you guys have free track to blitz the trails?

I started in D on day 1 and B on days 2 and 3, had lovely clear single track. Would occasionally catch a slightly slower guy but most guys would let you through as soon as it is safe to do so. Not sure about the situation in other batches though.

[dino]

There wasn't much congestion, the trails are so well manicured that even average mountain bikers can ride something that looks technical because there aren't nasty surprises in the form of massive boulders (like at Van Gaalens and most places in joburg). On the first day there was a bit of a bottleneck at Sollies Folly, but not much traffic aside from that.

 

The routes are in pristine condition so they inspire a lot of confidence.

 

Most people are relaxed enough to let you pass if you come up behind them, great vibe amongst the riders at the B&B cos everyone is having so much fun on the single track.

 

Anyone have any idea when the photos will be uploaded? I see there are "unclassified" photos loaded but nothing comes up when I search my race number.

[nigelhicks]

jeepers it seems a lot of riders forget the main reason why they ride ... to have FUN....

 

No matter what the weather ... For me this weekend is gonna be all about Wheelies, Skids and Buckjumps off every rock or bump possible! .... and just plain old FUN on the bike ...

 

Have even put on an old knackered back tyre so that my skids can be even more epic.

[Fireface]

Damn from what i have read sounds like this is the race/ ride for me most certainly will enter next year.

 

Just have one question to the singletrack dowhill junkies out there of which i am. I hate races of late as unfortunatly MTB has grown so much that the traffic on ST especially tech areas are so bad that most races everyone is walking and pushing the sections i love to ride. Im kuk on the climbs so i always get caught by fatser riders on climbs then they hold me up on the DH sections.

 

So at the Berg n Bush was their a lot of traffic on the tech downhill ST runs or did you guys have free track to blitz the trails?

 

I started in D on day 1 and B on days 2 and 3, had lovely clear single track. Would occasionally catch a slightly slower guy but most guys would let you through as soon as it is safe to do so. Not sure about the situation in other batches though.

 

We're just like you, crap going up and always itching to go faster downhill. Here and there we got stuck behind some guys without skills, but most people let you pass without issues if they notice you're faster. Sometimes we waited for a minute or two to let them get further ahead, then bombed down before anyone else could catch up. The 10 minute gaps between batches help to draw out the field, and as we worked ourselves up the pecking order the skill levels around us improved. If you love technical single track you won't regret signing up for this race. There's nothing like this out there.

[nigelhicks]

So at the Berg n Bush was their a lot of traffic on the tech downhill ST runs or did you guys have free track to blitz the trails?

 

Coming off Spionkop there is often a bit of traffic through Princess Margret drive (i have been held up pretty bad here in years past) But there are often dual track sections where you can make a quick duck here and there .. and then also open sections where you can ask nicely and dudes will let you past.

 

Most of it is not too bad as its a lot of jeep track rather than pure singletrack.

Before the boat crossing there is a climb there that is singletrack and was ALWAYS conjested, until last year when they set up the 10min starting gaps of the batches ... was cool and flowed fine ... and I start in like F (for FUN!)

 

Best is to get to the top of Spionkop ... smash an icecold Beer and then haul arse down off the hill again

[Wallee]

Puffadder isn't the same as last year, a lot of rocks have disappeared :-( Was really disappointed, although it was still fun. Last year I was called a maniac at the bottom and this year someone said I was like a bat out of hell on the one long downhill...

 

I agree, there seem to be less and less rocks every year. I hope it doesn't become like Sani one day. I love this race specifically because it doesn't have smooth manicured singletrack. As they say, it is proper mountain biking, not a road race!