Tumbleweed Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 and now days we dont even have club races anymore. Used to be a regular thing here in JHB. Each club would take a turn in holding an event. Flat dogs (Rietvlei), Rock hoppers (Phambili)etc The Mintek races were also cool for the kids. Always a great turnout at those. Ramrod 1
Ramrod Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) The Mintek races were also cool for the kids. Always a great turnout at those.YEah i remeber those. The fittest i ever got was when they used to hold the Wednesday night races. Man i miss those days. Bikes were cheaper. It was easier to get fitter and lose weight cause i was younger. Edited January 21, 2014 by specializedfan Tumbleweed 1
NotSoBigBen Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 So you okes are of the opinion that everyone and anyone can 'upskill' themselves to the level required to ride an XCO course (i.e. Pietermaritzburg) or at least to the ability not to hold you up in the singletrack but they just are too lazy and or don't want to Lucky Luke. 1
Ramrod Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 That hill up the back didnt look like much but after doing it for 6/7 laps it was a kiler
LazyTrailRider Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Good point...drama sells, and XCM will no doubt have more of that Hmmm, I don't agree, not even close.
Brian Fantana Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 why is more not being made of this ? is there a thread advertising this that I have missed ? That is a question you should direct to our friends at CSA. nigelhicks and Danger Dassie 2
Shebeen Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 This whole idea that the epic is the off road tdf is such marketing babble. It's nothing like it, and has no hope of ever coming close. Am making plans to get to the slammer, nothing like parking off at the technical sections with some buddies
Slowbee Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 The XCO in cape town this weekend is African Champs: so who is going to this then? this is Africa champs !!
Danger Dassie Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Rudi, the Wordl Cup DHI/XCO circuit is the most watched and supported discipline of mountain biking, by millions across the world and the enthusiasm of the support has been compared to F1/SBK supporters. These figures are available from the organisers. It's also a far more spectator and logistically friendly sport than XCM. The analogy of TdF doesn't apply, it's one of those sports followed by non-cyclists as well. It's like the Dakar. But this isn't about XCO vs XCM etc ... It's the place of a proper XCO/DHI series, to which mountain biking, in this country especially. Very much owes it's roots and plays a pivotal role in the sport.The role of this series is viable, but bogged down in administrative problems, it was an extremely healthy series about 5 years ago when Advendurance were involved and had a national sponsorship from MTN. Then administrative politics ballsed it up. It's sponsorship value needs to be sold on the dynamic nature of the events. Atmosphere, socialising, the spectator and social nature of the short format racing etc. The value for sponsors, for everyone, is there.2013 provided an exceptional platform for this, it's upto the governing bodies and event organisers to pick up the ball and run with it. Politics it seems though, is getting in the way. African Champs this weekend, what media releases etc have gone out? It's an insult to the memory of our athletes and their dedication. Captain Fastbastard Mayhem, (Deon) and Griffin 3
rouxtjie Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Hmmm, I don't agree, not even close.Don't see why you don't.... Mechanicals and the managing thereof, bad days ito legs, wrong turns, break-aways, weather difference, terrain difference turns it into a cycling soap opera...drama I am not saying XCO isn't exciting, I love the crap out of it...its fast and furious balls to the wall....if you have any of the above issues, your race is over...with XCM stage races like the epic, it aint over till the fat lady sings.
Danger Dassie Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 so who is going to this then? this is Africa champs !! Had more info been forthcoming. Slowbee 1
nigelhicks Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Right ... (Nige gets his coffee and puts on his typing cap) There are a number of issues to this "problem" and have been brought up time and time again in our Commission meetings for KZN and the World Cup/Champs ....These are the following things to remember. 1. MTB (Marathon) is probably the fastest growing discipline in South Africa at the moment due to its ability to cater for ALL forms of person form the consummate pro to the average Joe ... The exposure of this discipline has been immense and due to this it has become the "go-to" form of exercise. ... In south africa the main focus is on MASS PARTICIPATION events such as Sani2C, JHB2C, EPIC ... and then all the other marathon events such as the Classic series in KZN and all the other 40 to 60km series events in JHB and CT .... This is great as everyone can enjoy the events no matter what your skill level (ok maybe not the EPIC - thats a different kettle of fish - but still) ... So this is where the SA market focusses their gaze and rightly so .... 2. XCO - this is the pinnicle of Cross Country MTB as it is A) an Olympic Discipline, B) was one of the first events to be registered under the UCI as a World Cup and World Champs status event. The event does not however cater for MASS Participation due to the nature of the tracks ... 3. XCO - MEDIA - XCO is by far one of the best events from a MEDIA perspective as it is relatively easy to film and makes for good racing (There was a comment made that the EPIC would surpass XCO at a media level and become like the TDF ... Yes maybe ... but from a media perspective dealing with the guys who film the World Cups, they say the XCO and DHI is the best from viewer potential - thats why they dont film the Marathon World Champs as there is not enough exposure for the all the teams and their riders when half the field are more than 20minutes back off the leaders and you have only one camera following the leaders ... Also if the tracks are gnarly - how can you have a motorbike (like in teh TDF) following a lead pack and the chasers doing all the filming - you couldnt ... so you would need helicopters - and this cost BIG tin .... So XCO is way more spectator friendly for people on site watching and also from a media perspective as static cameras can be positioned and used to film the riders over each lap .... SO - why if the Media side of things is WAY better does it not get the exposure to the common man and his kids like marathon does??? MIS-REPRESENTATION ... this is it ... you chat to someone who went to their first XCO event (likely a provincial as its either that or nationals) and they will say that they K@Ked off ... and likely say that it was way harder and more technical and they didnt really enjoy it ... thats because the intensity is so much higher that the track and style of riding is not really suited to 70% of riders until they get used to the discipline ... SO it gets a bad rep as most guys ride it once and then tell their mates that its too hard and its not worth doing when there are such great marathon events out there ... 4. THE HOT SHOTSRemember that in the UK, Europe and America there are full series for XCO and these are really well attended with 500 to 1000 riders compared to us at 100 per event ... BUT then over there although there are XCM mass events these are not shown to be the pinnicle of desirability to race and therefore everyone tries to race the XCO events ... Out of these riders internationally in each country - only 2 or 3 every 10 years go on to emulate the Nino's, Kulhavey's and Burry's .... so we need to remember that these riders come around very Seldom. 5 - So what to do about it???? The Spur Schools Series is a great stepping stone - but this must shift the young guns into PROVINCIAL LEVEL disciplines that have UCI WORLD CHAMPS Status such as XCO and DHI .. and not into Marathon ...This is where the fundimental shift needs to occur ...As much as we all dream that we are "the next Burry" ... if you are older than 18 and have not yet raced a World Cup event ... sorry buddy its too late ... the guys who get to that level were winning their national championships OVERALL (both XC and DH in Burrys case) at the age of 16 - and were getting international stage experience from 17! .... So we need to look at the School series and promote them to race more XCO than XCM - event though there is a wealth of XCM events in SA ... PS - sorry for the MASSIVE post! Tumbleweed, Danger Dassie, Baaisikilist and 13 others 16
Danger Dassie Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Nigel, every word of that should be carved into stone! Grebel 1
nigelhicks Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Then there was a comment about XC Eliminator - ... well XCE is all well and good - but this is not really something that will take off in SA as it is too short for use with logisitics being a mission for such a quick event ... The UCI are also standardising viewing times for events across the board for 2014 - so XCE Events are now to be staged in the evenings on Fridays at like 7pm and need a sort of street circuit type thing ... So SA is unlikely to have this event this year due to the logistical nightmare the event will impose. So we can say good bye to XCE in SA in my opinion
Brian Fantana Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) I also believe that from a health perspective, it is much better for youngsters (primary school) to race XCO than to let them race these 40km half marathon events. I have seen a few people allowing their 10 year old and younger kids riding half marathons, while the XCO events for that age is probably only 18km (3 laps) in distance. Edited January 21, 2014 by Brian Fantana
Slowbee Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Had more info been forthcoming.dropped a pm to bring it to the attention this deserves, going to try get there.
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