Article in Tygerberger regarding Hooggekraal

[NicoBoshoff]

I knew Pier Alberto through doing business with him and he was really and awesome man.......the case as per the links is really, in my mind, a disservice to who and what Pier Alberto was.

 

I suggest a reading of the full judgment. I referenced it for the legal principles, which to my mind are apt in this case.

 

Does not make any of these incidents less tragic.

[Rydogg]

I also don't think it's the trail's fault.

 

 

On a side note, in my opinion, there are 2 sections of hoogekraal that are MUCH more difficult than the majority of the route, which could catch some people off guard.

• The pump section and the bridge after it (surprisingly tricky)
  
• the widow maker (noobs shouldn't ride this section often anyway)
  

 

Just saying...

[Craigwt]

I also don't think it's the trail's fault.

 

 

On a side note, in my opinion, there are 2 sections of hoogekraal that are MUCH more difficult than the majority of the route, which could catch some people off guard.

• The pump section and the bridge after it (surprisingly tricky)
  
• the widow maker (noobs shouldn't ride this section often anyway)
  

Just saying...

 

 

Have you ridden the new section recently? Gees, that thing is getting out of control. If he fell there I would have understood.

[Hairy]

Have you ridden the new section recently? Gees, that thing is getting out of control. If he fell there I would have understood.

The thing is ..... if you think a section looks dodge, get off and walk it, no one is forcing a person to ride the obstacle or the trail. It is a matter of free will / choice.

 

I have ridden hoogies recently, and on a hardtail 26'er.....I did dismount on a section where I came in wrong and felt it was the better option.

[Toon63]

“My man was ’n baie versigtige ryer en het veral vir ander fietryers uitgekyk Ek wil hê ander ryers moet bewus wees van hoe gevaarlik die roete is,” het sy gesê.

Nel ry die afgelope 15 jaar fiets, waarvan die afgelope twee jaar bergfiets. Hy het reeds aan verskeie bergfietswedrenne deelgeneem.

“Nadat ek met baie verskillende mense gepraat het, het hulle dit onder my aandag gebring dat Hoogekraal uiters gevaarlik is.

 

My Thought

 

firstly I feel sorry for her lost and my condolences to his family

 

but Hoogenkraal Majic forest, Meerendal and Contermanskloof and all the other tracks are safe

I ride them regularly.

 

you ride the way you can and I push my self from time to time knowing the risk involved.

to blame anyone is wrong...

[Marius]

That jump thing at the top I've not even looked at becuase I know my limites, I just follow the right hand lane, I'm no downhiller jump pro

[Da Vinci]

That jump thing at the top I've not even looked at becuase I know my limites, I just follow the right hand lane, I'm no downhiller jump pro

 

When you look at the number of ppl starting out mtbing - it's huge - some one said its like the new golf. There will always be accidents - my very experienced (ex downhiller XC u name it ) neighbor fell going over a plank on Meerendal the other day as the new wood was slippery and he was being complacent - that is not the fault of the club. Accidents happen - As it happens the gentleman in question died due to a post operative complication in the form of a blood clot.

It takes nothing away from the loss and trauma the family is going through and I wish them strength for this awful time.

I just also feel the article is a bit overtly sensational- having said that clubs must also be careful to ensure there is enough of all trail grades to cater to the majority of the rider skill that is out there - sorry but one has to be realistic when looking at your target market.

PS I've ridden Hoogekraal a number of times and the bridge lends itself to be approached at a speed that can cause complications BUT it does not need speed - riders need to be honest with themselves about their skill levels and alway ride with in their limits especially on trails new to them. And even on trails they have ridden a 100 times - conditions constantly change!

Edited April 3, 2014 by Da Vinci

[CleatsnCleavage]

Im no medical doctor but what causes those blood clots? Maybe it is the doc's fault for not preventing the blood clot after surgery? He didnt die from his fall at Hoogies.

 

I rode the widow maker section once last year with the Reeds night ride guys and found it technical and there were some rocky sections which could be dangerous if you dont have the right line. Avoided the section when I rode alone the other day - sounds like a good decision if the trail is not in a good state.

 

Whatever the outcome, it is very sad for his wife and unborn child.

[Tumbleweed]

I knew Pier Alberto through doing business with him and he was really and awesome man.......the case as per the links is really, in my mind, a disservice to who and what Pier Alberto was.

 

Sorry to hear that, bud.

[Musketeer]

My heart goes out to the family of this fellow biker and it truly is very tragic.

 

I have to agree with most of the sentiments on this thread and it's not only because I'm a member of the club, but because I have ridden a lot of trails in Gauteng and Eastern Cape as well and the fact is that ANY obstacle is dangerous. If you make a mistake, you can come off very hard and if you are fatigued the risk amplifies exponentially. Accidents happen unfortunately and some of us are lucky enough to walk away swearing and others are not. Some routes are dangerous and requires more skill than others, but to blame a trail for an accident is very harsh.

 

I really hope that this doesn't have a negative impact on the trails around our area that 100's of bikers love to ride.

 

Ride within your limits

[NicoBoshoff]

The thing is ..... if you think a section looks dodge, get off and walk it, no one is forcing a person to ride the obstacle or the trail. It is a matter of free will / choice.

 

I have ridden hoogies recently, and on a hardtail 26'er.....I did dismount on a section where I came in wrong and felt it was the better option.

 

Rode there on Sunday and yes that section is at times intimidating, but also rewarding for the same reason. In any event it has ample warning of the difficulty.

[Headshot]

Hoogies has only one dangerous piece of trail in my opinion. The "widowmaker" . Its an artificially created obstacle and is just begging for OTB type accidents, the kind where necks and collar bones are injured. It is however well signposted as are the other obstacles including the Cape Cobra dh. I rode the whole trail a few days ago and found the Cobra in good condition after the rain, as was the rest of the track. After trying the Contermans DH line, the Cobra seemed easy - its all relative. One riders fun trail is another's nemesis and the trick is to know your limits. There is no shame in getting off and climbing down a section rather than smashing yourself up.

 

The difference between starting MTB now and back in the day is that the trails have become more interesting. There is more single track and more technical features. Bikes are also better but there is no substitute for skill and I would like to see more shops offering skills courses with bikes and all new cyclists attending some kind of training - it makes a huge difference.

 

Lee was very unfortunate and there is no chance at all that TMBC or the land owner are liable in any way for what happened. That article is poorly written trash journalism, typical of the parochial rags that these community newspapers usually are.

[DJR]

Im no medical doctor but what causes those blood clots? Maybe it is the doc's fault for not preventing the blood clot after surgery? He didnt die from his fall at Hoogies.

 

I rode the widow maker section once last year with the Reeds night ride guys and found it technical and there were some rocky sections which could be dangerous if you dont have the right line. Avoided the section when I rode alone the other day - sounds like a good decision if the trail is not in a good state.

 

Whatever the outcome, it is very sad for his wife and unborn child.

 

Your question is valid and it is exactly the kind of thing a good journalist would have asked! It just shows how extremely superficial the article is!

[Cassie]

I also don't think it's the trail's fault.

 

 

On a side note, in my opinion, there are 2 sections of hoogekraal that are MUCH more difficult than the majority of the route, which could catch some people off guard.

• The pump section and the bridge after it (surprisingly tricky)
  
• the widow maker (noobs shouldn't ride this section often anyway)
  

Just saying...

 

 

I suggest - that out of respect ... the name "widow maker" should perhaps be removed and/or changed to something less offensive?

just an outsider perspective...{it's a pretty cool name and very apt...}

[GLuvsMtb]

 

 

I suggest - that out of respect ... the name "widow maker" should perhaps be removed and/or changed to something less offensive?

just an outsider perspective...{it's a pretty cool name and very apt...}

The accident was nowhere near that particular section.

 

So if someone dies of a heart attack on stage 3 of Sani 2 C we need to change the name of heart-rate hill?

[udxcob]

I would like to know if anyone has jumped across the river?