Article in Tygerberger regarding Hooggekraal

[CleatsnCleavage]

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!

thanks - i used to be an extremely good journalist for a national newspaper a few years ago

[Skubarra]

 

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?

 

Maybe that's why they took that section out of the route???

[W Smith]

Oh please, if you fall on that bridge you are a noob.

Your comment is offensive,insensitive and in extremeley bad taste. To imply that the deceased was a "noob" smacks of arrogance on your part.You clearly do not have any respect for the deceased's family who incidently, may be reading this thread.Share your vile views with your mates and refrain from using the Hub as a forum to voice your insipid comments .

[Rapunzel]

Sorry for my ignorance (as I do not know Hoogekraal trails that well), but this "journalist" claims that Lee feel on / or because of some loose rocks at the specific bridge she photographed and published. I had a damn good look at that photo, but I could not see a single rock, only a fairly broad and properly cleared path coming from a bridge that looks like it is on a straight section of the route. Nothing dangerous or technical there.

 

Enlighten me if I'm wrong.

 

Not being insensitive or callous.

The bridge is at the bottom of the jeep track before you enter the first singletrack and is sturdy and about 1.5m wide. There is a right turn off the jeep track to the bridge so if you hit the bridge with enough speed to get airborne, you'll probably drift left and miss the downhill part of the bridge altogether which is what I suspect may have happened.

As a regular rider on these trails, I'm really concerned that this may be yet another nail in the coffin of land access.

[Dicky DQ]

RIP to our lost cyclist and condolences to his family

 

I think the solution here is to grade the various trails on their difficulty / danger level.

This has been the norm on many MTB trails and if I remember correctly from the TBMBC maps, that these trails are indeed graded.

 

BLACK - extremely difficult

RED - difficult

BLUE - moderate difficulty

GREEN - easy to moderate difficulty

YELLOW - easy

 

The problem is that these difficulty or danger level gradings are not well signposted at the bottom of each trail, and/or not very well known to the more recreational MTB'er. They are also normally associated with single track and not trails themselves.

 

Lets remember one thing, we were all noobs once and its never a pleasant sight seeing an injured/bleeding cyclist on the side of the trails because of a fall.

 

PS. Lets also as MTB'ers realise our skill levels and rather not take the trails that are beyond what we or our machines are capable of !

 

Only question is what happens if a novice believe he is adept and goes for black and the same thing happens. Who's fault is it?

Or a pro goes on the green route and is riding no hands and the same thing happens, who's fault is it?

 

Or you are doing a race etc. etc.

 

MTB, as said before, is an extreme sport (Well not the most people ride) check your life insurance policy, some even exclude cover if partaking in this "dangerous" sport.

[Storm 78]

I ride Hoogies on weakly basis. I came off mike bike once so hard that I actually needed a gyneacologist instead of a doctor. It was all due to too much speed and an attempted tail whip. I was lucky to walk away with heavy bruises. It comes down to ride within your limits. Accidents do happen.

 

Condollences to Lees family

[MeridaHFS]

Just to get the hubs opinion on my reaction and if I over reacted. I wrote to the journalist but have been getting a "couldn't care about your sport and it's reputation" attitude. Won't bother her further but this just grates my cheese...

Read from bottom up:

 

Dear Jacques

I am not going to go into a discussion any further. Point is, if you walk into a shop and someone is washing the floor, anyone can imagine the floor will be wet. But you still see the “wet floor” sign, because it is compulsory to cater for the one stupid person who may not realise the floor is wet and slippery just because it is being washed with water at that moment.

Just as well should dangerous or tricky parts of the routes not be marked as such – for inexperienced riders then who do not know the limitations of their skills. It is great that you and many other are experienced and know when to take it easy, but such an argument would not count in a court. It is not only highly skilled adventurers that are allowed on a mountainbike. There should be warning signs, end of story. If it was my farm, I would have put up warning signs for my own legal protection. Why are there warning signs on roads of sharp bends etc? For people’s safety. This is the point.

And I have not done damage to mountainbiking’s image. Really? I don’t regard myselfor any one article that important.

Best regards

ESmé

 

Sent: 04 April 2014 09:07 AM

To: Esme Erasmus

Subject: Re: TygerBurger - ContactUs

Morning Esme,

 

My concern regarding your article is the damage your doing to the image of MTB'ing as a sport.

 

I've been riding here for the past 22 years but still push my self beyond my limits at times but take the blame solely on myself if something do go wrong(not very often) - if on unfamiliar trails I take it easy. Anyone riding the trails of Tygerberg knows the risks involved and to blame the sport/terrain for an accident is just plain wrong.

 

You say the article is factually correct. This may be so but in my opinion it could have been more subjective. When you have the time, walk the trails of Meerendal, majik forest, hoogekraal and then tokai, jonkershoek and any other trails in WC. Compare the terrain to hoogekraal. I can guarantee you it is all very similar. Safety on the trail all depends on self control and keeping within your own limits.

Accidents happen world wide on mountain bikes but also on foot. This does not preve nt us from crossing the road does it?

 

To bring my point across, Mountain biking is a great sport that teaches young kids to be kids in the outdoors again. It shows older people how to enjoy life again and that age is only relative. It brings families together. But the article conveys a message of shear horror about mountain biking which will certainly cause many parents to deny their kids(or themselves) an opportunity to enjoy the sport.

"’n Vraagteken hang oor die veiligheid van die gewilde bergfietsroetes van die Tygerberg-bergfietsklub op plase rondom Durbanville - veral dié op die plaas Hoogekraal - nadat talle fietsryers al geval en beseer is."

 

I'm also a forum member on Thehubsa.co.za and your article has triggered quite a discussion.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/137937-article-in-tygerberger-regarding-hooggekraal/

 

Please do not see my correspondence as disrespectful in any way to the family, I cannot even fathom what it must feel like but can only imagine.

 

Regards,

 

Jacques

 

 

On Thu, 3 Apr 2014 08:24:53 +0000 Esme Erasmus <esme.erasmus@tygerburger.co.za> wrote

Dear Jacques

I am sorry you are upset about the article, but if you read it with comprehension, I did not take any stand that mountainbiking is dangerous, definitely not that it is a deathly sport. You have misinterpreted the content. I was stating the fact that this rider died due to complications after his fall, and the fact that the safety of this trail and other trails are questioned after all the incidents in which riders were injured.

It is a fact that riders do fell off their bikes and get hurt...seriously hurt. They get flown out with helicopters to hospitals. I know a lot of very experienced riders who ride these trails personally and a lot of them had bad falls, whatever the reasons are for it.

So please, donâ ™t shoot the messenger. My article was factually correct and I do not need to put any facts straight.

Regards

EsmErasmus

Journalist

TygerBurger Durbanville

Tel: 021 910 6553

Fax: 086 636 1462

E-mail: esme.erasmus@tygerburger.co.za

3rde Vloer, Bloemhof gebou, Edwardstraat 112, Tygervallei, Bellville

3rd Floor, Bloemhof Building, 112 Edward Street, Tyger Valley, Bellville

Visit our new website: www.tygerburger.co.za

From: noreply@netlocal.co.za [mailto:noreply@netlocal.co.za]

Sent: 03 April 2014 08:11 AM

Subject: TygerBurger - ContactUs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message:

Hi, I am highly upset about the article Esme Erasmus wrote about hoogekraal. It puts MTB'ing in a VERY bad light and gives the impression that it is a deathly sport. What about the track cyclist that died after his fall, the two road cyclist that was killed on polkadraai? Please get her to set the facts straight in next weeks publication. Regards, Jacques. PS. has she even been to hoogekraal for a site inspection??

[Flowta]

Just to get the hubs opinion on my reaction and if I over reacted. I wrote to the journalist but have been getting a "couldn't care about your sport and it's reputation" attitude. Won't bother her further but this just grates my cheese...

Read from bottom up:

 

Dear Jacques

I am not going to go into a discussion any further. Point is, if you walk into a shop and someone is washing the floor, anyone can imagine the floor will be wet. But you still see the “wet floor” sign, because it is compulsory to cater for the one stupid person who may not realise the floor is wet and slippery just because it is being washed with water at that moment.

Just as well should dangerous or tricky parts of the routes not be marked as such – for inexperienced riders then who do not know the limitations of their skills. It is great that you and many other are experienced and know when to take it easy, but such an argument would not count in a court. It is not only highly skilled adventurers that are allowed on a mountainbike. There should be warning signs, end of story. If it was my farm, I would have put up warning signs for my own legal protection. Why are there warning signs on roads of sharp bends etc? For people’s safety. This is the point.

And I have not done damage to mountainbiking’s image. Really? I don’t regard myselfor any one article that important.

Best regards

ESmé

 

Sent: 04 April 2014 09:07 AM

To: Esme Erasmus

Subject: Re: TygerBurger - ContactUs

Morning Esme,

 

My concern regarding your article is the damage your doing to the image of MTB'ing as a sport.

 

I've been riding here for the past 22 years but still push my self beyond my limits at times but take the blame solely on myself if something do go wrong(not very often) - if on unfamiliar trails I take it easy. Anyone riding the trails of Tygerberg knows the risks involved and to blame the sport/terrain for an accident is just plain wrong.

 

You say the article is factually correct. This may be so but in my opinion it could have been more subjective. When you have the time, walk the trails of Meerendal, majik forest, hoogekraal and then tokai, jonkershoek and any other trails in WC. Compare the terrain to hoogekraal. I can guarantee you it is all very similar. Safety on the trail all depends on self control and keeping within your own limits.

Accidents happen world wide on mountain bikes but also on foot. This does not preve nt us from crossing the road does it?

 

To bring my point across, Mountain biking is a great sport that teaches young kids to be kids in the outdoors again. It shows older people how to enjoy life again and that age is only relative. It brings families together. But the article conveys a message of shear horror about mountain biking which will certainly cause many parents to deny their kids(or themselves) an opportunity to enjoy the sport.

"’n Vraagteken hang oor die veiligheid van die gewilde bergfietsroetes van die Tygerberg-bergfietsklub op plase rondom Durbanville - veral dié op die plaas Hoogekraal - nadat talle fietsryers al geval en beseer is."

 

I'm also a forum member on Thehubsa.co.za and your article has triggered quite a discussion.

 

http://www.thehubsa....ng-hooggekraal/

 

Please do not see my correspondence as disrespectful in any way to the family, I cannot even fathom what it must feel like but can only imagine.

 

Regards,

 

Jacques

 

 

On Thu, 3 Apr 2014 08:24:53 +0000 Esme Erasmus <esme.erasmus@tygerburger.co.za> wrote

Dear Jacques

I am sorry you are upset about the article, but if you read it with comprehension, I did not take any stand that mountainbiking is dangerous, definitely not that it is a deathly sport. You have misinterpreted the content. I was stating the fact that this rider died due to complications after his fall, and the fact that the safety of this trail and other trails are questioned after all the incidents in which riders were injured.

It is a fact that riders do fell off their bikes and get hurt...seriously hurt. They get flown out with helicopters to hospitals. I know a lot of very experienced riders who ride these trails personally and a lot of them had bad falls, whatever the reasons are for it.

So please, donâ ™t shoot the messenger. My article was factually correct and I do not need to put any facts straight.

Regards

EsmErasmus

Journalist

TygerBurger Durbanville

Tel: 021 910 6553

Fax: 086 636 1462

E-mail: esme.erasmus@tygerburger.co.za

3rde Vloer, Bloemhof gebou, Edwardstraat 112, Tygervallei, Bellville

3rd Floor, Bloemhof Building, 112 Edward Street, Tyger Valley, Bellville

Visit our new website: www.tygerburger.co.za

From: noreply@netlocal.co.za [mailto:noreply@netlocal.co.za]

Sent: 03 April 2014 08:11 AM

Subject: TygerBurger - ContactUs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message:

Hi, I am highly upset about the article Esme Erasmus wrote about hoogekraal. It puts MTB'ing in a VERY bad light and gives the impression that it is a deathly sport. What about the track cyclist that died after his fall, the two road cyclist that was killed on polkadraai? Please get her to set the facts straight in next weeks publication. Regards, Jacques. PS. has she even been to hoogekraal for a site inspection??

 

There are already signs there, at all the major obstacles/route splits.

 

This Esme chick is an idiot

[Craigwt]

There are already signs there, at all the major obstacles/route splits.

 

This Esme chick is an idiot

 

+1

 

It wasn't even on a section that needs a warning sign... To use her analogy, it would be like putting up a sign that reads - "Warning, Straight road ahead".

[R4C3]

Condolences to the family, I ride Hooggekraal at least once if not twice per week. The normal route is not dangerous, technical bits but very few, the extra loop is more dangerous. If your confidence is low on the bridges you might fall especially if you stop at the top. But really this is sensatiolism.

Edited April 4, 2014 by R4C3

[Headshot]

Flowta, I second your comment re the journalist. Its "Die Son" type tabloid journalism - its starts with a particular slant - eg the trails are dangerous and works with that ignoring the facts that don't suit that line and throwing objectivity out of the window. You have to try really hard to sell a free paper it seems.

 

A far better article would have highlighted that MTB is a dangerous, sometimes extreme sport regardless of where you ride. We can all relate to that.

[GLuvsMtb]

Flowta, I second your comment re the journalist. Its "Die Son" type tabloid journalism - its starts with a particular slant - eg the trails are dangerous and works with that ignoring the facts that don't suit that line and throwing objectivity out of the window. You have to try really hard to sell a free paper it seems.

 

A far better article would have highlighted that MTB is a dangerous, sometimes extreme sport regardless of where you ride. We can all relate to that.

Correct. If I was Reeds / Capitol I would have pulled my advertisements until there was a correction published. Printed media is dying and these publications are increasingly reliant on sensation to keep circulation numbers where they were 10 years ago. Perhaps hit them where it hurts?

[Mackem]

I really feel sorry for the wife of the deceased but to tar the trail as well as the sport as dangerous is just gutter journalism.

 

It was an accident and the injuries sustained from the fall in themselves were not life threatening. A post operative blood clot causing the passing away of the cyclist should not be linked to how dangerous a sport is.

 

Was the deceased a member of any MTB club - as the fact that someone has owned a MTB for 2 years certainly does not make them experienced riders?

Edited April 4, 2014 by Mackem

[Skubarra]

A far better article would have highlighted that MTB is a dangerous, sometimes extreme sport regardless of where you ride. We can all relate to that.

 

Agree 100% What happened to Lee is a wake up call to all of us & worthy of an article, you never think that the sport you love might kill you.

 

However trying to pin culpubility on Hoogekraal or TBMBC is just wrong.

[GLuvsMtb]

 

Agree 100% What happened to Lee is a wake up call to all of us & worthy of an article, you never think that the sport you love might kill you.

 

However trying to pin culpubility on Hoogekraal or TBMBC is just wrong.

Its got to be either TBMTBC or the Hospital. I suspect that next week there'll be another article trying to pin it on the hospital.

[Brent]

What happened has happened and is tragic but certainly not someones or some organisations fault....its not like this person went bungy jumping without a rope.

 

That being said, neither TBMBC nor the hospital should be blamed...an accident happened and medical treatment was given....It was just unfortunately Lee's time to go.

 

If a person tries to do something above their skill level, then that is asking for trouble but if one is skilled at MTB'ing or takes easier trails and you still go over the bars or have an accident due to misjudging a line or entering a section too fast e.t.c., then that is just the way life is and $#1T happens.

 

Look at how the pro's in the Epic had accidents, yes they were racing and taking risks but even so, it can go horribly wrong...just ask Karl Platt.

Edited April 5, 2014 by Btus