Jonkershoek Closure

[grego12]

....and this is what the S logo on all the trail signage look like.

you realise that Mike Sinyard will get his lawyers to send you a letter for posting a pic of a non-Specialized bike next to a Specialized sign!

[SuperDooperSnooper]

Thanks for making things a lot clearer, Bobby. And thanks for your hard work. It put things in a much better perspective, and I for one would have responded differently in my earlier posts if all the facts were known, but as many other I replied on the OP's very controversial statements.

Personally I spend a lot more time on the Tokai, TableMountain and Tygerberg MTB trails, (but that is due to my location), but I can understand the different challenges in trying to maintain/build trails on forested land compared to negotiating with a single or small number of wine farm landowners. Not just with he difference in landscape, but also dealing with the overall attitude of whether bikers are welcomed or barely tolerated. Good luck with this endeavour.

 

Another 2cents' worth:

I agree with @NicoBoshoff, give us the details, make it easier for people to contribute. Post the details on how and where to donate and I'm sure some peeps will respond. As a human race we are naturally lazy, so I would be much more likely to give a donation if it is easier. We are also scared that more will be expected of us than what we can give, but I am sure that any donation, however small (or large) will make a difference in your efforts.

Just looking at the showing off-part of the Hub, there may be a few guys who can afford the equivalent of a new tyre/chain/carbon bottle cage etc. to help out!

 

 

[Dicky DQ]

 

5) @ Dick our goals are that as many brands contribute as possible, even if that brand were Coke per your example.

 

Thanks a million,

 

Bobby.

 

Sorry you are missing the point.

 

If Coke sponsored the coffee shop's signage, as they typically do with all small establishments, there would be ghastly big red walls with Coke emblazoned on either side of the shop's name and they would definitely have no interest in the trails or anything else. That is the way their marketing machine works.

 

So why should Scott be any different, no matter what they provided?

 

Your gripe is that it is a cycling brand and they do not want to be involved with financing the trail building etc etc.

[Rouxenator]

Rouxenator - you don't live in Stellenbosch you exist there - you have never ridden Jonkers but you know all about the people who ride there.

 

Get involved with Jonkers its on your doorstep.

Actually it is not, Botterlary and Del Vera is on my doorstep. I know about the people and riders you encounter there through interaction with them, sometimes in person other times online, like here.

[NickGM]

As for the coffee shop, Scott etc. I think that fight needs to be taken off this forum as they're not participating and it's muddying the waters.

 

Well put. In fact these are (IMO) largely separate issues. There is a real lack of direction in this thread, it feels like a badly run meeting. Ignoring brands for now, all that matters is that the trails will need to be maintained and if we are clever about it, have more built.

 

I would happily contribute both my time (I live in stellenbosch and ride at JH often) and money to trail building, but will certainly not do it for some haphazard group that, for all I know, could fall apart tomorrow. That said I appreciate what appears to have been a lot of time and money invested by others so far.

 

The maintenance and building of trails at JH will, in the long term, need to be formalized into a group/organisation based on similar models that have been successful elsewhere (either in SA or globally). It needs to be turned into a decent trail centre, as we have a great tract of forestry land and a logging company prepared to indulge us - this is a rarity. Does anybody know of any decent trails here in sa that have an on-going building and maintenance scheme? How do they work as an organisation?

[GoLefty!!]

"10) Scott not being asked to contribute. On Monday May 19 I personally reached out to Joggie (I believe marketing manager at Scott). I personally don't know anyone else at Scott. After playing some phone-tag we finally spoke on Wednesday May 21. I explained the situation to Joggie. He was not aware of the amount of personal time we had put in. I challenged Joggie to make Jonkershoek a brand free zone and match Specialized cent for cent on contributions. He said that the reasoning behind supporting The Cafe was as a marketing move V Specialized. We totally get that. I requested that we all work together Specialized / Scott / other brands / all riders. His stance at that point was to continue as is. "

 

So two cycling wholesalers get together to discuss cooperation on a marketing initiative. Seem you phuqwits haven't learned a damn thing from your last meetings with the competition commission. Or is it just your cultja...?

[GoLefty!!]

Sorry you are missing the point.

 

If Coke sponsored the coffee shop's signage, as they typically do with all small establishments, there would be ghastly big red walls with Coke emblazoned on either side of the shop's name and they would definitely have no interest in the trails or anything else. That is the way their marketing machine works.

 

So why should Scott be any different, no matter what they provided?

 

Your gripe is that it is a cycling brand and they do not want to be involved with financing the trail building etc etc.

 

 

 

Spot on Dick and now Behan is muscling in on the marketing in an anti competitive manner. Where were those complaint to competitions commission forms again..???

 

I think someone needs to be taught a lesson. Seems they are incapable of learning or simply don/t give a phq

[DJR]

Bobby, thanks again for an excellent reply.

 

Re. riders contributing:

 

I ride Jonkershoek a couple of times a year, mainly because I live on Tokai and Table Mountains doorstep. I, and many like myself, contribute mainly on our home turf. Sometimes in money and mostly in sweat, building and maintaining trails as volunteers.

 

Up to now, there has not been a direct way that I'm aware of for occasional riders to contribute towards Jonkershoek. We pay our fees at the gate and ride, I know none of that money goes into the trails.

 

I would happily pay something extra towards building trails I ride occasionally, but you have to establish a way for me to do that. I'm not a captain of industry and I cannot contribute millions, but I'm quite happy to do my little bit. Just show me how.

[Headshot]

Spot on Dick and now Behan is muscling in on the marketing in an anti competitive manner. Where were those complaint to competitions commission forms again..???

 

I think someone needs to be taught a lesson. Seems they are incapable of learning or simply don/t give a phq

 

Mmm. Vintage vitriol from the lefty brand banger

[BobbyBehan]

Fellow Riders,

 

Thanks for the 'heated discussions' on this topic. The thread was started in the wrong way, I joined many posts later after a friend notified me as to what was happening and here we are ..! In any case this will be my last post on the topic. I hope you each see this as a final positive post.

 

I've spoken to some of our circle of friends who each contributed. We are going to remain committal in our personal capacities towards maintaining and developing the trails. We gave our word to Cape Pine and will honour this commitment. Specialized too are going to remain committal and will provide the foundation until we have our collection together. Within 6 weeks you should see the trails back to better than they ever were. We are confident that the combination of the above should net ZAR 250k for 2014.

 

For those who wish to contribute (no matter how small or large) drop me an email and I can add you to the mailing list. A collection email will be going out soon. Please don't feel obliged to contribute. This is not what it's about. All income is tracked to the cent as is spending. If anybody wishes to see this spreadsheet following the collection it's open for all.

 

To be open we each lead hectic lives and quite frankly don't have the time, but if a club is formed we can affiliate. We would obviously love to see a formal club.

 

We really appreciate those who have reached out to me directly (bobby.behan at me.com). Truly it means a lot. I'll respond to each of you soonest.

 

Happy trails!

 

Bobby.

[Snytjie]

 

I would happily contribute both my time (I live in stellenbosch and ride at JH often) and money to trail building, but will certainly not do it for some haphazard group that, for all I know, could fall apart tomorrow.

 

 

I would happily pay something extra towards building trails I ride occasionally, but you have to establish a way for me to do that.

 

At the moment - as far as I can see - you have at most an informal group trying to take charge in a situation complicated by brand politics. There is little chance of that succeeding.

 

Only a formal group negotiating a mandate with the owners of the land could step up and dictate what goes on said land. That could be the "Specialized Riders Club", "The Scott Trail Blasters", "The Jonkershoek MTB Ethics Committee" or whoever.

 

The point is that they should have a mandate, and not an informal arrangement to maintain trails. Off course Specialized will feel like someone took their sarmies on the playground and refuse to play again, but in cold fact nothing prevents other people from taking an opportunity to splash their brands.

 

It is unfair too to let responsible riders loose out.

[Pappa Bear]

:thumbup: :thumbup: to TMM for being the bigger person. :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

It is now up to the riders to get "their act together" and form a MTB club .

[Cassie]

This entire situation is just begging for a MTB club to be formed...

 

C'mon bike shops in Stellies!!...This is actually an unique opportunity to get in early and bag the worm!!

 

What you say Flandria?? Mason's? Specialised? Piet-se-fiets?

 

I'm a committee member of the Wannabee cycling club in Somerset west...and has seen that club grow from ~300 members a year ago to 1100+ up to end of May this year!

 

Not to mention The University of Stellenbosch that should be spearheading the club formation...as they pottentially have a memberbase spanning several thousand students and also own some rideable land in the area. It's about time they expand their sporting horizons to include more than just rugby!

[GoLefty!!]

What is needed is an NPO similar to TokaiMTB. The moment profit making and charitable entities are mixed in thesame books by the same accountant the door is opened for good old South African Corruption.

[JGR]

Speak to Kandui - im sure he can offer some good advice. He started TMB and it has grown significantly. They/he has also raised money to do signage as well as CCTV camera for the mountain.

[Offroad]

Hats off to Bobby and the gang for doing a splendid job. :clap: :clap: :thumbup:

 

Shame on Joggie Prinsloo, Scott and the coffee shop at the gate

 

GoLefty and all the other negative inclined idiots - grow up, get laid, get a life!!!