Skubarra Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 Come ride here in Gauteng - you will be cured of your love of dirt roads ;-) Not to say that's all we got - but a dirt road without a view is horrible thing. Why would Gautengers ride dirt roads when you have the Spruit?
G-Unit Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 I'm from Pretoria. I'm not cool enough for the spruit. Apparently, they have a problem with people in vellies and two-tone shirts. BigDL and TALUS 2
G-Unit Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 ...although my snor pulls lank chicks. Go figure... BigDL, Wannabe, TALUS and 1 other 4
Wannabe Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 Skubarra, we must admit, even our dirt roads has stunning views. G-Unit and Skubarra 2
TALUS Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 ...although my snor pulls lank chicks. Go figure...chicks with bee-hive hair... G-Unit 1
GerrieTruter Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 I ride my mountain bike to unwind after a long and often k@k day at work, over weekends I do longer rides and a race every now and then. My skill level isn't great, but I do like to challenge myself when the opportunity presents itself. That said, I would like to know beforehand how much I'm going to suffer in a race, I do it to enjoy it and not to torture myself. So forgive us "ex-golfers" if we try to enjoy the sport and that doesn't live up to the "purist's" standards. I believe it's us 'ex-golfers" that make up the bulk of the entrants at races. So with that in mind, if you want to organize races you should be prepared to answer those kind of questions in my opinion. Naas Vermaak, Nimby and Sepia 3
Hackster Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 So technical is a relative term. It might be helpful to say something like, 'some technical skills required' or 'lots of technical skills required'. And be super conservative in your estimation of riders' abilities. But I rather suspect that you're going to struggle to please everyone here. There's always going to be the guy who says, 'I didn't come here to hurt myself', or the guy who says, 'my granny could have ridden this and she's dead'. The only time when technical is too technical for me is when I'm faced with big drop offs and forced jumps (you have no warning - you have to jump it). I suspect this 'air work' is what separates the weekend warriors like myself from the technically gifted. Most times, the technicalness of the trail/race is directly related to the speed at which I choose to ride it, i.e. I'm in charge of how technical it is. hayleyearth and Naas Vermaak 2
Gen Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 I ride my mountain bike to unwind after a long and often k@k day at work, over weekends I do longer rides and a race every now and then. My skill level isn't great, but I do like to challenge myself when the opportunity presents itself. That said, I would like to know beforehand how much I'm going to suffer in a race, I do it to enjoy it and not to torture myself. So forgive us "ex-golfers" if we try to enjoy the sport and that doesn't live up to the "purist's" standards. I believe it's us 'ex-golfers" that make up the bulk of the entrants at races. So with that in mind, if you want to organize races you should be prepared to answer those kind of questions in my opinion. But isn't it the same for golfers. . They can go to the driving range any time or play moer and soek on the course they are used to.. but when they pay alot to go play at another course they want a decent challenge and not wide open fairways? Craig Stubbs and Bizkit031 2
Hairy Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 I organize MTB races. I want to give the rider an unforgettable experience in terms of scenery, varied terrain, lots of singletrack, a nice challenge to riders of ALL capability/levels and to promote fun whilst riding/competing. Then I get the following question: ..is the route technical? How do you answer a person that has spend R10k+ (in most cases MUCH, much more) on equipment and time and a whole lot other expenses over a number of years yet NEVER took the time to go for a basic course in skills and bike handling - almost like a golfer who never went for lessons and fades the ball for the past 10 years playing off a 24 handicap and don't understand why his handicap is not coming down. To all those riders who complain race after race that it was too technical, this is what you must #*****ing do..... I am the wrong person to answer that question....so hubbers plse assist...awaiting your kind journey into the world of wisdom Cheers NaasDown with the handicapped golfer handicapping the trails I say ... off with their heads! Bizkit031 1
kosmonooit Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 Why would Gautengers ride dirt roads.. We like to call them District Roads if you don't mind.
GerrieTruter Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 (edited) But isn't it the same for golfers. . They can go to the driving range any time or play moer and soek on the course they are used to.. but when they pay alot to go play at another course they want a decent challenge and not wide open fairways? But the 'moer and soek" golfer will probably first look for info on the different coarse before he goes to play there. Edit: Spelling Edited July 3, 2014 by GerrieTruter
ricochet_rabbit Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 or create a chicken run at all the technical points (read scary) and say that there are chicken and bull run options. i would hazard a guess and say that most people are afraid of falling and hurting themselves so a technical climb might not be judged technical because they would probably walk it anyway. it's the steep downhill/drop offs and rocks (especially rocks) that make people nervous & cautious. Naas Vermaak and BigDL 2
GrantRH Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 I am not sure that it is so hard to rate trails on technicality. Like the IM.. system, a simple comparison to other trails should suffice. Using a simple scale of 1 (being least difficult) to 5 (being most difficult) take the following quick example: Spruit - 1 to 2 depending on routes Modderfontein - 1 to 2 depending on routes Sondela 60km - 1 (maybe 2 due to soft sand in parts) Thaba Green - 2 Kings Kloof - 3 to 4 Thaba Blue - 4 (maybe 5 in parts) Hakahana marathon - 4 to 5 (from what I have heard). That will give a general indication of how technical a route is compared to other routes in the area/country. A person's individual ability has little to do with it. A pro may find a cat 5 route relatively easy given their skill level, but that does not detract from the fact that it is substantially more technical than a cat 1 route.
G-Unit Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 chicks with bee-hive hair... Those are the easiest ones...
G-Unit Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 I ride my mountain bike to unwind after a long and often k@k day at work, over weekends I do longer rides and a race every now and then. My skill level isn't great, but I do like to challenge myself when the opportunity presents itself. That said, I would like to know beforehand how much I'm going to suffer in a race, I do it to enjoy it and not to torture myself. So forgive us "ex-golfers" if we try to enjoy the sport and that doesn't live up to the "purist's" standards. I believe it's us 'ex-golfers" that make up the bulk of the entrants at races. So with that in mind, if you want to organize races you should be prepared to answer those kind of questions in my opinion. Nothing personal, but my point exactly.
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