Jhb JUMA ends cycling for me ...my rant

[Rotiringer]

Terrible post

I was just thinking it was the best post made in this thread by far.

[Mats]

MTB0007 Sorry about your fall. I hope you get better and stong soon.

[Thor Buttox]

I'm not from Jhb and didn't do this, but I stopped doing the Argus mtb a few years ago after it seemed to become massively overpopulated, but I still wouldn't rant over the course itself, nor have a go at the organisers.

 

I had a terrible crash during the Argus one year, and that, as far as I can remember, is on a road which was only technical cos some numpty hit a cat-eye and swerved into me at speed. Accidents happen and, sadly, they can happen anywhere. It seems you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing what you loved?

 

What I would have a monumental rant about would be the unavailability of medical services cos 4 hours lying in a ditch, is just totally unacceptable. Hope you get better, and I'm sure you will ride again.

[fabes]

I was just thinking it was the best post made in this thread by far.

Yeah I would say let's apply the rules of the road in Mountain bike races. Great idea

[MTB-BFK]

I'm sorry you're hurt and I'm sorry you're feeling the way you are about this whole thing, but you need a bit of a wake up man.

 

If you were in a car, and someone slammed on brakes in front of you, you, as a law abiding and safe following distance keeping driver, would never have to worry, right?

 

So why, as a much more skilled rider than those around you (as you seem to imply), would not, with your wiser judgement and keener eyes, notice the danger and slow the hell down??

 

Why would you see all the noobs around and think it's still okay to go so fast that someone stopping in front of you makes you take the lesser of two horrible choices?

 

You need to man up and take responsibility that you were a bietjie windgat, and now you think the organisers are the ones at fault? They offered you a course to ride. They didn't guarantee your safety, nor was their event advertised as completely and totally safe. When has there ever been an event that would guarantee that??

 

Wow, what a nice thing to say - you really seem to be one of the sycophants who beat the endless drum that says the organisers have nothing to answer for.  Well you are WRONG.  The organisers assume a level of responsibility when putting on an event like this, and there are CLEAR indications of GROSS negligence.  Just compare the number of injuries form this race WITH ANY OTHER THAT YOU LIKE.  Also consider the almost complete lack of EMT's.  Certainly ZERO emergency response plan for the tunnels - the most OBVIOUS place to expect accidents.  Negligent? Absolutely!.  Grossly so? Most likely.  And Yes, the organiser IS liable for this, if it is found to be so.  No water?  How many people were admitted to ER's for rehydration?  Negligent?  ABSOLUTELY  Grossly so?  Again, most likely

 

Sorry, but you're paying the price for bad decision making on your part. Sometimes the price is higher than other times.

 

To be honest, your post sounds much like my teenage sister posting on Facebook that she's going to delete her account. It's a cry for attention, and if you stop biking, no one cares. You're the only one missing out. The organisers will get entries next year. Someone will be eager to take yours.

 

Charming.  Comparing someone in hospital with a broken hip to your juvenile sister on Facebook.  What a lovely thing to say - oozes compassion.  Quality, my friend, pure quality

 

So man up, get well, and make better choices next time. Ride safer. And realise the difference between a chance to race and a chance to relax and enjoy the course for what it offered you.

 

​Man up?  What, go to Syria and get your head chopped off?  Be thankful that the 4 hour wait for medical attention that is promised to be immediate in every other race (and IS provided, unlike the JUMA debacle) could have been longer?

 

This race is DEAD - no sponsor will touch this thing with a barge pole.  Mark my words

[MTB-BFK]

I'm not from Jhb and didn't do this, but I stopped doing the Argus mtb a few years ago after it seemed to become massively overpopulated, but I still wouldn't rant over the course itself, nor have a go at the organisers.

 

I had a terrible crash during the Argus one year, and that, as far as I can remember, is on a road which was only technical cos some numpty hit a cat-eye and swerved into me at speed. Accidents happen and, sadly, they can happen anywhere. It seems you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing what you loved?

 

What I would have a monumental rant about would be the unavailability of medical services cos 4 hours lying in a ditch, is just totally unacceptable. Hope you get better, and I'm sure you will ride again.

Fully agree with that, but apparently he should just "Man up" and stop moaning, because you know, its his own fault and the race organisers were not really responsible to provide any help or service.  

 

What is more disgraceful than the lack of medical response to (a HUGE number of) injuries on this race is the ridiculous justification of the p1ss-poor organisation by a troop of hubbers.  I can only think they are rallying around the organisers because they are all tjommies and they feel they have to defend what was a shambolic event.  Watch the sponsor run for the hills.

[King_Crispy]

But the damages awarded were substantially reduced on appeal, when the matter came before a real judge.

All the headline US cases are JURY JUDGMENTS, which usually don't stand up to appeal to a higher court.

Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants: original award was $160k compensatory damages and $2.7m punitive damages. Punitive reduvced to $460k on appeal.

Parties then reached a out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount.

Well, if I received half a bar for burning my mouth from a hot cup of coffee I'd be a happy camper.

 

I know my deLonghi bean to cup machine will never do that to me, nor will my Nespresso machine ever spew anything that hot out

[rouxtjie]

Yoh, sorry to hear about you injuries OP, sucks. Heal up quick.

[Thor Buttox]

Fully agree with that, but apparently he should just "Man up" and stop moaning, because you know, its his own fault and the race organisers were not really responsible to provide any help or service. What is more disgraceful than the lack of medical response to (a HUGE number of) injuries on this race is the ridiculous justification of the p1ss-poor organisation by a troop of hubbers. I can only think they are rallying around the organisers because they are all tjommies and they feel they have to defend what was a shambolic event. Watch the sponsor run for the hills.

You also can't throw the baby out with the bath water, man. Focus on the main issue of piss poor medical service which is specifically not in the control of the riders and separate it from the route and conditions which is in the control of the rider himself to be large degree. I would do the race if I was in Jhb, knowing that 5000 people is to much to race it.

 

There are a lot if hectic accidents in the Argus every year, too. They just have great medical organusation

[rouxtjie]

You also can't throw the baby out with the bath water, man. Focus on the main issue of piss poor medical service which is specifically not in the control of the riders and separate it from the route and conditions which is in the control of the rider himself to be large degree. I would do the race if I was in Jhb, knowing that 5000 people is to much to race it.

Agree. It was their first stab at a race...maybe they must position the event differently. Don't time it, make it an adventure with checkpoints along the way.

[Shangri la]

MTB0007 Like you I have just been released from Mill park Hospital having had my right hip replaced.

 

I agree that the route was too technical for a large percentage of the riders. I started around 6:20 and had bottlenecks from the get-go. Interesting that the majority were taking chicken routes and yet still walking them. Ended up the technical sections were faster.  I had no issues with the technical stuff at all, just what MTB should be.

 

Where I think the organisers totally screwed up was the slime runs in the storm water drains. Surely on the morning of the race a vehicle with pit sand could have driven along the top and using spades thrown sand onto the slime sections running from the walls to the stream?

 

I was held up getting back into the storm water drain as people in front of me were sliding down the ramp. Once in the drain I hammered down the section as close to the right wall as I could get, only to have both my wheels slide out under me in a slime patch - one smashed hip.

 

A medic pulled me out of the water and apologised as there were no ambulances left!  an HOUR later I finally got boarded out. During that time people were falling like skittles.

 

I have full intentions of riding again but will give storm water drains a miss thanks - rather bring on the rock gardens!!!

[Tumbleweed]

MTB-BFK, if you call someone a sycophant, clarify what advantage, if any, they receive through their posts. 

[udxcob]

Wow two hip replacements from one race, hectic

[Wyatt Earp]

OP, sorry to have read about your misfortune, I hope you heal well and get back on the bike.

Your rant is fully justified.

 

I did not do the Juma, out of choice, and it was the numbers to be expected that put me off.

I rode a big part of the course the Saturday before.

I have read comments from both sides of the fence, the pro Juma brigade and the not so pro Juma brigade.

 

Life is funny, we meet someone or have an interaction with them and suddenly we get blinded by any faults they may have.

My thoughts when I rode the route was that there will be many people going to hospital on Sunday.

If it rains it will be even worse.

 

The route was not technical but challenging, challenging in that it will test those with a fear of heights and enclosed spaces.

It will challenge the regular weekend warrior and push their abilities to the limit.

In the end of the day, anything a person feels they can't ride, they are welcome to walk.

 

Now to me ,all I expect from a route is that there is flow with very limited congestion and bottlenecks, failing that the fun aspect for me goes out the door.

The section where you fell, that could have happened to anyone, from the most skilled to the least skilled riders, the race organisers should have taken the initiative to at least throw some sand on the real slippery stuff, and their only motive behind this would be rider safety.

 

They failed to put chicken mesh over the platforms they built, they can be glad it did not rain.

From what I read, they also failed at having enough medics to take care of all the possible casualties.

I know, the skills kings as they rate themselves are going to sing the "don't dumb the route down" tune.

The bottom line remains, any event organiser has the onus on them to try and limit and prevent any possible freak accidents that might happen during an event.

 

Many years ago with the Sun City MTB race a rider rode with his face in to a barbed wire fence that was exactly head high, now even if they put chevron tape there, why even include the section ?

Are they too happy to take money and then have the fear of eating in to their profit by cutting a 1.5 meter length of wire and redo it after the even for the sake of rider safety ?

[Eldron]

The only problem I see is the 4 hour wait and even that is partially justified by the fact that there were so many injuries - far beyond the norm.

 

Hitting a hole you didn't see? Well then the organisers probably didn't see it either. This is mountain biking - every obstacle you see you have a choice to ride it or not. Over taking? Again - your choice.

 

Too technical? It was billed as a technical challenge.

 

Class action suite? Maybe chess or tiddlywinks is more your speed.

 

What is this BS about making other people responsible for your actions? Are we becoming a nation full of americans?

[rouxtjie]

The only problem I see is the 4 hour wait and even that is partially justified by the fact that there were so many injuries - far beyond the norm.

 

Hitting a hole you didn't see? Well then the organisers probably didn't see it either. This is mountain biking - every obstacle you see you have a choice to ride it or not. Over taking? Again - your choice.

 

Too technical? It was billed as a technical challenge.

 

Class action suite? Maybe chess or tiddlywinks is more your speed.

 

What is this BS about making other people responsible for your actions? Are we becoming a nation full of americans?

gots to agree D....mtb'ing, it is what it is...you make peace with the fact that you will have a lie down now and again. Blaming someone for falling is lame. Don't do it again if its not for you.

 

I didnt do the JUMA myself, there were just too many people on a course that couldnt handle that amount and due to my seeding would have me waiting around every turn.