[Event] 31 Jan -Ashburton Investments NATIONAL MTB SERIES #1 Meerendal

[WesselvdWalt]

Entries streaming in! have you entered?

[Hairy]

How about a little credit in your flowery opening description to the Tygerberg mtb club for building all those trails you will be using.

 

Will you also assist financially to make good to the trails again......Just asking as I am a member, so my fees go to maintaining the trails and managing them

[Rydogg]

Holy crap, that would be a hectic route! I'm in for the 70km!

[milky4130]

Since we are busy with the routes, and this is the first event in your back yard... where would you love to see the routes go... and not go.. 

Wessel any idea when the exact routes will be made known, as i would like to make up my mind as to which distance to enter. Thanks

[milky4130]

Ok since Wessel has not replied yet has anyone else heard anything via a tweety bird regarding the route for this one?

[WesselvdWalt]

How about a little credit in your flowery opening description to the Tygerberg mtb club for building all those trails you will be using.

 

Will you also assist financially to make good to the trails again......Just asking as I am a member, so my fees go to maintaining the trails and managing them

Hey Guys,

 

We will definitely give credit where it's due.

I'm down in the cape next week to meet and discuss things around trail maintenance for the event etc. We always want to give back to the community and don't want to create a stigma of events that just come to take advantage of already existing trails raping the trails.

 

Regards.

[WesselvdWalt]

Wessel any idea when the exact routes will be made known, as i would like to make up my mind as to which distance to enter. Thanks

 

Ok since Wessel has not replied yet has anyone else heard anything via a tweety bird regarding the route for this one?

The routes are 80% finalised. I'm down in the Cape next week to finalise this. You will have another month and a half to decide on the distance. Regarding "National MTB Series" standards of routes here are the basics below as a guideline, but in general I recommend riding a distance shorter than you usually do if you are not a seasoned racer.

 

10km Fun Ride - Ideal winning time 35min - Ascent in total should not exceed 50m-80m.

Aimed at kids, family and very novice riders. The routes should be mostly open, gravel and jeep track and very easy terrain. Kids with small bike will have to be able to ride it. 

 

20km Fun Race - Ideal winning time 1hour National Level - Ascent 200-400m

The routes should be more than 60% open gravel / jeep roads. The route should ideally tease with some basic bridges, novice single track and varied terrain but focus on the enjoyable and where possible scenic side of things. It's aimed at the Nipper and Sprog and Sub Junior age categories but should also cater for that once in a while cyclist who want to explore / flirt with the idea of mountain biking as a sport. 

 

42-48km Half Marathon - Ideal winning time 1h50 National Level - Ascent 600-800m

The routes should comprise of 50%-60% gravel / jeep roads. This is really aimed at the weekend warrior who only gets out to train and ride then but have moved past the novice side of things in mountain biking. For the "racer" it caters mainly for the Junior & the youth age category but also for the Master ladies and grandmaster categories. It's aimed at the intermediate rider who wants a mix of everything, and a challenge but not resort to getting of his or her bike to be able to do that. River crossings, adventure, scenic routes, single tracks, slight technical stuff, rewarding downhills, challenging uphills. Each climb should have a rewarding downhill, no mindless up and down to make up distance. They must have a story to tell and have access to places they can't usually get to.

 

72-78km Marathon - Ideal winning time 3hrs-3h15min National Level - Ascent 1500-2000m

Predominantly aimed at the u23s it is also the most competitive distance with most categories in. This should be the most challenging distance, more technical and rewarding singletrack, river crossings and bridges, rewarding descends, technical descends, loads of varied terrain and challenges. It's a journey in a morning that challenges them mentally, physically, with huge rewarding elements and wow factors. 

 

100-120km Ultra - Ideal winning time 4h30min-05h00min National level - Ascent 2500m-3000+

Aimed at the world class rider. They expect world class routes and have a lot of experience in what they expect from what we offer as the National MTB Series. They want to sweat and bleed but also have the wow factor. Crazy climbs and very technical terrain (some things get harder with speed to negotiate) The fit endurance athlete who otherwise enters this distance is either out training for some stage races or competing again friends who want to push the envelope - in saying that we want them to come back to have more. So basically a self marter who wants to kill himself on the day but wants to live and feel rewarded to tell the tale.

Regards

[Skubarra]

but in general I recommend riding a distance shorter than you usually do if you are not a seasoned racer.

 

 

 

You hear that milky? Are you ready to upgrade to the 20km Fun Race (if you can handle it...) 

[milky4130]

You hear that milky? Are you ready to upgrade to the 20km Fun Race (if you can handle it...) 

haha 20 km it is then for me.

[milky4130]

The routes are 80% finalised. I'm down in the Cape next week to finalise this. You will have another month and a half to decide on the distance. Regarding "National MTB Series" standards of routes here are the basics below as a guideline, but in general I recommend riding a distance shorter than you usually do if you are not a seasoned racer.

 

10km Fun Ride - Ideal winning time 35min - Ascent in total should not exceed 50m-80m.

Aimed at kids, family and very novice riders. The routes should be mostly open, gravel and jeep track and very easy terrain. Kids with small bike will have to be able to ride it. 

 

20km Fun Race - Ideal winning time 1hour National Level - Ascent 200-400m

The routes should be more than 60% open gravel / jeep roads. The route should ideally tease with some basic bridges, novice single track and varied terrain but focus on the enjoyable and where possible scenic side of things. It's aimed at the Nipper and Sprog and Sub Junior age categories but should also cater for that once in a while cyclist who want to explore / flirt with the idea of mountain biking as a sport. 

 

42-48km Half Marathon - Ideal winning time 1h50 National Level - Ascent 600-800m

The routes should comprise of 50%-60% gravel / jeep roads. This is really aimed at the weekend warrior who only gets out to train and ride then but have moved past the novice side of things in mountain biking. For the "racer" it caters mainly for the Junior & the youth age category but also for the Master ladies and grandmaster categories. It's aimed at the intermediate rider who wants a mix of everything, and a challenge but not resort to getting of his or her bike to be able to do that. River crossings, adventure, scenic routes, single tracks, slight technical stuff, rewarding downhills, challenging uphills. Each climb should have a rewarding downhill, no mindless up and down to make up distance. They must have a story to tell and have access to places they can't usually get to.

 

72-78km Marathon - Ideal winning time 3hrs-3h15min National Level - Ascent 1500-2000m

Predominantly aimed at the u23s it is also the most competitive distance with most categories in. This should be the most challenging distance, more technical and rewarding singletrack, river crossings and bridges, rewarding descends, technical descends, loads of varied terrain and challenges. It's a journey in a morning that challenges them mentally, physically, with huge rewarding elements and wow factors. 

 

100-120km Ultra - Ideal winning time 4h30min-05h00min National level - Ascent 2500m-3000+

Aimed at the world class rider. They expect world class routes and have a lot of experience in what they expect from what we offer as the National MTB Series. They want to sweat and bleed but also have the wow factor. Crazy climbs and very technical terrain (some things get harder with speed to negotiate) The fit endurance athlete who otherwise enters this distance is either out training for some stage races or competing again friends who want to push the envelope - in saying that we want them to come back to have more. So basically a self marter who wants to kill himself on the day but wants to live and feel rewarded to tell the tale.

Regards

Thanks Wessel give us a taster of the 80% that has been finalised already, i would assume that the entire Meerendal Trail will be used, but what else?

[WesselvdWalt]

Thanks Wessel give us a taster of the 80% that has been finalised already, i would assume that the entire Meerendal Trail will be used, but what else?

 

Hey guys,

 

The event is drawing closer. Big names are entering!

Food Market, Kids play area and the best trails all thrown together!

 

Update from our side. I spent 6 days in December finalising some things in the Cape.

We have finalised the route, with a small change in contermanskloof which will be finalised early next week when Rob is back from holiday.

 

The routes are a combination of Meerendal, Bloemendal, Hillcrest, Contermans, Hoogekraal, the Half will not do Hoogekraal & Hillcrest.

 

So expect routes to be posted then.

 

105km - 2800m ascent

  70km - 1800m ascent

  40km - 1100m ascent

  20km -   450m ascent

  10km -   100m ascent

 

 

[Donovan Le Cok]

I have entered. I didn't select the option to purchase an SASEEDING number board. I don't have one, is it compulsory for the race?

 

Massive kudos for the option to have your race pack couriered to you and skip registration.

[CleatsnCleavage]

Can we not enter on the day?

No you cannot enter on the day and yes Donovan, you need a board. Both of you boys have a place to stay in Jozi if you ever want to come ride the rest of the series in GAuteng!! Now get off here and get on your bike see you in 45 mins. 

[Skubarra]

I have entered. I didn't select the option to purchase an SASEEDING number board. I don't have one, is it compulsory for the race?

 

Massive kudos for the option to have your race pack couriered to you and skip registration.

 

How many mtb races have you done where having a bike board is optional?

[Donovan Le Cok]

How many mtb races have you done where having a bike board is optional?

 

None...

 

But some races have temporary numbers... I am not doing the whole series, that is why I am asking the question... The site is not very clear regarding this.. It says "would you like to buy a saseeding number" not "a saseeding number is required if you don't have one you must purchase one"

 

Thanks cleats and cleavage for answering the question and the offer of accommodation.

[Skubarra]

None...

 

But some races have temporary numbers... I am not doing the whole series, that is why I am asking the question... The site is not very clear regarding this.. It says "would you like to buy a saseeding number" not "a saseeding number is required if you don't have one you must purchase one"

 

Thanks cleats and cleavage for answering the question and the offer of accommodation.

 

From the website

 

What to have and what to do

Registration is handled by SAS Seeding. You will require a permanent number board with a built in timing chip. If you do not have one SA Seeding will allocate one automatically to you upon entry. Each board is charged at R50 and should be selected upon entry if you don't own one or have lost or damaged your number board.

 

The good thing is that you don't need to buy a new bike board every year, still have the one I bought in 2011