So how many of you are dirt roadies?

[Fabian46]

I enjoy all aspects of mountain biking. I also found that just doing my local trails wasn't helping for endurance, so I started doing mtb on the road to get some km's in....but i hated it with a passion, then found a long gravel road which goes through farms and stuff....and can now do a 60 odd km trip for distance on gravel rather than flat long tar sections. 

 

The bike i ride works for gravel roads, technical trails, commuting to work...I cant have a bike that only does one thing well...i needed a compromise. 

[rouxtjie]

Define technical though! ... Our Enduro events are being won by a mix of DH and XCO racers ... not marathon boys ....

 

BUT - if you go to Karkloof Classic for e.g. .... a large % of riders will think of this as a "technical" ride .... BUT - if you break it down ... more than 70% of the 60km Classic is gravel road ... with no singletrack climbs to speak of really and only singletrack descents 

 

So in this instance - the "tech riders" who are not as strong as the "dirt roadies" are already at a disadvantage as they only have 30% of the race to make up time ... which also doesnt happen as most passing cant be done in the singletrack and is mainly done on the district roads ... fine you can pass in the singeltrack but its often not so straightforward.

 

So again it comes down to the style of event that defines the rider, and the majority rider skill level (target market) that defines the event.

I was using his sample of races that he reckons is "technical"....hakahana, van gaalens and magalies monster. I agree with you, "technical" is relative to what each and every person perceive it to be, but when you have the DH and XCO snakes taking the podium you know its gonna be tough on yea ol bones.

 

What I wanted to point out to him is exactly the point you are making with the karkloof vs giba events...it irritates him that people say they can ride a mtb when they have done the down and dirty event, they can only say that if have done the monster / van gaalens or hakahana...yes those are still marathon races with a large percentage of open roads where bunch riding is part of the game. Dirt roadies train hard for these events...sit for hours each week in interval sessions, deep in the hurtlocker. Taking that away from them because:

 

A.You cannot hang with them on the district roads

B.You get frustrated when they are in front of you in the singletrack

 

Smacks of sour grapes...

[nigelhicks]

I was using his sample of races that he reckons is "technical"....hakahana, van gaalens and magalies monster. I agree with you, "technical" is relative to what each and every person perceive it to be, but when you have the DH and XCO snakes taking the podium you know its gonna be tough on yea ol bones.

 

What I wanted to point out to him is exactly the point you are making with the karkloof vs giba events...it irritates him that people say they can ride a mtb when they have done the down and dirty event, they can only say that if have done the monster / van gaalens or hakahana...yes those are still marathon races with a large percentage of open roads where bunch riding is part of the game. Dirt roadies train hard for these events...sit for hours each week in interval sessions, deep in the hurtlocker. Taking that away from them because:

 

A.You cannot hang with them on the district roads

B.You get frustrated when they are in front of you in the singletrack

 

Smacks of sour grapes...

Exactly dude ... thats why organisers have to cater for their target market. ... 

 

Okes would have a hernia if they trained that hard only to rock up to a race that is all slow technical singeltrack climbs and then eye-watering rocky gnarly descents with a total distance of 30km .... Jeepers I think the organiser would be dragged into the street and shot ...

 

So you will find the large team event multi day events and marathons have a large % of district road ... and cater for the larger field numbers

 

Smaller more tech marathons - magalies etc, has a slightly more limited field due to the nature of the riding

 

Then Enduro events have even less as they are oversubscribed due to the event format at the 200 to 300 rider mark ...

 

Then finally XCO and DH as the limited number - high technicality events,

[NotSoBigBen]

Thankfully I have gotten over worrying about what other people think about what I ride and where I ride ....

[Andrew Steer]

Dirt roadie...

 

And to be more specific - lazy dirt roadie/weekend warrior, who survives Comrades, enjoys a bit of Tri/Dual X, plays some squash, loves water-polo and drinks too much beer 

 

Put that in your niche 

[rouxtjie]

Exactly dude ... thats why organisers have to cater for their target market. ... 

 

Okes would have a hernia if they trained that hard only to rock up to a race that is all slow technical singeltrack climbs and then eye-watering rocky gnarly descents with a total distance of 30km .... Jeepers I think the organiser would be dragged into the street and shot ...

 

So you will find the large team event multi day events and marathons have a large 5 of district road ... and cater for the larger field numbers

 

Smaller more tech marathons - magalies etc, has a slightly more limited field due to the nature of the riding

 

Then Enduro events have even less as they are oversubscribed due to theevent format at the 200 to 300 rider mark ...

 

Then finally XCO and DH as the limited number - high technicality events,

Yip, couldnt agree more....and here is the real kicker

 

THEY ARE ALL MTB'ing...from district road praaaaap tracks to gnarly redbull die if you fall stuff.

 

There is no proper and not so proper mtb'ing...they all require some kind of skill....read hurt like a dog in a headwind seeing if your competition pops if you attack on the next hill or closing you eyes and hoping you make that gap without breaking your collarbone. They are all hardcore.

[Wyatt Earp]

I was using his sample of races that he reckons is "technical"....hakahana, van gaalens and magalies monster. I agree with you, "technical" is relative to what each and every person perceive it to be, but when you have the DH and XCO snakes taking the podium you know its gonna be tough on yea ol bones.

 

What I wanted to point out to him is exactly the point you are making with the karkloof vs giba events...it irritates him that people say they can ride a mtb when they have done the down and dirty event, they can only say that if have done the monster / van gaalens or hakahana...yes those are still marathon races with a large percentage of open roads where bunch riding is part of the game. Dirt roadies train hard for these events...sit for hours each week in interval sessions, deep in the hurtlocker. Taking that away from them because:

 

A.You cannot hang with them on the district roads

B.You get frustrated when they are in front of you in the singletrack

 

Smacks of sour grapes...

Rouxtjie, I have to say that if the Monster is defined as very technical then it's a clear illustration of how we all define the word "technical"

I don't find that route all that technical.

 

Put me on the XCO course at Fountains Valley and I squeal like a pig.

XCO for me really separates the guys with real skills versus those who think or believe they have superior skills.

It's one thing being able to ride a particular section , but it becomes a different ball game when you do it at speed.

 

Both riders have skill to ride a section, but the faster XCO style rider has superior skills in my opinion.

To me they are the most complete MTB riders.

 I rode downhill back in the late 80's and up to mid 90's ,I could jump, flow and ride all sorts of crazy drops, but I was never good.

 

I am also a lot more sensible nowadays so I don't take risks .

Break something at this age and it takes long to heal and it hurts a long time.

I am now much more of an endurance, long distance type rider and the reason is twofold.

I seem to excel in long stuff and I have the ability to sustain good power over a long period, and the stuff they throw at us is not all that unridable, if I can't do it I just push.

 

I also love riding the road, there is nothing to beat that speed and the distances you cover.

My ride yesterday had me all over Jo'Burg and I was seeing stuff that most people don't even know exists.

 

Bottom line for me .

Downhill (the real downhill riders) and XCO short course I leave to the people who have real skills and speed.

[hihello]

Come and join us, I'm taking a group of farmers, fit and not so fit, on a ride around Döhne Peak on 29 Nov. Few diff distances and some hike-a-bike, but around 40km.

I'd really like to join if possible, I'll be back in EL by then for varsity holiday

[EmptyB]

Absolutely all sorts of off the tar appeals to me, sometimes even the tar roads if you have no other choice! Depends on the mood!!

 

I try mix it up as much as possible in one ride, a place like Van Gaalen is very good for this......

[rouxtjie]

Rouxtjie, I have to say that if the Monster is defined as very technical then it's a clear illustration of how we all define the word "technical"

I don't find that route all that technical.

 

Put me on the XCO course at Fountains Valley and I squeal like a pig.

XCO for me really separates the guys with real skills versus those who think or believe they have superior skills.

It's one thing being able to ride a particular section , but it becomes a different ball game when you do it at speed.

 

Both riders have skill to ride a section, but the faster XCO style rider has superior skills in my opinion.

To me they are the most complete MTB riders.

 I rode downhill back in the late 80's and up to mid 90's ,I could jump, flow and ride all sorts of crazy drops, but I was never good.

 

I am also a lot more sensible nowadays so I don't take risks .

Break something at this age and it takes long to heal and it hurts a long time.

I am now much more of an endurance, long distance type rider and the reason is twofold.

I seem to excel in long stuff and I have the ability to sustain good power over a long period, and the stuff they throw at us is not all that unridable, if I can't do it I just push.

 

I also love riding the road, there is nothing to beat that speed and the distances you cover.

My ride yesterday had me all over Jo'Burg and I was seeing stuff that most people don't even know exists.

 

Bottom line for me .

Downhill (the real downhill riders) and XCO short course I leave to the people who have real skills and speed.

Sums it up for me, it really comes down to speed. I am not technically gifted...I will admit, so I am under no illusion that if I ride a gnarly section at my merry pace it must mean I am a technical master because I didnt put a foot down. The monster isn't technical at all to me, its rocky yes, but if I can go at speed it aint technical.

 

The endurance stuff also takes it own bag of skills...people often think its easy and realize the prep and sweating blood it takes to sit and hurt for that long.

 

But like you said, if you having fun who cares what box some magazine editors put you in....

[deanbean]

I'd really like to join if possible, I'll be back in EL by then for varsity holiday

Sure, that's lekker, the more the merrier, i say. Pm me closer to the time. We'll meet on a farm between Stutt and Cathcart, everyone has to sign indemnities, riding in State forests, one of the conditions that they allow me to take groups.

Maybe have a beer and steak at the Stutt country club, or Thomas River after [emoji12]

[Rocket-Boy]

Sure, that's lekker, the more the merrier, i say. Pm me closer to the time. We'll meet on a farm between Stutt and Cathcart, everyone has to sign indemnities, riding in State forests, one of the conditions that they allow me to take groups.

Maybe have a beer and steak at the Stutt country club, or Thomas River after [emoji12]

Im keen too, might have one or two guys who would want to come along too if thats ok?

[deanbean]

Im keen too, might have one or two guys who would want to come along too if thats ok?

Absolutely fine, just watch out for the farmers, some visitors have been known to walk into a case of beer after the rides, dangerous

[CycleMomSpeedster]

Yes both. !!! Lots of fun times with boyfriend. Spinning classes ,mountain bike trails and long windy roads. Loving it.

[Mntboy]

Personally I wouldn't refer to myself as a dirt roadie but I suppose that I am due to the fact that I ride both. Also agree with the Sheriff that it's all about loving the ride regardless of what you're riding. That's what it boils down to imho.

[linuxlg]

I love single track, Technical routes ( jumps, rocks etc.) But after getting my ass handed to me by a 55year old with a beer boop, I now too do distance training on jeep tracks. I do hill climbs, long distance rides for training, then afterwards reward myself with some jumps and Technical routes.