BenGraham Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 I ride the spruit with my brother in law a few mornings a week. He and I stick to the established lines. But both of us have noticed corners being cut on some of the best parts. There's a nice sweeping bit of single track just after tana with a number of turns around some trees and recently I noticed a very obvious straight route developing. Frankly this pisses me off since I really enjoying this section and once a straight route starts to develop a lot more people will start opting for the "faster line". Its frustrating since I slow down to make the corners and I've been working on my cornering technique so I can move faster through the turns. And its working, I can now corner pretty quick. But if you can't make a turn when did it become okay to just destroy the trail? When are we going to start valuing technical skill and cornering ability over average speed. Anyone can raise their average speed by breaking the trail but then we end up with a dumb straight dirt road. And frankly we have enough of those.
Uni Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 Maybe because the trails are also used by commuters (and walkers/ joggers) that just want to get to work and aren't really interested in cornering, and flow and all the "fun" stuff - as they just want to get to work / get home asap.
hayleyearth Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/142951-dear-spruit-riders/?do=findComment&comment=2416541 Edit: just so you can know where your thread is heading..
Pieter1 Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 Maybe because the trails are also used by commuters (and walkers/ joggers) that just want to get to work and aren't really interested in cornering, and flow and all the "fun" stuff - as they just want to get to work / get home asap.Nah, the one he is talking about is off of the main drag. I hate it when I accidentally go straight on the treeline in emmies, the corners are fun.
Ryanpmb Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 You're really upset because they're pipping your Strava times aren't you...?
Uni Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 Nah, the one he is talking about is off of the main drag. I hate it when I accidentally go straight on the treeline in emmies, the corners are fun.My Bad. In that case, Sorry BenGraham
corrie.kuilder Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 You're really upset because they're pipping your Strava times aren't you...? Lol,stuff people do to improve segment times
RockCoach Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 There is an existing main, old, fast, straight, multi-pathed trail. This fun Byron Line is well off the main Spruit straight blast. You choose you leave the straight Spruit Strava line and take on the fun stuff filled with berms, jumps etc. There are easy lines around jumps which is natural. The question is why take straight lines through corners once you have chosen the fun section?
rouxtjie Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 Ke nako...friday. Its here. Ben, if you want to be the technical juggernaut you think you are, go to thaba, do the downhill line...heck do the xc course if the DH scares you. Leave people to ride the spruit the way they want to...
the nerd Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 Riding has 2 options really... Pay to ride at a trail centre (complain about price)ride all awesome stuff that someone spends there entire day building maintaining cutting etc... Ride the spruit for free (complain about ****)and i know the guys that build on the spruit put in effort and time which is awesome,but there will be people walking, running, riding dirt bikes, commuting, and those people, dont want to jump over things, rail a berm etc.. they want to get to work! But right there in bold and underlined is the difference.
Grebel Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 Thought I'd get in before it's locked or deleted..... Last one made 8 pages. Wonder how for this will go....
G00SE Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 Riding has 2 options really... Pay to ride at a trail centre (complain about price)ride all awesome stuff that someone spends there entire day building maintaining cutting etc... Ride the spruit for free (complain about ****)and i know the guys that build on the spruit put in effort and time which is awesome,but there will be people walking, running, riding dirt bikes, commuting, and those people, dont want to jump over things, rail a berm etc.. they want to get to work! But right there in bold and underlined is the difference. The thing is, I see it at groenkloof, and big red barn etc. all the time, so its not limited to the "free" spruit Its already been established that the trail Ben is referring to is off the main line, that people wanting to get to work etc. would take. Ben, next time, stop put a few rocks, branches etc across the new line... Im sure the people dumbing it down don't know how to bunny hop (or even pronk for that matter.) so that will deter the straight liners, and preserve the fun lines.
JohnnyReggae Posted December 5, 2014 Posted December 5, 2014 I'm afraid it's not a spruit only thing. "Easier" lines develop because people are to scared/lazy to take the proper line.
BenGraham Posted December 5, 2014 Author Posted December 5, 2014 Riding has 2 options really... Pay to ride at a trail centre (complain about price)ride all awesome stuff that someone spends there entire day building maintaining cutting etc... Ride the spruit for free (complain about ****)and i know the guys that build on the spruit put in effort and time which is awesome,but there will be people walking, running, riding dirt bikes, commuting, and those people, dont want to jump over things, rail a berm etc.. they want to get to work! But right there in bold and underlined is the difference. Ke nako...friday. Its here. Ben, if you want to be the technical juggernaut you think you are, go to thaba, do the downhill line...heck do the xc course if the DH scares you. Leave people to ride the spruit the way they want to... Riding has 2 options really... Pay to ride at a trail centre (complain about price)ride all awesome stuff that someone spends there entire day building maintaining cutting etc... Ride the spruit for free (complain about ****)and i know the guys that build on the spruit put in effort and time which is awesome,but there will be people walking, running, riding dirt bikes, commuting, and those people, dont want to jump over things, rail a berm etc.. they want to get to work! But right there in bold and underlined is the difference. You make a number of valid points but I still feel the debate is important even if only to remind people and make them think twice before going straight instead of taking the corner. Strava has no place in this argument. I do ride in those paid for areas but I can't always get to them and so the spruit is the alternative and it is surprisingly good but I think riders need to be a little more respectful of the guys who build these lines. Yes people will build new lines and there isn't a limit on this but sometimes its very clear that people are ignoring the elegant line in favour of the fast one and that to me is a sad state of affairs.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.