johanpre44 Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I think people just loose interest and motivation. Not to mention the fact that a lot of people are scared to cycle on their own (safety). I get to cycle a fair amount (maybe as much as 5 hours a week), but I cycle alone most of the time. I also have the opportunity to do the occasional commute to work (not too far, and there is showers at work). I have also found that the occasional race is a good motivator.
Frosty Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Having a group/club that rides together is motivation enough - a ride takes place whether you're there or not, unless you're the fastest/slowest in the group then it gets a bit demotivating. I found riding MTB with the slow guys was taking up too much time and a weekend ride would end at 13:00. There weren't enough faster guys to give us a worthwhile ride either. Finding the perfect balance that caters for everyone (read: majority) is difficult and should be valued when achieved. I've been riding on my own for the passed 10 days and while I can ride when I want and for as hard/far as I want, it is a little boring and I miss the group rides - maybe it's the roadie in me.
JanJan Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 No, its in incline, otherwise it's called downhill. Get your disciplines right. But I think MTB in South Africa is still in the balloon phase. Give it 2 years, the EPIC entries will cost R 100000 and rubbish/expensive races will flood the calender. That's when the balloon will pop and the majority will move to the next big thing. I reckon it will be trail running combined with orienteering and navigation.
Paddaman Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Mtb cycling is the biggest thing at the moment. I mean the have paved (parts) of paradise (groenkloof) and put up a parking lot (jungle gym) for the kids. On weekend you cannot get an inch of single track all day there. There are trails every where in PTA and still there is an over flow onto the roads. Maybe soon someone will say hey look buttafly and start something else like sailing or running again. But at this stage canned MTB is the safest, most accessible sport for YUPPIES, HIPSTERS and PANDA's.
GrantRH Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 What the hell is a PANDA? Other than the big furry bear from China of course.
Lurch the stalker Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 What the hell is a PANDA? Other than the big furry bear from China of course.Maybe we're just not cool enough to know what that is because I was wondering the same thing... EDIT: It appears to be exactly what we think it is... https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=923&q=panda+riding+bicycle&oq=panda+riding+bicycle&gs_l=img.3..0.749.3213.0.3772.14.8.0.1.1.0.817.817.6-1.1.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.60.img..12.2.832.1d4bAsQAY5Y
Lurch the stalker Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 Previously Advantaged Now DisAdvantagedAh...never heard that one before
FrequentFaller Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 I think interest in mtb'ing is about to undergo yet another massive upswing for two reasons:1) getting on a super cool rig is now easier than ever with financing available2) "canned riding" facilities are available, accessible and developed constantly I do agree that it is creating a huge bubble - easy to get, high (financed) cost followed by waning interest (yeah, gotta actually pedal this thing) and a bike you cannot swing without losing a pretty penny. Looking forward to the 2-year old hardly ridden deals on olx...
GoLefty!! Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 I got my 1st mtb end of 2011 ( not counting my raleigh in school) and since then loads of friends and family all got bikes. Eventually it was easy to find 2 or 3 people for a casual 40+ km ride. I have since moved up a bit in my technical ability, race distance and overall fitness, doing a minimum of 1 race a month and staring to commute to work full time too. Forward to today, probably 80% of those friends and family have not been on their bikes in the last year. They all say yes the mtb, but never get in the bike and always decline a offer for a ride, never race. This got me thinking, was it a phase for most of the loads of south africans? With only a small percentage actually really taking up the sport? I love this sport and while i am no race snake, i plan to continue building skills and fitness and compete more on the stage race terrain this coming year. I think casual MTB is definitely on the decline. There are more dirt roadies around these all practicing for the next stage race. Trail/Enduro is still a niche discipline because its perceived to be hard, especially when salesman maintain the tripe of a sales pitch selling 29ers because they're "faster" and "easier" to ride.So all you see are MAMILS on expensive carbon XC bikes being used for fireroad duty and as a hiking companion on singletrack. ain't no going back now
CogitoErgoSum Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 Oh the purists there are. A bike is a bike is a bike. Personal preference differs - I for one is glad it does (I will not be caught dead on a spez or in a beemer!) If one guy/girl enjoys their singletrack paved, let them be. If you enjoy going off into the bush, carving your own singletrack, good for you. The most important is that people are trying to be healthy. Less judgement into their cycling efforts, or their reasons for doing so, would be good. I doubt CSA or any other governing body is going to issue skills competence certificates.
Runbikeswim Posted December 31, 2014 Author Posted December 31, 2014 I think casual MTB is definitely on the decline. There are more dirt roadies around these all practicing for the next stage race. Trail/Enduro is still a niche discipline because its perceived to be hard, especially when salesman maintain the tripe of a sales pitch selling 29ers because they're "faster" and "easier" to ride.So all you see are MAMILS on expensive carbon XC bikes being used for fireroad duty and as a hiking companion on singletrack. ain't no going back nowOk i know it sounds noob... But explain enduro to me... I ride the local trails... And mostly spruit as it is close by. I do races like the nissan, usn, babbas, route 42 etc. and have started with mutli day races. Normally my rides are 40 km and up and races 50 and up. So what is that? Am i doing trail? Xc? And what is enduro? Ih and this year i want to work on my tech skils more and multi day races 2 to 4 day races
Hairy Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Ok i know it sounds noob... But explain enduro to me... I ride the local trails... And mostly spruit as it is close by. I do races like the nissan, usn, babbas, route 42 etc. and have started with mutli day races. Normally my rides are 40 km and up and races 50 and up. So what is that? Am i doing trail? Xc? And what is enduro? Ih and this year i want to work on my tech skils more and multi day races 2 to 4 day races#enduro is just a timing deviceAnd the only "distance" that matters to the riders would be the amount of trail that points downhill vs how far you can pedal your bike on boring District or Farm Roads. .......... think fun mixed with a bit of adrenaline, or like when you were a kid riding your bicycle with your friends and all of a sudden on of then says "race you to that tree" which is not far away, but you both trace off balls to the wall and when you get there collapse off your bikes laughing and just enjoying being in the moment.
CleatsnCleavage Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 I think casual MTB is definitely on the decline. There are more dirt roadies around these all practicing for the next stage race. Trail/Enduro is still a niche discipline because its perceived to be hard, especially when salesman maintain the tripe of a sales pitch selling 29ers because they're "faster" and "easier" to ride.So all you see are MAMILS on expensive carbon XC bikes being used for fireroad duty and as a hiking companion on singletrack. ain't no going back nowBeen riding my BFs old 26er on trails around KZN this holiday and I can promise you that there is a HUGE difference between this and a 29er, rolling ability of a 26er is much less. Going downhill on a rock garden on a 26er is an invitation for an endo. But just try catch me on my 29er!
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