[Event] Nissan Trailseeker #1 Helder Berg

[Slowbee]

I have just come back from my usual s2c training ride in those hills. There were for sure one or two markers that had been removed that I had seen yesterday while out riding. Also some of the chalk arrows had been rubbed out. Really sorry to hear about this !

 

On the up side, I would like to congratulate ALL the riders, I did not find ONE piece of litter, gu packet or any other such thing to indicate a ride had gone through other than a whole wack of tyre marks. Well done to everyone!

[Slowbee]

Hi Everyone,

 

We have been the victims of foul play.

Our marker boards have mostly been moved removed or replaced in other areas.

 

This is a deliberate sabotage of our event.

 

They were in place still late last night, early this morning on the route check before start it because apparent that boards were removed, moved or discarded.

 

We have taken every possible action to make this event a success, and the participants and sponsors and organisers were denied that by a group of individuals.

 

We will issue a formal response shortly.

 

 

Wessel

As my post above when I was out on Friday, all sign board and direction arrows were in place when I was on my training ride. Some of these were gone when I went out this afternoon.

 

There was definitely foul play.

[scuzzy]

Here's a quick overlay of what I did, on the 70km and where we should have gone.

 

You can download the kmz for Google Earth if you want to overlay your own route onto it here:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/utmcu9kbcxoc3h6/AACYv8df0WErGtf1nhG-AgMra?dl=0

 

[Karl Beaton]

I believe that the 40km riders also need some refund or discount to next event. It was not just the 70km route that was effected. I was told that I was the only one to question the 40km route... The bigger question was why was the route markers etc removed and changed - did all the land owners give permission to use their land? This sort of behaviour is normally because of something

[leaboy]

well that was certainly eventful :/
managed to do 55km's of the intended route.

something certainly did seem fishy with the signage.

what's done is done. lets hope the next event can be a greater success.

[dev null]

So you missed some of the best trails on Helderberg Farm?  I rode the red route and it was well marked with Nissan Trailseeker signs on Thursday afternoon.

[Johny Bravo]

Also ended up with 28km on the 40km. Did not hit even 1 waterpoint? 

 

Welome to Africa I suppose. If they dont steal your bike or phone or money. They try and steal our fun aswell.

[Sharkie 2]

The marathon only 900m climbing.....

The Nissan Trailseeker is designed to get newbies and intermediate riders to participate in the MTB races, helping them to get there experience up so that they can enjoy and participate more easily in a Ashburton event

[brucem76]

I believe that the 40km riders also need some refund or discount to next event. It was not just the 70km route that was effected. I was told that I was the only one to question the 40km route... The bigger question was why was the route markers etc removed and changed - did all the land owners give permission to use their land? This sort of behaviour is normally because of something

Wessel, please tell us where we can officially inform you guys of 28km on the 40km, heaps of people I know all did 28

[Kylie]

Wessel, please tell us where we can officially inform you guys of 28km on the 40km, heaps of people I know all did 28

I did 28 as well, and know of at least 60 other people who did the same route for the 40km, if the strava segment is to be believed.

[brucem76]

I did 28 as well, and know of at least 60 other people who did the same route for the 40km, if the strava segment is to be believed.

Wessel, here is a Strava pic proving that 66 Strava users did the same 28km loop. This excludes all people who didn't use Strava to log the ride, and people who rode any other variations of the "40km" route.

 

 

Another thing I don't get: at no point on the 28km route did I feel lost at all. There were chalk arrows, red tape, and regular signs. Surely if some signs were missing I would have gone flying past turns, and got lost, or hit dead ends? The route all flowed perfectly... I can understand getting lucky once or twice and ending up back on the route, but not more...

[CleatsnCleavage]

Really shitty for Advendurance (who always put on fantastic events, probably the best race organiser in SA) and all the riders, but sorry what is the point of checking the route in the morning if the vehicle cannot replace missing signage during the recce? We just did the USN Avianto and the race started about 15 minutes late because signage that had removed from the course overnight was busy being replace. 

 

Anyway, knowing Advendurance Im sure you guys did your best so look forward to official response.

[Cookie88]

If we didn't receive an SMS notifying us about Grabouw what can we do?

[brucem76]

If we didn't receive an SMS notifying us about Grabouw what can we do?

40km or 70km? I'm encouraging people to email info@advendurance.com so they realize how extensive this was

[milky4130]

Really shitty for Advendurance (who always put on fantastic events, probably the best race organiser in SA) and all the riders, but sorry what is the point of checking the route in the morning if the vehicle cannot replace missing signage during the recce? We just did the USN Avianto and the race started about 15 minutes late because signage that had removed from the course overnight was busy being replace.

 

Anyway, knowing Advendurance Im sure you guys did your best so look forward to official response.

that's assuming the route checker doesn't have back up arrows with him i.e. Plan B. That would be another Epic Fail!!

[lerouc]

Al wat ek weet is die roetes was donderdag gemerk gewees toe ek die lasate keer op die roetes was en gister het iemand op facebook op die klub se blad gaan comment om tese iemand moet haar dringend kontak want die trailseeker hardloop oor private grond waar daar nie toestemming is nie. (post was weer afgehaal kort daarna) Wat ek toe gehoor het is die roete moes verander word...