JUMA 2015 Postponed

[SAGecko]

long time lurker, first time poster - be gentle!!

 

Check out the comment at the end of this article - is there any merit to this?

 

http://moderncyclist.co.za/stories/hollard-juma-mtb-challenge-2015

 

Well this chap sure didn't hold back:

 

 

This race was the exact opposite of what it promised last year, its its

inaugural edition. It traversed the most filthy and littered course,

following Jozi's most disgusting and polluted waterways. Its course

designers had absolutely no clue about Newtonian physics in trying to

push some 5000 riders through numerous passages that only allowed

one-by-one at a dead-slow, walking speed. They wondered why some of the

tailbacks made riders wait up to 2 hours to get through certain

points. There were no water points. There was effectively zero

lighting in the storm drains, and with no seeding in the event, you saw

all manner of unskilled riders ploughing into complete darkness, in

water of varying depths, unmarked drop-offs, multiple obstacles and the

like. There were bodies everywhere lying crashed. Even if there was

seeding, the course could not handle 5 times less the number of riders.

There was absolutely no obvious EMT plan, which was evidenced by many,

very serious injuries being left unattended, including several broken

joints. Some of the injured waited many, many long painful hours for

medical response. At the race end, there was no drinks table for, by

this time, hugely dehydrated riders.

 

Sure, you can argue that the

first time is always fraught with teething issues, and that this 2nd

edition will most surely be an improvement, but I am skeptical. The

race smacked of arrogant disregard last year, which was (perhaps

unfairly?) personified by the good Hollard folk sitting in a VIP tent

with a wonderful spread of refreshments right next to the finish line

where riders having paid R300 or R400 needed to go to a queue for a coke

at the finish, which they needed to buy. Cherry on top stuff, after

suffering through the most unsupported race ever put on, with the

audacity to charge such a large entrance fee.

 

The other reason

that i am skeptical is because of the truly inherent dangerous nature of

this race, and complete lack of evidence of a safety or response plan.

There was a HUGE backlash last year to this race on multiple forums,

including thehubsa.co.za where all of the above points, and more, were

raised on many occasions. Hollard and the race organizers fastidiously

ignored and refused to respond to ANY of the serious points raised.

They constantly and consistently flat-out ignored the really big issues,

like safety, course design and plain negligence, and then made light of

the others, such as "hey guys, sure, we will throw a few more bottles

of water out for next year LOL!!". The response was a disgrace. It

became increasingly difficult to ignore the feeling that this was just a

cash-making stunt. In any other country, notwithstanding the inherent

risk acceptance of participating in these events, the obvious and

glaring examples of either sheer naive stupidity or just plain gross

negligence would not absolve the race organizers and sponsors from

liability for harm. And harm there was, and in my view, will be again.

There certainly have been no acknowledgements by Hollard of the

complete mess around EMT plans and responses following last year's

debacle, which suggests that they have left this unchanged. This point

was discussed widely on the Hub (see:

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum....

The only thing I have seen is that riders are advised to use lights in

the tunnels, which suggests that the organizers have not even bothered

to increase the lighting in the tunnels. Mark my words: This race is

dangerous, very dangerous, by virtue of the fact that it has been

marketed to Joe Hacker and his family. They will say that they have

noted that riders need to be experienced, but the marketing storm has

pushed this into the smallprint, like most insurers. Cover your ass

stuff, that's all. Nobody died last year, thank god, but this race has

all the key design features which have targeted inexperienced riders to

attempt something that potentially can end very badly, if not

definitively.

 

People enter with families, riding cheapo bikes

bought at Makro, little or no technical or other experience, and give

you their trust for what they think will be a fun day out. I think the

organizers are abusing this trust, and are taking advantage of the

natural Jozi spirit of fun and carefree adventure. Lets see what

happens on Sunday, and I hope I am wrong, but I fear for the worst.

Perhaps there should be better regulation of how race events are staged

and supported.

 

Hollard did not get my R400 this year. I think they have enough. Lets see if they are sponsoring this event next year.

[SAGecko]

long time lurker, first time poster - be gentle!!

 

Check out the comment at the end of this article - is there any merit to this?

 

http://moderncyclist.co.za/stories/hollard-juma-mtb-challenge-2015

Oh, and welcome to the Hub SpezSpaz.

[Boerklong]

Sounds dangerous to me.

[PygaSchmyga]

Oh, and welcome to the Hub SpezSpaz.

thanks! I laughed about the bit on Hollard folks living it up while people had to buy drinks. 

 

I do agree with Boerklong, the course by its nature is dangerous tho

[Bonus]

I thought about doing this ride last year, but didn't. And was glad afterwards that I didn't. I thought about doing it this year but couldn't (away) and I'm glad afterwards that I couldn't.

 

Third time lucky?

 

:-)

[PygaSchmyga]

so is the race cancelled or postponed?  The fb page is not clear.  Can we get our money back?  Still not sure hw much of that comment above is true, but I think I am glad to have missed that race - be keen to see if they respond to any of those points.  Still, 400 bucks is a lot to throw away

[Skylark]

Wouldn't they legally be obliged to refund your money, they seemed to imply you can either get a refund now or get a ticket for next year's race?

[Milosh]

I take my hat off to the guys for the effort of hosting something different.

it certainly is unique in location and challenges - both for hosting and Riding 

 

 

They must be absolutely gutted to have to postpone /cancel and even if rescheduled there are losses all around 

 

I do hope they  can recover ! 

[jcza]

There is a spruit race every Sunday and its free. 

[rouxtjie]

There is a spruit race every Sunday and its free. 

you know it....race for the vida-e cup...seriaaaas business

[Patchelicious]

There is a spruit race every Sunday and its free. 

It even comes with cheering supporters, the cheers do sound like shouting and swearing sometimes, but I'm too busy screaming STRAAAVVVAAAAA to really notice the particulars of the supporters chants.

[jcza]

you know it....race for the vida-e cup...seriaaaas business

 

Don't forget the spruit bike 

[SAGecko]

you know it....race for the vida-e cup...seriaaaas business

 

Time to ditch Vida and support one of our own Rouxtjie.

 

Coffee Shop at the Trailhead (Next to Fratelli's), run by a Hubber.

[jcza]

Time to ditch Vida and support one of our own Rouxtjie.

 

Coffee Shop at the Trailhead (Next to Fratelli's), run by a Hubber.

 

Don't worry, Rouxtjie knows it well 

[Rotiringer]

Well this chap sure didn't hold back:

This race was the exact opposite of what it promised last year, its its

inaugural edition. It traversed the most filthy and littered course,

following Jozi's most disgusting and polluted waterways. Its course

designers had absolutely no clue about Newtonian physics in trying to

push some 5000 riders through numerous passages that only allowed

one-by-one at a dead-slow, walking speed. They wondered why some of the

tailbacks made riders wait up to 2 hours to get through certain

points. There were no water points. There was effectively zero

lighting in the storm drains, and with no seeding in the event, you saw

all manner of unskilled riders ploughing into complete darkness, in

water of varying depths, unmarked drop-offs, multiple obstacles and the

like. There were bodies everywhere lying crashed. Even if there was

seeding, the course could not handle 5 times less the number of riders.

There was absolutely no obvious EMT plan, which was evidenced by many,

very serious injuries being left unattended, including several broken

joints. Some of the injured waited many, many long painful hours for

medical response. At the race end, there was no drinks table for, by

this time, hugely dehydrated riders.

Sure, you can argue that the

first time is always fraught with teething issues, and that this 2nd

edition will most surely be an improvement, but I am skeptical. The

race smacked of arrogant disregard last year, which was (perhaps

unfairly?) personified by the good Hollard folk sitting in a VIP tent

with a wonderful spread of refreshments right next to the finish line

where riders having paid R300 or R400 needed to go to a queue for a coke

at the finish, which they needed to buy. Cherry on top stuff, after

suffering through the most unsupported race ever put on, with the

audacity to charge such a large entrance fee.

The other reason

that i am skeptical is because of the truly inherent dangerous nature of

this race, and complete lack of evidence of a safety or response plan.

There was a HUGE backlash last year to this race on multiple forums,

including thehubsa.co.za where all of the above points, and more, were

raised on many occasions. Hollard and the race organizers fastidiously

ignored and refused to respond to ANY of the serious points raised.

They constantly and consistently flat-out ignored the really big issues,

like safety, course design and plain negligence, and then made light of

the others, such as "hey guys, sure, we will throw a few more bottles

of water out for next year LOL!!". The response was a disgrace. It

became increasingly difficult to ignore the feeling that this was just a

cash-making stunt. In any other country, notwithstanding the inherent

risk acceptance of participating in these events, the obvious and

glaring examples of either sheer naive stupidity or just plain gross

negligence would not absolve the race organizers and sponsors from

liability for harm. And harm there was, and in my view, will be again.

There certainly have been no acknowledgements by Hollard of the

complete mess around EMT plans and responses following last year's

debacle, which suggests that they have left this unchanged. This point

was discussed widely on the Hub (see: https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum....

The only thing I have seen is that riders are advised to use lights in

the tunnels, which suggests that the organizers have not even bothered

to increase the lighting in the tunnels. Mark my words: This race is

dangerous, very dangerous, by virtue of the fact that it has been

marketed to Joe Hacker and his family. They will say that they have

noted that riders need to be experienced, but the marketing storm has

pushed this into the smallprint, like most insurers. Cover your ass

stuff, that's all. Nobody died last year, thank god, but this race has

all the key design features which have targeted inexperienced riders to

attempt something that potentially can end very badly, if not

definitively.

People enter with families, riding cheapo bikes

bought at Makro, little or no technical or other experience, and give

you their trust for what they think will be a fun day out. I think the

organizers are abusing this trust, and are taking advantage of the

natural Jozi spirit of fun and carefree adventure. Lets see what

happens on Sunday, and I hope I am wrong, but I fear for the worst.

Perhaps there should be better regulation of how race events are staged

and supported.

Hollard did not get my R400 this year. I think they have enough. Lets see if they are sponsoring this event next year.

Ha Ha. You genuinely do sound like a miserable individual. Luckily you are quite articulate which makes your essay sound plausible in some way. I know nothing about the person who had a vision to set up the urban JHB race or the company that decided to sponsor it. I do know that given the choice to meet You, author of embittered essay, or the person with the vision to organize the race, I would choose the latter.

 

I hope Hollard sponsors this race next year so I get to ride it for the first time and I hope you, articulate essay writter with picture of monkey as identity, don't.

Ciao

[Uni]

Ha Ha. You genuinely do sound like a miserable individual. Luckily you are quite articulate which makes your essay sound plausible in some way. I know nothing about the person who had a vision to set up the urban JHB race or the company that decided to sponsor it. I do know that given the choice to meet You, author of embittered essay, or the person with the vision to organize the race, I would choose the latter.

I hope Hollard sponsors this race next year so I get to ride it for the first time and I hope you, articulate essay writter with picture of monkey as identity, don't.

Ciao

Um, he was quoting the article from the link in this post

https://www.bikehub.co.za/index.php?app=forums&module=forums&section=findpost&pid=2704636