Bosbrommer Posted November 29, 2015 Posted November 29, 2015 Also really enjoyed the event. Some nice tough climbs with awesome descends. Well organised too! Just bummed I did not win the spez fattie in the lucky draw!
Lukep Posted November 29, 2015 Posted November 29, 2015 Great event, I thought I was average in the technical stuff but after this event I now know that I need to put in a lot of work on my technical riding.
Rouxenator Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Good to see so many people writing favourable things about the local trails in Stellenbosch. I am in the fortunate position where I ride a few of these on my commute home every day. I do feel the need to add my personal view about the Origin of Trails. The entry fee is outrageously expensive considering it uses a lot of trails that already exist. I remember the first year (2013) it was held they did not give complementary entries to land owners. They also were not to happy with paying Bottelary Hills for the usage of their trails, despite the steep entry fee. So for me personally that was kind of the origin of fails. That said I do hope this grows and that more people will take part in future events. Stellenbosch as a lot of amazing places to ride, glad everyone enjoyed it.
Rock Guy Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Good to see so many people writing favourable things about the local trails in Stellenbosch. I am in the fortunate position where I ride a few of these on my commute home every day. I do feel the need to add my personal view about the Origin of Trails. The entry fee is outrageously expensive considering it uses a lot of trails that already exist. I remember the first year (2013) it was held they did not give complementary entries to land owners. They also were not to happy with paying Bottelary Hills for the usage of their trails, despite the steep entry fee. So for me personally that was kind of the origin of fails. That said I do hope this grows and that more people will take part in future events. Stellenbosch as a lot of amazing places to ride, glad everyone enjoyed it. I can understand that some people will not be happy with the price of races. However, I don't know of another race where for R500 per day you get a cap, a box of Weetbix, 2 shirts a water bottle great single track and excellent (well stocked) water points. If you joined for the after party you also got free beer/wine and pizza. Not paying for the use of Bottelary Hills trails is well justified by the fact that one of the primary goals of the Origin of Trails event is to raise funds for building new trails around Stellenbosch. Why then spend the money on old trails. To get back to the price tag. If the market is willing to pay a certain price for an event that is the fair price. You can't run a race like a charity, keeping prices low, and expect it to succeed and grow as an annual event. As one of the people who is able to ride these trails every day you should be rather be thankful for the other people who are willing to pay these prices and enable the Stellenbosch Trail Fund to maintain and improve the trails. Rant over. Now go ride your bike and stop complaining about things you were no part of.
droenn Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Good to see so many people writing favourable things about the local trails in Stellenbosch. I am in the fortunate position where I ride a few of these on my commute home every day. I do feel the need to add my personal view about the Origin of Trails. The entry fee is outrageously expensive considering it uses a lot of trails that already exist. I remember the first year (2013) it was held they did not give complementary entries to land owners. They also were not to happy with paying Bottelary Hills for the usage of their trails, despite the steep entry fee. So for me personally that was kind of the origin of fails. That said I do hope this grows and that more people will take part in future events. Stellenbosch as a lot of amazing places to ride, glad everyone enjoyed it. Yeah, it was steep to enter! I was hesitant because of the price at first. But, Origin of Trails also raises money to build new trails (red line in jonkers, new trail into mont marie, upgrades to eden, botmaskop cleaned up etc.). This benefits everyone, so paying a high entry fee once and enjoying the trails whenever afterwards is fine by me. (perhaps because of the price) It also attracted more capable riders than what the other big races in Stellenbosch do - so less congestion and more fun in that regard. Bottleray wasn't really needed - its nice up there and I do love it - but its much less technical than what was on offer at Origin of Trails.
Skubarra Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Not paying for the use of Bottelary Hills trails is well justified by the fact that one of the primary goals of the Origin of Trails event is to raise funds for building new trails around Stellenbosch. Why then spend the money on old trails. Because maybe we cannot just spend all our money building new trails, we also have to spend some of it maintaining existing trails?
jannosmit Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 What a lekker race and vibe! Day 2 was super tough for me on the hardtail, but had fun none the less
Rock Guy Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Because maybe we cannot just spend all our money building new trails, we also have to spend some of it maintaining existing trails? I was trying to be brief, but okay, let me elaborate. Bottelary hills have their own management and by the comment made by Rouxenater in guessing that the fees they charge must be pretty steep if you want to include the tracks in your event. Why else then would POOT not be willing to pay the fees? If it were a bargain they would have easily paid Bottelary Hills and used the money saved elsewhere. It makes sense that by introducing another middle man you will just be diluting the available funds. So really what I should have said was "new trails and maintenance of other trails managed by Stellenbosch Trail Fund".
Rouxenator Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Rant over. Now go ride your bike and stop complaining about things you were no part of.Perhaps in the first year of this event if they actually gave land owners free entries like they did this year I would have had an entirely different attitude towards this, and even pay to ride it. I will go ride my bike shortly, will go through Blaauwklippen, Eden Trail, G-spot, Coetzenburg - pretty much all the trails you rode and I will do it again tomorrow, and the day after, and.....
Rock Guy Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Perhaps in the first year of this event if they actually gave land owners free entries like they did this year I would have had an entirely different attitude towards this, and even pay to ride it. I will go ride my bike shortly, will go through Blaauwklippen, Eden Trail, G-spot, Coetzenburg - pretty much all the trails you rode and I will do it again tomorrow, and the day after, and..... Awesome, I have been riding those trails since I was in standard 5 in Eikestad. Glad you enjoy them. Sorry to hear about your grievance regarding the free entries to landowners. At least they've learnt the error of their ways.
Rouxenator Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Awesome, I have been riding those trails since I was in standard 5 in Eikestad. Glad you enjoy them. Sorry to hear about your grievance regarding the free entries to landowners. At least they've learnt the error of their ways. I agree 100% and as I said before, I hope this event grows. Was quite surprised on Friday when I rode to work and as I crossed Church street there is this huge crowd of people waiting to start the ride Also rode past a lot of riders making their way to the start while heading to Technopark, all very friendly, wish every day could be like that.
Serious Panda Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Good to see so many people writing favourable things about the local trails in Stellenbosch. I am in the fortunate position where I ride a few of these on my commute home every day. I do feel the need to add my personal view about the Origin of Trails. The entry fee is outrageously expensive considering it uses a lot of trails that already exist. I remember the first year (2013) it was held they did not give complementary entries to land owners. They also were not to happy with paying Bottelary Hills for the usage of their trails, despite the steep entry fee. So for me personally that was kind of the origin of fails. That said I do hope this grows and that more people will take part in future events. Stellenbosch as a lot of amazing places to ride, glad everyone enjoyed it. I also felt it is a bit expensive as it is local trails but then I thought again and really it is actually good value thinking objectively about it. It is cheap compared to other similar stage races and remember not all the entries are from local riders. Furthermore this event would have been awesome for you seeing that you have not even been to Jonkers yet (not acceptable) and that Jonkers is magnificent and is the true origin of trails. You would have loved this event and you missed out big-time it really is not expensive for what you get and for someone that has not been to Jonkers this event must be absolutely awesome.
Rouxenator Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 What I am thankful for is that these guys do know how to build trails, the stuff they built and put up at Coetzenburg really is awesome. It is pretty much the highlight of my day when I ride through there. About Jonkers, yeah I am sure it is awesome, maybe someday if I get bored with the rest of the excellent trails around Stellenbosch I will give it a try.
Trail Ninja Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 R1 050 gets you two days of riding awesome trails, two t shirts, cap, pack of pronutro.Also lunch everyday and a massage everyday and also free beer and pizza at the after party. Compare this to maybe, MTB Adventures Houw Hoek or Greyton Tour.You pay R900 and get nothing. Just two days of good riding and its not even timed (social event). It also includes lots of trails that are riden by locals etc. Therefore, doing the comparison on just that, best value for money 2 day race out there and will be back in 2016 for my third one
Serious Panda Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Day 2 is not local trails only the 1st few km. Rouxenator you dont know what you are missing by not having been to Jonkers yet and being a Stellenbosch local the mtb Gods are frowning upon you for this. You would have loved this event both days would have been mostly new to you and the entry fee is very cheap compared to W2W.
Rouxenator Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Yeah, someday, maybe, I will go to Jonkers. Still not bored with the rest of the trails just yet. Considering everything you get with your entry it does sound very good. I for some reason think the more you pay the further you should go, like R1250 for TransKaroo or something like that. Then again, you do get 140km in total so that is another way of thinking about it.
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