You get idiots and then you get... Jonkers today

[R-squared]

Come orienteering - you get a map and navigate yourself.  No blindly following anybody - you make your own mistakes!

[lerouc]

Not even the courtesy of acknowledging Christiaan Greyling's comments?

 

 

Pissing off the pros is a sure way to dent your reputation.

So no proof that it was MTBers nor an apology to MTBers?

[Simonpurdon]

A report has just been released with photo's of one of the changes.

 

http://www.mountainchallenge.co.za/news/2016/04/malicious-course-tampering-jmc-raises-bigger-concerns

 

From my experience, I went on the right route and you basically ran the last 100m of the top part of the red trail down from Saaltjie, and then turned left where the pictures are, not continuing down the second tier. But I saw most runners coming down the road, that's where it was poorly marked, on the hiking trail where no MTB'ers can get to.

 

And those photos could've been taken at any time...

 

 

[Meezo]

...by that photos you can definitely see its mountain bikers that changed the signs.

[SeaBee]

A report has just been released with photo's of one of the changes.

 

http://www.mountainchallenge.co.za/news/2016/04/malicious-course-tampering-jmc-raises-bigger-concerns

 

From my experience, I went on the right route and you basically ran the last 100m of the top part of the red trail down from Saaltjie, and then turned left where the pictures are, not continuing down the second tier. But I saw most runners coming down the road, that's where it was poorly marked, on the hiking trail where no MTB'ers can get to.

 

And those photos could've been taken at any time...

Haaahaha - in that case, I was misdirected as well. We went straight down there - it was what I previously referred to as the rock-wall singletrack or something to those tunes. Actually even had a lekker fall there... 

 

Apparently somebody experienced it differently looking at one paragraph in the above link, but I'll repeat my previous statement. I have personally NEVER been harassed as runner by a MTB'er or vice versa. Most often it's friendly banter with the odd "Jeez dude, you guys ran further than we rode today" - and off we all head to a well-earned beer. 

[Shebeen]

Going to put my MTB helmet on:Share the trails, don't be a chop

Going to put my Trail run visor on:Share the trails, don't be a chop.

 

I'm going to maintain that it was very wrong to accuse a large user group like MTBers of tampering with your race route with no real evidence. Then come back the next day, publish the photos and but then a bit more diplomatically say it was a group of selfish individuals (not mtbers). Then ask that we respect each other's interests.

[Fisan]

When I saw the first post from Wildrunner on Twitter yesterday I thought it was pretty harsh but didn't think much would come of it!

 

I ran the race and loved it, the scenery was extraordinary, you don't get a sense for the expanse of the valley when you just ride it! I do have to say that all in all the event was pretty poorly organized. The announcer in the beginning (familiar voice but don't know he was) said quite abrasively "if you get lost on this course then you must be on another level of stupid" and yet one of the biggest detours happened on a hiking trail on the left hand side of the valley where I know that you can't ride, the entrance to it has steps! I think in total, besides the three checkpoints, there were maybe three marshals across the entire course (for the 38km).

 

And to add to the other experiences, I too saw a few MTB'ers and they were friendly and at that stage I was longing for my bike.

 

That's what I don't get.

 

I did the middle-distance. Payed 360 Randellas for it. R50 and R40 went to MTO and Cape Nature respectively. I already own a MTO permit so I'll consider that as a donation to a worthy cause. The goodie bag includes a race number, 4-safety pins and a compulsory kit list. At the finish we received a medal and a bottle of Bos Ice tea. The marshalls and sweepers were volunteers.

 

If the money clearly did not go into organisation, what did we pay for?

[Bloukrans]

Evidence / Pictures or it did not happen

[Headshot]

There is a glaring problem with the "logic"  being applied here. Why would mountain bikers direct runners down a fast popular single track trail? Surely if cyclists hated sharing that's the last thing they'd do.

 

We all know tampering occurs on bike races too. Its the course officials job to ensure that the markers are correct. All the pictures show is that the sign position was changed over a 24h period. Did any of the runners actually run the correct route on the day? If not the tampering must have happened very early or overnight. As I said before they had almost no marshals on course. A few more would have helped a lot. 

[Patchelicious]

Kevin Evans should have blamed trail runners moving markets for his "shortcut" seeing as it's acceptable to just blame groups for stuff these days.

[Rouxenator]

One more reason why avoid Jonkerhoek completely. 

[Hairy]

One more reason why avoid Jonkerhoek completely. 

can't use that as a determining factor of where you choose to ride or not .... there are chops everywhere, no good letting them ruin your fun times by chasing you away from good trails.

 

go ride the trails and send out an invite when you do so that we can join you!

[Rouxenator]

can't use that as a determining factor of where you choose to ride or not .... there are chops everywhere, no good letting them ruin your fun times by chasing you away from good trails.

 

go ride the trails and send out an invite when you do so that we can join you!

Good point, however bear in mind there are trails in Stellenbosch that are specifically marked as "No trail running" "No horse riding" and "No hiking". So if you want trails that are just for mountain bikers there are plenty. No need to resort to the kind of tactics they did here.

[lerouc]

Good point, however bear in mind there are trails in Stellenbosch that are specifically marked as "No trail running" "No horse riding" and "No hiking". So if you want trails that are just for mountain bikers there are plenty. No need to resort to the kind of tactics they did here.

 

There is still no evidence that it was mtbers that moved the signs. For all i know it was a couple of baboons.

[Patchelicious]

There is still no evidence that it was mtbers that moved the signs. For all i know it was a couple of baboons.

I would blame triathletes, as they are "that type", but I doubt that they would be Time Trialing around GSpot, so it has to be the next biggest "those types", horse riders!! Boom we could have a winner here. Was there traces of horse nuggets around the suspects route markers??

[kk6gan]

One more reason why avoid Jonkerhoek completely.

Avoid Jonkershoek ? That place is too good, not much that could stop me from riding there.