JUMA 2016

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Hey guys! Thinking of entering the JUMA this year but I have heard some very mixed and some rather disturbing reviews.

 

Some reviews are good and others are terrible!! I heard that at every obstacle there was a bottleneck and sometimes riders were forced, by marshals, to dismount and carry their bikes. Other reviews said that 'they' had never seen so many injuries in one race before and that the track was littered with bodies waiting for assistance!??

 

I know there have been major upgrades to the route and the event organizers have been working really hard to change race dynamics in order to make it a more fluid event.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this? I am a capable cyclist and I'll definitely be able to finish the 50k but I don't want to do this event if I'm going to be carrying my bike over obstacles I'm meant to ride.

 

Cheers!

[KingTJ]

Also keen to do it.... seems like fun...would like some opinions

[GSG]

Also heard the same reviews. 

[Brickleberry]

They managed one race which was rubbish with many injuries and no water points, massive bottlenecks and just generally ***, and the event has been rained out since so can't say if issues have been rectified, but give it a go if you keen. I think the issue was tons of beginner riders thaught they should do it, the obstacles are tough so ride it if you have the skills , otherwise I wouldn't do it .

[corriekuilder]

Done it once,very dissapointed because of the bottlenecks ect, and being told afterwards that it is an adventure not a race(why then prizes for winners).

[N-I-N-J-A]

I've got a free entry for the 54km for anyone that is interested. If any payment is due in order to do a substitution, it will be for your cost. PM me for details.

 

EDIT: TAKEN

[jcza]

Did the last one, crashed heavily. Made it to finish, enjoyed it. Look forward to the next one. 

[Andrew Steer]

Loved the first one... (despite some issues) and last year sadly got rained out. They've done a lot of PT to prevent bottlenecks and to try improve the overall riding experience. The long route should also attract quite a few less newbies - it's been marketed as such. If you've got a decent seeding and can ride your bike, I reckon you should be in for a treat 

[jcza]

Strange how everyone thinks the Spruit is a jolly for everyone from beginner to advanced but call it a race and the terrain becomes challenging? 

[Dexter-morgan]

The smell of some of the water in some of the storm water trenches was revolting(was lucky not to fall in the gross water), I did not enjoy it, could not get momentum due to others walking obstacles, I might give it a bash if I know all the issues were sorted, take a light for some of the tunnel sections.

[rvdm1]

I did the first one and thoroughly enjoyed it. Started quite early so didn't have too many issues with bottlenecks. I think what also helped is that I wasn't 'racing' and rather just enjoyed riding in places I wouldn't normally be able to.

 

If I remeber correctly I read that they would use saseeding to determine starting batches, this should make a big difference as they didn't have that in the first one.

 

Will be doing it again this year, weather permitting. Going to ride lionman on the 28th and Juma on the 29th so should be another chilled ride for me.

[sometime]

I loved the race last time. It was exciting, challenging and sometimes scary - everything a good MTB race should be. I'm sure the organisers have learnt from their mistakes in the first race. The start is in the opposite direction so plenty of space to spread the field out. There may be one or two small bottlenecks but should be short if at all. If you want NO bottlenecks then you need to train and get a decent seeding. If you don't like the challenging sections - walk - it's not complicated. Bring your light and use it - that way the blind drop offs won't be blind.

[Paul Ruinaard]

I have an entry from last years race and am probably not going to do it .

 

THe reasons are as stated but to re-iterate:

 

If you don't have a seeding near the front you will encounter massive bottlenecks as it is after all the spruit, which is after all single file in many places and on the technical obstacles.

 

So although there are some funky new things there - its 95% of what you can ride over the weekend free of charge which you now have to pay R 399 for.

 

And it's likely to have massive bottlenecks. So the queues are going to mean a lot of walking over what you normally ride over. Dirt roadies who are strong on the hills and in front of you will dismount and push over all the fun stuff and jumps, that is if they are even included (like the Sunninghill lines)

 

For R 399.

 

Anyone who wants my entry can have it - i plan on being far away from there

 

 

 

 

[Weimaraner1]

Let me try give some balanced feedback - I did it in 2014 (inaugural race)  

 

I think it is quite a challenge to organise a race/adventure ride (call it what you like) like the Juma given the number of people, city terrain and the nature of the obstacles (technical and less technical). The weather is also a factor that can cause havoc with the city specific obstacles. I had a D seeding but riding with a friend got away in H and we did have to wait at some obstacles and that is frustrating and I believe the organisers are looking at this.

 

It is a privilege to ride in areas in the city where one would never be able to ride but some of the obstacles/terrain do lean themselves to accidents even if you are a very accomplished rider in the wrong place at the wrong time. For this reason I will not do it again - I do not think it is worth the while to risk an injury and mess up the rest of my bike rides and races.

 

The water ways are very slippery, tunnel dark and the ramps could be slippery and I do not think that it is a ride for the less experienced even as an adventure ride. I did enjoy it and was fortunate not to have any incidents but I had no reference as it was the first time the race was held. I saw many many accidents, broken bones etc from even some more experienced riders.

 

With the exception of some of the above obstacles the rest of the race was fun and a lot of it followed our normal mtb routes.

 

In summary: It could be dangerous but it is something different that one should maybe attempt once or so. Would be interesting to see feedback after the 2016 event.

 

The after the race area sucked big time - little to eat and drink, very poor at best.

 

My 2 cents

[jcza]

Let me try give some balanced feedback - I did it in 2014 (inaugural race)  

 

I think it is quite a challenge to organise a race/adventure ride (call it what you like) like the Juma given the number of people, city terrain and the nature of the obstacles (technical and less technical). The weather is also a factor that can cause havoc with the city specific obstacles. I had a D seeding but riding with a friend got away in H and we did have to wait at some obstacles and that is frustrating and I believe the organisers are looking at this.

 

It is a privilege to ride in areas in the city where one would never be able to ride but some of the obstacles/terrain do lean themselves to accidents even if you are a very accomplished rider in the wrong place at the wrong time. For this reason I will not do it again - I do not think it is worth the while to risk an injury and mess up the rest of my bike rides and races.

 

The water ways are very slippery, tunnel dark and the ramps could be slippery and I do not think that it is a ride for the less experienced even as an adventure ride. I did enjoy it and was fortunate not to have any incidents but I had no reference as it was the first time the race was held. I saw many many accidents, broken bones etc from even some more experienced riders.

 

With the exception of some of the above obstacles the rest of the race was fun and a lot of it followed our normal mtb routes.

 

In summary: It could be dangerous but it is something different that one should maybe attempt once or so. Would be interesting to see feedback after the 2016 event.

 

The after the race area sucked big time - little to eat and drink, very poor at best.

 

My 2 cents

 

WHAT? There was plenty to eat and drink. Are you sure we are talking about the same event? 

[PygaSchmyga]

Hey guys! Thinking of entering the JUMA this year but I have heard some very mixed and some rather disturbing reviews.

 

Some reviews are good and others are terrible!! I heard that at every obstacle there was a bottleneck and sometimes riders were forced, by marshals, to dismount and carry their bikes. Other reviews said that 'they' had never seen so many injuries in one race before and that the track was littered with bodies waiting for assistance!??

 

I know there have been major upgrades to the route and the event organizers have been working really hard to change race dynamics in order to make it a more fluid event.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this? I am a capable cyclist and I'll definitely be able to finish the 50k but I don't want to do this event if I'm going to be carrying my bike over obstacles I'm meant to ride.

 

Cheers!

Its ***, don't bother.  Unless you love riding through some of the most polluted areas of Joburg, along and in filthy polluted water ways.  Upside is you can get your e-coli resistance levels up.  Okes broke bones by the dozens slipping in storm drains, with pitifully absent emergency response.  Check out this oke's experience:

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/144218-jhb-juma-ends-cycling-for-me-my-rant/?hl=juma

 

[Edit] Rather donate the ridiculously high entry fee to the Swamp Dogs - at least they can use it for good