Hoogekraal Cobra - rant

[MTBeer]

norrefok

[Thor Buttox]

Exactly - you're still taking lessons, no? Or is it now progression on your own terms?

 

As for technical stuff - trust me. As long as you remember your teachings, you'll carry on getting a little bit faster, and a little bit better.

Nah, I'm negotiating my own way for a bit. Will go back every now and then cos I do revert to cluelessness every so often. But other than widow maker and the second switchback on Bloemslang I can normally ride everything if my balance, coordination, humidity, temperature, wind direction and self-worth are with me on the day. Not including jumps, of course

[Thor Buttox]

SLOW can also be technical...

https://www.instagram.com/p/BK35tAmDTa5/

I get nauseous watching it, but I respect that hugely!

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Nah, I'm negotiating my own way for a bit. Will go back every now and then cos I do revert to cluelessness every so often. But other than widow maker and the second switchback on Bloemslang I can normally ride everything if my balance, coordination, humidity, temperature, wind direction and self-worth are with me on the day. Not including jumps, of course

So like Lorenzo only being able to ride if it's dry, or he's at the front. Got it. 

 

[Thermophage]

I get nauseous watching it, but I respect that hugely!

Yeah...not one could easily have something like that that's only 30cm off the ground...that'd be super technical and not so pant poopingly scary!

[Rapunzel]

So rode the new Trail Z at Hoogekraal yesterday. It really should not have a blue grading. People are seriously going to overstate their own  ability if they ride that and think it is blue.

Now...that being said, it is hell of a fun

But there's not a single technical section on it apart from one 30cm high rocky drop off...Well, on the decents anyway.

I won't say the effort was wasted, but there surely was potential there to have multiple lines, especially in the first descent after the A-frame to have some tech stuff 

The climbs are pretty tough, especially with the trail not having been ridden in yet and being slightly damp...Some of the uphill switchbacks are STEEP and tight making them a real challenge on 4 day tired legs 

Agreed with many points Thermophage. The cost of building the trails is high and the building season short so features are considered as add-ons at a later stage with the focus on creating a trail that the bulk of people can ride.

I agree 100% with the uphill switchbacks - as an xco rider, they're unnecessarily steep and tight and this will probably be attended to when we get to the first round of enhancements. We have a shortage of rocks on our trails (literal ones, not figurative lol!) so gnarly features are a challenge and the bulk of features require shaping. Shaped features are not everybody's idea of technical but the level of "technicality" can be determined by speed and line choices.

[Rapunzel]

Cost implications are FAR less than building a dedicated additional trail

Trail building costs vary from about R10 000 per km for singletrack with no features and no shaping (ie clearing, drainage and where required, retention). Tygerberg's more "feature filled" pieces of trail come to about R140 000 per km.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Agreed with many points Thermophage. The cost of building the trails is high and the building season short so features are considered as add-ons at a later stage with the focus on creating a trail that the bulk of people can ride.

I agree 100% with the uphill switchbacks - as an xco rider, they're unnecessarily steep and tight and this will probably be attended to when we get to the first round of enhancements. We have a shortage of rocks on our trails (literal ones, not figurative lol!) so gnarly features are a challenge and the bulk of features require shaping. Shaped features are not everybody's idea of technical but the level of "technicality" can be determined by speed and line choices.

NOOOO!!! Please don't! 

 

They're tight and challenging (and I know 2 someones on 160mm Giant Reigns, and someone else on a RM Altitude that can make them even when tired and kaput) and they're great. Leave them as is, PLEASE.... 

 

Plus, as an XCO racer, you should be trying to get better at things like that as well cos you WILL encounter them in your racing at times 

 

[T-Bob]

So rode the new Trail Z at Hoogekraal yesterday. It really should not have a blue grading. People are seriously going to overstate their own  ability if they ride that and think it is blue.

Now...that being said, it is hell of a fun

But there's not a single technical section on it apart from one 30cm high rocky drop off...Well, on the decents anyway.

I won't say the effort was wasted, but there surely was potential there to have multiple lines, especially in the first descent after the A-frame to have some tech stuff 

The climbs are pretty tough, especially with the trail not having been ridden in yet and being slightly damp...Some of the uphill switchbacks are STEEP and tight making them a real challenge on 4 day tired legs 

 

Sorry if I missed it but what's the rough time to do the new trail. The whole loop from car park to back I guess. Heading that way this arvo so want to see if I can hammer it in and be back at the ranch before the traffic kicks in. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Trail building costs vary from about R10 000 per km for singletrack with no features and no shaping (ie clearing, drainage and where required, retention). Tygerberg's more "feature filled" pieces of trail come to about R140 000 per km.

With having to clear brush as part of the trail building project, that larger figure is about right for more technical trails. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Sorry if I missed it but what's the rough time to do the new trail. The whole loop form car park to back I guess. Heading that way this arvo so want to see if I can hammer it in and be back at the ranch before the traffic kicks in. 

Total distance is 23km and some change, all told. If you're fit you could probably do it in under 1h30 to 2 hours, IF you include Cobra.  

 

I don't believe Thermophage's strava time...

[T-Bob]

Total distance is 23km and some change, all told. If you're fit you could probably do it in 2h. 

 

Thanks... might put in a little padding on that time. Like to stop and look at the views. 

[Thermophage]

NOOOO!!! Please don't! 

 

They're tight and challenging (and I know 2 someones on 160mm Giant Reigns, and someone else on a RM Altitude that can make them even when tired and kaput) and they're great. Leave them as is, PLEASE.... 

 

Plus, as an XCO racer, you should be trying to get better at things like that as well cos you WILL encounter them in your racing at times 

 

Agreed...Please don't dumb down those switchback climbs!

[MTBeer]

Sorry if I missed it but what's the rough time to do the new trail. The whole loop from car park to back I guess. Heading that way this arvo so want to see if I can hammer it in and be back at the ranch before the traffic kicks in. 

I did Trail Z in about 38min and the original Hoogies including Gorge and Cobra takes me about 55min. So 1h30ish.

[Chavo]

SLOW can also be technical...

https://www.instagram.com/p/BK35tAmDTa5/

This looks fantastically terrifying...and fun!

[MTBeer]

NOOOO!!! Please don't! 

 

They're tight and challenging (and I know 2 someones on 160mm Giant Reigns, and someone else on a RM Altitude that can make them even when tired and kaput) and they're great. Leave them as is, PLEASE.... 

 

Plus, as an XCO racer, you should be trying to get better at things like that as well cos you WILL encounter them in your racing at times 

 

agreed. There is nothing wrong with those switchbacks. Totally rideable.