Ostrich Kick

[ChrisF]

Any hubbers doing this event on Saturday ?

[ChrisF]

https://www.facebook.com/Volstruisfees-139455380000475/ 

[mrcg]

FB link broken.

Here: http://www.cycleevents.co.za/mtb-events/ostrich-kick-trail-running-weekend-2017/

 

Too far and seems not really interesting mtb route - pretty flat?

[Kalahari Vegmot]

I thought I was going to see a picture of you getting kicked by an ostrich...

 

Apparently not.

[Boerklong]

I thought I was going to see a picture of you getting kicked by an ostrich...

 

Apparently not.

Wou nou net sê, gryp hom aan die nek en skud!!!

[ChrisF]

FB link broken.

Here: http://www.cycleevents.co.za/mtb-events/ostrich-kick-trail-running-weekend-2017/

 

Too far and seems not really interesting mtb route - pretty flat?

 

nice excuse for a weekend get-away ....    

 

Leaving early today, taking a very scenic Route62 trip.

 

Weekend on a farm outside Oudtshoorn, with friends and our godson - on an ostrich farm, so maybe some pics later 

 

 

Say hi if you spot me on the trail - Trek EX5, and I will be wearing my Geko Cycles clothing

[ChrisF]

LOTS of rain on Friday night !

 

In the early morning I had visions of bikes covered in mud and more mud ....

 

After a lot more rain I was contemplating not riding....

 

I got to the venue shortly after it opened for late registrations and picking up numbers for those of us that registered online.  Still light rain coming down.  But at least the gravel seemed fine.  After a nice hot cuppacino I was more optimistic about this ride.

 

Turns out this was the first Ostrich Kick festival and cycling and running event.  Very well organized !!

 

 

(yes, FLAT terrain ..... still a very nice ride though)

 

 

Sadly a nasty spill 150m into the start of the 38km ride.  Over-eager kids touched wheels, one went down and was taken to hospital with concussion.  Nothing broken though.

 

 

No rain during the ride, well almost none.  Light rain for the late finishers.

 

 

Pretty sure this event will grow .....

 

 

 

This lady had a tubeless conversion done in the week .... to find the pressures low at the event.  Front was quick to inflate ... rear NOT !  Sludge blocked the valve !  I removed the core and tried to clean it out .... Eventually we (another gent in blue) had to fit a tube.  Finished off less than 60 seconds to the start of the 55km group.  She started dead last .... carried on to win the ladies race.

 

 

 

 

What is a fun-ride without some pics ... and this IS the Ostrich Kick ride -

 

 

Mostly we could navigate around the mud, only a few spots looking like this -

 

 

 

VERY nice interaction between the farmers and local community !  The locals often cycle through these stables to get to the rail line and their regular practice loop -

 

 

 

I started at the back, and gave the pack time to spread out before slowly (and safely) working my way forward.  Helping a couple kids along the way the front pack pulled away and after 5km I had two youngsters ahead of me, and we were steadily pulling away from those behind us.  And then it was Louis and I.  I passed him, just to stop for photos, he asked if I had a mechanical.  When I caught up to him again he struck up a conversation ...  We rode the rest of the way together.