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National MTB series (formerly Ashburton)


Milkman

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Nissan Trailseeker still happening in Gauteng

 

Yes, Nissan renewed their sponsorship for the Trailseeker series.

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In 2018 Nissan Trailseeker has one less event in Gauteng. They cut it from 5 to 4.. Hazeldean loosing out. The number of Nissan events in Cape also cut - not sure by how many races.

 

I will hang my colours to the mask: I loved the Ashburton Series! Well organised, well hosted and challenging routes (for my skill set). It will leave a hole in our families race calendar.

 

In 2016 the Babba's monthly races were cancelled and the Croc2Croc strage race that I did in 2017 is not to be continued. Is this the long term trend - less events?

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Done Clarens with a large group for the last 3 years, but without anything on the calendar we have had to look and book an alternate race in April(Sabie Experience). So I guess anyone stepping in to revive Clarens(and any of the others) may find the numbers down as others do the same.

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The bulk of entrants used to (are?)  weekend warriors - not in for the National Series, that only is applicable to the few that manage to make a living out of the sport, plus the more serious cyclists like a few here, and good for you.  Prize Giving is held whilst 80% are still out there slugging it away, that says a lot. Media coverage is only on the front, and more about giving sponsors air time

 

So what are we / you in it or do it  for?  I want a day out in nature, preferably the mountains, and to get a good ride in, put my bike through its paces,  and share/connect with fellow like-minded riders. Who wins and finishing times mean little to me, what matters is to finish, preferably a few k's ahead of the Grim Sweeper.

 

Sustainability in my opinion is community organised & locally sponsored events. Barberton is one example, that managed to survive when it was dropped by Advent. And still going strong, there is a lot o local people that volunteer and help get it together, for fundraising.

 

Clarens is awesome in the autumn, and a great day out in the foothills of the 'Burg - I hope someone local pics that up. Or does Advent. own the rights?

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The obvious thing for me as capie was it became a Joburg thing.

 

Look at the 2017 calendar. You've got grabouw and then the rest are within 3hrs drive of Joburg. Not even a Midlands event.

 

http://advendurance.com/nationalmtbseries/

 

They're claiming it as the 2002 series, the Mazda/ MTB national series, which was way more spread around.

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Just as a reference, here it is in 2007

 

 

Mazda Marathon Series dates for 2007

 

1.Mazda Barberton Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 27th January

 

2. Mazda Dirty Harry Mountain Bike Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 14th April

 

3. Mazda Forest to Falls Mountain Bike Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 5th May

 

4.Mazda Induna Mountain Bike Marathon

•2007 National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships

Date 16th June

 

5.Pick & Pay Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour Mazda Marathon

Date 7th July

 

6.Mazda Illovo Eston Classic Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 5th August

 

7.Mazda Koranna Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 25th August

 

8.Mazda Haenertsburg Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 8th September

 

9.The Herald Karoo to Coast Mazda Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 23rd Sept

 

10. Color Press Ride Crater Cruise Mazda Marathon

Date 13th & 14th Oct

 

 

 

Half Marathon Series dates for 2007

 

1.RCI Barberton Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 27th January

 

2. FPC Heritage Classic and RCI Half Marathon

Date 18th March

 

3. RCI Dirty Harry Mountain Bike Half Marathon

• (SA Team Selection race)

Date 14th April

 

4.RCI Forest to Falls Mountain Bike Half Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 5th May

 

5. RCI Induna Mountain Bike Half Marathon

•National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships

Date 16th June

 

6. Pick & Pay Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour RCI Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 7th July

 

7.Illovo Eston Classic RCI Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 5th August

 

8. RCI Koranna Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 25th August

 

9. RCI Haenertsburg Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 8th September

 

10. Alpine Heath RCI Half Marathon

Date 27h Oct

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Bottom line there is nothing in it for sponsors.

Zero,zip zada.

And dont give me exposure story that’s all BS and does nothing for sales etc.

Just go thru a list of past or current sponsors of events,teams riders in your mind.

Ashberton,Spur,Nissan,USN,Dorma kaba,NAD,Eurosteel,RECM etc etc etc.

How many have we as rides supported,Hell some of them I didn’t even and still don’t know what they do.

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Just as a reference, here it is in 2007

Mazda Marathon Series dates for 2007

1.Mazda Barberton Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 27th January

2. Mazda Dirty Harry Mountain Bike Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 14th April

3. Mazda Forest to Falls Mountain Bike Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 5th May

4.Mazda Induna Mountain Bike Marathon

•2007 National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships

Date 16th June

5.Pick & Pay Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour Mazda Marathon

Date 7th July

6.Mazda Illovo Eston Classic Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 5th August

7.Mazda Koranna Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 25th August

8.Mazda Haenertsburg Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 8th September

9.The Herald Karoo to Coast Mazda Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 23rd Sept

10. Color Press Ride Crater Cruise Mazda Marathon

Date 13th & 14th Oct

Half Marathon Series dates for 2007

1.RCI Barberton Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 27th January

2. FPC Heritage Classic and RCI Half Marathon

Date 18th March

3. RCI Dirty Harry Mountain Bike Half Marathon

• (SA Team Selection race)

Date 14th April

4.RCI Forest to Falls Mountain Bike Half Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 5th May

5. RCI Induna Mountain Bike Half Marathon

•National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships

Date 16th June

6. Pick & Pay Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour RCI Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 7th July

7.Illovo Eston Classic RCI Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 5th August

8. RCI Koranna Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 25th August

9. RCI Haenertsburg Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 8th September

10. Alpine Heath RCI Half Marathon

Date 27h Oct

Just as a reference, here it is in 2007

Mazda Marathon Series dates for 2007

1.Mazda Barberton Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 27th January

2. Mazda Dirty Harry Mountain Bike Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 14th April

3. Mazda Forest to Falls Mountain Bike Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 5th May

4.Mazda Induna Mountain Bike Marathon

•2007 National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships

Date 16th June

5.Pick & Pay Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour Mazda Marathon

Date 7th July

6.Mazda Illovo Eston Classic Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 5th August

7.Mazda Koranna Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 25th August

8.Mazda Haenertsburg Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 8th September

9.The Herald Karoo to Coast Mazda Mountain Bike Marathon

Date 23rd Sept

10. Color Press Ride Crater Cruise Mazda Marathon

Date 13th & 14th Oct

Half Marathon Series dates for 2007

1.RCI Barberton Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 27th January

2. FPC Heritage Classic and RCI Half Marathon

Date 18th March

3. RCI Dirty Harry Mountain Bike Half Marathon

• (SA Team Selection race)

Date 14th April

4.RCI Forest to Falls Mountain Bike Half Marathon

•(SA Team Selection race)

Date 5th May

5. RCI Induna Mountain Bike Half Marathon

•National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships

Date 16th June

6. Pick & Pay Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour RCI Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 7th July

7.Illovo Eston Classic RCI Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 5th August

8. RCI Koranna Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 25th August

9. RCI Haenertsburg Mountain Bike Half Marathon

Date 8th September

10. Alpine Heath RCI Half Marathon

Date 27h Oct

 

Wow, blast from the past, quite a few decent races no more !!

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So Ashburton did not renew their sponsorship for the national MTB series for 2018 , and so far it does not seem as if they have a new sponsor yet ?

 

Please don't tell me the series is not gonna carry on this year ??? This was a fantastic series in some of the nicest parts of SA for Joe Soap and his friend to ride lekke trails and it will be a huge loss to the SA marathon riders if it does not carry on .

 

Is there maybe a Hubber that has some good news for me regarding the series ?

It does suck, the venues were amazing. Kaapsehoop was brilliant, mud and all.

 

I hope there's a solution....

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The wife and I enjoyed the 2-day format. Making a weekend of it at venues that we otherwise would not have visited.  Loosing these events could have a negative economic impact for these towns. Kosmonooit does have a point though: the number of riders on day 2 were less than day 1 and I thought the new venues like Champagne and Kaapsehoop (both had great routes) had less number of riders than the old venues (like Clarens).

 

Other parties could step in and host these events independently but would be stretched to meet the high standards of Advendurance (at least up here in the north).

I agree. Enjoyed the two day format and had some great weekends away riding with mates at the different venues.
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If they do get a sponsor it would be a little bit to late already, they will have booked and paid for dates on the CSA calendar however many people plan ahead so it would take them at least a year to pick up numbers again. 

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I also enjoyed the 2 day format. Firstly I have 2 teenagers , so they were not allowed to do the marathon Sat , half marathon Sunday format , and therefore the option of doing 2 half marathon’s Sat and Sunday was great.

And then of course it made it a lot more attractive to travel to a race that was quite far away if you knew that you had 2 days of riding. It therefore was like a mini break for the whole family with some great riding thrown in.

I ( for example) would never have traveled all the way to Kaapsehoop if it was just a 1 day race , but because it was 2 days we went. And boy was it worth it !!! I absolutely loved the littl town ( which I probably would never have seen if wasn’t for the race ) and also loved the trails.

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Missed Clarens the last 2 years (I could not find any accommodation for last year because it was right in the middle of school holidays). Was very keen to do it again this year especially since the family and I enjoyed the other 3 I did so much (even if they did not ride).

 

Also liked to plan my cycling races at the beginning of the year, especially to start booking accommodation. Guess it will only be local races this year...

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  • 3 weeks later...

Anyone have any update or inside info if this series is actually going to happen this year...or do we treat it as a write off?

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Yip, sad to see it being no more.

 

I enjoyed all they had to offer and the 2 day's riding made for a great weekend away. I did see the rider numbers' dwindle the last few years so was wondering if 2018 was going to happen.

 

Let's see what happens

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Nothing yet and calendar filling up...

 

Watch this space. Time for something new with the Go Wild Series in 2018. Details will be available soon. 

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