Where has your bike taken you today?

[fanievb]

50 minutes ago, Vetseun said:

Ag, a little gravel grind.

My hero 

Mooi ride ou vettie 

#eendagasekgrootis

[Eddy Gordo]

23 hours ago, copperhead said:

Op Die Berg. Was a bit of a go, stop day. But all in an amazing ride. Sleep in da bush tonight

When was that? We were on at kromrivier from fri. Got caught in the storm, and this morning it was 1 degree there.

[RocknRolla]

Fun Gaalens today.

There was a 24h event on, but this did not bother us, as we were headed towards concrete climb.

that little bump went surprisingly well. Amazing what one can achieve with the modern technology of gears.

wife had a little tumble in some soft sand in the one corner, but nothing serious.

We then decided to give pomphuis a go, at the option of turning right to complete pomphuis, the missus ( I am blaming her completely for this)

decided we should try snakebite trail. Something neither of us have ridden before. All I can say is, go and experience it for yourself, it’s quite something.

Frankenbike behaving.

after more switchback climbing, and more climbing. At this stage I heard the sentinel of a baboon troop barking laughter at us. He was clearly aware of the foolishness of these humans, taking their machines where only baboons can leisurely stroll…

We almost gave up, temps were just above 30°, and water was running low. (This is only about 25kms into the ride)

After climbing forever, one is rewarded with some gnarly down sections, the arm pump was a deserving reward. 
We decided to go back to the shop at skeerpoort, and fill up on some water, I had coke and a bar one, as my breakfast was burned up on the concrete climb, nevermind the snakebite ( redubbed JMSP climb, by me).

onwards to the river section, it was great, shady, cool and flowing. I could taste beer and smell pizza at this stage…

We jumped in the car and high tailed it to ale house.

and pizza

So much for easing back into it. My garmin suggested 4 days of recovery.

I know the beer and pizza will have reduced that….

 

Edited October 24, 2021 by RocknRolla

[Eddy Gordo]

We  went to Kromrivier for the weekend to camp????‍♂️

 

Windy friday night

Edited October 24, 2021 by Eddy Gordo

[Eddy Gordo]

With lots of rain. 

[Eddy Gordo]

Decided on riding in the rain the sat, was covered in mud but what fun.

[justinafrika]

3 hours ago, RocknRolla said:

snakebite ( redubbed JMSP climb, by me).

???????????????? Naaisssss work.

Edited October 24, 2021 by justinafrika

[Eddy Gordo]

55 minutes ago, copperhead said:

Very luckily Friday night I stayed in Ceres in a B&B. This was Saturday. Left around lunch. The amount of rain on Friday night and Saturday morning was insane. Windy as heck. Sorry I missed you guys! Only just arrived at Oasis now. Hope you had a fun weekend 

Was definately an awesome weekend. Enjoy your trip!!

[Old and Slow]

Starting the week right.

[Shebeen]

did some pedalling in the swartberg area last few days.

it was very moist, we just dodged the expected thunderstorm on thursday night but then it cats and dogged on the zink roof all night. We didn't get the swartberg pass views, but it was great to see so much water in a place that so so so so badly needed it.

this is the Katrivier. no one could remember when last it flowed.

 

the Dwyka has been dry for 8 years. so it was rather unexpected that we had this to negotiate.

 

we finished off with the very underrated horlosikrans

and the well known seweweekspoortpass and the tarred huisrivier.

 

interestingly, the Gamkapoort dam has been bone dry for years.

this was posted in 2018

this article and pics are from 2016,

 

https://www.groundup.org.za/article/karoo-dam-dangerously-empty/

[Robbie Stewart]

3 hours ago, copperhead said:

Oasis for tonight. So nice to be clean and wash the clothes. Was only 2 bush sleeps but juat felt incredibly in need of a shower. I did not kill that puffy. It was next to the road. When I saw it I nearly had a coronary right there. 

Why people feel the need to kill a snake wherever they see them is beyond me. That puffy was not threatening anyone and it has a very specific purpose in the eco-system. These same morons who would drive over a snake will decry other forms of eco damage all the same. Truly, the mind boggles.

The snake is not going to bite you when you are safe in the confines of your vehicle, or even if you stop your bike a meter or two away. If you try pick it up with your bare hands and you get bit, that's entirely on you...(talking in general, not at you Copperhead)

[Ed-Zulu]

21 hours ago, Eddy Gordo said:

With lots of rain. 

That looks like a kief spot for a camp.

I also use to poses a magical tent like yours, pitch it and it rains...

[Robbie Stewart]

4 minutes ago, copperhead said:

I don't care much for snakes but make no mistake I would never kill one. They serve their purpose. What gets me most is the amount of bat eared foxes that I see killed. More Northern Cape than around here. My trip to Hakskeen I must have seen 5 on any given day. That really got me. Beautiful creatures. The amount of road kill I actually see is quite haunting. Vehicles serve no purpose to me. Death and destruction. 

That is so sad to hear. Bat eared foxes eat insects...they don't catch live stock like the jackals do.

I was fortunate to see a pair of bat eared foxes at Contermans a couple of months ago as I was descending the revised dh line and forgot to turn in to Black Rhino. I stopped on the contour before the last plunge into the singletrack and heard a scuffle in the bushes right by me, and then these two leapt out and scampered away. Awesome to see.

People killing animals with a car are a special kind of messed-up. (This is a family site, but I am actually refraining to say what I really think)

[justinafrika]

5 minutes ago, copperhead said:

Vehicles serve no purpose to me. Death and destruction. 

Exactly.  Mates ask why I even keep me cars when I cycle wherever I go and me kids are long out the house, no need to ferry anyone around.  Those  old cars get a weekly drive and are only still in the garage ‘cos they’ve dramatically increased in value.  Cycling for the win.

[Eddy Gordo]

21 minutes ago, Ed-Zulu said:

That looks like a kief spot for a camp.

I also use to poses a magical tent like yours, pitch it and it rains...

The tent is a friends. When we made the booking the weather was supposed to be perfect for the weekend. But you know Murphy the MoFo!!!

The cederbergpark is an awesome place. They have tented camps and chalets as well. The hospitality was just awesome and I would definately consider it again, should we be that side of the cederberg.

[Shebeen]

49 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Why people feel the need to kill a snake wherever they see them is beyond me. That puffy was not threatening anyone and it has a very specific purpose in the eco-system. These same morons who would drive over a snake will decry other forms of eco damage all the same. Truly, the mind boggles.

The snake is not going to bite you when you are safe in the confines of your vehicle, or even if you stop your bike a meter or two away. If you try pick it up with your bare hands and you get bit, that's entirely on you...(talking in general, not at you Copperhead)

hang on a sec......Are you actually saying people purposefully drive over snakes?

Maybe it's just me, but the times I've seen one on the road I have had no reaction time to really hit or miss the thing. No matter what swerve or straight you throw, it is all up to chance. The only other thing I could think of is a stationary snake and people would drive over, but surely that is not a thing? I know there are people who think it is cool to shoot at road signs so I don't fully know how these things work, so happy to learn more.