scotty Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 Def on the increase, yesterday i saw 2 other MTB'ers on my trail which only i knew of previously
Spud Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 Def on the increase' date=' yesterday i saw 2 other MTB'ers on my trail which only i knew of previously [/quote'] We found it first.........we saw you.........watching you!
linnega Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 I agree with Sean's assessment of the 50 miler. I didn't ride for other reasons, but even if I had entered, I probably would have just ridden at Giba as I did that day. The week leading up to the event was pretty soggy and even Giba was slippery. Hilton and Howick can be hell in the mud. Getting dirty is fun, carrying a mud-clogged bike through a marshland is not fun.On the growth of the sport - try telling the 100-odd guys at Giba Gorge every weekend that the sport isn't growing. linnega2008-12-02 03:02:36
dirtrider Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 Me , me . Babaas on 16th and next week I will go and check out this Giba Gorge place
gazza Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 I recall my first Sabie Fat Tyre (now Sable Classic) in '98 had something like ? 90 riders, and Rock Hoppers events at the quarry had ? 50~80 riders... ah the good old days... I've done 8 Sabie Classic's in a row and last year there were ? 2500 entries... By my count MTB is on the up and up !! which is both good and bad
Spud Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 I recall my first Sabie Fat Tyre (now Sable Classic) in '98 had something like ? 90 riders, and Rock Hoppers events at the quarry had ? 50~80 riders... ah the good old days... I've done 8 Sabie Classic's in a row and last year there were ? 2500 entries... By my count MTB is on the up and up !! which is both good and bad Ok Gazza! I am intrigued! Why do say bad as well?
Spud Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 Bad = congested trails !!! Ok! we dont see much of that in PE. The most I have ever seen on a social ride was last weeks Dirty Twin mast ride and that was 10 riders and I was at the back because I am old and walk a lot of that sh!tty climb to the top. During our training for the TransB we only managed to get 4 together at any time. We are hoping to get more riders involved and to have social rides but I suppose it will come to a point that we may regret it.
gazza Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 IMHO ~ with the growth of any sport and commercialization of events to try and accommodate the expectation of the ever increasing masses the sport or freedom of the sport is lost. For example, when I started mountain biking ? 15 years ago, mountain bikers were ultra friendly and always went the extra mile to assist fellow riders while out racing or training or just riding... these days, while it's great to have a thousand fellow riders enter a MTB race, the tempers in the mid field are amazing, just this year, while mid pack of the Argus MTB long route, I climbing the last big climb standing and trying my best while my fellow bikers were walking and blocking the track, I asked for track, as I was still mounted and cycling up the track, some very rude person started swearing and shouting at me... I never engaded, but another guy who was also riding up behind me, told this guy off... I guess the point is this, with growth comes the masses, masses are good for the cycling trade, masses are good for the sport in a whole, but not so good for the friendly image that all mountain bikers once held so close. Having said this, i still love all that is cycling and having competed in bmx, track, road, mountain bike from the age of 12 years... i know there will always be a hand full of rude and unfriendly people
Dirty Twin Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 No Regrets Boet. The more the merrier. Safty in numbers on the social rides.
Spud Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 I agree with you wholeheartedly. I ran my first road race in 1977 and my first Comrades in 1982............the number of fellow runners who slowed down to walk a short distance with me to try and encourage me in the last few k's was amazing.............and then they would look back and come and fetch you. There were only about 4000 in those days and 15000 in my last one 1990 and yes there was a different atmosphere. I ride the way we used to run in those days. when I need to dismount I take a quick look back and try and get out of the way as soon as possible and smile and encourage the guys coming through. Dirty Twin and I had endless sh!t in the Knysna 85km (my first MTB) this year when we got to the 50km riders walking all over the place up muddy hills and asking for track. we were sworn at on more than one occasion to. So easy to smile and crack a joke isnt it?
TYGA Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 Nothing worse than getting to some lekker singletrack after a leg breaking climb and then having to stop start your way down it due to people walking obstacles. I guess that happens when you have experience but not fitness....slow up....fast down!!! keep riding.
HomerSimpson Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 The increase in numbers has certainly put a different complexion on some of the MTB rides...even in my short MTB "career" congestion in the mid-pack of the more popular MTB rides (Argus, Knysna) has increased significantly. This does not bother me too much, as I am mostly instrumental in increasing the congestion rather than being adversely affected by it.
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