JMBC Tour de Jozi

[DonB]

 

 

 

 

 

Johannesburg Mountain Bike Club (JMBC) is holding their third edition of the Tour de Jozi on Saturday the 27th June 2009. As with our Dam2Dam, this will be a long tough off-road ride and tar stretches will be kept to a minimum but are unfortunately unavoidable. Where the Dam2Dam is a point A to B trip, the Tour de Jozi route is circular, starting and finishing on the Braamfontein Spruit at Fratelli's on Conrad Drive in Blairgowrie. We will also start off really early around 06h30. It could be really cold and the sun will only rise at about 07h00. It was extremely cold the previous two years and we had to evacuate someone suffering from hypothermia last year - so be warned!

 

Roughly, we will venture up the spruit to Alberts Farm, across to Ruimsig, onward to Lanseria and Northern Farm and then return via Riversands and FPC Cycles Paulshof entrance to the spruit for the final homeward leg. We envisage two stops for refreshments and food on the route.

 

Three ride levels will be on offer: a blue level which will average 16km/hr, a red level which will average 14km/hr and a yellow level which will average 12km/hr. We cannot offer slower levels because it's almost the shortest day of the year. This ride is also not be for you if you cannot maintain these speeds for the distance off-road. Do not assume because you can do the 94.7 at these speeds that you will survive. Think of a 180km road ride for a comparison. You will be left behind to be evacuated by your own logistic support should you have serious mechanicals, be insufficiently prepared or simply blow out.

 

We want to know up front if you will be attending the event. You cannot just pitch on the day as with other club events as it will have an effect on overall planning so please reply to me and indicate whether you are interested. Non-members are welcome to attend the event as long as they pay their visitors fee of R20 at the ride and notify us in advance that they will attend.

 

See you all there! It will be an awesome challenge.

 

 

 

 

Below is the standard ride notification....

 

 

 

Tour de Jozi Saturday, 27th June 2009

 

Ride Groups: Yellow, red and blue only. The Blue group will run at an average pace of 16km/hr (7 hours with stops), the red group will average 14km/hr (8 hours) and the yellow group will average 12km/hr (9hrs) - If you cannot do this pace off-road, you will end up being left behind.

 

Ratings - Technical: 6/10    Hills: 8/10    Distance: 90-100 km

 

Starting From: Fratelli?s Restaurant Parking Lot

 

Starting Time: 06:00 fpr 06:30 - We will leave at exactly 06h30 (if it's light enough) because it is one of the shortest days of the year - if you are not ready to ride, you will be left behind.

 

Ride Description: Starting on the spruit at Fratelli?s, we ride south toward Emmerentia, then out west toward Albert?s Farm, over Northcliff on tar, down various tar roads to Weltevreden Park, through Struben?s Valley marsh land to Ruimsig, on through Muldersdrift, Logwood, Lanseria, Lafarge Quarry, Northern Farm and the sewerage work?s pipe lines, Riversands, Dainfern, Helderfontein, Leeukop Prison, Clay Oven, FPC Cycles and up the spruit to Fratelli?s.

 

Please note this ride is not for beginners or green level riders.

 

Logistic Support: You have to organise logistic support for the day because you have to get to Fratelli?s, be collected from any convenient point if you abandon the ride, and be collected from Fratelli?s at the end of the ride. You could drive yourself and park there if you have the strength. There is a reasonable amount of parking.

 

Cell Phones:  All riders must have a cell phone with them in order to phone your logistic support.

 

Punctures and Mechanical Failures: Please make sure your bike is good working order. Failures of the bike will also result in you being left behind to be evacuated by your logistic support. Tyre liners are essential. We suggest that all riders carry spare tubes with sealant in them. Do not assume that because you have tubeless tyres, that you do not need these tubes as backup.

 

Food and Water: As you can see from the length of the rides above, food of substance will be part of your baggage besides your energy products. Please ensure you carry sufficient water (3 litres minimum). There will be places to fill up on route however do not assume you can bring a water bottle or two.

 

Stopping Points: Two stopping points are planned for the route namely Ngwenya Glass opposite the Teaspoon and Tankard (35km from the start) and Riversand?s farm (26km beyond Ngwenya). We will stop there for a short periods for refreshments. They are also a good abandonment points such as Logwood Village, Lanseria Airport, Northern Farm and the FPC Cycles vicinity in Paulshof. Bring money on the ride so that you can buy things at these points. At the end of the ride those that want to can go to Fratelli?s for a pizza or six.

 

Directions: From the intersection of William Nicol Drive and Jan Smuts Avenue, take Jan Smuts Avenue north toward Randburg. Drive 1.6km and you will find a slip road to the left to Conrad Drive Blairgowrie just past the Valley Shopping Centre on your right. Take this slip road and drive 300m and turn left into Hillcrest Avenue. The parking fro Fratelli's is immediately on your left hand side.

 

Contact: Don Buchanan (donb@nexusmanagement.co.za). Please do not just pitch on the day. Tell us by email if you are coming before Wednesday 24-Jun-2008 and in which group you will ride. We would like a feel for numbers and we may cap the ride group quantity. If you have already registered, you need not do so again. If you are no longer coming along, please let us know.

 

DonB2009-06-11 13:14:09

[DonB]

Bump

[DonB]

Bump - this ride is on this coming Saturday. Registration required by the end of Wednesday.

[Ryan]

Why is nobody interested in doing this?

 

It sounds like a superb route.

 

[DonB]

Ryan, there are plenty riders doing this ride already (18 in the red group and 17 in blue). MTBers are notorius for doing everything at the last minute so we are expecting a lot more. Closing day for registration via my email address above is Wednesday night.