SuikerBosRand suggestions

[predictor]

Hi All,

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I am starting this post to gather some momentum and get some support to make SuikerBosRand in Randvaal a safer place to ride.

 

Some rumors have been circulating around the closure of this cycling paradise to cyclist due to many complaints from several sources regarding cyclist?s behavior.

 

I met with Sibusiso Thusi on Monday the 14 Sept and had a long and fruitful discussion with him regarding the potential closure of SBR to cyclists

 

It was quite clear from the start that he felt that rules were not being adhered to and thus people were being hurt and tourists and staff was being abused.

 

He raised several incidents and had good proof that some cyclists were behaving themselves badly.

 

This is the perfect training ground and he agreed that not all cyclists were behaving in this fashion.

 

I committed to him that I would go away and talk to everyone on the hub regarding and we as cyclists would come up with a set of enforceable rules that could strengthen our case to keep the reserve open to future cycling.

 

My suggestions were that an indemnity form needed to be signed with the basic rules and regulations.

 

I suggested that they get a HOT number that Cyclist, Motorist and hikers could use to report bad behavior.

 

I suggested that every cyclist get a clear number and that this number that has to be worn on the bicycle at all times.

 

A deposit would be paid for the number like in other venues and you need to provide identification when paying.

 

This means that if you are a return offender SBR reserves the rights not to grant you access should you keep on breaking the rules.

 

It is very clear that it is quite lawless at the moment and no one knows what the base rules are.

 

Please do not see this as a way to discriminate against cyclist but rather a workable solution to keep SBR open to cyclist who really cares about the facility.

 

Please add comments and please contribute if you are also keen like me to keep on cycling here.

 

If we do not act, they will, and at this moment they only see one point of view and it is not ours.

 

Thanks all

 

predictor2009-09-17 11:09:39

[Nancy Drew]

I rode there on Sunday morning. There were a number of cyclists that were riding in the wrong direction.  Then it occurred to me that if it was my first visit there alone I wouldn't have a clue which direction to ride in and could quite innocently make the same mistake.

 

A simple solution would be for the security guards at the main gate to issue a 'read before you ride' flyer upon entering the park. This could have a map as well as a few simple rules to follow.

 

Some signage warning cyclists that once you commit to the first hill out of the parking lot there's no turning back and you commit to a whole loop might help.

 

 

[predictor]

 

 

Could not agree with you more.

This was my exact words and

thus it is up to us to create such documentation.

I think there are too many

people unaware of how extreme SBR can get on a Sunday afternoon with little or

no water in the wind.

This is some extreme riding for beginners and thus I

agree with some literature to inform new cyclists of the basics.

 

 

predictor2009-09-17 13:04:57

[Flemish Lion]

 

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Could not agree with you more.

This was my exact words and

 

thus it is up to us to create such documentation.

I think there are too many

 

people unaware of how extreme SBR can get on a Sunday afternoon with little or

 

no water in the wind.

This is some extreme riding for beginners and thus I

 

agree with some literature to inform new cyclists of the basics.

 

 

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

 

 

I think you hit the nail on the head.

 

 

 

From my experience I gather that many 'beginners' start out on the route and then realize it's much harder than they expected and turn around to 'shorten' their sufferings!

 

 

 

So info and a signed form would be a good starting point!

[Guest Big H]

Cyclist behaving badly. The other post on the Cradle with the Trout Farmer vs the Cyclists brought this to the fore as well. Why do we always have to crap on our own stoep?????? ...... even if it only the "few" within our ranks?????

[DRIVETRAIN]

I agree - it is one of the safest venues I've trained in - bar non. I support these ideas, however a signage board that the cyclists can contribute to indicating "Entrance for Cyclists" - the flyer is a good idea as well, any other entrance the cyclists would be turned away & pointed in the right direction.

 

"DT"

[Slave]

Predictor, there is already a thread dedicated to this ideal to keep SBR open to cyclists.

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=46686&KW=Closed

 

There are a lot of suggestions in that thread.

 

I like the idea and will support you in any way I can. It is sucj an awesome place to ride.

 

I like the idea that each cyclist be given a bib (which he wil have to hand back on completion of the ride) The number must be visible fromback and front and the cyclist signs in using that bib number. That was they can take action against each cyclist individually. Ban them or do whatever it takes to get them to comply with the rules.

 

Not sure how they will control the littering by cylcists if they are not seen dropping their goo wrappers but if they are, ban them individually.

 

That way, those who do respect the rules of the park and who do comply, can continue to enjoy the many benefits..

 

My wife is a seamstress. She can make up bibs at a very good price. Each cyclist either has his own (No bib - no ride) so he she can keep it cean, or Protea hotels can issue a temp bib for the once of rider.

 

Each rider has a unique number for identification purposes.

[predictor]

 

Hi All,

 

While riding today I thought about road markings.

 

I am thinking of using 3 colours.

 

Green for the short loop where you leave the office turn left and then right at the T junction. 15 odd km

 

Red for left then left at the T junction all the way around 57 km

 

Orange for entering the south Gate and then turning right after the long hill before the T junction. 45 km loop.

 

I am also thinking of asking for some kind of water point at Sedaven dam.

 

I have already spoken to a printer to print some pamphlets so every cyclist can get 1 with a hot number on it.

 

We should also have a clearly marked map with Cat 1 - 5 climbs to warn new cyclists of the remaining hills.

 

This should also be on the pamphlets.

 

We can work on 3hour 94.7 = 2:30 SBR Red route

 

This way people can guestemate how long it should and could take to complete the route.

 

Just a couple of thoughts.

 

I am going to Knysna next week for holiday and will NOT take my bike with as I am in taper week 1 and will only be running to make up my time.

 

While there I will put together the pamphlet design with numbers and all.

 

O yes I thought of talking to the management at SBR that when a cyclist gets in trouble he can call the hot number and they can come and fetch him at a cost of course.

 

Talk soon and please forward me some more suggestions.

 

 

predictor2009-09-20 11:11:43

[Joe Low]

Hi Predictor

 

Who is Sibusiso Thusi and what did he say about the possbility of closing SBR to cyclists?

 

It'd b interesting to see what they do about mtbers if they shut the reserve to cyclists