Anyone else nearly break their neck at Nissan Diamond rush?

[manbearpig]

I was probably the first but I'm sure not the last to nearly lose my head at "that narrow gate with the cross beam". A small piece of bunting tape hanging from top bar would have saved me a damaged helmet, a 5 second sleep and a few trips to the chiropractor. I would normally direct my anger towards the organisers by calling them a bunch of four letter words starting with F an C but I wont cos the farmer who delayed us going through his land because the organisers failed to get his permission is probably on the phone to them right now telling them what they are anyway. I'm sorry but this race left a very bad taste in my mouth even before we had to ride through the river of

sh!t at the end. Poor show. Rant over.

[Ysterkas]

I nearly drowned after coming down in the little river crossing on 40k hit the only hole in the river bed and couldnt get my feet out of the pedals. I hope it wasn't the **** water that the 70 k's had to cross. Where was the f@#$%^live savers!

[Tieffels]

MBP I feel your pain, if there had not been a bunch in front of me I'd be joining you in group chiropractor sessions. What astounds me, apart from your grievances, is the marshal right there did not recognize the need to warn people..

[_Daemon_]

I was probably the first but I'm sure not the last to nearly lose my head at "that narrow gate with the cross beam". A small piece of bunting tape hanging from top bar would have saved me a damaged helmet, a 5 second sleep and a few trips to the chiropractor. I would normally direct my anger towards the organisers by calling them a bunch of four letter words starting with F an C but I wont cos the farmer who delayed us going through his land because the organisers failed to get his permission is probably on the phone to them right now telling them what they are anyway. I'm sorry but this race left a very bad taste in my mouth even before we had to ride through the river of

sh!t at the end. Poor show. Rant over.

 

 

Weird, when I was going through there, there marshal standing there, warning everyone to lower there heads. Also there was red and white bunting on the top of the gate.

[Wyatt Earp]

Manbeervark

 

A similar thing happened at the Sun City MTB race many years ago, the one chap's face got very, very badly cut.

I am not saying this was the case in your situation here but I have noticed in the past few years that organizers have become rather slack in posting warning signs and leaving the appropriate arrows where they are needed.

Yes marshals also don't give a hoot.

[Muddy]

The marshall (a lady) did actually warn us as we came though but not very loud, just a quiet 'watch your head'. I agree maybe some sort of visual danger sign might be better.

 

and ysterkas sorry for you but the rules state quite clearly you must complete the course on your own steam, swim or cycle Moes seker moer koud gewees het

[Wyatt Earp]

Let's be honest, what would it cost to wrap the damn thing rather heavily with some bunting tape

[manbearpig]

Weird, when I was going through there, there marshal standing there, warning everyone to lower there heads. Also there was red and white bunting on the top of the gate.

Probably because when I got over my daze and my ears stopped ringing I asked her in a very calm and quiet manner to get to the other side of the fence and warn people.

[Muddy]

Probably because when I got over my daze and my ears stopped ringing I asked her in a very calm and quiet manner to get to the other side of the fence and warn people.

 

and by then you have removed the tape with your head

[The expat cyclist]

Well I cracked my new Bell Sweep on the Minedump downhill. How's that?

[IdeJongh]

Spoke to a bunch of people afterward, and seems the general consesus among the slightly more experienced riders are that it was a fantastic route, apart from the shocking mine dump (I really tried to ride up there but just no chance) the route was tough but ridable.

 

I must say that thinking of the general weekend rider/backmarker that route must have been aweful. I very happy my wife (have done two races), did not do this route, would have broken her neck. It probably is good that one or two of the half-marathon routes in the calendar pushes the okes a bit, but these must come with a stern warning beforehand (or did I miss it).

[Fritz Pienaar]

I was probably the first but I'm sure not the last to nearly lose my head at "that narrow gate with the cross beam". A small piece of bunting tape hanging from top bar would have saved me a damaged helmet, a 5 second sleep and a few trips to the chiropractor. I would normally direct my anger towards the organisers by calling them a bunch of four letter words starting with F an C but I wont cos the farmer who delayed us going through his land because the organisers failed to get his permission is probably on the phone to them right now telling them what they are anyway. I'm sorry but this race left a very bad taste in my mouth even before we had to ride through the river of

sh!t at the end. Poor show. Rant over.

 

Sorry to hear about the incident manbearpig. You seem to have experienced all problems of which I was aware on the 70km.

 

Re the beam at the pedestrian gate. The marshal should have opened the big gate which was unlocked but closed for safety reasons, so the marshal slipped up a bit by pointing the riders towards the pedestrian gate. We obviously opened the big gate when we heard that riders were channeled through the small gate.

 

Re The white gate that was closed by a farmer for a brief period of time. This property belongs to the Onverwagt community and we obviously had permission to go through there. The farmer that closed the gate is renting a piece of property from Onverwagt and had no right to close the gate - I think that the community slipped up and didn't inform him about the race and we weren't aware of the guy renting some property. We had written permission from around 60 land owners and took out insurance the properties etc. Land access is our biggest challenge with races so close to Gauteng where there are many land owners for one event.

 

Re Sewerage at the finish - This was really crap - I know, but we had no way of knowing that the pipe was going to bust and there was not way of changing the route on the day of the race. There was no problem with sewerage on Friday before the race.

 

Email me (fritz@cyclesport.co.za) and I will arrange to compensate you in some way.

[IdeJongh]

 

Email me (fritz@cyclesport.co.za) and I will arrange to compensate you in some way.

 

 

I can think of many ways to be compensated myself, for what I dont know, had a blast, it was an awesome race thanks guys!!

 

Sad to hear of all the falls.

[Scooterza]

Sorry to hear about the incident manbearpig. You seem to have experienced all problems of which I was aware on the 70km.

 

Re the beam at the pedestrian gate. The marshal should have opened the big gate which was unlocked but closed for safety reasons, so the marshal slipped up a bit by pointing the riders towards the pedestrian gate. We obviously opened the big gate when we heard that riders were channeled through the small gate.

 

Re The white gate that was closed by a farmer for a brief period of time. This property belongs to the Onverwagt community and we obviously had permission to go through there. The farmer that closed the gate is renting a piece of property from Onverwagt and had no right to close the gate - I think that the community slipped up and didn't inform him about the race and we weren't aware of the guy renting some property. We had written permission from around 60 land owners and took out insurance the properties etc. Land access is our biggest challenge with races so close to Gauteng where there are many land owners for one event.

 

Re Sewerage at the finish - This was really crap - I know, but we had no way of knowing that the pipe was going to bust and there was not way of changing the route on the day of the race. There was no problem with sewerage on Friday before the race.

 

Email me (fritz@cyclesport.co.za) and I will arrange to compensate you in some way.

Fritz - best ride I have done in some time! Well done. You will always have a few issues I guess but I had a good time.

[manbearpig]

Sorry to hear about the incident manbearpig. You seem to have experienced all problems of which I was aware on the 70km.

 

Re the beam at the pedestrian gate. The marshal should have opened the big gate which was unlocked but closed for safety reasons, so the marshal slipped up a bit by pointing the riders towards the pedestrian gate. We obviously opened the big gate when we heard that riders were channeled through the small gate.

 

Re The white gate that was closed by a farmer for a brief period of time. This property belongs to the Onverwagt community and we obviously had permission to go through there. The farmer that closed the gate is renting a piece of property from Onverwagt and had no right to close the gate - I think that the community slipped up and didn't inform him about the race and we weren't aware of the guy renting some property. We had written permission from around 60 land owners and took out insurance the properties etc. Land access is our biggest challenge with races so close to Gauteng where there are many land owners for one event.

 

Re Sewerage at the finish - This was really crap - I know, but we had no way of knowing that the pipe was going to bust and there was not way of changing the route on the day of the race. There was no problem with sewerage on Friday before the race.

 

Email me (fritz@cyclesport.co.za) and I will arrange to compensate you in some way.

 

Hi Fritz, thank you for acknowledging my b!tching session. I appreciate the problems that must come with organising a big event like this and your total control is limited to the people that are employed to assist. Obviously our sport has an element of danger, it was just the elements and nature surrounding my particular fall the made my blood boil as I was concentrating more on making sure my handle bars didn't clip the gate than staring up in the sky looking for a wayward baseball bat. The shade from the hut kept the cross beam from obvious view and as you can imagine I was in a bit of a hurry. Other than that I accept that the farmer is a **** and that sh!t happens when pipes burst. My helmet although new is not a write off, my glasses are cheap, the teeth marks in my tongue have healed, chicks dig the scab on my forehead and I've got full medical aid. So as "compensation" I guess you can move my seeding from C to B so then I don't have to try kill myself chasing down my mates in B. Race number is 1275 MBP out

[Brianbike]

I really enjoyed the 40km route, thank you to everybody involved!

Where can we see the results for the 40km ride?