Anyone else nearly break their neck at Nissan Diamond rush?

[Guest agteros]

Is there another type of orth. surgeon?

 

I sure hope so! But I'll settle for one who knows that the scalpel is not the solution to all problems. Fat chance I guess?

[leeu52]

Here is a copy of the 40 km description on the website: "The 40 km route will have short sections of single track that flows into and out of jeep track. 80% will be jeep track and gravel roads, along ridges and ravines. Bring your family along and make them all experience the excitement of mountain biking!"

 

Sorry for the confusion: This is the add for Diamond Rush in Cullinan that convinced us to partake, not a Babbas ad, although I admit it is a perfect description for Babbas.

[River Rat]

I have to agree with Leeu52, it would be good to have some sort of rating system in place for the technicality of the ride. It would mostly help the new riders and less experienced riders ... but what is the sport without a healthy number of new participants constantly streaming in ?

 

Any one know of systems used elsewhere ?

As a newbie I decided not to do this race simply because of the lack of info. Below is an extract from the Safety Booklet published by Canoeing SA. Each river and race is given a rating so you basically know what you are in for.

CHAPTER 3 – RIVER CLASSIFICATION AND PADDLER

PROFICIENCY RATING

Proficiency ratings have been introduced by the CSA to cover the safety aspect of who may or may not paddle in the more dangerous events on South African waterways. All rivers and marinas have been classified as F, C, B, A, or X for paddling in Kayaks. Where a stretch of water has been classified with a “+” symbol, this refers to isolated obstacles that exceed the overall grading of the river. These obstacles are identified in the river gradings, and will be highlighted in race brochures, pre-race briefings, race maps, and should ideally be clearly signposted, indicating the portage route, well in advance of the obstacle (example “Fish B+ - Keith’s Flyover, Cradock Weir”) It is imperative to note that the difficulty grading of any stretch of water can be significantly affected by unusually high or low water levels, as well as factors such as cold, rain, sleet, wind, mist and fog. The presiding safety officer is entitled to revise the river grading appropriately, and apply restrictions to entry, in these circumstances.

CSA RIVER CLASSIFICATIONS (note that changes in water level will affect the classification of A, B

and C class rivers e.g upper Umgeni at 20 cumecs = B class)

Class F – Flatwater, no discernible flow eg Marina da Gama Midmar Dam or Victoria Lake.

Class C – Flowing gently, some small rapids (class 1 and 2), and possibly reed channels and/or tree

blocks eg Albert Falls weir to Bluegums (Umgeni) or Klip from Henley to Confluence.

Class B – Steady flowing water, with some technical spots that require significant manoeuvring, but

seldom exceed class 3 rapids. eg Campbells farm to Dusi Bridge (Umsindusi), Breede, Barrage to Parys(Vaal).

Class A – Technical, consistent wild water, with class 3 or 4 rapids, difficult access, may contain

technically difficult obstacles such as weirs eg Tugela, Umko, Lowveld Croc.

Class X – Extreme, class 4 and 5 rapids, for very competent plastic kayak paddlers only eg Thrombosis Gorge, Deepdale to Hella Hella or Ndedema Gorge.

MODIFIED INTERNATIONAL SCALE OF RIVER DIFFICULTY (open ended)

CLASS 0: Flat stationary water - no waves.

CLASS 1: Moving water with a few riffles and small waves - few or no obstructions.

CLASS 2: Easy rapids with waves up to a metre high and wide clear channels that can be seen without scouting. Some manoeuvring is required to avoid obstacles.

CLASS 3: Rapids with high, irregular waves (above 1m) would likely swamp an open canoe. Has narrow channels and has some drops causing turbulence that may require complex manoeuvring and even scouting from the bank.

CLASS 4: Long difficult rapids with constricted passages that require precise manoeuvring in very

turbulent water. Scouting from the bank is often necessary and the conditions make rescue difficult.

Paddlers in kayaks should able to successfully execute an eskimo roll.

CLASS 5: Extremely difficult, long and very violent rapids with large drops and highly congested routes that nearly always require scouting. Rescue conditions are difficult and there is a significant risk to life in the event of a mishap. Gradient is steep (1 in 20 up to 1 in 10) with large stoppers. Bomb-proof roll is essential!

CLASS 6: The difficulties of class 5 carried to the extreme of navigability, nearly impossible and very

dangerous. For teams of experts only, after close study and all precautions taken. Generally a very

steep gradient of more than 1 in 5 with a large number of stoppers.

[leeu52]

As a newbie I decided not to do this race simply because of the lack of info. Below is an extract from the Safety Booklet published by Canoeing SA. Each river and race is given a rating so you basically know what you are in for.

CHAPTER 3 – RIVER CLASSIFICATION AND PADDLER

PROFICIENCY RATING

Proficiency ratings have been introduced by the CSA to cover the safety aspect of who may or may not paddle in the more dangerous events on South African waterways. All rivers and marinas have been classified as F, C, B, A, or X for paddling in Kayaks. Where a stretch of water has been classified with a “+” symbol, this refers to isolated obstacles that exceed the overall grading of the river. These obstacles are identified in the river gradings, and will be highlighted in race brochures, pre-race briefings, race maps, and should ideally be clearly signposted, indicating the portage route, well in advance of the obstacle (example “Fish B+ - Keith’s Flyover, Cradock Weir”) It is imperative to note that the difficulty grading of any stretch of water can be significantly affected by unusually high or low water levels, as well as factors such as cold, rain, sleet, wind, mist and fog. The presiding safety officer is entitled to revise the river grading appropriately, and apply restrictions to entry, in these circumstances.

CSA RIVER CLASSIFICATIONS (note that changes in water level will affect the classification of A, B

and C class rivers e.g upper Umgeni at 20 cumecs = B class)

Class F – Flatwater, no discernible flow eg Marina da Gama Midmar Dam or Victoria Lake.

Class C – Flowing gently, some small rapids (class 1 and 2), and possibly reed channels and/or tree

blocks eg Albert Falls weir to Bluegums (Umgeni) or Klip from Henley to Confluence.

Class B – Steady flowing water, with some technical spots that require significant manoeuvring, but

seldom exceed class 3 rapids. eg Campbells farm to Dusi Bridge (Umsindusi), Breede, Barrage to Parys(Vaal).

Class A – Technical, consistent wild water, with class 3 or 4 rapids, difficult access, may contain

technically difficult obstacles such as weirs eg Tugela, Umko, Lowveld Croc.

Class X – Extreme, class 4 and 5 rapids, for very competent plastic kayak paddlers only eg Thrombosis Gorge, Deepdale to Hella Hella or Ndedema Gorge.

MODIFIED INTERNATIONAL SCALE OF RIVER DIFFICULTY (open ended)

CLASS 0: Flat stationary water - no waves.

CLASS 1: Moving water with a few riffles and small waves - few or no obstructions.

CLASS 2: Easy rapids with waves up to a metre high and wide clear channels that can be seen without scouting. Some manoeuvring is required to avoid obstacles.

CLASS 3: Rapids with high, irregular waves (above 1m) would likely swamp an open canoe. Has narrow channels and has some drops causing turbulence that may require complex manoeuvring and even scouting from the bank.

CLASS 4: Long difficult rapids with constricted passages that require precise manoeuvring in very

turbulent water. Scouting from the bank is often necessary and the conditions make rescue difficult.

Paddlers in kayaks should able to successfully execute an eskimo roll.

CLASS 5: Extremely difficult, long and very violent rapids with large drops and highly congested routes that nearly always require scouting. Rescue conditions are difficult and there is a significant risk to life in the event of a mishap. Gradient is steep (1 in 20 up to 1 in 10) with large stoppers. Bomb-proof roll is essential!

CLASS 6: The difficulties of class 5 carried to the extreme of navigability, nearly impossible and very

dangerous. For teams of experts only, after close study and all precautions taken. Generally a very

steep gradient of more than 1 in 5 with a large number of stoppers.

 

Please advise me how to promote the same for this sport.

We are really sick of being subjected to the MTB start-official's ranting and raving about the illegal dangers of the much feared Ipod, fines for shouting at other bikers, but absolute silence on the real cause of injuries.

When I walked into the local bike shop yesterday and saw the sling, the first thing they asked me was if I also got injured at Cullinan last weekend. Interesting..there has been other races since then.

[River Rat]

Please advise me how to promote the same for this sport.

We are really sick of being subjected to the MTB start-official's ranting and raving about the illegal dangers of the much feared Ipod, fines for shouting at other bikers, but absolute silence on the real cause of injuries.

When I walked into the local bike shop yesterday and saw the sling, the first thing they asked me was if I also got injured at Cullinan last weekend. Interesting..there has been other races since then.

I guess the answer lies in having a proper national representative body. Canoeing SA are so efficient and they are effectively elected by the canoeists. Which makes the difference

[Tieffels]

On another thread people where getting their panties in a knot if the race distance is out by 25m, and now you guys want a technical rating? So you enter a race thinking it is a 3.5 out of 5, and you end up feeling hard done by because you felt it to be a 3.8... Seriaas?

 

What happens if you are out on a training ride and hit a hole that was not there last time, who's to blame then? CSA? Julias? Apartheid?

 

What happened to riding within your ability, if you have control over your bike you'll be OK for 99.9% of the time.

 

Ja, bad things happen, people hit bars that should be marked, people hit holes that should be marked, people lose their money in recessions..

 

But I mean for goodness sake, it is mountainbiking, there are risks, grow a pair..

 

Where is that Bustthesickness character when duty calls?

[River Rat]

On another thread people where getting their panties in a knot if the race distance is out by 25m, and now you guys want a technical rating? So you enter a race thinking it is a 3.5 out of 5, and you end up feeling hard done by because you felt it to be a 3.8... Seriaas?

 

What happens if you are out on a training ride and hit a hole that was not there last time, who's to blame then? CSA? Julias? Apartheid?

 

What happened to riding within your ability, if you have control over your bike you'll be OK for 99.9% of the time.

 

Ja, bad things happen, people hit bars that should be marked, people hit holes that should be marked, people lose their money in recessions..

 

But I mean for goodness sake, it is mountainbiking, there are risks, grow a pair..

 

Where is that Bustthesickness character when duty calls?

 

Chickenrun4me, I just wonder how you would feel if you had a broken collarbone having entered a race that you were led to believe was within your capability. My guess is pissed off and rightfully so. All I'm asking is for more accurate information on the race conditions so that I'm in a position to make a judgement call.

 

The reason Canoeing SA started grading river events is because of number of novices getting seriously injured and even being killed partaking in events that they were not ready for. My observation is that MTBiking is not far away from having someone killed in an event and not necessarily because they were novices but because as you rightfully say it is a risky sport. But watch the reaction of the organisers when this happens you will be signing indemnity forms for every race. Giving participants accurate information shifts some (not all) of judgement issues to the rider, but by not telling the particpant anything or even worse giving incorrect information leaves the organisers quite exposed to claims from an injured rider.

 

Personally my need for information is less about the technical issues but more about climbing due to lack of fitness, but for my wife it is very different as she does not enjoy the technical stuff. I would prefer it if she didn't as you suggest grow a pair, as for me I've got a pair and they are big & hairy!

[Cassie]

On another thread people where getting their panties in a knot if the race distance is out by 25m, and now you guys want a technical rating? So you enter a race thinking it is a 3.5 out of 5, and you end up feeling hard done by because you felt it to be a 3.8... Seriaas?

 

What happens if you are out on a training ride and hit a hole that was not there last time, who's to blame then? CSA? Julias? Apartheid?

 

What happened to riding within your ability, if you have control over your bike you'll be OK for 99.9% of the time.

 

Ja, bad things happen, people hit bars that should be marked, people hit holes that should be marked, people lose their money in recessions..

 

But I mean for goodness sake, it is mountainbiking, there are risks, grow a pair..

 

Where is that Bustthesickness character when duty calls?

 

 

Very well said chickenrun!!!

Do we need to spoonfeed everything?

 

AND, if i say jump off this cliff...will you just go and do it...blindly without weighing up the options??

 

Seriasly, dudes...use you heads...if the terrain looks too technical / steep/ difficult to master...the get off your bike and WALK that section...it's as simple as that...

[Tieffels]

Chickenrun4me, I just wonder how you would feel if you had a broken collarbone having entered a race that you were led to believe was within your capability. My guess is pissed off and rightfully so. All I'm asking is for more accurate information on the race conditions so that I'm in a position to make a judgement call.

 

The reason Canoeing SA started grading river events is because of number of novices getting seriously injured and even being killed partaking in events that they were not ready for. My observation is that MTBiking is not far away from having someone killed in an event and not necessarily because they were novices but because as you rightfully say it is a risky sport. But watch the reaction of the organisers when this happens you will be signing indemnity forms for every race. Giving participants accurate information shifts some (not all) of judgement issues to the rider, but by not telling the particpant anything or even worse giving incorrect information leaves the organisers quite exposed to claims from an injured rider.

 

Personally my need for information is less about the technical issues but more about climbing due to lack of fitness, but for my wife it is very different as she does not enjoy the technical stuff. I would prefer it if she didn't as you suggest grow a pair, as for me I've got a pair and they are big & hairy!

 

I have never broken anything coming off my bike, however 95% of the times when I have seen my backside it has been on very well known routes that where WELL within my capabilities. Coming short has always been my fault and I have no one else to blame but myself. I ride considerably more carefully on unknown routes and stay within a comfortable margin of safety. I can also promise you that there were people who did your race with less capabilities than you and your wife and with less information and they did not fall. What is the difference?

 

I really do have a lot of sympathy for your position, but I see it as part and parcel of the sport (to which we agree) and I have my doubts about the type of information that would have remedied the situation. Yes, I think route profiles or at the very least total climbing would be awesome for every race, but I just cannot see grading routes as a practical measure. I've done races thinking the route was pretty easy and then there are others claiming it was impossible and calling for the blood of the organisers. There will ALWAYS be people feeling cheated by the grading or description.

 

Having done mental loops about the whole issue I still maintain that you should ride within your fitness in terms of the distance as fatigue is the biggest contributor to crashes, and secondly to ride within your capabilities on the technical stuff.

 

I do not think that it is fair to compare MTB to canoeing since as you see groot k@k coming in a canoe you cannot just stop and walk it..

 

And I agree 100% with you that you should not encourage your wife to grow a pair, but somehow to encourage her to gain confidence on the technical stuff. But that is another topic all together..

[River Rat]

Chickenrun, just to correct you my wife and I did not do this race simply because I could not get any information on the race and reading this thread I have mixed feelings about this decision. I still don't know whether we were capable of doing the race or not. Reading this thread it sounds like other newbies had a nightmare and for this reason its sounds like I made the correct call but I'm still none the wiser as what to expect of this race. I don't feel it would be correct to judge it on the comments of the guys that had an unfortunate experience on the day, but there is no other information.

 

However, I'm delighted we agree on somethings and perhaps we should build on this:

1. We agree that route profiles would be helpful. So why do the organisers not publish these?

2. The grading given to a race will always be subjective and will not satisfy everyone. But is this a good enough reason not to have them if it helps in encouraging newcomers to the sport?

 

The technical grading system I would suggest should be based on the general experience of the field and a simple 1 to 5 grading applied on the following basis: IMHO Babbas Lodge Grade 1, Walkerville 2, Northerns Quickie 2, and Groenkloof (including the lookout point) 3, Fountains 4 (I haven't done enough races to rate a 5). If enough riders where canvassed on their opinion of the technical aspects of the various races of the riders and we averaged this out we would get a consensus view that can be trusted. The answer will always be relative but that should be all we need.

 

The value for me and I suspect the other newbies would be that if I can handle Babbas without difficulty I should really be raising my game to a grade 2 race. Similarly, if I can handle a grade 2 I should aspire to a grade 3. This means that I'm constantly raising the bar without starting something I am simply not ready for. The truth is that this information is actually out there but unless you know someone who has done the event that you can reference you have simply no idea of what to expect.

 

The value for the more experienced rider would be to ensure he doesn't end up doing races that were far too easy for his ability. I guess it would also lead to some bragging rights in terms of the number of grade 5 races one has done. I wonder if there are other hubbers that have the same requirements as I have or am I the only one?

[Guest agteros]

Chickenrun4me, I just wonder how you would feel if you had a broken collarbone having entered a race that you were led to believe was within your capability. My guess is pissed off and rightfully so. All I'm asking is for more accurate information on the race conditions so that I'm in a position to make a judgement call.

 

The reason Canoeing SA started grading river events is because of number of novices getting seriously injured and even being killed partaking in events that they were not ready for. My observation is that MTBiking is not far away from having someone killed in an event and not necessarily because they were novices but because as you rightfully say it is a risky sport. But watch the reaction of the organisers when this happens you will be signing indemnity forms for every race. Giving participants accurate information shifts some (not all) of judgement issues to the rider, but by not telling the particpant anything or even worse giving incorrect information leaves the organisers quite exposed to claims from an injured rider.

 

Personally my need for information is less about the technical issues but more about climbing due to lack of fitness, but for my wife it is very different as she does not enjoy the technical stuff. I would prefer it if she didn't as you suggest grow a pair, as for me I've got a pair and they are big & hairy!

 

Surely you should know whether something is within your capabilities or not? There is no shame in walking a difficult (technical) section, whether it being rocky, downhill, uphill, slippery, or whatever. Surely you get a feeling when you look at an obstacle whether you can(WILL, not MIGHT) get through/over it?

 

There were steep down hills on this race that I approached with GREAT caution, which made me look like a scared little girl, BUT I got to the bottom unscathed... Yikes, and I'm not even considered a true mountain biker by some (and a part cyclist by most!).

 

Yes I did get hurt at this race, but that was on one of the few level, straight AND hard packed sections on the route..... Why? Well, purely because I was not paying attention!! I'm not baying for the blood of the organisers, or demanding that the national body protects me from my own stupidity!

 

If you realised the route was too difficult for you, did you abandon the race? Called the organisers / sweeper team to come pick you/your wife up?

 

Rather than whine and cry on www.thehubsa.co.za why do you not enter your wife on one of the numerous skills courses around?

[River Rat]

Ageteros, who is whining and crying? You may have missed my last post - we did not do the race because we did not know what to expect. I have no reason to blame the organsiers nor am I baying for anyones blood. The fact that they had insufficient information for us meant they simply did not get an entry from us. That's their loss and will continue to be that until I get some indication on what I can expect

 

But lets see if we can turn this into a positive - Firstly, please tell me where I can enrol in a technical skills course. Secondly how would you compare the technical aspects of this ride to say Groenkloof?

[Guest agteros]

I do not really know Groenkloof... I do not like to do the technical stuff, hence no XC races for me ... And if you did not enter, kewl then you most probably did the right thing, now stop moaning about whatever else.

 

Tread mag offers ladies skills courses, I stand to be corrected www.threadmag.co.za

Cult Cycling offers technical skills courses (at th MTB MTB park?) www.cultcycling.co.za

JMBC offers skills courses www.jmbc.org.za

 

Google, there are more I'm sure...

[River Rat]

Thanks for the info I will follow it up.

 

However, I will continue on my crusade ( moaning as you put it) for better information from the race organisers until I get it and if I read your post even you will benefit from it

[Guest agteros]

I'm a runner by heart, and could not really be bothered by improving my technical skills. Less heart ache to just be careful and walk, do a 1/2 dismount & do a push bike kick on "those" sections.

[Albert T]

Try MTBSkills.co.za. Once you have the theory IMHO only one solution - more exposure to technical bits. I did not like the tough sections, but found that when the rider in front of you does it, you automatically have more confidence and you end up trying. More times with success than not.

 

I get irritated When fellow riders cross a section that I am nervous about and therefore always want to improve on that section. You can do it!

 

You are right to want more information, but I would suggest one stat to focus on because there is no standard for technical bits - find out how much climbing there is. That differentiates the races - compare Sabie to the Nissan series