I think I will…

Posted on 12th July 2010 by mtbguy in Uncategorized

For 32 days now, I’ve done nothing much except eat, drink and drive ( not in that order). In fact, I drove a neat 8927km to be exact. That trip took me from Cape Town, all the way to Beit Bridge in Zimbabwe, out again at Mutare and into Mozambique to the Gorongosa National Park. From there I went north and then a week later south again, all along the pristine Mozambique coast line.

So, the point I’m trying to make is this: there was not a lot of cycling to be done. In fact: no cycling of any kind during that period.

Back home now, I must consider how to ease back into things. Hence the purpose of this post. Though not the easiest of rides, the Burger MTB Challenge in Stellenbosch has always been a great event and often filled with much mud, may I add.

So, whether I can get myself into shape in a mere 18 days, with 2 business trips in the mix, remains to be seen and will be seen and felt on 31 July in Stellenbosch.

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Bastille Festival Freedom Ride – 18 July

Posted on 28th June 2010 by mtbguy in Uncategorized

FRANSCHHOEK CYCLING CLUB INVITES YOU TO COME AND ENJOY AN AWESOME RIDE IN FRANSCHHOEK DURING BASTILLE FESTIVAL!

Remember the Dewdale MTB Classic (2001 – 2007)..?

Well, we hope to bring it back as the Bastille Festival MTB Classic in 2011..!

For 2010, the FCC (Franschhoek Cycling Club) will be hosting the Bastille Festival Freedom Ride: an informal MTB Ride (NOT a Race). Proceeds of this Ride will go towards the FCC’s Development initiatives, including the FCC Development Team.

  • DATE:  Sunday 18th July 2010
  • START TIME: 9h30 (please Register where you see the Manic Cycles banner)
  • REGISTRATION: 8H00 – 9H15
  • VENUE:  Huguenot Monument, Franschhoek
  • DISTANCES:  +-30KM (for the Fitter riders) – Moderate Intensity, +-15KM (for the Families/Kiddies) – Easy Intensity

Both Groups will start off together

FCC Members will lead the Outrides according to ability

  • ENTRY FEE: R30-00
  • CONTACT: Geddan Ruddock – 082 578 3017 or Paul Barkley – 083 302 9096

After the Ride, we are going to have some Lucky Draws where you can win 1 of 3 Limited Edition FCC Cycling Tops!

After the Lucky Draw, you are welcome to do some Wine Tasting and/or Eat out at a Restaurant in Franschhoek, after all it’sBastille Festival in Franschhoek:

http://www.franschhoek.org.za/pages/show/94/

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Sea Otter Classic… at last!

Posted on 14th April 2010 by mtbguy in Uncategorized - Tags: , ,

For many years now I’ve wanted to participate in the Sea Otter Classic. Though it will only be one event ( out of the many to choose from) I will finally be able to participate in just that, this weekend when I do the Mountain Bike Tour as part of the 20th anniversary of the Sea Otter Classic.

According to their web site, the Mountain Bike Tour will allow me the opportunity to enjoy trails of the BLM Fort Ord Public Lands! The 20 mile loops is a combination of singletrack and fire road trails. I will enjoy a fantastic post-race lunch and the Sea Otter Festival after my ride. There will be one rest stop for those in need of a mid-ride energy boost.

The rest stop will be stocked with CLIF bars, Clif Shots, Cytomax and bananas. So, wish me luck not with my ride but the 30hrs it will take me to get from Cape Town to Monterey California. I will be sure to tweet (www.twitter.com/mtbZA) and blog from there.

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Riding Mongolia?

Posted on 8th December 2009 by mtbguy in Uncategorized

Wanna give the 2010 World Cup a miss in SA? Then this is a good way to do it. See the email I just received from the organisers:

Next year we will organise the first and only international MTB race in Mongolia.
It is the first and only MTB race in Mongolia! A 5 stage race with a total of 483km of real Mongolian adventure!
www.mountainbikemongolia.com
Are you interested in joining this exclusive and extreme event?

The event is very exclusive (to avoid natural impact) and we only admit 50 riders.

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MTN Attakwas Extreme: 2010

Posted on 3rd December 2009 by mtbguy in Uncategorized
MTN Attakwas Extreme
The MTN Attakwas MTB ultra marathon is hosted at Chandelier Game Farm just outside of Oudtshoorn. The route traverses the Klein Karoo, the Attakwas jeep trail and crosses the Outeniqua mountain range to finish in Grootbrak on the coast.
The distance of 135km has close to 3000m of vertical ascent and features rolling gravel roads, rough jeep track, many river crossings and washed out rocky descents.
This is an extreme Mountain bike event. Fitness and a strong mind are essential! Click here for more route info
MiWay Attakwas Mini
The MiWay Attakwas Mini, that is what the 53km odd new race will be called, will start and finish in Great Brak river, and will share certain sections of the MTN Attakwas Extreme route. To enable the supporters and crew of the riders from the extreme race to be able to compete in the Attakwas mini, we have decided to start this shorter version only at 09:30, with the average finishing time around 3 – 3.5 hours. Don’t underestimate this one, the name still says “Attakwas” Click here for more route info
Cut-Offs in the MTN Attakwas Extreme
The first ten positions in the overall classification for both male and female riders will receive a gold medal, all male competitors that finish under 7 hours and lady competitors who finish under 8 hours, will receive a silver medal. All other participants that make the 12 hour cut off receive a bronze finisher’s medal.
Race cut offs is extremely important in a race of this nature – our main concern is rider safety, and these cut off times are non negotiable. If we deem a rider not to be medically fit to carry on with the event, he/she will be removed and taken to the start/finish area – this is non negotiable and remains at the sole discretion of our medical team.
Race cut off will be enforced at two points;
Water point # 4 (96 km) at 16:30 (10 hours)
Finish (135 km) at 18:30 (12 hours)
Riders reaching water point # 4 before 16:30 will be allowed to continue but have to reach the finish before 18:30.
With the MTN Attakwas once again receiving the award for SA’s top one day cycle event, entries will once again be in high demand, so please enter early to avoid disappointment. Spectator view points are available!
Entries are closing fast!
Enter before 30 November 2009 & Receive;
HH Technical shirt!
A saving on your entry fee!
The experience of SA’s #1 rated one day MTB race for 2009
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Totalsports Challenge: 2010

Posted on 2nd December 2009 by mtbguy in Uncategorized

TOTALSPORTS CHALLENGE Kleinmond “One Team, Seven Challenges”

Start the New Year with a bang by tackling the thrilling Totalsports Challenge presented by New Balance and Powerade.  Multi-sport enthusiasts, fitness junkies and lovers of the outdoors can choose between the action-packed Totalsports Challenge or the less daunting, but still exciting Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge.  The full-on challenge consists of seven disciplines, while the Terra Firma Challenge only features four land-based disciplines. 
Totalsports Challenge entrants can compete individually or in teams of two, three or seven (male, female or mixed), while Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge entrants can compete individually or in teams of teams of two or four.  The organisers of the Totalsports Challenge are delighted to welcome the Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays and the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa in Kleinmond as the official accommodation partners of the Totalsports Challenge. 
Registration will take place on Thursday, 07 January 2010 between 16h00 – 19h00 at Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, followed by the race briefing at 19h00 and pasta party at 20h00.
  
EVENT DATE:    Saturday, 09 January 2010
VENUE:    Start in Gordon’s Bay (Beach Front), End in Kleinmond (Beach Front)
START:    Totalsports Challenge – 06h00, Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge – 07h45
DISTANCES:    
Totalsports Challenge – 12km surfski, 1.5km swim, 50km  road bike (from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 13km K1 canoe, 25km  mountain bike and finally a 9km beach run
Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge - 50km road bike (from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 25km mountain Bike and 9km beach run.
Entries for the 2010 Totalsports Challenge are now open and can be submitted online at www.totalsports.co.za.  The 2010 event will also feature a new category, specifically created for veterans aged 40 and older.  Support and back-up crews can also get into the action during this year’s race and look forward to a challenge of their own.  A prize will be awarded to the best seconding team involved in the race and crews are challenged to dress to impress with eye-catching team clothing and turn heads with attention-grabbing branding on team vehicles.   The winners will walk away with a R2000 shopping voucher at any Totalsports store.

The Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa is offering a great weekend rate exclusive to participants and spectators of the Totalsports Challenge.  For event information, contact Stillwater Sport and Entertainment on (021) 883 – 2413.  For entry information, contact Top Events on (021) 511 – 7130.  For accommodation enquiries, contact 028 284 0000 or email reservations@arabellawesterncapehotel.co.za

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Want FOX to sponsor you for 2010?

Posted on 9th November 2009 by mtbguy in Uncategorized
Hey you mountainbiker. Did you know that Fox Racing Shox is looking for riders?
So, finally you can get that sponsorship break that you’ve been looking for and deserve, off course.
See BikeRadar.com for more.


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Buffet Olives MTB Ride: 1 November

Posted on 6th October 2009 by mtbguy in Uncategorized
BUFFET OLIVES MTB CLASSIC 
is taking place on Sunday 1st November. ( in the Paarl area)
Catering for Beginner & Advanced riders alike, this is a unique MTB Event that the whole Family can enjoy.
Not only are there 3 Distances to choose from (you can decide according to your fitness level whether to attempt the 15km, 25km or 50km), but we also have a 5km Route amongst the Olive groves to cater for the Kids J
And for those Family members that do not want to ride, you are welcome to come and Picnic under the Olives trees, Shop at the various Stalls or take a walk on the Farm; a Jumping castle will also be available for the youngsters J
For more Information, and to download an Entry form, please visit:

www.maniccycles.co.za

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Mountain to Mountain: 10 October

Posted on 21st September 2009 by mtbguy in Uncategorized

This seems like a nice ride to do on 10 October at Slanghoek near Worcestor.
There will be a:

  • 15km ride
  • 30km ride
  • and 60km technical ride for the fit and experienced.

See: www.slanghoek.co.za for more information and www.roag.co.za for online entries.

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Daai Burger Stellenbosch bergfiets wedren

Posted on 5th August 2009 by mtbguy in Uncategorized

Well, what a day it was!
Three years ago I entered the The Stellenbosch MTB Challenge, a new event arranged by the Dirtopia team.
Though the route in general was great, the amount of knee-deep mud really got to me and I have since avoided that event.
Now bigger and sponsored by Die Burger, I decided to give it another go.
Rain through-out the week made me wonder whether we’d be having the same type of terrain as 2006 ( and I believe subsequent times as well ).
Now that there are only prepaid entries, I decided that I might as well make the trip out to Stellenbosch with my riding mate, Mark.
We parked at a friend’s house closeby and arrived literally 3 minutes before the start.
Though the air was crisp, it was dry with hints of sunshine breaking through the clouds.
I really cannot recall the minute details of the route, but remember the following:

  • All 5 waterpoints had ice-cold drinks ( either Coke, water or Energade) as well as oranges.
  • Stop number 2 also offered us a selection of 3 different types of MULE bars. I enjoyed the chocolate-fig one, though struggled to get fig seeds out of my teeth.
  • Stop 3 served sparkling wine and I enjoyed some of that while admiring the view.
  • Stop 4, on the Delheim wine farm served Delheim port. I gulped that down, only to feel the effect on the next uphill.

The scenery was absolutely great and we had no rain en route. There were large sections of single track, some where the trees were close and dense enough to make it appear dark. Very much like Wales, I was led to believe.
Yip, there was mud, but not at all as bad as 2006. I still got stuck in the mud and had to get off my bike a few times, but certainly nothing unbearable.
Finishing with a fast downhill and then some under the bridge and next to the river sections made this a great ride and a must-do for 2010.
A nice medal and a bottle of Jordan Rose wine made all the more worth it.
To all the organisers and sponsors I say thanks and well done!

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