Gravity Check

2014 Highlight

2015-02-04T06:18:00.003-08:00

What a year!
Of all the events that I've done, the Wine 2 Whales aka W2W has become my most valued and treasured event completed in 2014.

Oh such spectacular views

Tented accommodation

It was three days of absolute fun of which one was a pain in the butt! Of all the bad things that can happen while riding, nothing had prepared me for the saddle torture on day three. BUT, the views were spectacular, the 'gees' was fantastic, the food was scrumptiously delicious and the organisation was incredible.

Well done to Grant & Brad (Team Mountain Goat Racing) and Alric my team-mate (Team Makatees). I will certainly do the W2W again.

Argus Cycle Tour Blitz

2014-03-12T06:29:00.001-07:00

Another Argus Cycle Tour has blitzed by. Bicycles returned to the dark recesses of the garage, only to be awakened for next years event. Some will be sold. Lucky bicycles will make it onto the streets again. Others will slowly develop rusty chains and dust. Some, I'm afraid to say, will remain a distant memory of an event that was just too painful to repeat...ever again.
For others, like myself, it's back on the saddle of our beloved mountain bikes with the chunky tyres. Braving rain, wind, mud and dust, we grind along, determined to get to the top of the climb - to the top of the hill.
Oh, and we don't punch motorists!

Argus Fever

2014-03-05T07:12:00.002-08:00

Argus Cycle Tour fever is here again! The roads are once again littered with the once-a-year-cyclists who only emerge to train for this monumental event. All hoping to catch sight of some celebrity or wanting to improve on their time of previous Cycle Tours.
This is where they all gather after labouring up Chappies to appreciate a spectacular view before heading off in pain.

Pause on top of Chapman's Peak

View overlooking Hout Bay

However, was here as part of my preparation for the Argus MTB Challenge and Argus Cycle Tour, The MTB Challenge which took place on Sunday 2 March with 55km and1200 (not 1700m as falsely advertised) of ascending.
But why do both?
To get this...

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela - 18 July 1918 − 5 December 2013

2013-12-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela - 18 July 1918 − 5 December 2013

Back On Single Track

2013-12-05T13:41:00.002-08:00

This entry is for all those who thought I'd abandoned Gravity Check!
This entry is for those loyal few whom from time to time check into Gravity Check to see if there are any new posts!
This entry is long overdue!

Ok! So I have not been on the saddle as often as I would like. I have not been putting in those k's or doing the climbs to improve my fitness. This has had detrimental consequences...the Mountain Goats have demoted me from Team Captain, to Follower, to the B-team. Oh how it hurts!
On the positive - our riding group has increased in size.

Grant , Khanyiso (very new), Alric (new since last entry), Bradley, young Kyle (very new)

With the great QC now working in Saudi, 4 new riders queued to join the group. Here they are taking a not-too-well-deserved break. (the 4th is Moses -not on this ride)

Oh, I also have to officially congratulate Grant (Freddie)and Bradley for bravely competing in, and completing the Wine to Whales event earlier in November. Three days of riding, over 200km travelled on mountain bicycle,over 3500m of climbing. Wow!

Bradley proves that Gravity exists

Somehow I'd rather be in the B-team and have fewer falls -

Gravity is such a witch.
Yes, she exists for even the most seasoned riders.

Our Mountain Bike Rides in Pictures

2013-06-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

Without further ado, here's a few of our rides in pictures...

Solo ride near Agulhas

Big yellow tree killers

TheBus grinding up to the Mast - Tokai

2013 Argus MTB Challenge - 52km ride in 36 degree heat

Time

2013-04-29T00:58:00.000-07:00

My previous post touched on the unnoticed aging process of yourself.
I happened to come across this video on one of the blogs that I follow regularly. It actually captures the slow aging process that, after all, is not as slow as we think.
Check it out and marvel in fascination as it documents a photographic self-portrait every day over 12 years!

http://digital-photography-school.com/12-5-years-of-daily-self-portraits-video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iPPzXlMdi7o

Tokai - Receding Tree-line

2013-01-21T05:57:00.002-08:00

Our favourite Playground has been undergoing very subtle changes since 2010. Almost unnoticed. Like watching yourself age. Until one day you pick up an old photo of yourself and compare it to your reflection in a mirror. That's what's been happening to the topography of Tokai Forest. Until yesterday the effects of the deforestation became frighteningly clear. Gone are the wind-breaks. Gone is the shade. Gone is the rustling of wind through pine needles. Gone is the smell. Gone is the character of Tokai Forest we all love.
Whatever their rationale and motivation, Tokai Forest will never be the same again.

A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Read more views at:
http://www.coolforest.org.za/the%20media.htm
http://gripewaterneeded.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/mrs-tokai-forest-weve-started-missing-you/

Is there hope?
http://www.pedalpower.org.za/mtb/

All pictures below courtesy of Roy.

Totalsport Challenge

2013-01-16T05:13:00.001-08:00

This was my first team event and also my first ride for 2013. Team members for TEAM PNPS were:

Valentine Nefdt - 50km road ride from Gordens Bay to Kleinmond
Denver Simpson - 16km road run from Kleinmond to Arebella
Me - 25km mountain bike from Arabella to Kleinmond
Andreas Gensicke - 9km beach run along Kleinmond

That's us after the event gripping our well-earned medals. The only person missing was Valentine (three punctures) Nefdt.

The ride was tough, the climb to the top long and steep and hot as hell, the downhills treacherous, but it was FUN!

We're already looking forward to next years Totalsports Challenge event...

(left to right) Andreas, me, Denver with our medals.

Jonkershoek

2013-01-15T22:57:00.001-08:00

Thursday 27 December started early with us heading off to Jonkershoek, in picturesque Stellenbosch. We were here to test the extra two single tracks recently added to the route.
The ride started at 7, and by 8:15 we had only covered 5km! Very steep and sandy sharp switch-backs made cycling at some places close to or quite impossible, even for a big wheels. At 34 degree celsius, the heat was almost unbearable, sapping energy as quickly as our water disappeared. By midway up, we were out of fluids.
But, yes there is a but - the fun really started on the long single track down, making all our up-hill hard work and pain seem trivial.
Jonkershoek is a cool 3.8. Oh, and look out for them nasty wild blackberry bushes!

Our Playground

2012-11-29T03:43:00.000-08:00

Well, hello again! Bet you thought you'd lost me, but I'm back. Yes, as with the previous post, I tend to have long pauses between blogs. It's almost like the novelty of the new toy has worn off. Oh, but not forgotten. Ever so often the toy will emerge and provide hours of fun. Well, this Blog is something like that.
So since the last blog entry to now I've done dozens of rides and 100's of kilometers. Oh, and I sold my bike and got a 29er instead.
(That's it on the left)
So is a 29er everything it's made out to be? Absofunkinglutely! Especially this Specialized STUMPJUMPER. This just handled the tricky uphill single tracks smoothly and happily negotiated the big single track downhills of Tokai Forest.
This said, Tokai is still our number one riding venue - combining technical rides with steep uphills.

But of course a good ride isn't as fun without stopping to absorb the views and to smell the flowers.

Hout Bay viewed en-ruite to the mast

Flowers border the path

Half a dozen rides later

2012-04-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

Yikes. How the time has blitzed by since my last update. I seem to be making a habit of it. It's not even for the lack of riding. Some would call it laziness. Yes, I do suffer from that occasionally. So, half a dozen rides later, here's the much anticipated updated blog!
Let's start with Saturday morning at 06h30. It is said that I can't get up in time for work but can get up at 05h00 to go cycling! Yes, that is correct! Saturday's ride took us from Bradley's house to some place in the hills. I had no idea and still have no idea where we were or how far we cycled! As you can see from the pics, visibility was about 100m and with misted specs, even closer! Some say we were at a place called Contermanskloof. Who am I to challenge that as my Cyclemeter puts me in that area.
The descends are clearly not for the faint-hearted - they are narrow and windy with sharp bends. Luckily there are run-off areas in case you can't make you turn ... some would call this the ground.
This ride a cool 3.8/5.

Taking a wee break

Gorillas in the Mist

Finished Cycle: 21 Apr 2012 9:34:47AM
Route: From Bradleys HouseGoogle
Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120421-0706.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/JuadwqImport URL: http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120421-0706.kmlRide Time: 1:49:31
Stopped Time: 34:17
Distance: 31,56 km
Average: 17,29 km/h
Fastest Speed: 48,22 km/h
Ascent: 548 meters
Descent: 534 meters
Energy Burn: 4657 kJ

The ARGUS MTB Challenge

What can I say. The weather was perfect - overcast with rain the previous night. But the course was somewhat disappointing. The 32km event turned out to be 29km. It was crowded and I found myself stuck behind large groups of riders. There were no single track routes. I still enjoyed the ride - great scenery. In hind-sight (which is 20/20) I should have done the 52km ride which some say is more challenging. See how the laziness came back to haunt me!

This ride (29km) only 1/5

Route: Argus MTB Challenge Finished Cycle: 04 Mar 2012 10:00:20 AMGoogle Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120304-0809.kml Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/zzBHnPImport URL: http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120304-0809.kmlStopped Time: 9:02
Ride Time: 1:41:07 Distance: 29,75 km Average: 17,66 km/h Fastest Speed: 40,51 km/h Ascent: 417 meters Descent: 428 meters Calories: 966

The ARGUS Cycle Tour

One word - HOT!

I will provide no detailed ride stats - see laziness.

Route: Argus Cycle Tour Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120311-0951.kml Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/yjAoJY Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120311-0951.kml Distance: 109,88 km Ascent: 954 meters Descent: 986 meters

More MAJIK technology

2012-02-01T01:18:00.000-08:00

Wow! I downloaded this awesomely cool app for my iPhone called CYCLEMETER and risked paying $5 for something I that I had no idea whether it would work or not! It turned out to work like a Quinten Corner on a bicycle. That's him pictured on the right. Eish, that man can cycle. He is just in a LEAGUE of his own. I posted the ride information and stats from the cool app below. This will now appear in all future posts so you can track our ride stats and routes.

Finished Cycle: 11 Jan 2012 6:48:26 PM
Route: Majik Forest
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120111-1714.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/Ahz2CA
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/408d/174c/4f00/c43e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120111-1714.kml
Ride Time: 1:33:49
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 14,23 km
Average: 9,10 km/h
Fastest Speed: 27,51 km/h
Ascent: 318 meters
Descent: 324 meters
Energy Burn: 1904 kJ

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Grant on the left and Quinten on the right

Oak Valley with roast turkey & trifle and a small world

2012-01-07T03:30:00.000-08:00

Yet another Christmas and New Year has come and gone by in a blink of an eye. So to all you wonderful people who actually take a brief moment to pause and read my blog, I wish you a very belated Merry Christmas and healthy 2012. For me and I'm sure like most of you it was another case of much too much roast turkey and trifle just 3 days after Christmas.

Setting the scene

With all that high cholesterol-triple-bypass yummy good food bloating my abdomen, this ride was long overdue. And what spectacular one at that.

Peace

The day started at 05h20 - about 4 hours premature - and headed east along the N2 and over the pass through Grabouw and Elgin to OAK VALLEY Estate. This was the scene of the penultimate leg of the 2011 Cape Epic. We were about to ride where the big boys played only a few months ago. Cool.

Tranquility

Grant led the pack followed by Grant and finally followed by me, a distant 40-odd metres back, battling roast, turkey & trifle. And we were only warming up! It was going to be a long day.

The scene was set. The scenery was fantastic. The trail got better (i.e. more twistier, more turnier, more fun). The legs started working better. Still I couldn't keep up with the Grants.
But they were polite and waited for me so that I could take some pics for the blog. We shared some some stories that made this world seem so much smaller.

Grants waiting for me

The two Grants - Grant (left) & Grant (right)

Grant (left) & me

The ride caters for gentle family rides for young riders and sane riders. Just follow the GREEN arrows. The more adventurous riders can follow the RED arrows for an exciting ride around the estate. For those seeking a bit more can deviate off the beaten path and follow the BLACK arrows for steep uphills and steep twisty bumpy slippery downhill challenges.

90 Percent of the course is single track which makes it a perfect ride to tone your technical skills.

My rating for Oak Valley - a massive 4.2/5.

The Grants

Grant (left) & me

Grant chewing up a steep gradient

The evil bastards that nailed us along the path

Back on Track

2011-11-17T01:26:00.000-08:00

Since the last post almost a month ago I've moved to a new family house (more like a very old house) and a new office. In between getting settled into my new environment, I also battled with TELKOM to get an ADSL line installed since the 1st November. Hell, I can still hear that familiar hideous TELKOM help-line waiting tune. What a nightmare. Eventually I cancelled the installation and subscribed to NEOTEL. Thanks to NEOTEL's 48hr availability, I am finally able to update the blog.

Having missed quite a few rides with the rest of the old mountain goats, I present to you some more snap-shots of the Block House rides as well as snap-shots of Majik Forest.

Having a rest at the Block House and enjoying the view of the city.

We are so spoilt in Cape Town - leave work at 4:30pm and stop off for a ride with stunning views without having to leave the city!

This one's for you, Mr. Colin Thomas.

MAJIK FOREST

I had my first ride at Majik Forest. What fun! Totally unknown trail to me so it was full of pleasant surprises - steep climbs; steep drops; awesome windy single tracks between trees and low branches. Duck & dive.
Found a site with some great rides in the peninsula http://irideafrica.com/trail-maps/ and thought it worth the while to try each one and also rate it form 1 to 5 with 5 the highest score.
My rating - 3.5

Quinten, Grant and Dane (background)

Dane; Bradley & Grant

Do Not Attempt this at Home

2011-10-12T02:12:00.000-07:00

This guy tried to play chicken with a 150kg buck and lost the race.
Please do not try this at home. The buck is a trained professional stunt-animal.
Boks 1 - Cyclist 0

This bizarre incident happened at a mountain-biking (no mountains) event in KZN. Luckily the buck did not wet itself in the collision although it is rumoured that both parties pissed themselves.
That just proves the importance of video evidence otherwise no one would have believed the buck.

Gravity Post One

2011-10-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

gravity check n. a fall.
gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their mass - hence aiding a fall

I was climbing a steep hill when the idea of starting a BLOG hit me. It was a moment of shear brilliance. A bright light. A memorable eureka moment. So I called out to the other mountain goats and shared my revelation...they looked up
and I saw the pity in their eyes. Maybe it was the agony of the uphill climb. I didn't care - I took out my iPhone and started taking snap shots of the wary Doubting Thomas's.

To get you in the 'mood', check out some of the cool links below:

- YOUTUBE clips of Danny McAskill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6ho1-G6tw
;AND

- an entire site dedicated to mountain biking terminology;

as well as

- other mountain goats from the deserts of Riyadh

So, keep your eyes on this blog for updates of all the thrills and (hopefully not too many)spills.

Send your comments - I appreciate negative, positive and most importantly the B.S comments.

Grant

Bradley

Resting at the Block House

Justin