and ACROSS the road from where I work! OOhhh I can see lots of afternoon sessions after work ;)
On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 11:17 AM, Roberto Ambrosio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > WooooooooHOOOoooooooooooooooooo......... and it is around the corner from > me :-) > > > On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:14 PM, Werner Gillmer <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > wrote: > >> I cannot wait!!!! >> >> >> -------- >> >> My weekends have been spent with Jumpy James and Kamikaze Sean building >> the sweetest Pump Track you ever did see. This is a THING (please note >> capitalization). It is needed to get your PUMP ON. You have to get your pump >> on in order to be a better person. Mother Theresa used to Get Her Pump On. >> Jim Morrison used to get His Pump On. Pamela Anderson still Gets Her Pump On >> and I want to get My Pump On in the interest of spiritual enlightenment and >> (as Rachael would say) world peace. >> >> A Pump Track is a circular (well any shape actually, but no beginning or >> end) course that has a series of roller type mounds connected by G-Force >> (G-Spot for Downhillers and BMX heads) inducing berms. Ostensibly this is a >> training protocol that will improve your on-bike skills no matter what >> discipline you ride. But the truth is that it is just the best fun going. >> You start with one pedal stroke, and that is the last you take. As you >> transfer your energy to the bike via your upper body and hips you end up >> with a six-pack from hell (better than Richard Beswick's Mens Health photo >> shoot) and awesome arms and legs. Be prepared to be treated as an object of >> lust, a higher class of problem I say. >> >> Predictably enough the other thing that happens is the bike keeps going >> faster and faster which means you can start to manual the rollers or use >> them as doubles or triples. >> >> If all this is Latin to you, fear not! We will convert you to the thrills >> of Getting Your Pump ON soon with Clinics and then a subliminal tape to >> listen to while you sleep that says things like "I like big air" and >> "Gravity and Reality are BOTH Relative". >> >> The single track at the Toyota MTN Cycle Park is just getting totally >> bermed in preparation for opening. There have been a select few riders of >> all skill levels who have already graced the flowing single track trails and >> the feedback has been consistently good. >> >> The trails are much more open than Logwood Bike Haven, and if you want to >> G-Out the same way you do in the Logwood berms, you better be spinning out >> your big ring. >> >> There is also a slightly different design philosophy than at Logwood. >> Whilst there are still trails that are dedicated as Black Diamond or Double >> Black Diamond, most trails are designated Green (see Skills Ratings if you >> have forgotten, it may save your life) and have detours that are marked Blue >> or Black. This means that all riders can ride the same trails with the >> hooligan element taking the more advanced detours (if you can get them off >> the Pump Track). >> >> The Trails can be briefly summarized as follows: >> >> *The Koppies (Blue 4)* >> >> These twin peaks will not be finished when you come to test ride the >> trails initially. We still need a quarter of a million cubic meters of soil >> and rocks to complete construction. Hey, do you know anyone who can bring us >> all that? (Drop me a line PLEASE). >> >> *The Canyon (Blue 3)* >> >> This is a circular route that has 3 different micro routes through it. >> Basically you are either under gum trees or riding through jungle like >> papyrus reeds. Then suddenly out of the papyrus looms these bridges over >> what starts to look like the Fish River Canyon when you are on them. >> >> *Space Junk (Black 4)* >> >> It is called Space Junk because things (riders) keep falling out of the >> sky. The main route is rated Black 4 and then it has some truly scary >> detours that have made many a brave roadie want his mommy. The initial >> switchback climb was specifically built so our overseas competitors in the >> Pro and Master categories would have something to train on. If in doubt, >> stay out. >> >> *Sidewinder (Blue 2)* >> >> This is Kamikaze Sean and James favorite trail. Its just huge berms >> surfing a bank downhill. What's not to love. It does however contain a gap >> jump detour called The Rim Reaper that has already taken two victims in the >> shape of Colin Germs (Toyota SuperCycling Cycle Lab MTB Race Team) and >> Stuart Carliel (MTN Club 100 Race Team & Master World Championship racer). >> Colin made more of a fuss about his trashed rim than Stuart did about his, >> but I think Colin may have had his white socks on. >> >> *Dropzone (Blue 4)* >> >> This is really a super fast, well bermed, big ring sprint; except there >> are two drop offs that will freeze your blood in your veins and possibly >> make you seek Dischem out for Adult Nappies rather than Cytomax. >> >> *The Wetland (Green 3)* >> >> This is a divine loop that gives hooligans a chance to catch their breath, >> and everyone else a chance to appreciate nature and learn something about >> our native African Flora and Fauna. The trails themselves are a combination >> of wide single track and very wide low bridges that will take you on a >> journey through the wetland while keeping your tyres dry and clean. Look out >> for some educational signs from Samantha Braid, our resident wetland expert >> (who also is a keen mtb rider). >> >> *Snakes n Ladders (Double Black)* >> >> This wont be finished till a little later, and is for the criminally >> insane or fatally ill. >> >> *Tree House (Blue 4)* >> >> This one also wont be ready when we first open, but is an intermediate >> Freeride loop that allows riders to grow the skills they acquired in Launch >> Pad before attempting Snakes n Ladders and the inevitable consequences of >> failure that entails. >> >> *Launch Pad (Green 2)* >> >> Nice wide bridges and catwalks not far off the ground specifically >> designed to entice normal people over to the Dark Side of mountain bike >> riding >> >> *Roller Coaster (Double Black)* >> >> Enormous bridges 6 meters in the air that are the lead in to hard berm >> exits that make the North Shore Bridge at Logwood look like it is laying >> flat on the ground. This is great spectator sport, and excellent for video >> footage. >> >> *The Green Mile (Green 3)* >> >> This is my personal favorite. The berms are enormous and the whole thing >> goes down hill. In the opening stages it is winding between native Highveld >> acacia scrub with some pools of clear fresh water that will have benches to >> sit on and contemplate your navel and listen to the birds. Hooligans will >> naturally sit in the pools whilst trying to stuff their lungs back where >> they should be. A little later in the trail you will be weaving you way >> between huge pine trees that form a small forest, resin rich in the summer >> air. >> >> *Corkscrew (Green 2)* >> >> This much like The Green Mile but with more indigenous trees and less >> pines. Its probably also a little more open and slightly faster, and leads >> to Roller Coaster. >> >> *Ewok (Green 3)* >> >> This is a tight trail that leads through dense forest with many stream >> crossings (little bridges). The detours off the main route will frighten the >> living daylights out of normal people however as they make use of the many >> enormous trees that have fallen down and thus present perfect (if somewhat >> sketchy) riding terrain. >> >> The Seattle Coffee Shop up next to the Clubhouse is coming along quick. >> This will have a deck out front and a higher level deck too. The Clubhouse >> itself will have a stock of consumable (by your mtb) items supplied by Cycle >> Lab to keep you on the trails in the event of mechanical failure. ER 24 will >> be there to repair your body if you have a lapse of common sense or luck (or >> both), and Motorex will be there to clean and lube your bike before it gets >> passed across to the Shimano service centre on site. >> >> Logwood Bike Haven is about to come under the microscope. This is intended >> to make it "more Logwood" rather than mimic the Toyota MTN Cycle Park feel. >> What a pleasure to have lots of choices of venues to ride. More is better. >> >> Expect most of the trails to become more family oriented. We will >> accomplish this with "kiddies runs" around obstacles on existing trails. The >> really crazy trails like Dark Side and North Shore are going to expand and >> get scarier. Logwood: a place for families and freaks. Extremes are good. >> >> Richard Beswick's racing commitments with Team Fox are making his >> scheduling even more of a nightmare than it normally is. As a result, the >> dates for the last two 101 Skills >> Clinics<http://www.cultcycling.co.za/bdlink.aspx?id=1679951&link=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cultcycling.co.za%2fDefault.aspx%3fTabName%3dNext%2bSkills%2bClinic%2b-%2b101>for >> the year are up on the website but there will be a limit of 8 >> participants only to each these Clinics as I will be teaching alone (no >> chirps from Rich about old, fat or slow. What bliss). The spots will be >> secured on a "first come first served" basis. Just follow the directions on >> the web page. If you would like to see what is covered in this Clinic, just >> check it >> out.<http://www.cultcycling.co.za/bdlink.aspx?id=1679951&link=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cultcycling.co.za%2fDefault.aspx%3fTabName%3dSkills%2bClinics%2b%2b101-%2bThe%2bCurriculum> >> >> As for the BIG QUESTION (when will the Toyota MTN Cycle Park be open), I >> will keep you posted, but my best guess at this point is very early >> November. >> >> Keep the rubber side down, >> >> Geoff the Aussie >> >> >> > > > -- > Kind regards, > Roberto Ambrosio > > There is an island of opportunity in the middle of every difficulty. Miss > that, though, and you're pretty much doomed. > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DarkAndDirty" group. 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