African continental championships - 10/03/2013





This year Cascades mountain bike park hosted the African continental champs which saw around 55 riders take on the world cup course from top to bottom. This is definitely one of the most physically demanding courses on the circuit with about 55 seconds of flat out pedalling half way down. Rain on Friday night made for prime riding conditions on Saturday with everyone having a great time on the course. However heavy rainfalls Saturday night turned the course into a slip and slide near the top steeper sections. With a different format of racing seeing as though it was a UCI sanctioned event saw the Elite riders seeding early. The track had improved since practice but was still rolling very slow. Tiaan Odendaal seeded 1st, myself 2nd, and Louis Smith 3rd.

 

As soon as we got to the bottom we barely had time to clean our bike before we headed straight to the top again for the final. My run was very conservative at the top, thinking back now a little to conservative so I had to push hard on the pedaling section. Overall I was happy with my ride but looking to improve. Overall results for the day were as follows:

 

 

1) Hayden Brown

2) Tiaan Odendaal

3) Stefan Garlicki

4) Tim Bently

5) Travis Browning

 

Thanks to Max cluer sports marketing, KZN MTB and Greg Minnaar cycle store for putting on a great event. Looking forward to South African champs on the same course in a few weekends time.

 

Ride safe,

TB

 

KZN provincial series - round 1

The first round of the Kwa Zulu Natal Provincial Downhill series took place at Cascades mountain bike park. It was a short but challenging course with no room for error. Rain from the day before made conditions perfect on Saturday morning. I started off practice a bit rusty as I haven't ridden a Downhill bike for around 7 months due to a broken wrist last year, but soon got back into the swing of things. I had alot of fun and very excited for the rest of the Downhill season abroad my new GT Fury. Overall results for the day were as follows:

 

1) Tim Bently 1:30

2) David Hogan 1:33

3) Travis Browning 1:34

 

Ride safe,

TB

 

 

The Cycle fest 11 - 13 January

With a new year comes a new season of racing. This past weekend saw the first event for 2013 held at Cascades mountain bike park. Rain for 2 solid days before the event saw it being an absolute mud bath. I took part in the Enduro event held on Saturday. This consisted of 3 timed runs down 2 separate courses. The times were added together which gave your overall result. This makes for an exciting format of racing as it suites both Downhill riders and cross country riders as there is a good balance between technical riding and pedalling. Overall results for the day were:

1) Greg Minnaar
2) Tiaan Odendaal
3) Alan Hatherly
4) Travis Browning
5) Craig Paul

Overall it was a great event and very well organised, big thanks to KZN MTB and Max Cluer sports marketing.

Pics of the mud fest to follow!

Ride safe,
TB

Skills coaching at Treverton College

On Tuesday afternoon I traveled up to the great white North of Mooi river to do some skills coaching with a few students from Treverton college. All the kids were enthusiastic and willing to give the small obstacle course a go that I had set out for them. Treverton seems to be a really great school with a lot to offer. We took a ride through the nature conservation area then back up their airstrip to the main fields. I really enjoyed my time there and look forward to doing some more clinics in the future.  

Pietermaritzburg World Cup - Round 1

Finally the weekend that myself and a lot of other South Africans had been waiting for arrived. The first stop of the world cup circuit in our hometown of Pietermaritzburg. The venue was looking amazing. 4X, XC and DH courses taped and waiting for the riders. The vibe around the event was something I have never experienced and I was loving every second of it.

The track was long and very physical. I did a few hard practice runs to get my head around the course from top to bottom in one complete run. I divided it up into 3 sections. The top was fast, flowed well and alot of gradient changes. The second had some big jumps and flat out pedalling, 40 seconds of it to be exact! The third was alot quicker than the previous section which helped alot seeing as though you were so tired already. A few jumps later and you crossed the line, out of breathe and gasping for air.

I had no idea what to expect for qualifying so I just gave it everything from the start. I made a few mistakes at the top but nothing to serious. I felt I could have pedalled more in the second section but overall was happy with the run qualifying 58th. I was stoked to be in the final racing against all the guys I have looked up to my whole racing career. Sundays final came around and the vibe at the top of the course was tense, all you could hear was indoor trainers buzzing, the timing device counting down for the riders and the commissar calling rider names. I had waited for this day all year and couldn't wait to get on track. I left the gate pumped and ready for the task ahead. I couldn't believe how much faster the track was rolling compared to practice, I nailed all my lines and pedalled as hard as I could. Entering the 3rd and final section disaster struck. I was 2 seconds behind the leader at the split untill I came over the right hand hip near the bottom. I rolled the rear tyre off the rim pulling the tube into the spokes causing it to explode. I didn't want to believe what just happened and just kept on pedaling. Eventually my rear wheel locked up and wouldn't turn any more. My race was over. I was absolutely gutted. The crowd support was amazing, evan though I walked my bike across the line.

After a cool down and getting my head around what happened I went to the line and watched the rest of the race. Was awesome to see the rest of the SA guys representing. The crowed were on their feet as Greg crossed the line, he ended up losing by 0.2 of a second to Aaron Gwin.

Overall it was an amazing weekend that i would do all over again evan knowing about the blowout right at the bottom of the course! Really exciting to know that we have been awarded the world championships for 2013!

Ride safe,

TB