Monday 26 October 2015

3 Towers, Noon2Moon, Valencia News and Other Entertaining Babblings by Brett Coats

3 Towers was, as always an absolute blast, we had a full house of riders, some great new trails and a super chilled out vibe with everyone learning what real mountain biking is all about! We had a great turnout of local riders but the guys from the highveld really came to have a party on their bikes and didn’t leave disappointed, as I said to a few Jobergers – if you practice your skills at the PWC Bike park then Mankele could be a culture shock! 
The pro’s were in force – as were the doping control guys, and as at the Lesotho Sky race the combined skills of Max Knox and Rourke Crouser proved way too strong for their competition, building up such a substantial lead in days 1 and 2 that a 5 min delay due to a puncture on day 3 didn’t affect their overall placing. I think that some of the Pro’s actually resigned themselves to fighting for scraps once Max and Rourke fired up their engines.

I managed to sample some of the 3T trails whilst the race was running and it was all I could do to turn back and wait for the winners, I even went to ride Bees and Avalanche on Tuesday morning just to get some of these perfectly ridden in single tracks.
On the subject of new trails we joined Andy Murray on Saturday to rip the new bush tunnels cut in the forest behind Uplands, some really nice lines with swoopy g-outs and steep drops to keep you honest offer up something to run slow and steady or full on and ragged, definitely gonna make another trip soon!

Other news is that our own adopted Lowvelder and Valencia Team rider, Amy Beth McDougall and her partner Grant Usher made the trip to Japan last weekend for the Single Speed World Champs. Now despite my own thoughts on bikes with no gears (my legs are too weak) there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a huge hippie party and our Amy Beth Won! she’s now a 2 times World Champion, how many other local teams can boast that? None I hear me say…



Chainsuck
Now despite my penchant for MTB I’m not afraid to admit that my daily training ride of choice is a road bike, I really love the smooth tarmac of the climb up Hilltop and the way your bike spins up to speed but as far as being a roadie that's pretty much it for me. So Sundays CANSA race (ride?) was something different, all the local well dressed sheep were out, groomed and prepped like giggly prom girls to to parade their carbon and lycra finery, so that when the flag dropped the fashion show was over and cycling was pretty much a interlude until the finish offered more catwalk opportunity. We need more of this in the Lowveld and some prizes to go with it. Having said that I would like someone from the road fraternity to explain to me why you only need one Commissaire at a 3 day 700 rider MTB stage race but 7, yes SEVEN, Commissaires at a 250 rider 3 hour road race? No wonder there are so few road races, its simply job creation for the old school guard, and they wonder why MTB has taken over….

Valencia News!
So 2015 is sprinting towards the finish line like Usain Bolt on Red Bull but fear not! Valencia will shortly be launching its 2015 bike blow out – ready for 3 Towers!
And yet we already have some of the new 2016 bikes in stock! Big sellers for 2016 will be the new Scott Spark 920 with Sram 1 x 11 and Fox bouncy bits. The new Spark 910 is also upgraded with new 2016 XT 2 x 11, and the Momsen Vipa XT for 2016 is also in stock in all its shiny Orange gloriousness!
Not leaving out the roadies – Valencia is also the new Cervelo dealer with bikes NOW IN STOCK!
So despite one local shop now only offering one flavour of fruit juice the V Team is still stocking the full Liqui Fruit range!


UPCOMING

NOON 2 MOON
Its back on again on the 28th November at Merry Pebbles with some BIG CHANGES!!!!
To avoid prolonged riding at night in the rain – yes it ALWAYS rains! We have decided to start at 10AM and end at 8PM  - the kids race will start at 12:00 and end at 6PM as usual.
Its going to be huge thus year and we may limit numbers so get your teams entered ASAP otherwise you may miss out!
Flyer and form attached – you can also enter at Valencia as well as www.entrytime.com 
Merry Pebbles has also got special accommodation and camping offers so book now! 0137642266



See ya on the dirt!
Cheers, Brett Coats



Tuesday 24 March 2015

Sappi Mankele MTB Challenge

Last weekend the 5th Annual Sappi Mankele MTB Challenge took place at Mankele Bike Park. With some of the best trails in the country, and superb camping facilities, mountain bikers from across the country bring their families for a fun-filled weekend.

Team Valencia showed their class by raking in a total of 19 medals.
In the marathon, Samantha Sanders took the win and QOM in the ladies race, with Amy McDougall in 2nd; both ladies winning in their respective age categories. Emily Clarke rolled over the line in 4th overall and 2nd Senior Woman.

The 38km was hotly contested with Martin Oosthuisen taking 2nd overall with Franco Pelser 2 seconds behind in 3rd. Both boys also took 2nd and 3rd in the Junior category.
In the 22km, Emile Fourie took the win in 00:59:53 with Hanru Lubbe just behind in 1:00:02. Ansli De Beer took 2nd overall in the women’s race.


Young Kendal De Beer took Bronze overall and in the Sprogs Category in the 12km.
It was great to see Naeem, Shoaib, Cobus and Moeen, join in the fun. Brett Coates created a fun vibe with his entertaining commentary and Mark Meyer, Geoffrey Anderson and co outdid themselves in the organisation of the event as well as preparing a top class route.


 Next up is the SA XCO Cup at Voortrekker in Pretoria.