Are you ready for a Big MTB Year?

Dangle is right on the money though.

Thanks boet, some people like to take things personal.

I can just see where this is gonna be at for some people.

The other half that are taking the approach that it's to explore, see the country and enjoy the bike, they will reap the rewards.

R 200 is nothing, some peeps drink that away on a Wednesday evening.

The new type of event that isn't actually one, it's all about the App

spot on. but they've obsfuscated that very well using the cyclists own enthusiasm. I wonder what the kickback is from the the trails that are 'best managed, marked trails'.

Interesting concept by itself with benefit for cyclists and trail managers alike.

 

Dangle is right on the money though.

And the Epic isn't all about that?

Doing anything these days regarding riding is. One even get judged by some groups just by the gloves you wear.

I don't think it is attention seeking. I get a thrill from riding different trails with my bike and actually touring around SA to do so. (I bought a car this year just to make that more comfy). I didn't do that to get noticed by any of you, but just for the personal satisfaction. (And many other people are like that too I would believe).

I wonder what you guys think of all the other people that train hours on hours costing them thousands every month to stand on top of podiums... wonder if they are also "attention whores"?

Each to their own... (and worst is the ones that judge)

 

 

And the Epic isn't all about that?

Doing anything these days regarding riding is. One even get judged by some groups just by the gloves you wear.

 

I don't think it is attention seeking. I get a thrill from riding different trails with my bike and actually touring around SA to do so. (I bought a car this year just to make that more comfy). I didn't do that to get noticed by any of you, but just for the personal satisfaction. (And many other people are like that too I would believe).

 

I wonder what you guys think of all the other people that train hours on hours costing them thousands every month to stand on top of podiums... wonder if they are also "attention whores"?

 

Each to their own... (and worst is the ones that judge)

If you participate in any event, actually make that any pastime to get noticed then you need to have chat with yourself...epic, joberg2c, sani, double century, funky weird bikes...if you care what people think instead of having a good time you are doing it wrong.

PS those guys on the top steps are hardly doing it to be noticed I am sure. Their idea of fun is different to mine, they want to measure themselves, I want to have a couple of laughs.

I would pay R200 a year for a proper phone catalogue of SA trails with user reviews so I can visit with confidence. There are many new trails popping up around the country but unless you have you local contacts it's difficult to know where to ride. The idea of riding 300km to find an overgrown path marketed as a trail is too risky for most of us.

We have some of the best purpose built trails in the country where I live in Somerset East but it's just ~5 of us who ride it which is a waste. If this concept can make these and other trails accessible to more people it's a great idea.

how many that say they dont think its a lot of money have actually bought it?

 

If you participate in any event, actually make that any pastime to get noticed then you need to have chat with yourself...epic, joberg2c, sani, double century, funky weird bikes...if you care what people think instead of having a good time you are doing it wrong.

 

PS those guys on the top steps are hardly doing it to be noticed I am sure. Their idea of fun is different to mine, they want to measure themselves, I want to have a couple of laughs.

Exactly.

We (most cyclist) do it cause we love it not because we are "attention whores".

how many that say they dont think its a lot of money have actually bought it?

Me

 

 

Me

I have so purchased the app. Used it today.

Careful with the words you are using.

Why must he be careful? I think the man is bang on the money.

And if someone brings out an app for free, will you still pay R200?

And if someone brings out an app for free, will you still pay R200?

Yes. Cause I don't see the money going for the app. I see it as entry to the 'event'.

And the Epic isn't all about that?

Doing anything these days regarding riding is. One even get judged by some groups just by the gloves you wear.

 

I don't think it is attention seeking. I get a thrill from riding different trails with my bike and actually touring around SA to do so. (I bought a car this year just to make that more comfy). I didn't do that to get noticed by any of you, but just for the personal satisfaction. (And many other people are like that too I would believe).

 

I wonder what you guys think of all the other people that train hours on hours costing them thousands every month to stand on top of podiums... wonder if they are also "attention whores"?

 

Each to their own... (and worst is the ones that judge)

The Afrikaans people have a saying you should know well, it goes like this "jy sit alweer die pot mis"

For startres, nobody is judging any specific person, but you can be sure that some will and probably have already misunderstood the intention of this event.

They see their "name in lights" rather than an opportunity to explore their country and become part of a community.

You might be shocked at this news as well, but quite a number of people have bought cars this year to make their cycling more comfy.

Something tells me you took the comment a bit personal, sorry that you see it that way.

As for the gloves we wear, yes people put others in to groups, it's just how we stereotype, I had some baggy wearers with 6 inch travel bikes shout comments at me on The Spruit yesterday when I passed them up and downhill ,they didn't like it, I didn't stop to confront them.

Big year to me should equal big fun and yes unfortunately it will cost big money and for those who have families it will also require some big sacrifices.

But I will say it again, to some Big Year = mediocre riders hoping to get their name in lights.

Yes, everyone to their own.

If you do indeed have the privilege of travelling the country with your bike, then this is a cool concept to have access to where the trails are as well as interact socially with others.

Will it attract arseholes - yes

Will it attract lekker okes wanting to explore the country and its trails - yes

I dont really travel much so all my riding is focused around my little cocoon - of which we are fortunate to have plenty of beautiful trails

I dont ride with my smartphone - so that would not work - unless I can upload from strava or my bryton

Our aim was to create a Mountain Bike Event which takes place over the whole of South Africa over a period of one year. This is the idea. We were then faced with the ‘how do you control this?’ questions. Various options were looked at and the App development was the perfect solution.

For any MTB event people pay an entry fee, some up to R50 000. The App was developed, not as a stand-alone, general use App, but rather an event specific App to control the event and nothing more. The purchase price of the App must therefore be seen as the entry fee into the event and not as the purchase of an App. We are therefore not promoting the sale of the App, but rather enter the Big MTB Year event for a mere R199.00. To do this we must change people’s mind sets from ‘Free App’ to ‘Enter an event’. The price comparison must not be towards other Apps, but rather towards the entry fee of other events.

You’re entering a unique event in an unusual way, that’s all...

 

 

The Afrikaans people have a saying you should know well, it goes like this "jy sit alweer die pot mis"

 

For startres, nobody is judging any specific person, but you can be sure that some will and probably have already misunderstood the intention of this event.

They see their "name in lights" rather than an opportunity to explore their country and become part of a community.

 

You might be shocked at this news as well, but quite a number of people have bought cars this year to make their cycling more comfy.

Something tells me you took the comment a bit personal, sorry that you see it that way.

 

As for the gloves we wear, yes people put others in to groups, it's just how we stereotype, I had some baggy wearers with 6 inch travel bikes shout comments at me on The Spruit yesterday when I passed them up and downhill ,they didn't like it, I didn't stop to confront them.

 

Big year to me should equal big fun and yes unfortunately it will cost big money and for those who have families it will also require some big sacrifices.

But I will say it again, to some Big Year = mediocre riders hoping to get their name in lights.

 

Yes, everyone to their own.

So naaks as wat die gedagte is kan ek se ek sit op die pot. For me it is just strange that 1 of the 1st things you say is to judge the type of people that would do this event. Quoting you "attention whores" and "name in lights". I don't understand why you would do that. Or do you know of specific person or 2 that is already 'bragging' about them winning this thing? Who are he/she/they?

Like I have said time after time I don't take anything said on here personal (most things in general). I would just love if people would just start judging others less. (My reply wasn't too defend myself but more of shocked feeling why that would be your 1st view on this). If you buy something new I don't say "he is just doing it to show off", I would rather say "I'm glad he loves his riding that much".

Regarding the okes on the 6" travel bikes... You should have turned the situation into a fun/funny one (challenged them on a race up and down that hill.... You know you would have kicked their but up, and maybe down too. ..it would have silenced them, or changed their view about you to a 'that's a fun oke'). Also remember many of the okes on those bikes are new to the sport. I sometimes pass some too (and you know how much I suck) and do jumps that they are to scared to try and you should hear their comments then "if a girl can do it we must be able to do it". I don't take that personally. I then stop and actually tell/show and encourage them to do it. If someone does something better than me I am very glad cause then I can learn from them.

And no, shocked is quite a big word, so deffo not shocked. I'm happy that people spend money on practical cars. Even if I would one day earn enough bucks to drive flashy cars I won't. (But that's nothing new)

You say: "Big Year = mediocre riders hoping to get their name in lights."

What is mediocre rider?

It is someone like me that isn't really good at anything but can do a bit of everything (which in some cases are more than quite a few people can do depending on style of riding).

Aren't you a mediocre rider when compared to most downhillers?

Isn't Greg Minnaar a mediocre rider compared to you on a single speed over 100km?

Lastly....I have not once got the impression that this event will put anyone in the lime light. ..or did I miss the launch dinner?

If we can't do something we should be happy for the ones who can and not lable them in the process.

I reckon this is a great way of getting people to ride different trails. R200 really isn't that much.. hey it's less than a dinner out at a restaurant.

And I know of at least on of those trails that has no admission fee

Point 1So naaks as way die gedagte is kan ek se ek sit op die pot. For me it is just strange that 1 of the 1st things you say is to judge the type of people that would do this event. Quoting you "attention whores" and "name in lights". I don't understand why you would do that. Or do you know of specific person or 2 that is already 'bragging' about them winning this thing? Who are he/she/they?

 

Point 2 Like I have said time after time I don't take anything said on here personal (most things in general). I would just love if people would just start judging others less. (My reply wasn't too defend myself but more of shocked feeling why that would be your 1st view on this). If you buy something new I don't say "he is just doing it to show off", I would rather say "I'm glad he loves his riding that much".

 

Point 3 Regarding the okes on the 6" travel bikes… You should have turned the situation into a fun/funny one (challenged them on a race up and down that hill…. You know you would have kicked their but up, and maybe down too. ..it would have silenced them, or changed their view about you to a 'that's a fun oke'). Also remember many of the okes on those bikes are new to the sport. I sometimes pass some too (and you know how much I suck) and do jumps that they are to scared to try and you should hear their comments then "if a girl can do it we must be able to do it". I don't take that personally. I then stop and actually tell/show and encourage them to do it. If someone does something better than me I am very glad cause then I can learn from them.

 

And no, shocked is quite a big word, so deffo not shocked. I'm happy that people spend money on practical cars. Even if I would one day earn enough bucks to drive flashy cars I won't. (But that's nothing new)

 

You say: "Big Year = mediocre riders hoping to get their name in lights."

What is mediocre rider?

It is someone like me that isn't really good at anything but can do a bit of everything (which in some cases are more than quite a few people can do depending on style of riding).

Aren't you a mediocre rider when compared to most downhillers?

Isn't Greg Minnaar a mediocre rider compared to you on a single speed over 100km?

 

Point 4 Lastly….I have not once got the impression that this event will put anyone in the lime light. ..or did I miss the launch dinner?

If we can't do something we should be happy for the ones who can and not lable them in the process.

Hayley, let's go at this point by point.

Apologies to the OP for a possible thread derail, but ultimately it's about the event.

1. I did not judge any person, I made a general comment, some here have actually seen and understood what I was referring to.

2. You say you didn't take it personal, yet you seem very offended, if you were less offended, you might have fallen under point 1 above.

3. Let's choose to grow up a little, you mentioned people being judged down even to their gloves, I used a situation to make an example out of it.

You, turning this in to a competition is now starting to explain why you took offense in this thread in the first place.

4. Again, if you understood my initial intention you would not have raised this point.

The biggest mistake I made was to correct your post where I scratched out the word RACE and then proceeded to give my impressions. I should have given my impressions in a seperate post and you would have been less offended and probably would not have taken it personal, so my sincerest apologies for that.

Finally, The Big Year.

I will say it again, I hope the attention whores and trophy hunters won't be all over this like a rash.

Alas it's not a race.

This is a great event with super opportunities to those who can afford the time and money to get involved in the event.

I am constantly irked by this whole "racing" phenomenon that dominates our sport.

I for one keep telling people I miss the old days where we went to what was then known as Classics.

We used to go to these classics to explore, enjoy the terrain ,meet up with mates and get to experience our country.

The Big Year is going to be just that and I can see this event brining us back to the heart of our sport, the original intent of why we ride MTB's.

To be one with nature, keep fit, see the country and have the thrill of being a kid again.

Sadly however, I see this same racing phenomenon creeping over in to this event and it's leader board.

If this was my event, I will give the top dog a pair of socks as a prize.

So when does the race start?

What can I win?

So when does the race start?

 

What can I win?

Your 5 seconds of fame under bright lights... hehe

 

 

......

Your 1st post had nothing good in it and this (your previous post) had a few good things about the event. ...

My goal was achieved

Your 1st post had nothing good in it and this (your previous post) had a few good things about the event. ...

 

 

My goal was achieved

Yes ,indeed you have proven to me that you are really the type of individual that will see it as a race or competition.

Michael Jackson said it best "Heal the world…………"

$24 for an app is outlandish ! All the information in the app is already publicly available, take a leaf from successful app's that follow a freemium model like Strava.

You won't be getting $24 out of me for an this app unfortunately and I doubt you will achieve critical mass at this price. Rather make the app/info free and then charge if people want to enter the competition once they are enticed and are using the app.

Just my 2c as an app developer..

There is no trails in my valley!!! :thumbdown:

I will not be buying this app!

$24 for an app is outlandish ! All the information in the app is already publicly available, take a leaf from successful app's that follow a freemium model like Strava.

 

You won't be getting $24 out of me for an this app unfortunately and I doubt you will achieve critical mass at this price. Rather make the app/info free and then charge if people want to enter the competition once they are enticed and are using the app.

 

Just my 2c as an app developer..

Kudos chap. I love it when people talk sense.

Could even rely on advertising for money?