In this Issue: Burg Wheelers Cycling Club
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In this Issue:
27-2020
From the Editor ..................................................................... 1
The best of Hilton and Cedara & MTB News ............ 2
Putting Hills into Perspective .......................................... 3
MTB Mentor: Where to Save & Where to Spend .... 4
Ride Roundup ........................................................................ 5
Lockdown restrictions favour the MTB
riders among us at the moment, allowing (slightly
The Downfall of the Bures… bigger) groups to ride in open spaces and pretty
places, as evidenced in this week’s BT articles from
our MTB group. Those who prefer their road bikes
continue to be plagued by the need to keep to
groups of 4, avoid being mugged, and dodge the
ever-increasing number and size of potholes on our
roads, while trying to breathe through a mask/buff.
Add to that the roadworks taking place along some
of our favourite routes, and the 6am to 6pm time
constraint, and the motivation needed to get up and
get out on your road bike is substantial!
This week’s articles are all about HILLS. It would
seem there are still some BWs who enjoy a
challenge and have been steadily doing road rides
of increasing distance and speed, not to mention
steepness. Thanks to Sya and Gavin for sharing their
perspective of our road routes and hills. Hill training
takes on a whole new meaning though, when you
look at the Strava stats of a morning ride by Chris
Froome; Distance: 164.2km, Elev Gain: 4400m. DSTV
is also showing highlights from past Tour de France
races if anyone needs more inspiration, and
you can always opt to Zwift...
Having big group road rides is still a long
way off, and we are investigating ways to
support the SPCA, other than with our annual
club ride and breakfast – more information to
follow on this.
As an added incentive, and to give our
Club sponsors, Compendium some exposure,
Powered By…
we will be launching a Facebook Competition
where one member stands to win a cycling
hamper consisting of a Compendium cycle
kit, shirt, cap, water bottle,
Compendium/Grumpy Monkey active socks
and cycle magazine. Follow us on Facebook
for more details.
Stay safe and sane.
Sal
BURG TALK | 27-2020
Rebecca van der Linde
Having spent some hours clearing trails the previous
weekend, Gavin organised a ride on Saturday morning,
to enjoy the fruits of the club’s labour efforts. We
started from a relatively unknown venue called ‘The Well
Cafe’ in Knoll Road just outside Hilton (heading towards
Sweetwaters side), where the (small) group enjoyed a
coffee before heading out on the trails. The Well Café is
a relatively new wellness café and health shop with a
focus on a wholesome, organic menu, frozen meals and
some enticing treats. They are trying to attract trail
runners and mountain bikers and have opened up a trail
link directly from their entrance, which allows access to
the Hilton trails.
The zigzag trail heading out is aptly named ‘snakes
& ladders’ (going down) and ‘coffee grinder’ (coming
back up) and from there you just need to sniff out the Richard Krusekopf
favourites. Gavin did a good job of taking in just about The Cedara trails are a hot topic at the moment so
all the best ones – and especially the ones the club had those who spent time clearing can really feel
cleared. We then made our way across to the Grace appreciated. There have been numerous messages of
College side and did variations of those (now well- appreciation from BW’s and friends alike. I must add my
trampled) trails, before returning to the Knoll. The final appreciation to the list. I was in a group that rode some
little ‘coffee grinder’ hill was a reminder that fitness of them this past Saturday and they are fantastic.
levels are somewhat lacking (for some!). The venue was In addition, there is also an amazing network of trails
hosting a ‘drive-through’ art exhibition so was quite in the Grace College area providing excellent riding. We
busy and unfair to judge them in this busy state, but we are so spoilt to have all this right here, free of charge
did wait a long while for our iced coconut coffees and and without any admin hassles. Long may it last.
only got home close to lunchtime. The current limit on group sizes and resultant load
on leaders for rides has prompted the suggestion that a
route should be marked out in the Grace College area.
Current thinking is to mark out around 20km of track so
that we can all find our way through without any
difficulty. Keep an eye out for this.
Our regular chat groups have been somewhat
silent regarding organised rides and this may give the
impression that very little is going on. This is not the
case and there are rides taking place almost on a non-
stop basis. With the current restrictions in place,
members are finding it convenient to ride at varying
times during the day, and the big group rides have been
replaced by numerous small group rides – how the
dynamics have changed.
If anyone is looking for a ride/riding partner, please
free to send out a message on the chat group. You are
sure to find someone to ride with. The Committee are
also looking at ways to share our rides and routes so
that others can benefit – if you have some great trails,
let’s share them with the club. Enjoy your riding.
BURG TALK | 27-2020
The 2 extra, short steep climbs add a little spice, but
watch your heart rate.
Sya Beaton and Gavin Brown NOTE: Average gradient = Vertical metres/ length
The Montrose Hills or The 6 Ugly Sisters, a of climb x 100
Witch & their Two Naughty Cousins
We have always enjoyed
Climb Start Point Route End Point Distance Ascent Grade
the challenge of these 7 m m Ave Max
climbs, but Lockdown forced 1 Town Bush Corner of Via Town Waltdorf 2500 93 4% 8%
us to become better Road McCarthy Drive Bush Road Complex
acquainted with them. So, and Town Bush
we thought we would share Road
the pain but also the 2 Oak Park Corner of Town Via Kenneth High Level 1700 103 6% 17%
Bush Road and Road Place
exhilaration with BW’s.
Ireland Road
The table shows an 3 Warwick Road Corner of Town Via Warwick Top of 1100 51 5% 12%
analysis of each hill detailing Bush Road and Road Warwick
length, metres climbed and Warwick Road Road
average and maximum 4 Montgomery Corner of Via Athlone Corner of 3300 196 6% 10%
gradient. Because the climbs Road Montgomery Circle and Old Howick
are close together, they all Road and Town Coffee Box and Link
start and finish in Town Bush Bush Road Road
Road, which means that if 5 Frances Corner of Town Via Frances Peter 2000 132 7% 12%
your 1 (or 2 or 3) mates can’t Staniland Drive Bush Road and Staniland Brown
Neden Road Drive and Drive 3300 150 5% 12%
keep up with you, you can all
(near Greg Peter Brown QE Park
regroup back in Town Bush. Minaar Cycles) Drive Entrance
We have our pet dislikes but 6 Craigie Corner of Town Via Craigie Victoria 3200 85 3% 14%
have tried being unbiased Drive Bush Road and Drive and Country
and to rate the climbs Craigie Drive Frances Club Estate
Staniland Office Park
according to perceived
Drive and
effort. From easy to Peter Brown
horrendous here they are: Drive
1 TOWN BUSH ROAD Witch Chase Valley Corner of Via Chase Top of 2860 189 7% 16%
(Cascades to Waltdorf) Road McCarthy Drive Valley Road Troon Place
Nice gentle slope, good and Town Bush
Road
warm up
A English Corner of via Chase Top of 1500 62 4% 20%
2 OAK PARK (Ireland to Road Chase Valley Valley Road English
High Level Place) Bit Road and and English Road
more taxing but McCarthy Drive Road
manageable. Near the B Normandy Corner of Via Caldecot Top of 310 17 5% 17%
Place Craigie Drive Place and Normandy
top there is a short 17 %
and Caldecot Normandy Place
kick, which can always be Place Place
left for another day!
3 WARWICK Steepish, but short, and there is always We hope you will share our hills and find them
the possibility of a coffee stop at the Weedons. challenging and enjoyable. The rewards are the view
4 MONTGOMERY Long but not too bad. Coffee Box at from the top, new QOM’s / KOM’s, an immense sense of
Athlone Circle could provide a breather. achievement and maybe coffee along the way.
5 FRANCES STANILAND (aka Eddie’s Favourite) the Three climbs in one hour is good going, 4 or 5 earns
longest climb but has a few flattish sections. you a croissant with your coffee and accomplish all 7 in
6 CRAIGIE To some of us, the most demanding and one go and you win the Polka Dot Jersey.
there is a nasty unfilled ditch across the road halfway Only prerequisites are ……bright, visible clothing,
up …. BEWARE! flashing front and backlights
7 CHASE VALLEY ROAD Definitely the Witch. It is long ENJOY!
and unrelenting. Might need to stop off at Seattle
Coffee before and after!
BURG TALK | 27-2020
Brett Fourie
Where to Save and Where to Spend (2)
1. SAVE ON HANDLEBARS AND STEMS
Never buy used! It’s impossible to see what type of
abuse a handlebar has been subjected to. Buy new and
save on dental bills. Resist the urge to overspend on
stems/handlebars if shopping on a budget. The
difference in palpable performance between aluminium
and carbon is almost impossible to feel for the average
weekend warrior like myself and only negligible in
weight. However, opt for a well-known brand to gain
that extra peace of mind about durability and
construction quality. Be sure to choose a bar with rise,
sweep and length to suite your riding needs and style.
2. SAVE ON DROPPER POSTS
A dropper post is absolutely a "must do" upgrade to N.B. Numerous "after market" 12 speed cassettes
any mountain bike! Riding off road is all about weight and drivetrain components are flooding the market at
distribution. A dropper allows you to adjust your centre hugely lower prices than the offerings from both Sram
of gravity on the fly. This is the one upgrade to a and Shimano. Be wise and avoid these "great deals".
mountain bike that will completely revolutionize your They cost less for a very good reason - poor
riding. Each and every KOM or top ten I've achieved on performance and woeful durability.
Strava on a technical section is as a direct result of riding Hope this helps - till next time
with a DP. You don’t have to break the bank; decent Brett
droppers are available from around R3000.
3. SAVE ON DRIVETRAIN
To meet certain price points, bicycle manufacturers
will more often than not, spec their bikes with higher
end brakes and suspension mixed with a more Three of us headed out on Sunday afternoon to put
affordable drivetrain. Reason being there is little to no in a little extra training. Of course, three “female” minds
performance difference between mid to high end working synergistically together creates great ideas, and
drivetrains other than a small weight penalty. so we decided hill training would be the plan. Leaving
Twelve speed drivetrains are here to stay and very from CoffeeBox, we headed off down Montgomery
much the in thing. Both the big players in this market, before a cruise past the Mall. No time to shop sadly!
Sram and Shimano, have excellent offerings in their Morcom Road beckoned once we safely negotiated the
range to suite most pockets. Sram offer 12 speed SX traffic in Victoria Rd and Mayors Walk, this was the first
Eagle with an 11-50 tooth cassette as their entry level. hill. At the top, after giving directions to a friendly fire
Similarly, the entry point from the Shimano stable runs engine driver, we headed back down the hill and up to
a 11-51 tooth range in Deore guise. the Hospice turn. The next hill challenge was Roberts
Always bear in mind you pay substantially more as Road up to Clarendon school, before we turned into
you move up the groupset hierarchy and in this case, Villiers Drive enjoying the scenic views over Pmb as we
you can feel the difference in both shifting speed as well climbed. Dashing down Kitchener Rd, we enjoyed a few
as an added crispness. seconds of freewheeling before we faced the biggie -
Nevertheless these differences are not huge and the Taunton Rd. The first part of the climb quickly wiped all
weight penalty negligible. The weight weenies amongst the smiles away, and we ground our way in silence up
us however will happily pay a twenty percent premium to the Tanner Rd turn near the top. This was our first
for a 130-gram weight saving from one groupset to the attempt at Tanner Rd (other than by car!) which grows
next. (Insider tip - fit a XT shifter to your Deore 12 speed in steepness as it progresses – on and on. Turning into
drivetrain and I'd challenge anyone to notice the Dale Rd gave little respite as the hill continued, and so
difference between the full XT drivetrain and the one it was with weary, shaky legs that we made it back to
running the XT only shifter). Coffeebox. Are we going back?? For sure – there is a
Strava segment that needs to be broken…
BURG TALK | 27-2020
Upcoming Events
2020 Virtual Aquelle Tour Durban
Although we can't be together to take part in the
aQuelle Tour Durban this year, we can still all do
something together on 25 & 26 July as part of the
Virtual aQuelle Tour Durban.
Go to www.tourdurban.co.za to join the programme
and #Ride For Good.
MANDELA DAY MILES OF SMILES
Date: 18 July 2020
Start Time: Anytime From 07h30 For Sale
Distance: 67km (MTB and Road) 2016 Merida Scultura 400
Entries Close: 17 July 2020
Entry Fee: R67
Enter at: www.cycleevents.co.za
Ride 67km and fight poverty on
International Mandela Day!
11 speed Shimano 105 components. Size 54
As new condition
Price: R9500
Viewing can be arranged
Contact Gert Rood +27726244070
Wanted
MTB small frame
Preferably Dual Suspension
Contact Nicola Portello on 082 330 2718
Contact:
Chairman Vice-Chairman Secretary BurgTalk
Bobby Nefdt Dale Southern Janice Brisbane Sally Upfold
082 082 1992 083 659 3000 083 660 9996 082 5700 851
bobbynefdt@gmail.com dales@soshosting.co.za Janicebrisbane1@gmail.com mustangsju@gmail.com
www.burgwheelers.co.za @ BurgWheelersCyclingClub @burgwheelers
BURG TALK | 27-2020
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