2020 vision on my MTB (avoiding the monkey)

Awesome riding for 2020 so far, it has been a great year with some incredible rides shared with the Benoni Rough Rider clan. Almost 900km riding in the month of Jan and some new routes and experiences. We ventured out to SuikerBosRand nature reserve(SBR) and did a bit of off-road - the track was slightly over grown since the last time, so it was interesting to forge new paths and a  bit of riding the rapids today after a few days of heavy rain. 

This year sees the introduction of the monkey (derived from the saying - monkey on my back). This is a floating trophy that is handed around the Rough Rider group and displayed by the last person that has fallen off their bike. I was the first to carry it but it has been passed around a few times since.   Below are a few pictures from 2020:

Rough Riders monkey carried by the last person to fall

Selfie at the top of the hill after bush whacking at SBR

SBR outride was awesome - chunky trying to keep up

Birthday ride

A bit of Riverfields track before work

Yes I can ride and take phots at the same time...

Team Metskill

Group ride...

More coffee...

Handing over the Monkey to Franz 

Displaying the monkey when it was on my back

Morning rides before work

Always enriching to see a sunrise in the morning. 

The Last Outpost -new coffee stop in Bapsfontein

Train tracks on the way to SBR

Beck lost in the long grass

Becky and Michael

Riding the rapids

Closing out 2019

Great year of riding for 2019. Marred with a few over the handle bar falls (mostly riding into 3 holes when following Juan's wheel 😮). But I managed to ride over 9200km for the year and had a blast with my Rough Rider Mates. 

I completed my 10th 94,7 road race on my MTB - with no visit to ICU this year. And my greatest achievement was to complete the Festive 500 on Strava with riding 520km between Christmas and New Year. What an amazing year riding with my Benoni Rough Rider friends and making a few new ones along the way. Below are a few pictures from the rides in November and December:

2019 94,7 before the start - my 10 race completed 

Blaauwpan morning rides

Mount Grace riding with a dutchman 

SBR off road 

SBR outride

Attacked by a vicious pothole

Bike pimped for the Christmas ride 

Rough Rider Christmas ride

Beck, Amy, Wayne and I on a great outride adventure (Festive 500)

Always time for coffee on our  mooring rides

Mark, Wayne and I looking for new routes for my Festive 500 

Rough Riders 

More coffee with the gang

Weekend jol at Belfast

So I was fortunate enough to have a weekend away at my mates place at The Lochs, just outside Belfast. It was an awesome weekend with a couple of good mates that I have know since high school.  On the Sunday morning (nursing a slight hangover), Craig and I ventured out on our mountain bikes. It was so great riding different routes and exploring through the pine forests. Craig an avid biker knew his way around and took me on a great route that was short enough that we could get back in time for brunch with the rest of the clan. Riding outdoors here is incredible and the scenery allows you to appreciate the beauty of South Africa, forgetting all the troubles that are facing in our country. Thanks Craig and Mieke for your hospitality and the great memories old and new.

We going that way....

Nothing flat, either up or down

Found a paved rode through the forest

Customary selfie with Craig and I

Puffing up a drag and I could still have the skills to take a selfie :-) 

Cradle ride with Pierre

January the 6th 2019, I was fortunate enough to join my mate Pierre for a ride in the Cradle of Humankind. It was awesome to do a route different from the boring miellie fields of the East Rand. A reminder that mountain biking involves climbing hills, which is something we do not have in the East Rand. The Cradle Mountain bike route is incredible single track carved out next to the road and it is either up or down, not many flats like my chunky body is used to. It was an awesome ride and I really enjoyed it, below is a Video that that Pierre took during the ride. 

Pierre and I Cradle Selfie

Wide open spaces and lots of single track

Holiday riding

Great few rides to end off 2018 and start 2019 with a the joy of mountain biking. Pictures tell the story:

Returning from a Irene ride

Forbidden quarry ride

Jumping the fence to get out the quarry

Benoni Rough Riders on a Friday coffee ride

Michael on the dry pan before the rains

Mile, Mark and Rene

Becky picked up a stray at the BP beautiful puppy who has a new loving home.