Newsletter 28 August

EMBA  Guided Rides

We are happy to report back that after only a few months the guided rides are up and going from both Shongweni and North Coast. These have been extremely well received and are growing in numbers every week.

Imagine you get a gap, your boss has gone away or,  you are the boss and you have just done a deal and need to reward yourself or, you are a mother and the kids have gone to a friend, whatever the reason you have a chance to get out and ride. You call around and no one can join you –NO PROBLEM- THE EMBA GUIDES ARE WAITING FOR YOU!

Yes that’s right, just turn up and ride. There are normally riders of all different levels so you can fit in where it suites you best.

Every week day afternoon except Mondays it is game on.

The North Coast rides on a Tuesday and Friday from Remo’s have so far proven to be the most popular with Friday afternoon’s at Hornby Life Style Centre coming a close second.

Ok, ok, yes we hear you, some of you have to work(probably to pay for your dirty habit ; ) mountain biking that is)

And so you can’t make the week day rides.

No worries as we have rides every Saturday morning and it is not uncommon for 20 – 30 riders to head off, and this has been through middle winter!

The Saturday ride from Body Guru leaves at 7am sharp and heads out to Umloti, down to the lagoon and back, around 32 – 35km. This is a great ride for all levels.

The ride time table will change as we head into Spring but for this Friday and weekend the rides are as follows;

Friday Afternoon Remo’s – North Coast Wheels turning at 15:30 to 17:00. Depending on who turns up, but normally there is a fast and social (not allowed to say slow) group.

Friday Afternoon Shongweni – Hornby Lifestyle Centre 15:30 – 17:00. Same as above.

Saturday Morning – Body Guru – Umhlanga. Wheels turn at 7am sharp.

Body Guru is opposite Standard Bank in the traffic circle on the Northern end of the Millennium bridge – Gateway.

Please note that there is no charge for these guided rides, as a member of EMBA it is covered by your R200 annual fee.

The only charge would be for a day license which is R20 and can be obtained from the guides or your local bike shop or club, this is a temp board and needs to be handed back at the end of the ride.

Tipping the guides is at your discretion, if you feel like they have excelled on the day then please feel free to tip the guides.

Trail Update Shongweni

From the beginning of the year when you could not ride the trails due to them being overgrown, to now some fantastic loops. A huge thank you to the guides who when not riding have been clearing and maintain the trails.

The Shongweni route has a lot more to offer than the north coast with sections of single track and also some real killer hills. So get out there and enjoy, rumor has it that the long downhill single track through the river is running sweet!

Trail Update North Coast

As most of you should know, there has been a route extension, mainly for safety reasons to keep us off the Verulum road. A big thank you to Tongaat and the farm managers for allowing this to happen. It might only be a small section but it is progress. The new route has been marked with route marker boards.

There is also something exciting happening, yes, finally on the North Coast, Single Track. We are in the process of building some single track through the hedge line on this new route section. Should be a few weeks till running smooth, will keep you informed.

Trail Maintenance

The route marking has been nearly up for a year now on the North Coast and we are in the process of doing our 1st round of repairs. The good news is that we have only lost a few boards and those have mainly been by cane fires and cane tractors, no theft which is great.

The trails are there for you, so please give us feedback on any suggestions or ways in which we can improve or fix things, we would appreciate this.

Shongweni is a different story, the boards have been vandalized and not by locals but by mountain bikers themselves with our guides having caught a few red handed. This is totally unacceptable, please note anyone caught doing this will be charged.

Again help us help you, where can we improve with our marking and signs?

On A Serious Note

Slowly, most probably with it getting warmer, there has been an increase in the number of riders without a license. What is even worse is that when approached these riders have been rude and have had a “don’t care attitude”. Please everyone spread the word, there is really no need for this as there are guided rides where you can get a license.

Please note that we have had to go to the next level to enforce the rules so that we can keep our riding area. The EMBA guides will be issued with cameras and they have been asked to take pictures of those breaking the rules. Once identified, there will be a name and shame with the possibility of being banned from mtb races and the cane. Lets all work together to make sure that this does not happen.

Have a great weekend and see you in the saddle

[email protected]
www.singletrackminded.co.za

Tel : 031 – 3125955
Cell : 082 6543 529