Enduro X-Country - Pictures of the weekend

Round 5 of the X-Country Series takes place really close to most of us - Mystic Dolphin near Lanseria. The course is looking better than expected and the guys are in for a serious workout!

Directions to MYSTIC DOLPHIN, Lanseria:
Head out north past Lanseria Airport on the R512 (Hans Strydom/ Malibongwe/ Lanseria/ Broederstroom Road). Go past the "Home of the Chicken Pie" and shortly after that look for a turn to the left to Mystic Dolphin. If you get to the Engen Garage on the long uphill, you have gone too far. Take the sand road and follow markings to the venue. The GPS coordinates are S25 53.889 E27 52.545

PROGRAMME AND TIMETABLE Saturday 18th October 2008
07h00 to 13h00 Documentation and Scrutineering: all Classes
08h00 Riders Briefing (Pro’s)
08h30 Pro Classes line up.
08h45 Open Pro Class Start
08h48 200 Pro Class Start
08h51 Seniors Pro Start
10h51 Senior Pro End (cut-off 10h31)
11h45 Open Pro End (cut-off 11h25)
11h48 200 Pro End (cut-off 11h28)
11h15 Riders Briefing (Novice A & B & Junior 125)
11h40 Novice A & B & Junior 125 Line up
11h47 Junior 125 Start
11h50 Novice A Row 1 Start
11h53 Novice A Row 2 Start
11h56 Novice B Start
13h47 Junior 125 End (cut-off 13h27)
13H50 Novice A Row 1 End (cut-off 13h30)
13h53 Novice A Row 2 End (cut-off 13h33)
13h56 Novice B End (cut-off 13h36)
13h15 Riders Briefing (Novice C, Juniors & Ladies)
13h45 Novice C, Juniors & Ladies Line up
14h00 Pro Mini’s Start
14h03 Novice C Start
14h06 Ladies Start
14h09 Juniors Start
15h21 Ladies End
15h24 Junior End
15h30 Pro Mini End
15h33 Novice C End
13h00 Prize Giving - Pro’s.
15h00 Prize Giving – Novice A & B
17h00 Prize Giving – Junior, Ladies and Novice C

Admin wrote: Take the sand road and follow markings to the venue.

For real .... a SAND road ???

Wahl wrote:

Admin wrote: Take the sand road and follow markings to the venue.

For real .... a SAND road ???

I think only GS’s with cool sound is allowed! Is anybody going?

Yep, I was there - and what a great day it was!
Took zillions of pictures - will post tomorrow.
I was amazed by the skills exhibited, both men and ladies riders.

Not exactly the track for a GS though!

it's tomorrow now.......where are the pics?

Me wonders too!

oh you restless people!
some of us do sleep you know!
And watched Rossi and Hamilton: true Champions.
Ok ok I'll download now!

Not far from Lanseria, a world of endurance, sweat and skills opened up on Saturday at this X country competition.
It was a first for me - as spectator. And I realise now more than ever, that I'd rather tour the easier roads of our country on my GS...

Here are pictures of a few riders on the challenging track. (I must admit I enjoyed every moment watching them!)

You could feel the excitement next to the pits area as the riders took off at different times in different classes.
"Riders, are you ready?"


Off they go!
It is our chairman, Pieter, on bike N178!


Obstacles of all sorts around every corner:



Not all easy!


Stefan - # 117 - pictured here in a not so Scary moment . . .


Riders of different classes - From pro's to juniors had to seriously navigate their bikes on Humour Hill:




It was great to see that help was generiously offered to the juniors and the ladies

More . . .



Logs, ditches, water and mud . . .


There weren't many ladies - but they can!



Hats off to the courage and the skills!

thank you for the photos

@ Pieter......noticed some of the bikes (including yours) have the front brake rotor covered or partly covered. Is this only for protection?

Yep thanx for the pics.

Looking at the pics it seems like a team effort with all the helpers pulling and pushing bikes out of tricky situations.

This is real off-road X-country, way beyond my ability. Just standard dirt roads are challenges for me at this stage.

Great pics
Looked like a fun day !
Sorry I couldn't attend.
Well done

Thanks for the support and pics Dani. I must admit it was quite a tough ride in terms of the heat and fitness. Those small rocky riverbeds got extremely hot and humid. It was a very good organised race although it was not extremely technical, it was in your face all the time. The Rocky riverbed and the rocky climb "Heartbreak Hill" did claim a few bikes and riders. Lot of retirements due broken levers and crankcase holes.

MadnohB wrote:thank you for the photos

@ Pieter......noticed some of the bikes (including yours) have the front brake rotor covered or partly covered. Is this only for protection?

As we encounter a lot of rocks and trees it is essential to protect all the lower parts of the bike i.e. brake disks, swingarms, lower forks etc. The protector takes most of the impact and normally deflects the blow to the bike's vital parts. You also fit hand guards and radiator braces to protect the bike when (note NOT IF) you fall over. During and Enduro you will probably fall over easy obstacle during the latter part of the race due to exhaustion. I wear a heart rate monitor and you can in a two hour race easily use up 3000KCal (that is 12000kJ). My average heart rate is typically 90% and I sometimes reach heart rates of up to 120% (My 100% rate is 182 beats per minute).

Here are two clips from the event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RgEQrnhWLU&feature=related

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S52M2ITsbyE