Mountain bikers enjoy outride fun

TOTI Cycling Club’s mountain bikers have been doing some great stuff over the past few weeks.

Some did the Mount Splendour race which sounded like it was very tough, but good fun. Others stayed at home and rode on home turf.

With the mountain biking season drawing to an end, more riders are starting to chill a bit and have fun on the outrides. The groups are even stopping to take amazing photographs.

With the festive season coming up, there is an even better reason for everyone to drag those bikes out and work off the extra kilojoules. On Saturday mornings there are generally three groups of different abilities and speeds going out to ride and a few groups do weekday morning training rides as well.

The Rocky Bay outrides are proving to be tremendous fun. Everyone meets between 5.30am and 6.15am at Rocky Bay where you are invited to have a free cup of coffee. It only costs R20 to go on the ride and there are normally two groups, which might pick up to three soon. The A group rides are long, and not always that easy, but there is such great camaraderie and good humour on the rides. Rickey Hulley is a great leader who somehow keeps track of a huge number of riders. This is one event well worth joining. And the Mambas shirts are prolific at these rides. The restaurant provides excellent coffee and breakfast after the rides. They also sport new ablution facilities so riders don’t need to sit around all smelly after the rides. Although a nice swim in the ocean is also always good. The next Rocky Bay outride will be on Saturday, 13 December.

Virginia farm is fantastic right now. Pete has added some new single track and route. The club will be venturing up there for a ride and braai at some stage during the holidays.

Renishaw track is really good fun. The track seems to hold out against the weather pretty well and it is just getting better and better to ride there. Look for their FB page for updates.

The track at Lords is also in very good condition. Barry has made a new hump, which adds to the fun of things. The Mambas would like to do a small cross-country series there next year, so start thinking of a team to put together.

The roadies are enjoying a recently formed new group who relish the scenery just as much as the ride. Both groups, like Mambas, are having great rides, some venturing as far as Sibaya.

Shaun has been very busy with posting interesting articles on the roadies Facebook page. Whenever you have a few minutes to spare, visit the page and read up what’s happening in the cycling world.

Remember that all road rides leave from the Engen Garage in Rockview Road at 5am, Tuesdays to Fridays and 5.30am on weekends. The route is decided each morning as it varies according to the weather, who is riding and their ability.

Any cyclist interested in riding during the week and weekends can call roadies club captain Shaun Heinze on 074-848-7405 or email shaunheinze@gmail.com

The club website at www.amanzimtoticycle.co.za has all the relevant information on the club.