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12th November 2008
Local tour and adventure company Swazi Trails, have established a weekly bicycle time trial in the Ezulwini Valley. The aim of this regular timed circuit is to assist local cyclists to gauge and improve their level of fitness. The route is 18km in length and is largely off-road, which means that it is suitable for mountain-bike (MTB) style bicycles. The time trial will take place every Wednesday evening during the summer months of November to March, starting at 17h30 sharp outside Quartemaine’s Restaurant at The Gables.
According to Swazi Trails Director, Darron Raw, “All cyclists are welcome to participate. There is no charge for riding. We only require that participants wear a helmet, use a rear flashing light and respect traffic regulations. We also insist that cyclists are courteous to pedestrians in the community areas that we traverse”.
Raw explained that the route starts at Quatermaines at The Gables, heads through Lobamba, close to the Mlilwane Gate, across to Nkhanini, past Somhlolo Stadium into Ezulwini, past Spintex Village and back through the veld to The Gables.
“Being a relatively flat course, we expect that winning times of around 45mins will be established over time and that the slowest cyclist will take an hour and a half,” comments Raw, “ a bike light is recommended for slower cyclists during November and March.”
Times will be recorded and circulated on a weekly basis. There will be some monthly prizes for the best performances. The route is not marked and for those participating for the first time a route description card is available, which lists all turnings based on odometer readings.
Results from this week’s time trial were:
Vaughn Mountjoy 00:51:34
Darron Raw 00:55:35
Andrew Van Rensburg 00:56:10
Mbusi Motsa 00:59:40
Clarence Preat 01:15:56
Jared Pheiffer 01:16:54
Sebbie du Pont 01:16:55
Carol Preat 01:16:56
19th November 2008
Times recorded by cyclists participating in the weekly Swazi Trails MTB Mid-weeker improved substantially over the previous week’s times. The time trial is organized by local tour and adventure company Swazi Trails and starts ever Wednesday evening at 17h30 outside Quatermaine‘s Restaurant, The Gables, in Ezulwini.
Vaughn Mountjoy again showed his dominance carving over two minutes off his existing course record for the 18km route, finishing in a commendable 49 minutes 20 seconds. He was followed home by Richard Darne who was two and a half minutes further back and Barry Spencer, almost a minute behind in third. The first lady home was Carol Preat in 1 hour, 6 minutes, 31 seconds.
Riders on this week’s time trial were well tested by the muddy conditions and arrived back at the finish coated in mud. Given that the conditions were far from easy for fast riding, it is expected that times will continue to be improve in the weeks to come.
The aim of this regular timed circuit is to assist local cyclists to gauge and improve their level of fitness. All cyclists are welcome to participate and there is no charge for riding. The only regulations are that cyclists come equipped with a helmet and that both traffic regulations and local pedestrians are respected. The route is predominantly off-road and suited only to mountain bikes.
Results from this week time trial were:
Vaughn Mountjoy 00:49:20
Richard Darne 00:52:42
Barry Spencer 00:53:37
Darron Raw 00:53:44
John Williams 00:55:14
Andrew Van Rensburg 00:55:36
Manyakatane Dlamini 00:55:42
Johno van Wyk 00:57:37
Mbusi Motsa 00:58:03
Bhekie Lukhele 01:05:03
Clarence Preat 01:05:38
Jared Pheiffer 01:05:46
Sebbie du Pont 01:06:30
Carol Preat 01:06:31
Anita Raw 01:09:40
27th November 2008
Vaughn Mountjoy carved more time off his existing record at this week’s Swazi Trails MTB Mid-weeker. His performance was also mirrored by Andrew Van Rensburg and Manyakatane Dlamini both of whom showed much improved times.
The first lady home was Cathy Cunningham, who was followed by Lynn Taylor and newcomer Lungile Mkhabela.
Top rider Ntokozo Mamba also made an appearance at this weeks timetrial, but being new to the course he lost his way in the gathering darkness. He is assured to be back next week and will be intent on toppling Mountjoy from his number one position.
The aim of this regular timed circuit is to assist local cyclists to gauge and improve their level of fitness. All cyclists are welcome to participate and there is no charge for riding. The only regulations are that cyclists come equipped with a helmet and that both traffic regulations and local pedestrians are respected. The route is predominantly off-road and suited only to mountain bikes.
Results from this week's time trial were:
Vaughn Mountjoy 00:47:30
Andrew Van Rensburg 00:49:30
Manyakatane Dlamini 00:50:30
Barry Spencer 00:53:00
Johno van Wyk 00:54:30
Cathy Cunningham 01:01:30
Lynne Taylor 01:09:30
Bhekie Lukhele 01:19:30
Lungile Mkhabela 01:19:30
Nathi Simelane 01:19:30
Richard Darne 01:21:30
10th December 2008
Vaughn Mountjoy wasn’t present to defend his title as his previous best time was cut-down by two riders during this week’s Swazi Trails MTB Mid-weeker. Both Darron Raw and Andrew van Rensburg came home inside the previous record held by Mountjoy of 47:30:00.
With riding conditions close to perfect this week it was expected that times would improve as riders have had a number of weeks to improve their fitness, since this weekly bicycle time-trial kicked off in early November.
Newcomer Lucinda Bride posted a women’s record of 57:30 on her first attempt at the 18.2km off-road circuit, and this was despite some extra distance from occasional wrong turns. There is no doubt that she is going to be putting some pressure on the gents in week’s to come.
Commented Andrew Van Rensburg, “The unexpected obstacle of having to lift our bikes over a locked gate did slow times down a bit, so we look forward shifting the mark to 45 minutes next week.”
Results from this week's time trial were:
Darron Raw 00:46:23
Andrew Van Rensburg 00:46:50
Richard Darne 00:48:37
Mike Craigie 00:51:19
Mark Kashiki 00:51:43
Dave Roberts 00:56:05
Lucinda Bride 00:57:39
Baron Darne 01:07:59
Nathi Simelane 01:09:27
Cathy Cunningham 01:11:23
Lynne Taylor 01:11:23
Kevin Haycocks 01:19:58
Cesar Preat 01:23:15
Clarence Preat 01:23:50
Sebbie du Pont 01:23:50
Caryn Biggert 01:23:50
17th December 2009
In this week’s time trial Vaughn Mountjoy reclaiming his number 1 position with a superb ride that carved another full minute off the course record. He brought the record down to 45min 20s for the 18.2km course. As was predicted woman rider Lucinda Bride also demolished the ladies record which she had set herself on her inaugural outing the week before. Now familiar with the course route, she was the forth rider home, and took a full 8 minutes off her previous time to post a respectable 49min 29s.
Results were:
Vaughn Mountjoy 00:45:20
Richard Darne 00:47:00
Mark Kashiki 00:49:28
Lucinda Bride 00:49:29
Leon van Wyk 00:50:50
Sean Stuarts 00:51:16
Shane Raw 00:51:17
Bhekie Lukhele 01:00:13
Mbusi Motsa 01:10:30
Shirley Kenny 01:10:30
Clive Mzamo 01:13:20
Banele Dlamini 01:13:54
Baron Darne 01:15:20
Asande Motsa 01:17:20
24th December 2009
A stiff headwind and threatening rainstorm did not slow down times, during last week’s Swazi Trails MTB Time Trial in Ezulwini. With an incredible effort, Vaughn Mountjoy took another two full minutes off his existing course record, with a clear indication that he is no where near to his peak yet. His effort was well timed as both second-placed Leon Wyk and Darron Raw in third, had managed to slip inside his previous best.
“This particular time trial brought out a lot of competitiveness,” explained organizer Darron Raw, “ as eleven out of the twelve riders all improved their times substantially, and none more so than first lady home, Shirley Kenny, who was 6 minutes faster than her previous best.”
This weekly bicycle time trial takes place every Wednesday evening at 17h30 outside Quatermaine‘s Restaurant, The Gables, in Ezulwini. The course is off-road and suitable for MTB style bicycles. All cyclists are welcome to participate and there is no charge for riding.
The past two months have seen a total of forty-six local cyclists participating in the timed 18.2km circuit which loops around Lobamba, Nkanini and Ezulwini. “Our objective is to promote some competitiveness amongst local cyclists and to provide a measure for fitness and skills improvement,” comments Raw, “and judging by the continued improvement in times, I think we are achieving just that. Our record time is now more than eight minutes faster than when we started just seven weeks ago.”
Results from the time trial were:
Vaughn Mountjoy 00:43:23
Leon van Wyk 00:44:25
Darron Raw 00:45:30
Richard Darne 00:45:56
Mark Kashiki 00:49:08
Manyakatane Dlamini 00:50:06
Mandla Mabaso 00:56:18
Bheki Dlamini 01:00:47
Mbusi Motsa 01:02:55
Shirley Kenny 01:03:50
Mduduzi Mkhabela 01:11:08
Clive Mzamo 01:18:00
31st December 2009
The arrival of “racing snakes” Menzi Tsela, Craig Randall and Moshoeshoe Khumalo shook up the rankings at the last Swazi Trails MTB Timetrial for 2008. From the start the trio took to the front and despite not being 100% familiar with the route, they all posted very respectable times of under 44 minutes.
“Menzi Tsela was just 6 seconds off the course record set by Vaughn Mountjoy”, commented organizer Darron Raw, “and we expect to see this mark pushed down well under 43 minutes by these racing snakes”. Asked what a “racing snake” is, Raw explained: “ Well, the term ‘racing snake’ is generally applied to super-fast mountain bikers. These elite cyclists move as smoothly and as effortlessly as snakes, and all they leave on the ground is a winding snake-like tyre track in the dust.”
A few other riders also showed their style this week with Mbusi Motsa, taking 12 minutes off his previous time, Bheki Dlamini speeding up by 4 minutes and first lady Shirley Kenny slipping in under the one hour mark with an improved effort of 59 min 31s.2
Menzi Tsela 00:43:29
Moshoeshoe Khumalo 00:43:38
Craig Randall 00:43:54
Darron Raw 00:46:30
Richard Darne 00:46:31
Manyakatane Dlamini 00:49:53
Mbusi Motsa 00:50:19
Richard Lemmer 00:50:48
Bheki Dlamini 00:56:10
Luke Mahlindza 00:56:10
Pat Masondo 00:56:10
Mduduzi Mkhabela 00:58:09
Shirley Kenny 00:59:31
Rodney Mountjoy 01:02:25
Lungile Mkhabela 01:10:14
7th January 2009
The New Year certainly brought out many cyclists for this week’s Swazi Trails MTB Time Trial in Ezulwini. According to organizer Darron Raw, over 40 cyclists participated, which is double the number on previous rides.
“It seems that getting fit was a common theme amongst this year’s New Year resolutions,” commented Raw, “and we hope to see this number growing even more during the next month, as there are many great cycle races coming up, for which this weekly dice is great preparation.
This week saw top rider Craig Randall knock a full minute off Vaughn Mountjoy’s previous best time, coming in on 42 min 05 seconds, a minute ahead of chasers Moshoeshoe Khumalo and Carlos Malinga. Malinga finished neck-a-neck with Khumalo but was slapped with a 30 second penalty for use of a prohibited stretch of tar road.
Mountjoy seemed to be suffering from some festive season side effects and was well off his usual pace, having to settle for a ding-dong battle with Raw, who had a good ride and improved his time.
First lady home again was Cathy Cunningham in 57min31s followed by the always consistent Shirley Kenny, two minutes later.
Craig Randall 00:42:05
Moshoeshoe Khumalo 00:43:10
Carlos Malinga 00:43:40
Vaughn Mountjoy 00:44:30
Darron Raw 00:44:52
Richard Darne 00:45:49
Leon van Wyk 00:46:00
Sean Underwood 00:46:37
Sean Stuarts 00:48:15
Mark Kashiki 00:49:00
Tiago Oliveira 00:49:05
Joseph Tibane 00:49:10
Mike Craigie 00:49:10
Pat Masondo 00:50:15
Richard Lemmer 00:50:50
Manyakatane Dlamini 00:51:05
Mbusi Motsa 00:51:46
Bheki Dlamini 00:56:02
Thulani Nkambule 00:56:02
Mduduzi Mkhabela 00:56:53
Jose Neves 00:56:55
Cathy Cunningham 00:57:07
Richard Cunningham 00:57:07
Richard Alexander 00:57:13
Jared Pheiffer 00:57:56
Shirley Kenny 00:59:47
Renato Oliviera 01:00:42
Victor Oliveira 01:00:48
Rodney Mountjoy 01:01:47
Banele Dlamini 01:02:32
David Melvin 01:02:41
Richard Melvin 01:02:41
Bandzile Mtethwa 01:04:00
Nicki Lemmer 01:05:30
Lungile Mkhabela 01:05:55
Berger Nxumalo 01:06:00
Lynne Taylor 01:09:00
14th January 2009
With the first proper cycle races of the year only days away, a number of cyclists showed improving form on the weekly Swazi Trails MTB Mid-weeker. In the absence of the previous weeks record breaker, Craig Randal, who set a new mark of 42 min 05 seconds, this week’s dice was between Menzi Tsela and Carlos Malinga. Malinga may well have had an opportunity to put his name against the record time, but an error on the route again cost him valuable time and he had to be content to follow Tsela home in second.
Early season pace setter, Vaughn Mountjoy, improved slightly on his previous week’s effort coming in third, but still remains well off his pre-Christmas best.
First lady home again was Zoe Bosman, who cruised in on 1hr 06min 30s, taking advantage of the misfortunes of regular winner Shirley Kenny.
Menzi Tsela 00:42:40
Carlos Malinga 00:42:43
Vaughn Mountjoy 00:44:07
Darron Raw 00:45:30
Stuart Hulley 00:46:55
Denzel McFadden 00:48:07
Ara Monadjem 00:48:15
Mike Craigie 00:48:46
Andrew Van Rensburg 00:49:38
Sean Stuarts 00:51:00
Lauri Koibula 00:54:47
Sean Underwood 00:54:57
Thulani Nkambule 00:56:32
Bheki Dlamini 00:58:07
Zoe Bosman 01:06:30
Shirley Kenny 01:17:52
Victor Barreiro 01:17:52
Victor Oliveira 01:17:52
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