Other improvements to the Swazi Trails MTB Mid-weeker

Those that are a little bit slower will be happy to hear that we have ordered some new flood lights for the parking area at Mantenga, so the area will be better lit for late arrivals. Bike lights are still recommended for the route however.

We have also ordered a large format digital timer which will be used to capture times of riders accurately. If anyone is travelling down from Johannesburg shortly - please let Darron know.

We are also going to put in place a "short route" for slower riders to encourage them to participate. The short route will be discussed in the weeks to come.

Some updates

A couple of updates...

The new route for the timetrial is as follows:

START/FINISH - from Mantenga Craft & Lifestyle Centre - the official point is between the two palm trees on the road just near the gravel parking lot area.

Ride towards Mantenga Lodge and then downhill left, onto the tar between the houses and then down to turn left on Cultural Village road. Then right towards Lobamba across the one-way bridge. From there the route remains the same as previous years.

On the way back, after riding alongside the The Village (Spintex) and turning off up the path our new route goes dead-straight uphill on the single-track instead of peeling off to the left half-way up like we used to. Carry on uphill until this track meets a dirt road that accesses the large warehouse building (on your right). Continue up this access road as it goes first a bit left and then sharply right parallel with the main road MR103 in the direction of Mbabane. Stay with this dirt track until it meets the tar and then go left on the verge of the road (Gables direction) and keep a look-out for a chance to cross the traffic to the other side. Soon after a bus shelter there is a wide gravel road going uphill into the Van Wyk's property. Turn up here and go up about 100m until a small gate on the right allows you to peel off and continue up to the Mantenga Drive tar road on top. Turn left downhill and then right into Mantenga Falls Road and the finish.

Note: from the point in the veld where the route changes we have put some yellow spraypaint markers and some red and white chevron tape markers - just so the route can become familiar. Yellow spraypaint "spots" have been put on stomes, poles and gates right up to Mantenga Drive.

Contribution for 2010/11 season.

After some discussion it was decided that this year we would look at having an E 100.00 annual registration fee for the timetrial. This will enable us to:

1. Buy a nice large format digital timing clock for use on the event (and at other cycling events when needed)

2. Make an annual contribution to the Lobamba Neighbourhood Care Point (NCP)

Please bring your contributions along to the next ride.

November the 3rd Timetrial

This week Robert Bie had William Kelly instead of Denzyl McFadden on his wheel. Our results were:

Robert Bie                       00:47:55
William Kelly                    00:47:57
James Mardell                 00:52:44
Dumi Mhlongo                  00:57:10
John Williams                   01:02:45
Luke Malindzisa               01:09:10
Craig Randall                   01:10:54
Elmari Andrade                01:21:05
Denzyl McFadden            01:21:05
Mduduzi Mkhabela           01:27:10
Brian Healy                        01:29:35

We look forward to a few more participants in the weeks to come.