{"id":5457,"date":"2015-01-26T12:26:00","date_gmt":"2015-01-26T10:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conradstoltz.com\/?p=5457"},"modified":"2015-06-02T06:58:30","modified_gmt":"2015-06-02T04:58:30","slug":"caveman-skills-clinic-groenkloof-nature-reserve-pretoria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conradstoltz.com\/index.php\/caveman-skills-clinic-groenkloof-nature-reserve-pretoria\/","title":{"rendered":"Caveman Skills Clinic Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Conrad<\/a> Surprisingly, the quest to mastering MTB skills starts in the parking lot.<\/strong> Even for a group of\u00a0 Intermediate riders with a few Cape Epics under the belt.<\/h4>\n

We spent a lot of time on the tar. Its all about mastering the basics:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even “Stopping 101”<\/strong> is surprisingly hard at first. Here Deryck shows good form and brake modulation.<\/p>\n

And he brought the right bike: Dropper post, chunkier tyres, corner friendly frame geometry and a bit more suspension than your typical XC bike. Too many folks are hell bent on riding the “lightest, fastest most responsive”\u00a0 XC bike – which is pretty hard to ride well on trail) and overlook the bikes made for trail riding. (Deryck is on a mid level Specialized Stumpjumper FSR <\/a>(Elite, I think) for about R40k or US$3800)<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Look and learn. Watching and following are powerful learning tools.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Reuben van Niekerk is an ace Para cyclist<\/strong> with a few Cape Epics under the belt, and as you can see, he now knows how to drop bar and rail a corner. (Also thanks in part, to the “trail bike” as described above)<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Anton never stopped smiling!<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

The Dreaded Drop off:<\/strong>\u00a0 First in the classroom…<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Then follow the example<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Then DO IT!\u00a0\u00a0 “Hesitation = Devastation!!”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Center of gravity over the BB, off the brakes, look ahead etc…<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Text message from Robrecht after he got back from “Class”:<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

If your Afrikaans is a bit rusty:<\/p>\n

“Conrad. Just rode down the stairs by my house for the first time ever. Was surprised how easy it was. Thanks! Robrecht”<\/em><\/p>\n

Anton drops in on his Enduro…<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Jos drops in on his hard tail…<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Once we all had a good grip on the skills we hit the Groenkloof trails and put new moves to the test.<\/p>\n

Reuben crushing the rock section<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Deryck showing good balance and posture. Elbows up & hips forward!<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

As confidence grew, the guys kept requesting harder and harder trails…<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

In fact, we kept riding till we hit Single Track Nirvana<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

There seems to be a great demand for “Free Speed” in the Gauteng area – stay tuned for more Caveman Skills Clinics-<\/strong> I’ll really get into it once my racing schedule calms down a bit later this summer.<\/p>\n

#PrincessHotstuff<\/strong> did a great job helping with the coaching (shredding MTB and acing Netball is not far apart!) and for keeping the aid station stocked with cold BOS Sport and\u00a0<\/a> snacks, taking photos, organizing the admin, printing posters and organizing goodie bags: Squirt chain lube, Barrier Balm<\/a> & tyre sealant and also Enduren<\/a> products.<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hats off to the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria<\/a> for its fantastic trails and wildlife- it was quite a treat, and very far removed from the last time I rode there. Northern Transvaal MTB Champs, 1997 – Fritz Pienaar and I were racing head to head when I (largely due to lack of skill, but also the “single track” was a footpath) tangled in monkey vine and broke my collar bone. And thus put an eternal end to my status as a swimming ace.<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Recon of Groenkloof with Frans the evening before – Africa at its best.<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Surprisingly, the quest to mastering MTB skills starts in the parking lot. Even for a group of\u00a0 Intermediate riders with a few Cape Epics under the belt. We spent a lot of time on the tar. Its all about mastering the basics: Even “Stopping 101” is surprisingly hard at first. Here Deryck shows good form […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1534],"tags":[1537,1749,1615,1754,1619,1617,1616,1535,1618,1814],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n