Modern Cyclist Magazine Issue 1, September 2014

MC future rides Bashing the And probably the most popular of these urban cycling areas is a network of trails known simply as Braamfonteinspruit. Stretching from Craighall Park through Emmarentia Dam to Mark’s Park, it was only a matter of time before someone decided this route would make an excellent basis for a mountain bike event. F ew people realise that South Africa’s largest city includes various “green belts” in its urban layout. Both races will start at Mark’s Park, which will have food and beverage stalls, music entertainment and a kiddies’ one kilometre ride. In fact, this event seems to promise everything needed for a day’s family entertainment. Route attractions include a ﬂoating bridge across Emmarentia Dam, a 700 metre-long tunnel near Zoo Lake, complete with “zombies”, the avoidance of road So it was not really a surprise when Modern Cyclist crossings with a network of tunnels and bridges and a got to hear of the Jozi MTB Urban Assault 2014, tunnel under the M1. which promises two distances – a 22 kilometre and a 52 kilometre race – which will see riders follow the The event’s prize purse values over R370 000, which includes prizes for school kids, GoPro enthusiasts, the various green belts through the city on 12 October. best dressed, the longest ride and the racing snakes. But many cyclists do. In fact, many Johannesburg mountain bikers not only know about the city’s green belts, but they regularly ride them. At cycling “rush” time, usually those few hours between work and sunset, these green belts are so busy with bicycles that it’s often quite difﬁcult to get parking at the various meeting points along the route. Entries have opened already, visit www.MTBassault.co.za. Start in Germiston! re advertorial your tri adventu Entries for the Ekurhuleni 5150 African Championship on Sunday 2 November at Germiston Lake are now open, so make sure you start your tri adventure on the right note. 5150 African Championship, one of the highlights on the triathlon calendar, raced over the standard distance format of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run. This makes it the ideal way to ‘get your feet wet’ in triathlon. South Africa boasts some of the world’s biggest road running, cycling and open water swimming events, so it comes as no surprise that triathlon is one of the fastestgrowing sports in this sports-mad country, and with SA’s triathletes doing exceptionally well in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games, there is still more enthusiasm around triathlon. Last year Henri Schoeman blazed a trail en route to taking the men’s title while Andrea Steyn dominated amongst the women, but we’ll have to wait to see who will be crowned 5150 African Champion this year and earn those all-important qualifying points to the 2015 Hy-Vee 5150 US Championship. Platform to Ironman The 5150 race format is governed by the same set of rules as IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 and is organised by the same team, so for athletes who harbour aspirations of reaching IRONMAN level, there is no better place to start than the Ekurhuleni 5150 African Championship, which will feature an all-new bike course this year, taking athletes along the N17 before returning to Germiston Lake. Entries close 13 October and are open to individuals and teams. Don’t miss the triathlon action at Germiston Lake this November. Bring the family along and enjoy a great day of racing and fun! Image: Courtesy IronmanSA That means there is even more excitement building ahead of the upcoming Ekurhuleni MC 42 ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 2014 / www.moderncyclist.co.za

Modern Cyclist Magazine Issue 1, September 2014 | Page 42