May 31, 2012
Categories: ride report . . Author: darkanddirty . Comments: Leave a Comment
Ride Report 3 May
So I got the job of writing up a report on what happened at the last Dark and Dirty ride held on the 3de of May, this happened because I got dirty first by falling of my Mtb first (please note I think they planed this as the person’s that was leading us took us on a bush bashing with no track)
As I said, this was my first ride with the D&D group and my very first night ride ever. I got to Irene mall at around 6:30pm and I saw no one with bikes I started to get worried, maybe I got the wrong mall maybe hey not meeting this was thoughts that was going through my mind. I was on my cell on their web pages when I looked up and there were cars with bikes that surrounded me, some great people got out and quickly helped me to set up my light and telling me how great the ride is going to be.
After a sort speech we set of for a short 25km night ride in less than 2km I bit the dust hitting a rock (always fun) and I got told I am it. Not really a bad way to start our first night ride! This is also where our two group leaders informed us they don’t know where the track is anymore no names will be given here (Q and L you know who you are) after having to carry our bike for a few hundred meters we got to the track and we where off to a place Q named LSD park. This was a nice little park to ride in but after seeing many a rider see their back side trying to go up this little hill I was starting to wonder if they were not on LSD (I was the one that did not try the climb eish sorry guys next time).
From there we got to what looked like some ones farm where we stopped. Where Q and L said we need to switch off all our lights and something about ghosts, at this point I was thinking the LSD really is working and which way is home??? Are they now going to call on the ghosts our something what did I get myself into?? All this was going through my mind, and there was no way I am putting my lights off, are you nuts???? Then I was told it’s a ghost ride only riding by the light of the moon still thinking they’re nuts I turned off my lights and stayed in the Black line as Q puts it, and well I have to tell you it was great fun!!
After about 2 hours 30mins we started to see the lights of Irene mall I was grateful for it to be the end but also thinking to myself “Let’s do that again”.
Its a pity I will miss the next one but I can’t wait to get there on the 17th.
Willem
19 April 2012- Lemmetjiesdraad
Donderdagaand 19 April 2012
Met my aankoms by die D&V sentrum wag daar twee fietsryers, maar hulle belowe daar is nog twee op pad. Die twee daag toe op maar Ninja Padfietser het sy skoene by die huis vergeet en sien nie kans om met sy plakkies te ry nie. Nou ja, vier is marginaal, maar ons besluit om dit tog te doen en spring weg met Kruiser.
Daarna af na Nellmapius waar ons enkele D&V maagd iets tref wat sy band sleg sny. ‘n Binneband word gou ingesit, maar Tiaan besluit dat dit ‘n teken is dat hy nie verder moet ry nie. Ompraat werk nie en ons roep hom naby die begin vaarwel toe en die drie van ons gaan voort na die onderste deel van Mieliemuur. Niemand is juis lus vir die spoedseksie na die stopstraat toe nie en daarna mis ons amper die paadjie na Blair-heks woud nadat ons deur ‘n hele paar poele as gevolg van die middag se reënbui gery het.
Beurend op na die Rietvlei substasie en af aan die ander kant en daarna die lus deur die veld langs die R21. Sal ons ook volgende maand moet tolgeld betaal as ons langs die R21 ry? Die enigste gebeurtenis is ‘n ontmoeting met ‘n man met ‘n geweer in die hand. Hy is gelukkig nie ‘n bedreiging nie; hy probeer kabeldiewe vastrek.
Terug ry ons deur Vlermuis-tonnel en aan die ander kant van die R21 waar die gras lekker lank is en mens so naastenby op ekstrasensoriese persepsie moet ry. En dis net daar waar ek nie die lemmetjiesdraad gewaar voor dit my aan die enkel gryp nie. Behalwe vir die rooi lekke in my been en my kous wat afgeskryf is, het ek darem oorleef.
Roeter se roete, teerpad en Mieliemuur op sluit die rit af en ‘n heel gesellige aand van dertig plus kilometer se ry.
Oupa Gert
5-April XML Report
<?xml version=”1.0″ encoding=”ISO-8859-1″?>
<ride_report date=”2012-04-05″ event=”Dark&Dirty”>
<comment>If you don’t know XML, you will after reading the report</comment>
<section type=”start” name=”Moo mall” distance=”0″>
<riders number=”>12″ trailmeister=”Hardy” sweeper=”Brendan” DnDvirgins=”3″>
</riders>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Cruiser” distance=”2.59″ smilage=”7″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Xtacy Park” distance=”3.1″ smilage=”9″>
<mechanical type=”light” fix=”Hardy’s Roady Ninja light”>Oupa Gert</mechanical>
<incident type=”fall” result=”write report”>Oupa Gert</incident>
</section>
<section type=”partial ghost ride” name=”Supertube” distance=”4.33″ smilage=”7″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Wash and Go” distance=”2.13″ smilage=”6″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Python” distance=”0.82″ smilage=”8″>
</section>
<section type=”ghost ride” name=”Reverse Python” distance=”0.82″ smilage=”9″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Quad Buster” distance=”1.46″ smilage=”9″>
<treat type=”Donut gate”>Carine Cat-I</treat>
<mechanical type=”flat”>Francois</
mechanical>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Upper Look Ma no brakes” distance=”0.67″ smilage=”8″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Southern Unnamed” distance=”2.1″ smilage=”7″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Bat Tunnel” distance=”3.99″ smilage=”6″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Blairwitch Forest” distance=”1.18″ smilage=”7″>
<mechanical type=”hanger” fix=”single speed”>Stealth of Cape Epic fame</mechanical>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Shebeen Queen” distance=”2.96″ smilage=”6″>
</section>
<section type=”ride” name=”Mieliemuur” distance=”2.82″ smilage=”8″>
</section>
<section type=”end” name=”Moo Mall” distance=”0″ smilage=”All round”>
</section>
</ride_report>
PS: Yes, it is absolutely valid XML 
###########################
# D&D Ride Report 05/04/2012
#Version 1
#Coded by :Oupa Gert
################################
Thurs 29th March -t’was a Shakespearian Account
From: Otto Behrens
After the Shakespearian standard was set and then the challenge of
writing a song, I felt quite intimidated. But I’m still dreaming about
that night…
It all started with the “calling of all lovers”, prompting some old
d&d folk to get together for a bit of a reunion. Well, I’m not that
old and not one of the first riders, but the vibe was lively and I
couldn’t resist. At about 14:30 Thursday, after watching other people
work for a while, I just went home to get my stuff ready. On the way
there, I called DK, said he was mentioned on the list and expected to
make a guest appearance, which he did! Cool.
I checked my light way too late. When I switched it on, it just went
off after a minute. Ran around frantically looking for another one,
and ended up using DK’s spare one anyway. Like a choir, everyone
shouted “roadie” when I got out the car. Didn’t realise that after my
first ever Argus being my first ever road bike race everyone would be
that worried that I’d take it up seriously.
After some hesitancy to lead, Oupa Gert led 12 gallant riders off into
the night. We left Hardy and QT in their black mourning attire behind,
suitably dressed because they’re missing out. I felt slightly shaky on
my bike, but thought that had to do with clearing my VW polo’s throat
on the way. We looked around for big dipper, but could not find it in
the long grass. Following a single track led us to nowhere in
particular; we circled back and then caught a trail past Cornwall hill
college where I earned my privilege to be writing here. It’s all DK’s
fault really because he was telling me about his fireblade kicking 120
KW, going at 130 in 1′st, 170 in 2′nd, and for a moment I thought I
was on it. The landing was soft, in the long grass. The ego’s landing
was harder.
We rode next to the rail track towards Smuts House, long grass hanging
over the jeep track, some water puddles, wet grass in your face, smell
of veld wet soil and crisp night air. Bliss. Past Smuts house down
python and back. Watch out for the red rocks. And then we took a false
quad buster, perhaps the bud quaster? The jeep track just dried up
suddenly and we carried our bikes up to the top of quad buster. It
felt like a real AR night, our second portage.
To my surprise, Oupa Gert asked if this is the picnic spot. We were
served with jam tarts, gluhwein, easter eggs and great conversation
all round. DK and Cobus, being fiercely competitive and all, compared
9.7 and 9.8 k’s on the clock up to here, bike weights (15 and 16 kgs)
and who can drink the most gluhwein. The roadies would have been proud
(my buddies of course).
Down quad buster is more of a butt buster on the hard tail, but what
fun! I’ll take a blue ass any day for that. We then went back up past
Smuts house up to the hiway, along side it up to St. Georges. Over the
hiway and then did the Shebeen Queen speedway. Who took it? I was
3′rd. Back along the Cornwall hill wall to the Moo mall. About 20k’s?
Who knows? My endomondo was quite confused about this ride. It really
wanted me to do a training ride, so I was in highveld technopark and
back in about 2 minutes, with some other erratic spikes.
We could still order burgers at the spur and even a couple of beers or
hot chocolate. More chats about great adventures, great adventurers,
some to come others past. But what about the next d&d? Aw, not on the
MTN racing calendar? No, just pure fun, laughs, dirt. Thank you
everyone, you’re making a city dweller happy.
Get your dirt on dirt riders:
3 riders showed up at the moo mall to get their dirt on. It had been raining during the day, but it cleared up and it was a nice and fresh thursday evening far away from sticky living rooms with people glued to their tv sets and computers afraid of rain,fresh air and good dirt.
It was me,kobus and jaco and when it tuned 19:15 and we knew no more riders would show up, it was jaco’s first dnd even though he has done a few adventure races and recently double moon.
We decided to head off into the night anyway, even though we were only 3, and i knew i at least could find python from where i would know how to chain some of the old routes from memory, Kobus also knew some of the routes, so off rode into the night.
We went up towards where cruser used to start, but followed the fence, rode past extacy park and reached the new roads they are building, the view of the city at night was nice from here while our bikes picked up fresh dirt and mud witch we washed off again riding through carwash with long wet grass it stood true to it’s name and poped us out on the road to smuts koppie and python. Jaco asked “why is it called python?”, and i replied, “you will see”. It was awesome to be on this smooth single track that flows like a snake again.
Past the cement factory i saw dirt riders hill challenge, and told them that that used to be a challenge, but i don’t think it has been done recently, maybe people has gone soft. We went past and followed the road all the way up to just before the R21 where we went right towards batman tunnel. Here jaco made friends with rocks, but eventually we went through batman tunnel and saw a huge tree that fell over in a bizaar way, it’s main stem is cleanly separated from the roots by a force of nature that we could only guess was lightning.
I rode to the start of blaire witch, and clearly the witch was busy trying to hide the singletrack from us with thick overgrowth, but me and kobus knew it was there and once we got though the thick of things we could ride again. Then we went down rooters route, it was nice but very washed out towards the end, with me clearing some vegetation towards the end we found the track popping out at st georges hotel.
We returned to the moo mall via mieliemeel muur and had some garlic bread and horlics shakes to celebrate a great night out. It is always nice to be out there with like minded people. We did 25km of dirt in +- 1h50min.You guys missed out.See you next time, and remember keep the dirt side on and the tv off.
Jacques a.k.a. mummy man
www.darkndirty.co.za >>> The night of the stump
There I was, the only old hand and no less than five (or was it six?) D&D virgins (ok at least one had done one D&D ride some time ago). Fortunately the Russian showed up just before we left and we had a sweeper with experience.
My idea was to go up Cruiser, but with the recent growth of the grass, I could not find it, so I decided to go up Big Dipper, but that was also hidden. Not to be stumped, I lead the riders down to the railway line and went up the old end of Big Dipper. The entrance was easy to find, but the overgrown rest not easily recognisable as a trail.
I assured the riders that this was the “Wild” part of the “Mild to Wild” ride, but I’m not so sure they still believed me after the Mieliemuur RUSH, the climb up to the Rietvlei electricity substation, the vlei we encountered going down and The Trail that Eric shall name with the stump in it, to name a few. Well, I mentioned that the grass is really long these days.
So I was too late to see the stump over Eric’s trail and was stumped by the stump – hence the report. Slightly rattled, I headed straight for Smuts House – and got lost. Just in case you think I did not know where I was going: You should see all the new works and roads leading nowhere on that hill. We got safely home to the Moo Mall a little before ten and the the new no-longer-virgins assured me they would be back. I just wonder where the converts from the previous Thursday were.
Oupa Gert.
Report on last week’s ride!
LoL!!! THANKS MAN!!!!
Nice ONE!!!!
On 7 March 2012 21:02, Gavin Gilbert wrote:
Hey Clint (aka Hardy!),
I’m the virgin who is a virgin no longer…… Sorry, this report took longer than anticipated, but here goes.
This was the first night ride experience for Byron, Oeloff and myself, we weren’t sure what to expect, especially after seeing Oupa getting dressed up in all those arm guards we thought we were in for something serious, but we were pleasantly surprised! First of all we met a good bunch of guys, we liked the way the whole ride was organised and the fun routes we rode, from the python (which had us all looking for the red stone, and I saw it!), Blair witch (she grabbed hold of Byron’s legs while peddling through – that was pretty scary!), batman tunnel (sure one of them bats sucked some of Oeloff’s blood – he hasn’t been the same since that night, and he now howls at full moon!) to the super tube (which I’m not sure we rode but there was a section that felt just like a supertube to me, it was a very smooth, quick section and the grass was very long). I just peddled and let the bike take me where it wanted to go, which was ok for most of the ride!
Everything was going well and I was pretty chuffed after I saving myself from falling on the downhill section at St Georges Hotel, which is pretty rocky, I heard Byron chirping behind me how close that was…..and thirty metres further I wasn’t as lucky, I hit a rock, went flying over the handle bars, heard one hell of a bang as my head connected mother earth, and landed not so gently on my right shoulder and ribs, which I might add ached (and still does) pretty badly…… When we got underneath the highway the guys all tried, and tried again to get around the column (except for Hardy of course!) and perseverance paid off for most of them. At this stage I had fallen enough for one evening and decided to leave this challenge for the next time. We all headed back to the cars very satisfied after an enjoyable experience…….. We will definitely be back for more!!
Regards,
Gavin.
About last weeeks ride…..
So, Oupa, Frequent Flyer, Vlam and Hardy were joined 4 virgins for a night out…. lots of wild fun… it was late into the ride when one of the virgins took a gnarly roll in the grass down roetters route and claimed scribe status….
Some lekker sections long grass singletacks and with a tar bit where blokes cracked 62km/h….zoooommmm
and playing up the wall under highway had lotsa blokes slllliiiiiiidddin down. yeeeeoch but great points for eagerness to try again and again.
The Virgin who is a virgin no longer promised to post us a report… sadly none yet… aahwell
l8r
c
D&D rides for March and April
Hey all ya dark and dirty folks.
Its been many years now of riding in the dark on Thursdays in Centurion… the faces change but the great sense of riding for the group stays the same!!!
So wasssup when,
Well the first Thursday of every month is always INTRO ride, especially for the first timers.. and the those other weekend warriors needing to dust of those cobwebs off their old school metal steeds… but all in all its a great mix of trails at about 25km with lots of fun to keep all entertained.
The next few wednesday area mix of Mild2wild and other new route variations ranging from 30-40km…
And then the last Thursday of every month is Rock&Roll baby… about 35km of some wickedly awesome technical stuff with some lung bustin uphill speedzones for da racin snakes
l8r
hardy
1 March – 25km INTRO
8 March – Mild2Wild 35km
15 March – NewGroOve 35km
22 March – Fast&Flirty 35km
29 March – Rock&Roll 35km
5 April – 25km INTRO
12 April – NewGroOve 35km
19 April – Mild2Wild 35km
26 April – Rock&Roll 35km
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Where: Irene Village shopping mall..
www.irenemall.co.za
When: Every Thursday night,
Starts 18h45 for 19h00
Website : www.darkndirty.co.za
No Charge,
Everyone Welcome, ride at own risk.
Bring: Helmets, Buddies, lights, ride snax & juice, your buddies
and some ching for beers & pizza after the ride.
SOCIAL riding group with SAFETY a Key Factor.
No-One gets left behind,
We always have a sweeper and visual/radio contact.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
www.darkndirty.co.za >>> Ride Report – 16 February 2012
Heya all.
Nobody fell so I’m doing the ride report After sysmetic shifts in the universe a strange phenomenon happened, all women with mtb’s dissappeared, so it was a band of borthers taking on the darkness (agter elke man se gat) It felt more like the good old days of 2007 as the group gathered, Oupa Gert, Nikolei, Frequent Flyer all lined up but luckily assisted by much newer, fitter and faster dnd dudes.
The ride was well paced with little stops, except the odd puncture and pump, and everybody and their trusty steeds stayed in one piece. The brave men took the normal route to the Python, almost hidden by tall grass we blasted through and continued past the cement factory. Holy trail in reverse was popular as ever (I vote for coming down the Holy trail next time!!) and then we tackled that long singletrack going down to the power lines and for a moment I though into Thembisa… Luckily we turned in time, past the chicken farm under the R21 and then cruising back on the dirt rodes to the cow mall.
Awesome ride indeed and thanks for all taking part, see you all next week, who knows with all the tall grass we might find Livingstone and Stanley with their trusty Rolax magnum!
Jan
D&D — 35km Mild2Wild
Heya Folks,
What an amazing ride last week, with 10 riders proving that we are flesh, blood, heart and soul….and are not dissolving disprins lol… and luckily not crispy after all the lightning and bling-bling around
It was really great to be out there again, the fresh earthy night air and a bubbly crowd of great people. Now that is quality time on the saddle
After celebrating, we had a moment when we all tried to think of something wise to say for the year of 2012… and as it so happens when there is something wise to say, many of us stood there eyes blinking like the cursor on the screen waiting for some magic while dipping into the memories of the great essence of what this group has always been about…… …… …….. …… (what could we say in that moment in the dark, on the hillside between the yellow veld blommetjies and white rocks….)
And then, as lighting lit up the surroundings, Oupa spoke….
"one a week."
Wow, incredibly succinct and all encompassing expression that warms the momentum of why we do what we do!!!
So, see you tonite for the "one a week" Mild2Wild ride, well take on some of the less technical but easier cruising trails with a few fun stuff in for good measure….
In Oupa’s "one a week" theme, we even got to church last week and discovered another interesting phrase of "Kenosis" which also has a deep sentiment of what is deeper behind things like D&D and Tshwane AR Club.
What a privilege to ride with all of you!!!
It is going to be a special year!!!!
l8r
hardy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
5 January – INTRO 25Km
12 January – Mild2Wild Ride 30km
19 January – Rock&Roll! 35km
26 January – Fast&Flirty 35km
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Where: Irene Village shopping mall..
www.irenemall.co.za
When: Every Thursday night,
Starts 18h45 for 19h00
Website : www.darkndirty.co.za
No Charge,
Everyone Welcome, ride at own risk.
Bring: Helmets, Buddies, lights, ride snax & juice, your buddies
and some ching for beers & pizza after the ride.
SOCIAL riding group with SAFETY a Key Factor.
No-One gets left behind,
We always have a sweeper and visual/radio contact.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ride Report : Thunder, lightning, cupcakes and bubbly Intro ride
It took some convincing to get my son to join me for the 2012 Intro ride. He insisted that it was going to rain and we would be the only people to turn up, but I knew how crazy this D&D crowed is (after all I am one of them) and predicted an outcome of at least ten people.
It turned out that I was spot-on. With the thunder roaring and the lightning blazing we set off into the dark and the storm. Hardy lead us up Cruiser so that we could have a good view of the lightning. Fortunately the rain was not that heavy and eventually it subsided.
Down Big Dipper we went and at the railway line a democratic vote selected going around the Air force base as the route for the night. This we did in a clockwise direction and in the vicinity of Back of the Moon we stopped to celebrate D1′s survival of another year despite getting involved in dangerous activities like D&D rides and ARs.
She was sporting a shocking, bright orange, dread lock hair-do and was promptly rechristened “Ginger”. In a much more chatty mood the group went up End of the World and back to Moo Mall, in perhaps less than straight lines. May there be many more rides like this in 2012 (Perhaps sans the thunder and lightning).
Oupa Gert.
D&D 25km INTRO RIDE!!!! >>>>>Happy HaPPY!!!!
Hey All ya Funky Monkeys
All the best for another dirty year ahead!!!!
Oupa Gert is already getting withdrawals and so it is time to get those knobblies rolling on the coolest dirt!!!
woohoooo
Come join us for a lekker Intro Ride, 25km especially for all you nuubs out there!!
And a lot of fun stuff for the oldies too 
Ok so, in celebration of the exciting year ahead,
Put on some BLING!!! thing…. or we might make u sing
Sing anyway cos some had their birthday!!!
Sparkle in da dark, a festive flare
cos we got good times to share!!!
so get on ya MTB gear!!!and have no fear
2012 is gonna be a rocking dirty year
C ya l8r
hardy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
5 January – INTRO 25Km
12 January – Mild2Wild Ride 30km
19 January – Rock&Roll! 35km
26 January – Fast&Flirty 35km
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Where: Irene Village shopping mall..
www.irenemall.co.za
When: Every Thursday night,
Starts 18h45 for 19h00
Website : www.darkndirty.co.za
No Charge,
Everyone Welcome, ride at own risk.
Bring: Helmets, Buddies, lights, ride snax & juice, your buddies
and some ching for beers & pizza after the ride.
SOCIAL riding group with SAFETY a Key Factor.
No-One gets left behind,
We always have a sweeper and visual/radio contact.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
D&D-chat The things I have forgotten
Things I have forgotten during 18months of no Dark& Dirty rides:
1. How good those bossies smell at night!
2. Where my 2009 Christmas ride outfit is…
3. That Oupa Gert in front means we’re gonna flyyyy!
4. The Christmas song lyrics.. but we made new ones!
5. A lady called Hazel at Spur… that gave me such a tight hug last night.
6. To pack clean, warm & dry clothes for afterwards.. rain or sunshine. Just bring it.
7. I can assume that the people on these rides are nice… Coz they always are.
8. For some things in life its better to be in the dark about the little details around you, coz you just manage to roll over what you CAN see in front of you.
9. That I dont know why baby nappies can be so clever with keeping bums dry, but yet no one has thought of similar technology for cycling shorts.. ??
10. Skidding on wet tar roads.
11. How fast the area is developing.
12. Not to judge mtb’s with mud guards.. its practical. Looks silly, but sometimes really needed.
13. Its not at all about the kms on the little device, but people, riding at night, against what the news reports tell us… and eating a Spur meal waaaay after bedtime.
14. Turn left to Joburg via Midrand and not past Diepsloot
15. … (Mummy Man? Carine Cat-I, Zu?)
Oupa Gert, we appreciate you. Thankyou thankyou. May we also give back to life what we have received from you.
Trust your shoulder is fine this morning.
Adri Ferrari
