Messages posted by: MMAAE

Hi Trailblazer, yes the sprints will happen. News coming soon under events. Sorry for the delay but waiting for permits on selected dates. Busy calendar.
mm

Petedb, agree with you on possible confusion with too many people. Believe in other threads others including myself already recommended spokesperson idea.
Photos is only one of many ideas someone could use as just an easy way if AFCD official likes it to pass down to worker.
Brings up next point how to get spokesperson for XC, downhill, etc, etc. Don't think AA is blowing it's own trumpet but we've been tossing the idea around for a while at trying to start some kind of AA bike consulting committee (name can be changed), with ideas being generated at a regular meeting (monthly?) in exchange for races or something for the purpose on telling us what a lousy job were doing and how to improve on events. The committee or spokesperson (not me) could be also possibly used to lobby AFCD/other govt depts besides helping AA out. Just an idea to get the ball rolling. No harm we believe in having different committees/associations in HK expressing their views if good representatives know what their talking about. So if you like the idea possibly you all could help decide if a good idea or can the idea and if usefull will leave it up to you all to figure out how to vote for the person(s). We're to busy dealing with logistics and other headaches. Figure this idea could be short-term solution to get ball rolling for Dec 8 meeting. Can email aae@actionasia.com if other ideas also but we would like to get our own committee for future bike events in HK. Just don't know how to choose people??? Unless we just set a date and see who comes and let them vote at meeting?

Recommend as many as possible go to this Dec 8 AFCD meeting at Queen Elizabeth stadium to view their points. One problem I believe AFCD faces is many different mtn bikers of all levels telling them what is good and bad from beginner riders to the most elite in HK. Believe what could help is those who don't like certain sections of certain trails in HK, to send AFCD some photos of something that needs potential work (like stair cases for some) and some photos of what it should look like (with no cement please and only natural environmental things like trees, rocks to build trails, make improvements, etc) for the final look that you think is best. Could be a photo from a cool trail in the States, Canada, OZ, NZ, UK, wherever. It seems AFCD just contracts work out to their workers who are only doing their best in the interest of the biking community and what their senior AFCD boss is telling them. They are trying to help so don't think we should slag them off, but offer guidence and recommendations and not just criticism.

I myself did ride CMW a few weeks ago and do agree that they have gone a little overboard after Lung Mei, (I thought they were only doing work on the 2 stairs, but AFCD kept going on the trail much longer than people expected), but also do believe that after a few heavy rains, a lot of that soft dirt will be washed out, dirt will be washed off the sides to make those 45 degree bank turns and it wont be long before it looks the same as before.....(as long as they don't use cement as wasn't too happy seeing cement in some sections). If you use other trails in HK for reference as living here for 17 yrs I can tell you from experience trails do get rutted out quite fast from erosion, heavy rains, etc.

Another update on the Shap Long to prison potential new bike trail. Rec'd a call today from District Lands Office who confirmed that the public is allowed to cut the grass on the trail under HK Forestry & Ordinance. Note I said "grass". Ms Linda Fong from District Lands office recommended we use our own tools or ask AFCD if we can borrow them!!

So would recommend if anyone is finishing their Chi Ma Wan usual training, ride or hike up to the campsite at Shap Long and you'll see the trail start by the toilet. After 100 meters or so you will be outside the AFCD boundary and are allowed to cut the grass according to the District Lands office. If everyone spent only 5 minutes walking or cutting the grass believe this could be a reality quite soon.

Just so everyone knows Action Asia actually talked to the HKCA about Nov 18 before the date was posted and was told by HKCA due to a different type of participant competing it would be ok. It's not something that AA likes but with so many events on the calendar as with 2 AA events in Dec, that Nov 18 date was the only one available to keep all happy including the sponsor. We were looking at a Sat afternoon race but felt finishing so close to darkness could be another problem. AA will try in the future to try its best to avoid future clashes. Believe no conflict on Jan 20 date at Chi Ma Wan. The purpose of these GP AA events is to gage the XC response to future Enduros (6,12 and maybe 24hr) races in 2008. Open to suggestions from all on locations as we did get good feedback from a bunch of core riders who are active in the forums, but more feedback the better to grow the sport can be sent to aae@actionasia.com.

special update - looks like the proposed "Shap Long entrance by that campsite to the back of the prison" trail is only country park land for the first 100 meters past the campsite if you look closely at an AFCD map. After this and all the way the old trail which is chest high with grass is "outside" the AFCD boundary. This means yes most of it is technically a legal mtn bike trail. Bad news is it needs the grass cut and regular maintenance. Believe if the mtn bike community talks to District Lands office about maintaining this trail regularly could be one idea as someone needs to maintain this trail if opened up.

Talked to AFCD and they said it might be possible that they could do "something" about this 100m section on their property but wont happen overnight. Would be great to get this section done before the Jan 20th AA MTB race then we could cut out the steep cement downhill going to Shap Long Chung Hau and exit onto the road after this but before the prison. The overgrown trail stops before the prison and someone (AFCD or District Lands Dept would have to look after "extending" the trail behind the prison as thick vegetation.

Lastly rumour has it the Chi Ma Wan prison is even complaining now that "too many mtn bikers" regularly are cutting through the prison and preasure is mounting on "other" govt depts to build some kind of trail behind the prison so bikers don't have to cut through the prison.

Lastly lastly AFCD might have a "mtn bike" meeting very soon for "all" bikers staged Saturday lunchtime at the Route Twisk office, but needs to confirm internally who at AFCD is available then will let everyone know by posting on AFCD website soon. If this is going to happen I would recommend all the mtn bikers to come but possibly elect?? not sure how an "official or unofficial" spokesperson(s) from a mtn bike club or mtn bike assoc (1 gweilo 1 local Chinese speaking)?? to have an agenda, pics on trail improvement, etc as believe you've mentioned a lot of this already...Otherwise if 10-20+ bikers show up it could be quite out of control...

Just a note whoever is doing the Nov 4th race (or future bike races) with Action Asia they're is now bike transport arranged from Tung Chung going to Pui O 7:15-7:30am with one lorry truck which should hold 20-25 bikes. Lorry truck will be parked outside exit D at the Tung Chung MTR station. This is mainly for those that couldn't book transport as few trucks on Lantau have permits. The public bus leaves Tung Chung at 7:30am according to bus schedule. Return bike truck leaving Pui O back to Tung Chung around 1pm to 1:15pm.

For those heading after the race back to Mui Wo Action Asia booked another lorry bike truck to Mui Wo ferry pier leaving around 1-1:15pm after awards to catch the 2pm cargo ferry.

This was all done last minute but in the future the GP ReCyko AA MTB races will have transport and coach options included in the entry fee (which is up on web now) so Action Asia knows how many people are booking from which location to make it easier on participants.

The Action Asia Challenge includes coach bus and lorry bike truck transport in its entry fee.

Hope this is a bit of an improvement. But do agree with some that we must put some preasure on bus companies, ferry companies, MTR and other transport operators to make HK more bike transport friendly. Especially the MTR and fast ferry....

Check out the AFCD link http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_how/cou_how_vis/cou_how_vis.html for the next regular AFCD liaison meeting with country park visitors. Mountain biking is one of the hot topics in the discussions according to AFCD. Not entirely sure if you need to be formally invited or can anyone show up (some of you have attended before) but yes do need more locals attending so senior mgmt doesn't think its just a bunch of rich gweilos complaining. If open to all definately encourage as many as possible to show up and express viewpoints on how to improve the situation in HK as being over 50% country park their is massive potential in this place.....

Mr Blunder, good idea. What would be even cooler is someone scanning a map or grabbing a shot of the potential trail section from google earth and inserting it into these boxes like some others have done for bike pics. Still trying to figure out myself how to use this thing

Believe there might be potential when you enter the Shap Long entrance of Chi Ma Wan to go left about 200 meters or so and it hits a dead end. But in fact there is a very old unused trail (overgrown grass/trees now) which the AAC used a few years back that could be cut half way to the correctional institute. Believe someone would have to continue a new trail towards the reservoir behind the prison correctional institute, but might be worth exploring. If that was done, then no need to worry about using the cement road, traffic, etc during races (training not so bad), but at least the goal would be to have a continuous trail loop around Chi Ma Wan.....Like the idea of doing "something" on the Chi Ma Wan extension to at least help some of us crap bikers that have given up on riding & hiking that section ages ago....there is only so much bike carrying one wants to do before loosing interest and going to another location....

Yes congrads boys and girls for getting this forum up. May the force be with you. Remember you can't change a religion in one day and all that kind of stuff...Here is to more trails being opened up in HK.

Now that this is up I believe a lot of people who are new (and old) to the biking community are wondering how they can join group rides which are popular in other countries. Believe more organized group rides would help the community grow. Of course easier said then done...
mm

Hey rrice, we ran the running course (5 km) quite easy in around 35 minutes and believe the fastest could do it in 25 minutes. The bike loop around the reservoir is exactly 20 km and we did it in 1 hr 30 min with many rest stops talking to each other. Think fastest should be around 1 hr but 1:30 is a good average time as biking is quite flat except for steep 800m at the very end. Great thing about mountain bikes is that they can climb steep hills easy in the granny gear.

Rental of bikes not sure in Kowloon as in the mountain bike forum on this website their is a list of bike shops you can call and ask. Friendly bike shop in Mui Wo has good bikes for racing with some participants picking the bike up the day before the race and dropping it off after the race. If you do rent a bike make sure it is the right size and remember owning your own bike is much more fun as you can practice on it as each bike has a different feeling...
Good luck and sorry can't offer more on Kowloon rentals but am sure someone out there must know....Shatin? TaiPo?

Hey JT,
In the new Mountain Bike forum their is a listing of bike shops in one of the sections that might help you. I've been told by others that many will go to Friendly Bike shop the day before and pick up the bike and drop it off the day after the race. As for Tuen Mun there must be a bike shop close by, but problem is finding a suitable rental bike that you can race OK on. Suggest buying a bike?
mm

Good advice Julien on the mtn biking and recommendation on people to take skill courses. Would be interested to find out what percentage people should spend on learning the technical side of biking vs time spent on endurance cardio training. 50-50%? 60-40%? 40-60%?

MM

yes there are different prices for different quantities so recommend emailing Champion Systems for suggestions. Great thing is that if you want to put a few teams together and make your own team uniform with your own logo or team name on cycling shorts or top, that this can now be done much cheaper than before due to the high tech machines they have purchased. Saw some photos from their factory and quite impressive as they are able to undercut most other factories in the garment trade. A lot of teams in HK have been using them actually but not many people realised this. Also great for so many adventure racers, runners, bikers who want to impress their sponsors no matter how fast or slow they are. A new way to look good and perhaps even reduce the entrance fee or airline tickets on your next race by using this to your teams advantage....

mm

Was hoping possibly that Plover Cove reservoir or High Island Reservoir in HK would be open only on a "test" basis for sports organizers for "one off events". This would pave the way for triathlons, adventure races, kayak races, etc to get special permission to use the reservoirs with the govt observing to see if they will go one step further in considering use for the public. This is what happened in Singapore at McRitchie reservoir with Action Asia getting special permission for kayaking when it was closed year round. Now its open to the public for kayaking 7 days a week with no garbage problems. Believe their are ways to control this.
MM

Everyone thinks you can't do anything in Singapore (chewing gum) but how can the Singapore govt allow kayaking in something like 4 reservoirs to the general public and the HK govt is scared the water will get dirty when HK gets the water from mainland China thru the pipe??? What has to be done to convince HK govt to take a trip to Singapore or consider allowing 1 reservoir to be opened for kayaking??
MM

thx Matthew. Must give you some 30 min programmes to upload but wonder what the quality will be like??....
MM

Believe the market will always have clashes but yes room for improvement on organizers speaking more to eachother. US market has hundreds of races now with many clashes but that seems to have grown the market.
MM

This could get pretty funny if everyone starts talking about which injury they have received in adventure racing as almost like saying which injuries can you get playing tennis as probably many if you don't learn and take it easy first. In a lot of the Action Asia races their has been many cuts and scrapes from tripping on rocks, caused from being to tired to other things like dehydration from not entering the race properly hydrated. Will let others comment. Injury prevention or what to do when injured is another topic for discussion. Will have to get Tim McCosker the sports injury specialist to get on this forum....but saying all that think adventure racing is easier than it looks....
MM

Hey Matthew some good comments but would be interesting to get Gary Mandy or Daniel Browns comments as I think Gary prefers full suspensions or at least he won some races on Chi Ma Wan using full suspension I think and Daniel Brown who uses the hardtail (if he's not breaking his bike)!!
Personally I like the hardtail as find it easier on the hills but haven't tried any new bikes so would like to try and see if worth switching....
MM


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