Potchefstroom Service Roads

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Splash

Race Dog
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
1,936
Reaction score
152
Location
Brussels
Bike
KTM 690 Enduro
Jules arrange a trip to Potchefstroom. On a previous trip it had ended badly for some riders. The route can be treacherous if wet and muddy. We had a beautiful day which made conditions safer, although, more dusty.

A large group of riders showed up early on Sunday morning at Pinehaven Sasol. Jules had his work cut out to keep this lot together. This he did admirably - a hidden military nature part of his makeup.

The first section to Carletonville was on tar. There we joined the railway service roads and enjoyed the off road biking. We did have a delay as someone had a puncture. The convoy was back in motion in no time.

Almost too soon we arrived in Potchefstroom to a well-deserved breakfast and some good company.

Once all fed and satisfied, it was the turn of the bikes for some fuel. Off again on service roads, homeward bound.

Unfortunately, Just Biking decided that he was not letting his bike go down at any cost and dabbed with his foot to keep his bike from sliding out. Being a big adventure bike, the stress on his leg was tremendous. I was just behind him and glimpsed the save but was shocked to see him slow down and fall over under his bike. This was serious. I stopped, jumped off my bike to help him. He managed to sit up by himself and I was left trying to pick up his bike. Rather unsuccessfully until another biker helped me out.

All was not well and the best-case scenario was not good. He wanted to try riding his bike. With some effort and pain he got onto his bike. Jules made a modification to his gear lever so that he could pull it with his hand as his leg was of no use. Off we went on a self rescue mission. My concern was to reach a hospital as soon a possible. As he lives in Pretoria he wanted to reach home. Getting onto the N1 highway turned out to be an unnecessary adventure with our GPS’s taking us up a dead end dirt road. Not the sort of detour we need at the time. Once on the highway things went much better.

We had a toll road to go through. I went ahead and paid for both of us so that he would not have to stop and just rolled through the gate.

A little disappointed that he went home first instead of straight to hospital. His leg was exceptionally painful which made getting off his bike into his car difficult. Not have a wheelchair handy, we used an office chair with wheels and wheeled him to his car. That is as much as I know. Hope he gets the best care and is back on two wheels in no time.

The Potchefstroom ride live up to its reputation, unfortunately. It was only a pleasure and an honour to have been of some help.  

Pictures
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What a great ride as usual.

No mud though!    :mad:  I was sure we would have lots but it was rather dry on the way there,
We did have a few good puddles to splash into to keep us cool and get the bikes dirty!!

25 of us left the meeting spot at 8am, we had 2 punctures on the way there but no other incidents during the mornings stretch, We made very good time and got to Die Akker at 11:30 for a great lunch as some cold refreshments!! After Lunch a lot of dogs decided to Slab it home and 10 of us did the rest of the railway route back home, In a total freak accident Just Biking managed to almost lose it and in doing so bashed his left foot into the ground doing some serious damage to it Not sure yet but I think it was broken! What was even freakier was that it was about 500M from where Kili Kid broke his left foot on the previous ride, The thing is the roads have been graded and are totally different to what it was like previously. JB managed to get back on the bike and with some rope around the gear lever managed to ride it home with Splash following close behind to make sure he got out ok. Good luck JB and let us know the outcome! Usurper realised at that moment that he left his Hydro Pack back in Potch and turned back to fetch it. 7 of us continued on.

All went great with some good "moments" on the loose ballast stones next to the railway lines and a few true Bundu Bashing moments where we literally had to make out own path through some 2M reeds and a river bed. After we finished the last bit of service roads and got back onto the dirt roads Darrel (Didn’t get his WD Name) had a rather big fall on his Dads pristine KTM 640
apart from some scratches to both bike and rider and a massive headache there was no other major issues and they decided to hit the tar back home, The rest of us got about 10km's before we had to stop for another puncture repair, This time on a new Members (Sorry didn’t get you forum name either) KLE500, after 2 attempts we got it sorted and did the last stretch back,
Thanks a lot to all who joined!

Left Home at 7:15am and got home at 5:15pm, 330Km's for the day  WHAT A JOL!!!!

I didnt take many pics but a few Dogs did and im sure they will post soon


Jules
 
I see Splash beat me to the punch with the report  ;) have asked Adventurer to merge the reports

Jules
 
Thanks Jules (and all the other dogs) for a great ride. Pity I couldn't finish it.

Splash thanks again for sticking with me, doing some route finding paying toll fees and helping to drag my big ass for the bike to the car. I owe you big time.

It seems like I broke the left tibia at knee  - not the best place. It seems to be 2 to 3 fractures.

Already saw the surgeon and he'll make the call tomorrow as to what the  course of action will be.

Sadly no riding the southern cape for me this holiday.
 
Hi Just Biking

Thanks for the update. You made it back which was impressive. Hope it is fixed up soon.
 
Jissie JB, hoop die prognose is goed more, en dat jy vinnig weer kan ry. Well done Spalsh for sticking with an injuerd dog.

Jules, ek wil die trip nog saam met jou doen. Ek hoop net die "skedules" pas vir 'n slag in sodat ek dit kan maak.  :thumleft:
 
WOW Just Biking, Thats real bad luck. I hope you get well soon.
Well done to Splash for sticking with him. :thumleft:
Jules, and every one else thanks for a great ride and even better company. :thumleft:
I had some bike trouble as the 800 started cutting out close to Potch. :dousing: After lunch it seemed ok but I decided to slab it home with a couple of other riders.
At first everything went well, but just after the Fochville crossing it started cutting out again while riding at a constant speed and the only way to keep it going was to ride with a wide open throttle. For the rest of the trip home I kept it between 160 and 180. Every time I slowed down or had to stop it would cut out when I opened the throttle and then I had to let it idle for a few seconds before pulling away as if I am in a drag race slipping the clutch, pulling the od power wheelie and sometimes even spinning up the rear wheel. My appologies to every one that I left behind but I had no other option. I hope you all got home safely.

Here are a few photos. I counted 25 bikes while riding but there may have been more
Meet and greet at Pine Haven.
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Slabbing it near Randfontein.
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The 1st smoke break.
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Fixing the only? puncture of the day.
Gelukkig maak vele hande ligte werk!
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I wil post the rest of my picks tomorrow, now it is off to bed for me.
 
JustBiking said:
.. . . . .
It seems like I broke the left tibia at knee  - not the best place. It seems to be 2 to 3 fractures.

Already saw the surgeon and he'll make the call tomorrow as to what the  course of action will be.

Sadly no riding the southern cape for me this holiday.

Eina J.

Get well fast mate !
 
Jules said:
In a total freak accident Just Biking managed to almost lose it and in doing so bashed his left foot into the ground doing some serious damage to it.

Yeah, its the freak that had the accident.  :imaposer:  :imaposer: :imaposer:  :imaposer:

I can say that - he is hospital and won't have access to his PC for a few days.  :biggrin:
 
JustBiking said:
Thanks Jules (and all the other dogs) for a great ride. Pity I couldn't finish it.

Splash thanks again for sticking with me, doing some route finding paying toll fees and helping to drag my big ass for the bike to the car. I owe you big time.

It seems like I broke the left tibia at knee  - not the best place. It seems to be 2 to 3 fractures.

Already saw the surgeon and he'll make the call tomorrow as to what the  course of action will be.

Sadly no riding the southern cape for me this holiday.

Bliksem --Not what you wanted before your trip December

Get well soon J---Let me know if i can help with anything ----Keep your bike mobile that it does not have withdrawl symptoms etc  ::)
 
blazes said:
----Keep your bike mobile that it does not have withdrawl symptoms etc  ::)

Your legs are too short!  :imaposer:
 
Oh No sorry to hear.  Speedy Recovery JB. :-\
 
Cyclops and Superoo back home safely. Thanks to Jules and all the other dogs who made the day a great one. Bad luck on the broken leg JB. Hope the surgery goes well and that you recover soon.
 
just want to say thanks for the ride on sunday, was awesome until i came off. nursing major neck stiffness, grazing and brusing, and my left hip came off second best vs the hard gravel, shoulder also quite sore, so i am in the cage for a few days before i am able to get back on the bike.
here are some pics i took
 

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Awesome guys, JB sorry about your leg man :eek:  
 
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