FatTracks Q2 ➡️ Latest news, ride pics and future plans!
The Robert Ledger Searle Wildflower Reserve
Walk ‘n Talk in Ledger Searle Wildflower Reserve
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| Dear fellow FatTracks members, sponsors, and donors, We are officially halfway through 2024… I am starting to believe that time goes faster as you grow older. Welcome to the second quarter club look-back! Let me start with a shout out to our loyal club members who continue to fund a good portion of our trail maintenance budget. We appreciate you very much. Please keep encouraging fellow mountain bikers who aren’t yet members to sign up if they enjoy using the FatTracks trails. Every member fee contributes towards ongoing maintenance and a better experience for everyone THANK YOU!  We would not be able to do what we need to do on the FatTracks trails with membership fees only. So, we are incredibly grateful to all the corporates and businesses contributing financially to help upgrade and maintain the MTB trails in the valley… Please support our donors and sponsors! · Continental SA · Waudcray · IPC Properties Jeanne Willemstein jeanne@ipcproperties.co.za · Ian Meaker Brokers (IMB) Financial Services Ian Meaker ian@imbfs.co.za · Steel Pipes and Fittings Warren Furniss Warren@steelpipespe.co.za · Springwell Andrew Ogden andrew@springwell.co.za · City Paint and Tool Gavin Biggs gbiggs@citypaintgroup.co.za · Billson Trucks Patrick Billson patrick@billsontrucks.co.za · Plastic Rebuilders Craig Dickson craig@plasticrebuilders.com · Pam Golding Justin Kreusch justin.kreusch@pamgolding.co.za FatTracks trail maintenance:   Work on trails is ongoing, weather permitting. Our contractor is keeping the grass on our trails in check and all of our new river crossings and bridge building has been completed. A special thanks to donors of wire mesh to cover bridges to help prevent slipping when crossing a bridge. We will be wiring two outstanding bridges in the near future. Thanks also goes to our amazing club member, Conrad who helped nail down wire the mesh on the first bridge on the Yovuta trail that washed away during the most recent floods.  Help support ongoing trail maintenance Encourage other trail users to donate Please encourage other Valley users, riders, hikers, runners to support FatTracks efforts by donating through the QR codes along the trails. Don’t forget to check out the new trail maps at the Containers. Donation received from Walkers We were so excited to receive a second donation from the ‘Wednesday and Saturday Walkers’ group who regularly use our trails. We loved their letter of appreciation about their enjoyment of the trails, and all the work our trail builders put into ongoing maintenance.   Did you know that some extremely rare and endangered plants can be found in the Valley? In this fascinating article by Graham Taylor, Chairman of the Historical Society of Port Elizabeth, he highlights the fact that the Valley was once covered in alien vegetation. But thanks to the tenacity and dedication of some passionate locals, FatTracks members and other enthusiasts, the Robert Searle Wildflower Reserve was created in 1995. Since then, alien eradication has helped preserve the habitat of some extremely rare species. Find out more here.  Above: Agathosma gonaquensis, commonly known as Gonaqua buchu. Found in a small area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, it is critically endangered. Learn more about the history of our trails and taking care of the Baakens Valley   FatTracks club outrides    Above: Some pics from our April club ride to the Windfarm, and the puncture repair workshop. May 2024 Our club social ride in St Francis was a great one although only four riders were able to participate. If you’re looking for some great weekend riding, the St Francis trails are beautiful and worth the drive out. June 2024 Our social ride was rained out so we had a workshop at Cyclo Pro instead, focusing on repairing punctures. We will be doing a few more of these workshops in the future, so let us know what topics you would like to cover. Check out our website for pics of the previous rides, and details of upcoming rides: · AUG 3 – Containers through Valley to Jack’s PEGC ± 20 km · SEPT 14 – Crossways, various trails · OCT 19 – Norm Hudlin to Windfarm Nov 16 – Grassroof to Schoenies There have also been two successful Love Locally Markets at the Containers. Keep a lookout on our social media and WhatsApp channels for details of upcoming markets. Merchandise    We have some awesome new FatTracks merchandise and apparel. Check out the website for more pics and to place your order. FatTracks Committee Call for Nominations Our AGM will take place in November, 2024, but this is an early call for nominations. Please encourage your fellow mountain bikers to put names forward for any of the FatTracks committee positions that you think they would excel at. For more information about what each position requires, please have a look at the portfolios here. Trail etiquette If you’re a Newbie rider, or you just want a refresher on trail etiquette, please check out the link on our website where you’ll also find our code of conduct and WhatsApp group policy. Find out more HERE. Visit local trails If you haven’t visited these awesome local trails, then do yourself a favour and check them out: · Norm Hudlin Trails · Hayterdale Trails · 3Rivers Trails Thank you for being part of the FatTracks MTB club for 2024! We appreciate your support, participation in social rides, and building the MTB community in the Eastern Cape. See you on the trails! Pieter Labuschagne FatTracks Chairperson |
