Juma causes quite a stir
EMMARENTIA – Members of the media had an opportunity to try out and be part of the mountain bike route for the Jozi Urban Mountain Bike Adventure (Juma).
Adventurous members of the media put on their helmets and cycling shoes and took to the stormwater drains at a media pre-ride for the Hollard Jozi Urban Mountain Bike Adventure (Juma) .
The main event starts and finishes at the Marks Park Sports Club on 28 May, with 54km and 22km routes through Joburg’s greeny landscape. Children’s races of 1km and 2km will also be held.
The media, gathering nervously and excitedly on 19 May, took on a portion of the ride, which featured tunnels, storm water drains, ramps and scaffolding, rides through parks, spruits and even the Parkview Golf Course and Zoo Lake.
Northcliff Melville Times’ own Naledi Mokoena was brave enough to try a part of the ride, between taking photos of her media counterparts.
“I reckon the cyclists will have a challenging time when they do the Juma, and they had better come prepared,” she said.
Mokoena commented on the beautiful scenery, including waterfalls and lush vegetation on the ride, and said if she was not taking photos of other cyclists on the day of Juma, she would definitely ride.
Read: Get ready for another Jura
Juma’s chief marketing officer, Heidi Brauer said Juma shows many cyclists parts of Joburg they have not seen before. “That is out our objective,” she said.
Mark Castel, CEO of Bam, the company that owns Juma, commented that the race is prepared long in advance and is a once-off special occassion, “The race is a celebration of Joburg. It is the most unique race in the world. Which other race can boast 700m underground, stormwater drains and two scaffolding bridges?” he asked.
