Adding my 2 cents to the conversation.
I started in 2D and rode 03:33 in my 11th tour, cutting 7 minutes off of my previous PB. Which I am very chuffed by as I have often tried to improve my time and more often than not I haven't been able to. Reducing it by 7 minutes is more than I've ever managed to improve it by with most of my times between 03:40-03:55 and a couple of sufferfest tours at +-04:30.
I am very unlikely to ever come close to 3 hours, while I have a family member & a friend who do and have missed out on sub3 times by about 30 seconds in this and other years.
Ultimately for me though there is immense satisfaction in competing against myself and trying to improve my own time regardless of how many other people finish ahead of me.
In addition there's the stunning scenery, the vibe, the many supporters along the road & the camaraderie of meeting other cyclists along the way (each with their own story, ability & objectives whether ride for a time or taking in more of the scenery).
Going up Chappies I noticed a couple of ebikes passing me, but for the most part their pace wasn't excessively higher than those around them and they didn't look all that different than a stronger cyclist passing me by (which I'm well used to). I don't have much of issue with this because it wasn't all that noticeable, but given my time I assume most of these would have either waited at the finish line or been DQ'ed.
On Suikerbossie however there was one guy in particular that came flying past about 60% up the hill easily doing double the speed or more of those around them. This was very dangerous due to the speed differential and not knowing that someone was going to come flying past without warning. It also spoils the vibe & camaraderie mentioned earlier on, when everyone else (all shapes & sizes) are suffering up the hill and someone comes past who might as well have been on a motorbike. Respectfully that's not what the tour is for, he can do it any other day of the week if he wants to.
Moving onto happier themes again, I started doing the Argus because of my dad years ago, but due to a heart condition he stopped at 21 tours recently. Not having him on the route with me is something that I'll always miss, but there was a different kind of special experience in having my parents go through the effort of waking up early with me, dropping me off and then making their way first to Edinburgh Drive and then to Suikerbossie to cheer me on. These types of stories & experiences is what the Argus is all about!
Also thanks to all who have this this a very enjoyable thread to read, though I haven't posted much, I have enjoyed reading all the stories.
VID-20250309-WA0046.mp4
