Skubarra

@Mamil you missed the fun on the 2nd lap 😀 Think most were saving matches for the last 30km, pace picked up considerably closer to the finish.

Agree, think the take-up on the series will be better if they can finalise the calendar earlier. Hopefully something that will improve in future.

Still enough PTSD from last time to not really have FOMO 😁 But next year I'll be back, still some unfinished business with this bastard

Yes it wp cycling, but they are taking their time. Although the series would likely only start in April so I guess its ok.

My gutfeel: Around R1K is a fair price for a 100 miler gravel race, there are hidden costs involved in hosting a race we the riders don't know about and logistics are more expensive out in the sticks. However for me as a general rule anything more than R1,5K then someone is getting ripped off Ceder - for me personally one of the better events I have done but I'm not paying R2,5K+accomodation unless its part of the gravel series because that is something I will be invested in.

For me both are great (but very different) routes, R2C would be better value for money, entry fee last year was R1450 which included a t-shirt if I remember correctly and if you live in CPT accomodation not an issue, only snag is organising a lift back from Onrus. Also the food & beer at the finishing venue were ridiculously overpriced so we didn't hang around for long afterwards

Did the race last year - loved the route, both beautiful and properly challenging. Venue had a real lekker vibe. Waterpoints were well stocked. That said, no I don't think this or any other gravel 100 miler I have done over the past year is quite worth R2,400 yet. Last year the race organisers seemingly also controlled the accommodation at the (previous) venue and it was a proper rip-off. Something like R1k per night for a campsite if I remember correctly. New venue this year so possibly the deal will be different and accommodation will be more affordable. So I have mixed feelings about this event, not really fussed about the UCI thing but I want to give the gravel series a go again - will only do it if it is part of the gravel series. Ronde van Swartberg the week earlier on the other hand, got the early bird entry for R1K cheaper than this race and will support it whether its part of the series or not

Unfortunately you did the most iconic one 1st.... We have other beautiful passes in our country but none quite like this one

It's sad that we have the Tiekie, Vissershok (even Malans) hill climbs right around the corner but no way to incorporate it into a road race anymore. Guess we did not appreciate those climbs when we had access to them 😂

SP posted this on the club whatsapp group - sure it is fine if I share it here: Well done to everyone involved ( especially @Wannabe) - maybe there is hope that things can improve!

2023 winner was on a gravel bike, 2024 winner on a mtb I think it very much comes down to personal preference, but it certainly doable on a gravel bike if that is something you are considering

I don't quite agree - the attacker almost always have the element of surprise + initiative, even if you are able to react quickly you are still at a relative disadvantage because you have to quickly process what is happening to you and also decide what is the best reaction while the attacker has the initiative and likely a plan of action. Its not possible to always have a save distance between you & any potential danger. I have dodged 2 attacks on my bike over the past few years, both times were close calls an I had luck on my side, if those attackers were slightly more competent they would have had my bike and or phone twice.

do you have the gravel calendar?

Will see you there - here is hoping most of the wild dogs will be in Oudtshoorn for Attakwas...

Just to add - I would suggest entering the Cat where you can have fun ie be in the mix, be part of the tactics and maybe dish out a little hurt to the others as opposed to hanging on for dear life to riders generally better than you until you inevitably get dropped. There are no seedings to chase or improve so just ride where you will likely enjoy it the most.

^This - Cat 2 can be very difficult with the attacks and surges, and if you are caught napping suddenly its a long TT - very different dynamics compared to the PPA funrides. That said, the route for the Philadelphia race is quite flat and given that the distance is long, last time I did that loop in a league race the 1st lap was fairly mundane and only on the rollers in the 2nd did the real attacks came But I would actually suggest Cat 3 for a 1st attempt at league racing, although you will probably be fine in Cat 2

As I have it you are allowed to cycle on the section of the N1 until the Marine drive turn-off, after that it becomes a freeway and you are not allowed to cycle further onwards. Also the reason people cycle on that section of the N1 is not because its fun dodging heavy traffic, it is because they get robbed on the alternative routes and until recently the N1 was the only "save-ish" option, so banning people from cycling on that part of the N1 is not going to reduce the attacks.

Also sad that the finish through D'Urbanvale and Odendaal has been taken out, its the one aspect of the race that was unique compared to the other northern suburbs races, but I get why - traffic congestion a big headache in the northern suburbs with the town expanding (Clara Anna etc). I do hope at one point the roads will be fixed to the extent that they can bring back Vissershok and Van Schoorsdrift, the Malmesbury out and back not particularly exciting imo.

A personal preference & unexpected feature of the gravel bike I found - training rides with a gravel bike on the road = fun & fast + training ride which is a combination of tar & gravel even more fun & fast. MTB on road = boring, that is why I would opt for gravel bike over a hardtail as a 2nd bike

See the entries are sold out, very glad for the organisers. Might give it a go next year

The way I see it for many people gravel bikes will eventually replace their road bikes, swap out the gravel wheels for road wheels and instantly you have a capable road bike for your occasional road ride. Rest of the time it's faster and more fun than your mtb on gravel roads so you will end up using your mtb for trails only and the rest all gravel bike.

Tongue-in-the-cheek Robbie... Certainly not suggesting its acceptable to call for violence online But at the same token very sceptic that this is the type of thing that will actually get you prosecuted (unless you add a few racist slurs for flavour) Anyway, lets not digress - @Robbie Grant very frustrating and angry to hear about your experience and the indifference of politicians, seems the only thing that will get some reaction is more people dying on that spot 😢

You mean to say in SA people can get prosecuted for crimes? That is welcome news to me!

Guess it depends on how you define the "next big thing" - Just on gravel burn they clearly are not going for the big numbers, I reckon they bank on the idea that money can be made of a relatively few riders doing luxury giving the organisers decent margins to profit on. For me the 100 miler events will be where the "masses" will ride, but the competition is strong and riders fickle so I expect a few events to fall by the wayside.

Thank You Cuba! Awesome news! Definitely an option for me to do this event now - will take a look