Skubarra

Supposed to be sent to the team captain, I know a few teams have got theirs while others are also still waiting

2021 they changed the starting order from fastest to slowest due to covid rules and the drafting problems were instantly solved. Event felt like an actual team TT, there was almost no drafting and where it happened occasionally it was easy for marshals to step in. Problem is that starting order was murderous on the social/corporate teams riding in the heat & wind later in the day and will kill off the event within a few years. With the current format I don't really see the point of NOT drafting faster teams passing you, majority of teams do it, maybe something that can be policed for podium contenders but impossible to police otherwise so most people just go with it. Just on the rest stops, I did the race when we only had the neutral zone in Ashton and then support cars were allowed between Robertson and the finish, traffic was absolutely chaos and how no one was killed in a car accident during that period is a minor miracle, the 2nd neutral zone was a great idea to ease the congestion.

haha! must remember that one!

For me its always somewhere after Bonnievale - so I hook some fast teams on the flats & crawl up the 3 bit%hes trying not to cramp. Very aware of the "banter" from mates in the social teams I will be at the receiving end off if they catch up to me so I still try to get to finish as fast as possible.

I'm more of a "time over team, lets see if we can get 6 to the finishline" type of rider, makes for far more entertaining war stories. Problem is I haven't been in the front 6 of a team since 2019, its getting embarrassing 🙈!

I'm skipping next year, so the weather should be perfect

You guys need to get in early and do this race while its still affordable 👍

Kirmack (Team 286)

Yes - a good seeding doesn't actually does not help for anything other than boosting your ego. Would have preferred an "average" seeding for us.

Thank You!!

weird, wonder if it is done on purpose... Also - it seems there are more teams than last year? Or at least the team numbers go higher.

Not bothering to create a new thread for this year.... But does anyone know whats going on with the seeding? Seems they updated about 80% of the teams yesterday and then got bored or distracted.... 🤷‍♂️ https://doublecentury.co.za/race-information-centre/race-day-event/team-seeding-and-start-order/

True - it might buy you a few moments to react but if the attack is planned... I mentioned this few months back on this thread, but I was riding 30km/h+ when I saw mr bad news standing next to the street, I crossed over to the other side and sped up. As I went bye oke flung a massive rock my way which hit & bent my back wheel. Probably helped a bit that with the distance from him the rock lost some momentum before it hit my bike, but being on the other side of the road did not "save" me.

Have to agree with you - other side is not going to be of any help, especially on a climb like Hels. Best to turn around and wait for others if you really have to cycle that way. Or even better join a group and dont cycle alone. If nothing else it will improve your odds...

Normally they are much more generous with the beta as well but to be fair the conditions were favourable

Now you made me learn something today - had to google why there is a shortage of snake venom and why you can't just speed up the production You basically take the venom of the 10 snakes and inject it into a horse in very small quantities – just enough to trigger its immune system, not enough to harm the horse in any way. At that stage you can draw about nine litres of blood every second month, and the serum is removed from the blood, purified. That pretty much is the antivenom. So you’re injecting patients with horse serum, and that horse serum finds the venom and neutralises it.

Subjectively I think there are some good trails on the farm. Looks to be safe. as everything is enclosed on a single property. Nice views. A restaurant and coffee shop at the start - that is about as far as I can praise the "value offering" I get the vibe of lets make as much as possible money from a few riders then we don't have to go through the effort of managing the masses (more trail maintenance, people wondering off trails into areas they are not supposed to go, missing the 11h30 deadlines etc)

Unless it changed a visitor can ride without a member, but you cant ride on your own, you need at least one other person riding with you.

@DieselnDust looks like your sacrifice wasn't in vain.... WhatsApp Video 2024-11-05 at 13.11.28.mp4

The fees are already insane but the strict limitations on when & how long you can ride an even bigger buzzkiller for me. The requirement to be off the trails by 11h30 makes it real hard to plan a long ride to the far side of the farm to work in more trail options. So if its true that you can now cycle anytime of the week it would be a slight improvement, but I am no hurry to be back given all the other riding options we have around the peninsula.

@Mr Legs I'm in the area in December, does one need permission to go up to the mast or can you just ride up?

Haha! Ok so it goes both ways! Yes it can be frustrating being stuck behind a DC team that goes to slowly AND doesn't want anyone "interfering".

Very glad you are ok @DieselnDust - could have been very nasty. As to the thinking of sprinting off the line... You only have to look at your 2022 One Tonner race report... Guys slip a DC team for 170km and then heroically jump them on the finish sprint. Fair play as the One Tonner is not a team event, but that is the thinking, thin out the wheelsuckers right at the start and instead of pulling a massive bunch hopefully be left with fewer hangers on who are also willing to take turns upfront. Also got caught out by that rough patch, barely managed to stay on the bike. Guys in front were rotating and likely didn't see the danger in time, not a very visible bad spot until you are almost right on it.

When I joined in 2011 most races in the wc (mtb or road) were associated to them, so for most events you would get a ppa discount. Also seeding was controlled by them (maybe not a bad thing that they don't have a monopoly on that anymore) so it was a no-brainer to be a member in the WC. This year - R100 discount on the Cycle tour, R50 discount on the one tonner (didnt get to do one of their around-Paardeberg rides and no other road races had PPA discount). So less than the R300 annual membership. If I renew I would basically see it as a charity contribution to cycling advocacy, but for that I need to see more advocacy.

Maybe? For how much longer though? Dont think the number of members on the website is updated and on the AGM's they don't mention membership numbers, only that in the last 2 years they lost 30% of their members, wonder how many they lost in 2021 and 2022. Dont want to bash them on what they are doing or not doing, but I genuinely wonder about their continued relevance as an entity.