Karman de Lange

Normally beginning of Feb, but last year it was 13th feb ... The fact that the seeding for 99er is already out before timing is finalized, I would guess soon

If you start early , nothing is open in the waterfront till 8-9am (except wimpy). My wife learned that the hard way the first year and sat in car for 2 hrs waiting, now she takes her Kindle etc to entertain herself till I'm done (8 hrs later normally) We always park at waterfront, but we normally early so parking never been issue. Finish area is normally very busy, but if you meet close to the bridge at the end (after the coke stands) (don't ask her to wait under it, it stinks) its easy to find each other. If she want to film you finish, then i'm not sure, we've never tried that.

The problem is that alot of the "weaker" riders in the top bunches get there by very strategically sitting in in the bunches and never put there nose into the wind and so move up the ranks (nothing wrong with it, we've all dont that). Now, its about 30-40% saving if you sit in the middle of the bunch, so this makes a very big difference in fitness between the guys who sit at front working hard vs person sitting in middle. Throw in vissers, which you have to be strong on, its steep and long. The guys that always work up front, gets a gap (they stronger after all), the weaker riders drops back.. So at the top, you sit with 1 bunch of strong riders and skinny climbers and another bunche/s of weaker riders. Those weaker riders will now again go sit at back hoping someone might do some work, which of course don't happen and the pace drops dramatically overall. If vissies is at the end, then everyone hides and save energy as much as possible, group stay intact and guys hiding is fresh at end. The guys doing all work is tired .. So hit the hill, the hard working guys that is normally strong is now slow up the hill, the guys in middle of bunch is fresh, so they climb all at same pace. So weaker riders overall time is much better ... Well, thats my Monday morning theory.

Vissers force the wheel suckers and the bad climbers in faster groups to drop back alot. Beta is calculated on how many top riders go slower.

the winners time really got adjusted ... pheww. Even with the beta I actually got worst seeding than my starting group and I finished top 3rd... Social Argus it is then

this

haha. Probably true, but that would have sounded like I wanted to actually do some work

mine is just. Yawn , absolutely boring race today... but still better than not riding my bike.

werking

Excellent report! All best with the retirement :-) (Last few photo not loading, tried few browsers, all do same.....)

Here GPX from this route, not 100% sure is correct https://www.strava.com/routes/23752454 99er 2020 beta.gpx

Have to wait for racing snakes for seeding numbers guess $#%abc as per nor al. With 3-4 min gaps. B is 6:17

Seeding is out.. Either my seeding is really crap or smaller groups... guess the first

all Photos available at https://www.photosport.co.za/category/43863.html

New course is basicly tour de PPA route , so if you able to attend that you can still enjoy it. I might sound negative (won't be anything new), but just loved the end of 99er. Now I need to get the @#$# memories of Tour de PPA out my head.

Other issue is the long route will share road till fisantekraal with short route as long route guys do that extra loop first before merging onto same route. In beginning everyone is still in bunches , the last stretch the short guys are normally single file so don't create a problem I can't find the start times now , maybe it will be ok ...

Problem with us non climbers is (read overweight) .. we can stay with bunch normally till vissers, then only loose few minutes to the finish, so good change of bettering the seeding. Now we will loose the bunch early in race and end up with the skinny fast climbers from back bunches that simply don't have the diesel power to help keep pace up on the flats so you end up with lot slower pace . (well, thats my limited experience). But as said .. It is what it is and I need some racing time in my legs.

So for guys that want to try the 24hrs thing earlier . I see Around the pot now have 200 miler option https://www.aroundthepot.co.za/200miler at R900 .. crap .. crap .. crap.

This sucks .. change the dynamic completley anyway .. paid already...

i had the bizarre craving for coffee on my ride . Never had craving for it before... That and tons of plain water.

I was down 1kg .. then the oak valley 24hrs happened , managed to pack 2kg of weight on in 2 days trying to stop my cravings back to normal tommorrow

Dont give them ideas

some photo's up https://www.facebook.com/chris.hitchcock1/media_set?set=a.10156909894998963&type=3

LOL From history page: The 99er Cycle Tour first took place in 1999. The inaugural event was 99km long and so the name “The 99er” was born.

Anyone know how the condition is of Van Schoorsdrift, Should I take gravel bike?