maidenmole

Here’s another angle: the socials are commandeered by brands and sponsors that laud these “super human” feats (as one losing pro called it as she lamented with me around a fire at one particularly cold, misty, high latitude Ultra finish) that then leaves little space for others to call BS on the madness.

Yea, so the anecdotal evidence of out-of-comp-random-arrive-unannounced-at-your-door-in-the-middle-of-the-night are plentiful (many local pro’s share this on their IG) BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT so part of the issue then is the disconnect between these sneaky tests and actual results that turn into sanctions. Tjoep still in the Karoo.

“Of late” includes this weekend, last weekend, and a few months recently, mostly within the Gregorian concept of ‘this year’.

Has SAIDS been MIA lately? Haven’t seen them at races or no new sanctions. Asking because there’s a certain MTBer sweeping up titles and prize money of late that’s raised a few eyebrows.

My nephew was hit by a car in 2016. Court date is only this week. Attorney's will take a chunk of claims if they feel case will be successful. In short: you'll wait a long time. Also, RAF are broke ... future is uncertain.

Thanks for putting this out there Furbz. I think you're spot. I'm technically fresh, but have no legs - RPE is fubar. My HRV has been so low and variable too, which is certainly not training stress related, but defintely life stressor linked. The stress of lockdown is multi-faceted in how I'm feeling it: existential angst around our physiological needs (see Maslow's hierarchy) puts us under immense anxiety, work stress to try and manage workload (or create work for lack of it), homeschooling the kids, all the uncertainty of where to next and limited relatedness that our brains are used to (these are things that neurological put us in an 'away state'). Then there's a crap load of data, information and polarising opinions that we've got to content with too.

Come join us in Zwift guys. Over 100ppl registered already and close on R20k in funds raised for SA Harvest. We're riding 5x Pretzel route to get 361kms - the objective isn't to mimic the 36one challenge as much to ride 360kms+ while in lockdown.

Spots aren't limited (we won't be using a Zwift meetup), so we can have any number of riders pull in.

Looking at the forecasts, I'm thinking of wearing my windbreaker backwards, zip half open.

Aren't the GLA doing it for the Repeat too?

Can't say I'm a fan of the rocky road bung fight after we enter reserve gate to get to the old CP2, so ja, will maybe make for less congestion.

Would the race vets mind commenting on the new CP2 positioning? Can't say I've seen Zandvlakte before.

As long as that alu has bar ends and toe clips, right?

So ... 1. General sentiment was that for some or other reason this year was harder than recent years . 2. The moonlight made for an amazing evening ride experience. Never seen the terrain like that before, nor my shadow from the moon so clearly. 3. Waterpoint water was absolutely k@k. Brackish with a heavy hand of chlorine dosed in. Ugh, made my stomach turn a few times. 4. Wasn't as cold as expected, over dressed from halfway onwards. 5. Starting in the dark now brought out all the group riding n00bs as we hit the dirt. Guy went down in front of me. Think I left an Ikon tread pattern in his cheek.

Nah, bump away gents. I'm pretty grateful you've bumped this gold of a thread into my world. Nuts.

You mean the Stravistix add-on? I use it often, but find it limited, so I end up using it alongside Golden Cheetah and Xert at the same time.

http://www.desertdashnamibia.com/news/images/news/Statement-doping%20AAF1811final.jpg

Ditto on everyone who's had these rims crack. What a *** batch Stans.

***UPDATE*** We received an email from Nèvel yesterday about this saga. Apologised profusely and explained the situation - company managing the logistics, WPs, etc effed up badly. He took full responsibility however. Doesn't change what happened, but certainly helps to have the organiser reach out like that. Respect.

We were those people needing a search party. Had to ride further to find cell signal to call our support crew (waiting at CP4), no data reception to load a map, and then follow a sign to Rooiberg in the hope we'd get there and find some water. Luckily a local security guard (Frans, God bless the man!) rode past and he drove 3 of us to Rooiberg. Another 30mins out there and we would have been up **** creek. And they make us sign indemnities that waive all and any rights to recourse we might have against their disorganisation!

What a c*ck up of an event. What's the story here guys? A little look at Strava uploads and its drama, drama, drama for most participants. Event registration was delayed by over an hour (maybe the first signal we should have attended to), scanning numberboards at the CPs was confusing, water table hosts seemed in shock that riders actually arrived at their WP/CP (they couldn't even seem to pour water into cups for us), an ENTIRE waterpoint was non-existant (182km mark) and then signs pointed us in the wrong direction (with the blame put on some drunk guys driving around with the aim of pulling a funny). Well, that "funny" led us more than 40kms off course and a flirtation with dehydration (yes, because of that missing waterpoint) and hypethermia (yes, because our kit was waiting for us at the next CP which we couldn't find). The road conditions we ***, but we expected this given the Waterberg region. But as Ultra events go, it seemed that these organisers did not know how to go about it properly, or didn't really think/care that it's quite a risk having riders out there in the sticks (I mean, who in their right mind thinks its ok to just not have a WP on route as advertsied?), or were short of cash to do it properly. Won't be back next time.

Same boat here. Fokit. So, I wonder what my extra 35 ronts are doing for me at the moment in the CSA offices? 1. Buying another tin of Ricoffy 2. Buying another melktert 3. Folded up four times over as a table leg stabiliser 4. Being swallowed by the vending machine in reception 5. Definitely not being used to support SAIDS 6. Being added to the Blow-wave kitty 7. ...

Not cool to hear about the stone throwing incidents. Look, there were a fair share of inebriated local residents next to the road in the dark on the route - one bearded chap ran out at us from nowhere with drink in hand, but he was harmless. Maybe some overzealous drinkers taking a pot shot or two for the helluvit?

Passed him on Stage 2, he was barely pedalling he was going so slow. Was blaming stomach issues.

The war is being fought within my body right now ... millions of evil devils are wreaking havoc in every limb. My earlobes are even sore! Well done to everyone that took part. It's a crazy ride.