I doubt if an organizer is going to adhere to CyclingSA. What are they gaining if they are adhering to CyclingSA but the next organizer does not? I think all the organizers are fully aware off events going on around them, so it is ultimately their decision to continue on that date.
I just had phone call with the former Head of Traffic in Krugersdorp, he retired in May of this year. He confirmed as per the photos, the section from Riverstone to Cradle Stone Mall is not freeway. We are allowed to cycle there. If the police do stop you, you cannot resist them. Even if they want to arrest you, you can open up a case afterwards of unlawful arrest.
I tend to agree but if that is the reason majority of riders prefer to stay home then the organizer needs to listen. Let's hope they can get the race back to its former glory.
It's a new organizer and they did a poll on what the riders liked and disliked. Apparently, riders complained the rough and loose rocks/conditions damaged their bikes too much.
I think with the numbers dwindling over the years they need make a change. Let's see, hopefully the new route is challenging enough but also enjoyable.
Hi, I am 190cm and ride a L Specialized Epic. I am about 2 cm away from max seat length and the stem is medium long. I could get a longer one if need be. My body fits into the bike geometry but on the upper end. If I had to buy a XL I would be mid-range with the bike geometry.
To answer your question, yes you will be able to comfortably fit on a L but an XL will also work. I will come down to your personal preference.
Gravel has its own rules under MTB in the CyclingSA Rulebook. Yes, gravel bikes cannot compete against MTB as drop handlebars are not allowed. The organizers should just sanction their events as gravel and not MTB. Then everybody can compete.
I did it back in September. Really badly washed out. It's become very technical to descend and hard to climb. There are not much smooth sections left to get a rhythm. You are concentrating most of the way up to hold your line or accelerate over loose rock. If you are quite fit and strong then this can be a quality training session! Otherwise, you going to fight the bike all the way up and down, and your HR will be in the red most of the time...
Thanks for your replies @Frosty and @Jewbacca.
Like you've said CyclingSA needs to find direction in what they want to do. If they want to focus on elite/Tops guys, then great more power to them. But then they should not make statements that their membership numbers a dwindling and they cannot understand why.
Me as a CyclingSA member find it very frustrating to engage with CyclingSA on this topic. I always get generic answers like "It's new something new and we should support it, or we are working on something". It just feels like no one takes responsibility to answer these questions or take necessary action/steps to rectify the situation.
I just feel the BikeHub is the only place I can air my frustrations. At least fellow hubbers will respond🤣
Hi Frosty, I am trying to understand what you are saying when you say "What they are trying to do is good"
As you summed it up the race organisers have to foot the bill for the events and they take the risk. My question is what is CyclingSA bringing to the table to support the events? From my perspective all I am seeing is CyclingSA drew up a document to say the following races are in a series and here are the points you could earn if you perform at them. But from there you only get a pat on the back as confirmed by Zeffer.
There is more value for me to go do a seeding race to get a better seeding for the CTCT or 94.7 as I am getting something back for my efforts. I honestly cannot see why I must travel to do these races nominated by CyclingSA. Yes this is a brand-new initiative but it's not selling anything of value to attract new riders. Like I said before I would love to support my federation but I cannot see what their aim is here.
I understand its baby steps but the same applies also for new race organizers. What I don't get is Cycling SA launches this product that makes no commercial sense, expect us the riders (Consumers) to buy into this and hope it grows?
I am not trying to pick a fight or bad mouth this initiative but if something is not well thought out from the beginning it cannot succeed in the long run. I am a member of Cycling SA but I cannot see what this brings to the table if the points ultimately don't matter and I can go do these races by myself as a CyclingSA member or not. There is no value for me as the rider other than participating in these races, which I can do already. Please provide value to me and I will support you to the ends of the earth, but I cannot see this going anywhere.
Regards
A concerned Cycling SA member
Ok we got races confirmed and age categories defined, and you allocate points to the results. So a winner is determined by the end of the series. What do they win? What do the points mean for the rest of the riders?
I am just trying to understand what the benefit is of traveling and doing all these races? Are these ranking connected to colours in any way?
I had a "Newish" secondhand bike break on me. Because I wasn't the original owner, I couldn't claim the warranty. Since then, I was a bit skeptical spending so much on a secondhand bike.
My observation could be inaccurate or like you said you and your mates are the outliers but who will know? It would be interesting to know when you spend that kind of money on a secondhand bike did you not consider buying new? And what made you decide buying that bike instead of new?
I think there is ceiling price of around 40k for a secondhand bike. Any higher and the buyer could just consider buying new even if it's a lower model. I don't see people spending 100K on secondhand bike even if it was new 200K plus.
I do think people need to realize that market value has a cap for 2nd hand bikes. You would be lucky if you can get more than 50% of the original price of your bike. If you want to sell you need to be comfortable selling at a lower price than what you expect your bike is worth. That might be the only offers you get...
Hi Frosty
What if the organisers/timing companies don't want to share/use the CyclingSA database? I feel timing companies make their money from selling the seeding data.
Timing companies get appointed by race organizers. It is up to the organizer to sanction under CSA or not. The timing company does the timing regardless if event is sanctioned or not.
In regard to the old Trail seekers the Timing was done by the organizers (Advendurance) themselves. Their boards and their seeding. I cannot see them move to a CSA system if they already have their own system. I do agree it was pleasant that we could rock up and register on the morning of the event but that was Advendurance events only.
I don't think CSA can force organizers to use one number. Lots of money are being made by timing companies selling their boards and seeding data. I think organizers would prefer to work with professional timing companies than using a CSA system permanently. Just my opinion.
Hi Frosty
Believe me when I say I am a fan of E-bikes. With an E-bike my dad can do rides with me that was never previously possible.
The problem I have with this particular person is that they are actually racing. They are hiding in the bunch at times and when we speed up they are keeping up by using their motor/battery. I do not believe a E-mountain bike is just cruising along at 38km/h for a 102km race.
I do understand that you want to welcome all cyclist to your event and I fully support that! But a line must be drawn somewhere on when someone is using an E-bike as a means to complete the race or are they wanting to race. In my humble opinion if someone with an E-bike wants to ride in the A-bunch they must ride on a normal bike as you clearly have the fitness of finishing the event on your own power.
I understand that an honesty seeding was used but unfortunately that only works for the people who wants to be honest. For safety I would always prefer to have some sort of seeding system in place so the stronger more experience riders can race in the front and less chances of big bunch crashes early on. Meaning that E-bikes would start in the back groups and not affect racing.
Just my 2 cents. And again, Frosty, thank you and your club for hosting this event every year. I will always come back!
Firstly, thanks for a great event but unfortunately there is always that one person who must spoil the party. In this case it was an E-bike rider in the A bunch. This person rode on his Mountain E-bike and won the A-batch race. Kudo's to him...
I know the A batch is an open race and if you want to do proper racing them one must enter the license racing categories but for us weekend warriors there is still some honor of racing in the A-batch. Long story short we tried splitting up the bunch in the cross winds just for him to tow the whole bunch back to the front group. Then on the next section he goes to the front and puts the whole peloton in the gutter. Some riders even had words with him and eventually he just rode away.
My question is why do the organizers allow the E-bikes between the normal riders? Don't they have a bunch of their own? And why do you want to compete in race with a motor if your fitness is clearly good enough that you can ride a normal bike?! So, is it fair to ask, if I can I also go ride in the elites' cat with an E-bike just to see how it feels racing with the pros and maybe getting in the break myself??? I just feel the E-bike riders think they should be treated like normal cyclist which they are clearly not.
Rant over.
