walkerr

That gate must be very easy to miss this year: 3 riders now who have passed it. Although much more easily done at the tail without other riders around you. Gotta feel for Pierre now slogging back on himself - not the way you want to start your 1st day.

Oh, definitely there is a farm at the WP1 - you're right on that. But the apparent route mishap for the 2 guys was after that: Interestingly a bit later on, two of the Ambos were at the same area of the off route part - adding to the intrique a bit Anyhow, sure Alex and the guys will take a common sense line - anyone well outside the podium they are usually pretty fair and just slap with a penalty, which in this case would be pretty minimal. Race is shaping up nicely at the front, although my eyes are more at the back where a few buddies are riding. Those guys will fight some tough battles these next few days against time, weather, dust etc

Possibly - but the rules state (or used too) that if you go off route you must backtrack to the place you left the route. You're not allowed to carry on to get back on route. Edit - nope, still same rules 12. RACE ROUTE All riders have to follow the designated Race route and may not deviate therefrom in any circumstances whatsoever. If a rider inadvertently leaves the Race route, he has to return to the Race route at the same point at which he left it. Wasn't shorter tho, so probably just a penalty

This looks more like a navigation error.

Could be either - but concentration can be a cause. There is one turn on day one that is very easy to miss - random gate beside the road. Even with my Garmin, I went past it and only spotted being off track 200m or so beyond while coasting along the gravel road. This looks like the same spot these guys went wrong. I hope they backtrack - under the rules when I rode, I'm sure you had to backtrack to where you went wrong not just loop back onto the route. Hopefully they just get a time penalty rather than a full DQ

From the post: "'doable' in a crazy kind of way" An absolutely perfect summary of a unique event. I've done supported, unsupported, and semi-supported. They're all different, all have their fun (and crap) parts - which need to be enjoyed for what they are. For me, Munga is one of the most memorable of any I have done - loved every darned second of it, even the bits I hated.

I'd swear that cycling, especially long distance, is what keeps my marriage happy. Keep me at home and off the bike and I'm as grumpy as ****. Get out there and soak some adventure every now and then and I'm peace and light at home. Everything needs balance.

Oops - sorry. You'll be fine ....

FWIW - I find 400 one of the toughest distances, because it's still a 1 day ride. A 600 you split down into 2 parts in some fashion and get a rest in between. But 400 is a f@k of a long way to ride in one go ...

Yup - go for it

Assuming Gauteng rather than Cape (separate groups)?

Thanks! Risky to follow me - I might be hopelessly lost (plus this stuff is seriously addictive!). I'm already scouting possible 2020 adventures ...

LEL is a great event - did it in 2013 and loved it.

Route is usually announced the week or so before - I haven't seen it myself as yet for Gauteng (Cape 400 route for MarchI do have). Best to subscribe to the emailer, and also keep an eye on the FB page, There's a couple of WhatsApp groups too, and a general email address: info@audaxsa.co.za

Suffered in hands (and also feet) after a number of long rides. Only time has really healed it, never found or heard of anything else - although massages etc might ease things. Usually a few weeks and it'll improve, really bad cases can take a few months though.

What we all feel is just words. It's down to the organizers to do what they must to be able to run a viable ride every year with enough racers and riders to attract sponsors and host the events. Bike and MTB events the world over are battling to attract a full enough field to do that, and some have failed too. Even some of the toughest, fully unsupported Ultra Endurance events such as TCR have recognised the need for a split classification in order to appeal to enough riders to continue as a viable event. Doesn't really make any of them coffee rides - they're all still effing tough. Ultimately though, it's down to the organizers to plan and host the race they believe will be a success. Personally I hope The Munga thrives for many years to come however they manage that. It's a unique journey that leaves everyone a different person I believe, whether they raced it or rode it.

I still think drafting if the rules say 'no' should be strictly enforced for any GC place being raced for. Only accepted for those riding socially. Everyone racing gets a warning/time penalty, and finally dropped from GC if they persist.

Thanks 'Dale

I'm pretty sure I get what Alex was trying to do in the briefing when he talked about social riders not necessarily coming under the same drafting rules. He recognizes there are definitely 2 races within the Munga; those battling for honours, time, and places; and those on a personal battle just to finish. I'm not convinced the handling of drafting really was done right in that respect - but I get where his intention was. My buddy and I entered purely with the aim to finish, which we managed right at the tail. It was a relief to be able to ride together without worrying if someone would construe us as drafting just because one happened to be in front of the other. A great deal of the time we rode side by side, but the trail did not always allow that. At other times we were quite far apart as pace and fatigue dictated. In fact at almost no time would I really say we actually drafted (as above, being a roadie, I know what that means and feels like). And we certainly did not infringe on any other rules or etiquette - gates, outside support, sticking to route etc. We rode and finished clear and clean I would say. It's difficult for the organizers here I feel - there are not 150 genuine racers who can win (or even finish) this thing. It makes sense to me that there is a social / aiming to finish category where specifically drafting is a more relaxed thing. If Munga does not attract riders, it will not continue - and probably a sizeable portion of the entrants are in the aim to finish / social category. Sounds like the relaxed drafting application was taken and used way higher up the race order than it should have been allowed, or was intended. Seems to be one way they could deal with this is having a split classification - GC, and the chance for podiums etc then non drafting applies. Social riders can get a medal, a time, a position on the overall finishers list, but not a GC place if they have drafted. Of course that assumes honesty or policing of drafting, which is near impossible. Either way, still a great event and a privilege to ride. Definitely up there as a highlight of my year.

I guess predominantly because I am a roadie. Chatting with Nico straight after, he felt the opposite - and he's a much more skilled and accomplished mountain biker than me. So I guess that probably accounts for much of the difference. I'm just not used to surfaces with such terrible rolling resistance where you have to battle for every pedal stroke. On road, you get a ton more free-wheeling Km. Edit - plus the dust, which gave me terrible bronchitis that got worse as we rode

Definitely. The more of us who bring back stories, the more our club mates get drawn to put it on their bucket lists too. At least 2 of the mates who turned out to watch T and I finish commented they fancy giving it a try. It's up there as one of those unique must do events

Will come ... soon as hands recover to type anything more than a few letters!

To all of you out there thinking of entering for 2019 - just effing do it! Toughest thing I've ever done, and loved (almost) every second of it.

Wind patterns look "interesting" - seems like head for the start, then cross / cross-tail for a while. Then, based on my own speed projections, back to head / cross-head somewhere around Fraserburg to the end. Definite advantage to keeping speed up and getting further into the route before that front hits and shifts the wind. Edit - also wrangling with ditching one of the layers from my bag. Current lowest night temp I'm seeing is a not-too-low 9C.

Bike's at LBS ready for collection by the awesome MoveMyBicycle chaps. Bag is packed. Nothing more to do than sit back and relax and start to savour the amazing adventure about to come. Went to watch James rocking it at Kirstenbosch last night - was great to just cut loose knowing the TODO list (whether right or wrong) is all done