mikkelz

This was so cool to read! Thanks for the time and effort. 👏

Yeah, interesting – and about 8mins added to her time. 😂 That'll teach pros wanting to mess with fun-riders start groups!

I think that's fair. It's such a flat route.

Gotta keep yourself entertained. 🤣

She wasn't too difficult to find. 🫣 I'd give her the benefit of the doubt, but if you've had run-ins with her before...

Interesting! Felt like riding with a slightly under-pressured tyre the whole way. 😅

Great event! Such nice vibes from the volunteers and at the finish. Definitely unique to the 99er. Happy with my decision to ride in A. Pretty consistent effort throughout. Not sure what the lady with a B number was doing there though? 🤔 Pretty sure we weren't caught and I didn't see any other Bs. Highlights: gravel biker with an aero helmet. Looks badass. And another with aero socks and hairy legs. 🤣 Aero really is everything.

I am definitely not U23 or elite. 🤣 But good to know I give off those vibes. 😎

Thanks for sharing that! I'm glad too. 😅 Maybe it was more of a "why don't you sign up for an annual racing license" kind of pitch (giving them the benefit of the doubt). 🤷‍♂️ So if you ride in the groups before A i.e. $, #, % there's nothing distinguishing you from the other riders, other than the $, # or % in front of your event race number – no other number/sticker or anything to say you're in a "racing" category?

I'm not going to lie, but they did seem confused (maybe with what I was telling them, as opposed to them not knowing). 😀 I kept on hearing "paddle license" (not pedal) being repeated to another volunteer. 😅 But regardless, I didn't mind having to pay the R50 day license, as it isn't a PPA event and all that – totally fine. I didn't have (for this event) and never have purchased a CSA license (day or annual), let alone a "racing" license. I've always been in the alphabet soup, last year's CTCT I got seeded in @ (my highest). No CSA license/racing license there. Maybe that wasn't racing vets (or whatever it's called). It does seem strange to have to "buy" a "racing" license for an event upon arrival at registration (glad I went today and not tomorrow). But, as I said, first time for me, so maybe I just didn't understand how it works. Interesting that you didn't have to buy a "racing license". I didn't actually ask how much it was, but the guy from CSA who the 99er registration lady took me to said I needed a license, after I asked if they were referring to my seeding, on top of the R50 day license which I didn't (missed) pay during registration for the event last year. It was at that point when I said if I don't want to buy it, can I just ride in A and they said yes. 🤷‍♂️ </ramble over> 🙃

Argh, I got caught out by having to pay the R50 CSA day license (missed that when entering – I (wrongfully) just assumed a paid-up PPA membership was fine like the majority of other road races I enter). And then got asked to pay for a CSA racing license 'cos of my % seeding – first time I've encountered that as well. Definitely not for me. 😅 Looking forward to a (hopefully) more relaxed ride in A tomorrow. 🙏 Otherwise, awesome to see all the volunteers – collection was quick in Durbanville. The traffic back to Stellenbosch, not so much. 🥵

How many start groups before % at 6:10? Two, I guess (5-minute gaps?).

Legends!

I got the details from their website.

"No race number collection on race day." 😠 Number collection is the worst part of these races. Durbanville and Claremont as the only collection points.

It's a start, but it needs to happen daily indefinitely. The appeal to the public to implement safety measures is a joke.

Lekker race. 1 minute slower than last year, but one minute faster up the climb segment which I'm happy with. Held onto A for about 1h45 and then decided to call it a day and roll in around 2h45 with the last of the As and a few Bs. The heat and headwind was tough this year. Last year was easy in comparison from what I remember. 🔥 Looks like about 200 more finishers this year compared to last. Hopefully the sign of some growth for road cycling. 🙏

Winelands Cycle Race

Thanks for the advice. 🫡

I hope to be finished by 9am. 😅 Not sure what I'm doing in A. 🤷‍♂️ Maybe I'll drop back a group for a more enjoyable ride. 🤔

Time for another round of emails to remind the stupid "authorities" that they actually need to *do* something and not just show face at a community organised protest ride. And, seeing as not everyone is on "social media" (incl. this forum), in fact, I think it's the minority that are active on here (in relation to all cyclists), surely some signs will help people avoid the area. Or at the very least, make them think twice before riding past. It's not actually unbelievable that this hasn't been resolved. I think it was wishful thinking something would be done "this time", when, this problem has been going on for years...

Sheesh, I didn't know that. It's not even on the same premises anymore, is it? Cyclelab Paarl (according to Google): 12 Cecilia St, Southern Paarl, Paarl, 7624

Eventually, I found it in the confirmation email:

Where/when is registration? I recall seeing it mentioned when I registered, but I can't find anything on the website. 🤔

Lekker man! That's good to know about the coffee shop. Keen to try it next time I go past. 👌 Any issues on Helshoogte? I've avoid it for a while, but keen to do my favourites ride from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek again soon.