Argus Double Lap Riders

[Slowbee]

My Little rant.

To those guys who wanted to race two laps.

 

You are morons. And you are cheats. If I could only remember the numbers of $, VA, VB, A, B, C riders who came past us (as PB riders), shouting at us to stay left, get out the way. move over, and just generally being morons.

 

You need to realise that those of us that leave after 09H18 are generally fun riders. We ride in those groups because we are slow. That means the slow riders dont always have the skills to keep a straight line while riding up hill (or downhill). To come past shouting and screaming for us to move out your way, screw you! Riding in pace lines in amongst people who are nervous in big groups as it is, up yours. On the route, I told all of you exactly what I thought of you. You endanger our lives. Go away.

 

All the other riders (not that you will read this), that took your numbers and chips off. You are cowards.

 

Next time I do this, I will have a camera ready, and I will photograph you, and I will publish the pics everywhere I can.

 

Rant Over

 

Rave on

To those riders that did do second laps, riding with their friends and family, chatting, and just being a part of the slow riders. Thank you. Those who had the patience to wait till it was safe to go past and waited, again thank you. And to those fast riders who had words of encouragment, it goes along way. Iroincally the $ group cerevlo rider, who rode with us up Smits and chatted to us, before heading off into the distance on your second lap. Awesome to meet you.

 

Rave over

[HomerSimpson]

Slowbee, if I may add a little rant to yours...

The same to all the second lappers (and to those who dropped down from the top groups to do this) who then rode with wives/girlfriends and pushed them up every little incline and hill (and somtimes along the level parts as well)..I am sure the girls must be really proud of the times they achieved.

[iRob]

I was impressed to see some guys from # % VA etc coming passed us through Bakoven... They must have been one of the first groups of guys to have done 2 laps. Maybe next time. I cannot see myself doing 2 laps on an MTB, unless I started in D/E/F or even K or thereabouts, simply because I will most likely never own a road bike, nor do it on slicks, so getting that sort of seeding would be challenging!

 

I wonder if anyone has done 2 laps or even the DC on an MTB. Oh yes and the smaller wheels ARE penalising. Seems I should get myself a proper 29" MTB...

[Minion]

Slowbee, if I may add a little rant to yours...

The same to all the second lappers (and to those who dropped down from the top groups to do this) who then rode with wives/girlfriends and pushed them up every little incline and hill (and somtimes along the level parts as well)..I am sure the girls must be really proud of the times they achieved.

Were they riding for time? Maybe they just wanted a fun day on the bike. Perhaps being helped along by a loved one and spending time with them turned what could have been an unpleasant, gruelling experience into an enjoyable event.

 

I certainly plan to push my girlfriend along if she needs help on her first 94.7 at the end of the year.

[splat]

I was impressed to see some guys from # % VA etc coming passed us through Bakoven... They must have been one of the first groups of guys to have done 2 laps. Maybe next time. I cannot see myself doing 2 laps on an MTB, unless I started in D/E/F or even K or thereabouts, simply because I will most likely never own a road bike, nor do it on slicks, so getting that sort of seeding would be challenging!

 

I wonder if anyone has done 2 laps or even the DC on an MTB. Oh yes and the smaller wheels ARE penalising. Seems I should get myself a proper 29" MTB...

 

There was more than one team who did the DC on mtb's with knobblies.

I find it tough enough on my roadie!

[MariusL]

Slowbee, if I may add a little rant to yours...

The same to all the second lappers (and to those who dropped down from the top groups to do this) who then rode with wives/girlfriends and pushed them up every little incline and hill (and somtimes along the level parts as well)..I am sure the girls must be really proud of the times they achieved.

 

If i do a double next year I'll give you a push up the climbs so that you don't feel so left out...

[Tankman]

Slowbee, if I may add a little rant to yours...

The same to all the second lappers (and to those who dropped down from the top groups to do this) who then rode with wives/girlfriends and pushed them up every little incline and hill (and somtimes along the level parts as well)..I am sure the girls must be really proud of the times they achieved.

 

Ever thought that some of us go out there to actually help someone???

We dont have time to stop in races to help someone fix a puncture or lend a helping hand.

Time to return the favor!

 

Giving someone that final little push over the crest that really needs is not against the law and wont increase the riders position from 29873 to 23485 either!

 

And yes the girls or really proud of what they achieved, just completing the Argus is an achievement in itself.

 

Some of them have never cycled further than 70 or 80km and the Argus is the first time they do more than 100km!

[DaLoCo]

I had more of an issue with some developement riders that were in my general area, shouting people out of the way, only to be weaving all over the road on the next hill because they blew themselves on the downhill (there was a group of around 7 in OC) . I managed to leave them behind on Smits, and had a relatively uneventfull ride from there, except for the dronkie on his way home from the shebeen on his dikwiel, up Suikerbossie .

 

Seriously...If you are a super rider, don't come push the funriders around. I saw more than a few close shaves and nearcrashes with funriders trying to dodge the double lappers and faster riders. Wait to pass untill the rider has space to move out of the way

[Cassie]

@Slowbee...saw a couple of them!! and heard those shouts..

 

My favourite reply was "Which one???..." after these dudes would come past and tell everyone wher to ride... you should check the confusion!!

 

On the other hand...I had to slam brakes quite hard - doing ~60 down suikerbossie...so much so that back wheel locked up in a puff of smoke...crapped myself thinking which shoulder I should put on the tarmac first...But lukily escaped a fall!!

['Dale]

Sorry to hear about your experience, SlowBee....

 

I do not care how many winners' medals you have.

I do not care about your avg speed over 108 kms.

 

As much as I care about whether you can treat others with dignity and respect whenever possible.

The funriders are the backbone of the Argus Tour.

Those ones with funny suits and cadences of 50 average and chatting up everyone at the refresher points.

 

And, not everyone who double lapped is at fault here.

I know some of them and they are cool.

Edited March 15, 2011 by AirBender

[Red Zone]

Hells bloody bells chaps relax, its the Argus for heavens sake. Its full of idoits, heros, incompetents, hackers, bullets, race snakes, grannies and grandpas, kids, unicyclists. You know this when you start, you know that there is a fair chance of being taken out, you know that someone is going to shout at you to hold your line, you know someone is going to take exception to something that YOU do, you will get asked to move aside. Live and let live, enjoy the ride. The Argus is a phenomenon that draws all types you need to just take it easy and try to have some fun.

 

And before you jump to too many conclusions some of us have no option but to cycle home due to road closures, not everyone who is riding along the route at 11 am is doing two laps.

[HomerSimpson]

Ever thought that some of us go out there to actually help someone???

We dont have time to stop in races to help someone fix a puncture or lend a helping hand.

Time to return the favor!

 

Giving someone that final little push over the crest that really needs is not against the law and wont increase the riders position from 29873 to 23485 either!

 

And yes the girls or really proud of what they achieved, just completing the Argus is an achievement in itself.

 

Some of them have never cycled further than 70 or 80km and the Argus is the first time they do more than 100km!

 

Not talking about giving a push just to help keep the momentum going every now and then; talking about guys propelling people along at a speed they would probably not be able to achieve by themselves. And by the way; it is actually against the rules. Cyclists are not allowed to receive outside assistance.

Just as a matter of interest; my wife rode her first Argus a couple of years ago at the age of 45; not having done a ride of longer than 50 km beforehand. During her first ride some well-meaning bloke tried to help her along up Smitswinkel. Poor bloke got told off good and proper. As she explained afterwards; she wanted to do it herself. No help from anybody.

But I guess you are right; it probably makes no difference in the big scheme of things.

And MariusL, I'll think about the offer for next year (particularly after this year's effort, I feel I might need the help next year!)

[raptor]

Not talking about giving a push just to help keep the momentum going every now and then; talking about guys propelling people along at a speed they would probably not be able to achieve by themselves. And by the way; it is actually against the rules. Cyclists are not allowed to receive outside assistance.

Just as a matter of interest; my wife rode her first Argus a couple of years ago at the age of 45; not having done a ride of longer than 50 km beforehand. During her first ride some well-meaning bloke tried to help her along up Smitswinkel. Poor bloke got told off good and proper. As she explained afterwards; she wanted to do it herself. No help from anybody.

But I guess you are right; it probably makes no difference in the big scheme of things.

And MariusL, I'll think about the offer for next year (particularly after this year's effort, I feel I might need the help next year!)

 

Saw a lady riding for a certain yellow club being pushed up all the hills by 2 club members at a time, going much faster than she ever would

Edited March 15, 2011 by raptor

[Tankman]

@Slowbee - I am fully prepared and patient when going out on the second lap. I use to be a funrider that started way at the back on a MTB with tekkies and a T-shirt not so long ago! So I know what it feels like when some idiot comes screaming and shouting past.

 

My reasons for doing it twice has already been covered in the sub 3 thread.

Helping at least one stranger on the day is one of them I havent mentioned there but one I achieved on Sunday.

If I caused anyone pain or discomfort, feel free to report my ass.

Edited March 15, 2011 by Tankman

[Tankman]

come to think of it, I got shouted at a couple of times to "keep left" on the second lap!

[nuge]

yeah, i saw a few nutters pushing the pace during their second lap through the alphabet soup and didn't really see the point. sure, i did the good bits of the argus route twice for the atmosphere - edinburgh drive, chappies and suikers - but i'd resolved to ride at the same pace as everyone else and enjoy the vibe.

 

i had a compulsion to want to push some people up the climbs, but got to thinking who do you pick? it's like the most responsible thing to do was simply to stay out of the way, maybe shout a bit of encouragement (which always sounds lame, i know...).

 

anyway, i helped a dude out who'd punctured coming down llandudno (turns out he'd already punctured twice and used up his spare tubes so i gave him one of mine, bombed the tyre back up to pressure - he had a hand pump - and he was back on the road in minutes rather than walking the last 15km's). he also had a pretty rare carbon peugeot which he'd borrowed - quite a thing!