HELP!! Jock tactics

[Wannabe]

Ok, all you Jock Vets, out with it. What is a good strategy, what should us newbies be on the lookout for, what refueling strategy must we follow (I, for one, do not have backup. Everything I need I must take along myself.) etc, etc.

All help and advice for "race day" (or is that Suffering day) will be appreciated.

[Gumpole]

My plan (first time rider) is.

1. Take the first bit easy and that first hill easy (hilltops I think it is called). Ride at my own pace and descend at my own pace.

2. Push a little bit harder up the big climb (boulders?) descend at my own pace.

3. Hopefully find a small group after the descend to do the last 60km of rolling hills with. (read wheelsuck smileys/smiley9.gif)

I will just take armwarmers, earwarmers, (maybe legwarmers depending on the starting temp, I think it is meant to be 6 degrees) and 5 energy gell sachets, 2 x 500ml of water, which I wont hesitate to stop and fill up.

I expect to stop at the top of boulders to refill water bottles and remove ear/arm/leg warmers. and after that at any water stations that I feel like it, hopefully just one, maybe all of them smileys/smiley11.gif.

[I FLY]

My plan is as follows:-

1. Clothing - normal for a warm day ride

                 - wear some long fingered cotton industrial gloves at start and discard when warn enough

                 - if cold I will wear an old t-shirt over cycling clothes and discard

                 - wear armwarmers

2. Food and energy drinks

                2 x 750ml bottles with refill powder in my pocket. Refill at top of Boulders

                4 x gels

                mixed salted nuts, dried wors and a sandwich

3. Tatics

               Start slowly               

               Find a bunch and stay with them to bottom of each climb. Climb into Nelspruit feels steeper than Boulders.        &nb sp;  

               HopefullyI have already organised a bunch of 4

               Don't do heroic pulls at the front

                Climb at my pace and descend like a demon.

               Last 68kms - hunt for wheels and hide behind them

               Last 2km climb to finish is hard

 

[linnega]

Weather looks similar to the weather I have had the last two times on the route.  Shiver through the first 20km with just arm-warmers and maybe long finger gloves if you are averse to cool temps (was 1C when I rode with short finger gloves).  Tactics are simple - do no work until Hilltops - none, not even one pull.  Hilltops is tricky - steep at first then levels to a comfortable gradient +-7% for little while then another steep section.  The ride into and out of Nelspruit is up and down constantly.  Again do no work if you can help it.  Obviously do something if you are in a small group.  Boulders is longish but not very steep.  The main problem is the heat (usually).  Do not descend Boulders like a demon, unless you want to be a dead demon.  Even renowned mountainbiker (he did the Epic you know) Owen Hannie has fallen here - more than once if I recall.  The rest of the ride is very tough.  Constant rolling hills.  Make sure you drink and eat constantly from the bottom of Boulders.  The groups will probably be quite small.  Don't try and bridge gaps between groups, as there is very little opportunity to rest between climbs.  Do your fair share of work - ie in a group of 4 do 25%.  If one person isn't working, still do 25%.

[fourbar]

Hi Guys,

Having done a couple of Jocks as the race was "in my backyard", I have experienced the following preps. do work:

Dress for a normal warm day's ride, arm warmers come in handy especially at the beginning because of the wind-chill factor. Once you enter Nelspruit, the temperature change drastically and I took my armwarmers off long before Boulders, I would not bother with legwarmers unless you are prone to easy chilling,

The old T-shirt regime works well, but becomes a bother after Hilltop as you start to sweat seriously,

The route from Barberton is quite undulating, so catch a bunch as soon as possible and minimise your energy output as the hills will surely tap it,

Depending on your climbing ability, the Hilltop climb might be difficult, as it has switchbacks and the tar may not be in a good condition due to the heavy traffic it carries normally, so watch out for uneven surfaces,

Boulders is a long, steep climb and again, if your climbing is good, it should not be too difficult. The dowhill should be trated with caution as it calls on your ability to control the bike a-la Savoldelli!,

The last 68-70 calls for true endurance riding as it remains a constant climb back to Barberton- relax, do your bit in the bunch and do the wheelsuck- thing...

The last 2kays are only hard if you exceed yourself too much during the race, thus ride well within your 60-70% capabilty for long times. Check the road surface,  as this road is also used by heavy lorries,

Make sure that you have enough water after Nelspruit exit as the humidity can suddenly demand more hydration- you will notice the change in vegetation, suggesting real Lowveld temperatures and humidity- don't forget the sunblock!!!

The gels and other"muti"-supply must be in accordance with your typical one-day stage classic's energy requirements. I am prone to hyerglycemia and with the combination of the humidity, I use the gels in well diluted form.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!! one of the real"classics" on the SA calendar!

[Chilli Pepper]

Okay, so I'm a woman and I don't like cold..  Armwarmers - check, vest - check, bib - check, cycling clothes - check, toewarmers - check. 

Full gloves and leg warmers - can I get away without them?  Without suffering severe frostbite?

Two bottles of fast fuel, with powder in my pocket for more.

A sachet of vooma for every 45 minutes.

Will there be sandwiches somewhere along the route?