24-Hour race in December

[scotty]

There is likely to be a east vs west element too.

 

True

[TitusTi]

So, there are seriously 2 24 hour races on the same weekend?

 

There only 4 in the whole country and 2 Chop organisers put their's on the same weekend in the same area?

 

Why not just measure your winky's and be done with it?

[NotSoBigBen]

True

 

Bring it on we not scared us okes from ve souf!

[Redness22]

So, there are seriously 2 24 hour races on the same weekend?

 

There only 4 in the whole country and 2 Chop organisers put their's on the same weekend in the same area?

 

Why not just measure your winky's and be done with it?

 

The Omni 24 has been on that weekend for 11 years! Anyone adding one on that date is the chop!

[TitusTi]

They're both chops for not sorting it out between them I'm afraid. A chat over a couple of beers and maybe an arm wrestle would have solved the problem me thinks.

 

Now everybody loses, smaller number of entries, less vibe, less racing.

 

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

[scotty]

Bring it on we not scared us okes from ve souf!

Yeah

[Ridemyplanet]

Bring it on we not scared us okes from ve souf!

There are many reasons for moving the event to a new venue. We have also had many requests to have the event in the area we are moving to.

The purpose of our event is to bring this experience to new riders as well as keep existing regulars excited and looking forward to something different.

 

This event is primarily for the FUN of the sport. Having said that: we have had requests to add it to the international "24-Hours of Adrenaline" series from next year. Hence the change too. The Vlei venue had challenges and flaws that the organization was not convinced about going forward.

 

We are just trying to keep a high standard and to bring fun, excitement and quality to more riders.

 

As some people have mentioned - We have traditionally done the event (for 12 years) on the first week-end of December and will not let our regular riders down by changing this due to other events appearing.

[SwissVan]

Isn't the race calendar supposed to be controlled / approved by the local cycling authority i.e. CGC and then CSA who should ensure that there are no clashes as such and that both parties sort it out before the races are approved / put on the calendar?

 

Or is that wishfull thinking and SA Frontierism coming to the fore....?

[Hairy]

I agree with Titus Ti, the only real gentleman way to resolve this would be to chat and then arm wrestle

[Laulil]

Agree it is not a good idea to have both events on the same weekend but Rietvlei is the one I would choose.

[Danger Dassie]

They're both chops for not sorting it out between them I'm afraid. A chat over a couple of beers and maybe an arm wrestle would have solved the problem me thinks.

 

Now everybody loses, smaller number of entries, less vibe, less racing.

 

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

 

I dunno hey, the two venues are actually that far apart I think it actually accommodates a larger spread of riders.

 

On the other thread ... https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/104452-the-vlei-24-hour/page__st__100

 

 

Seriously, all this knicker twisting is for what?

Two events on the same weekend, omigod, sound the alarm Tommy! Ze Germanz are coming!

 

Two 24hr events, same weekend, about 100km apart in two different provinces. Thats a bad thing?

What about every other event that conflicts? There are a few.

Given the geographical locations it could be argued that this gives a greater spread of appeal for riders. I'd imagine van Gaalen is a much easier drive for Pretoria folk and the Vlei for Some jhb areas.

 

Let the two work together, try something new. Live coverage of each others events on screens at both venues for example?

Generate a bit friendly rivalry between similar teams at different venues... like CLab Centurion at van Gaalen versus CLab Jhb at Vlei

To suggest that riders will suffer is laughable, it could also be suggested that it's safer with a lower attendance. It's not just about numbers, of which there's plenty to go around I'm sure. Witwatersrand must have the highest concentration of dirt folk.

 

Bloody hell, I remember when we pined away for events to come round and now it's outrage that we dare have more.

Mutinous infidel swine we are.

[scotty]

Rietvlei it is

[Mr. G]

There are many reasons for moving the event to a new venue. We have also had many requests to have the event in the area we are moving to.

The purpose of our event is to bring this experience to new riders as well as keep existing regulars excited and looking forward to something different.

 

This event is primarily for the FUN of the sport. Having said that: we have had requests to add it to the international "24-Hours of Adrenaline" series from next year. Hence the change too. The Vlei venue had challenges and flaws that the organization was not convinced about going forward.

 

We are just trying to keep a high standard and to bring fun, excitement and quality to more riders.

 

As some people have mentioned - We have traditionally done the event (for 12 years) on the first week-end of December and will not let our regular riders down by changing this due to other events appearing.

 

Omnimotion has had the race for 12 years and well done to them, but I remember last years race where everything was set out at Rietvlei by Wendell, and Omnimotion only pitched up just before the race started!

 

Having chatted to someone at a local bike shop, I heard that they had still not been paid by Omnimotion for winning their category at last years 24 hour!

I left Demitri from Omnimotion 2 messages regarding last years race which he never returned!

 

A shorter lap at Rietvlei will make it more spectator friendly, and an improved camp site will make it more viby too.

 

PS I believe that Wendell has done 24 hour events since the 80's, and organizes bike and running races monthly!

 

Sorry I am clearly biased.

 

GO RIETVLEI!

[Redness22]

Omnimotion has had the race for 12 years and well done to them, but I remember last years race where everything was set out at Rietvlei by Wendell, and Omnimotion only pitched up just before the race started!

 

Having chatted to someone at a local bike shop, I heard that they had still not been paid by Omnimotion for winning their category at last years 24 hour!

I left Demitri from Omnimotion 2 messages regarding last years race which he never returned!

 

A shorter lap at Rietvlei will make it more spectator friendly, and an improved camp site will make it more viby too.

 

PS I believe that Wendell has done 24 hour events since the 80's, and organizes bike and running races monthly!

 

Sorry I am clearly biased.

 

GO RIETVLEI!

 

Firstly, your comment about Wendell organizing everything at the last event is untrue. Omni was approached by Wendell to bring the 24 hour to the vlei and it was his

enthusiasm and passion that convinced us. YES, Wendell did a lot, after all it's a venue he is in charge of and works there and makes a living from it. However Omni-

Motion was involved during

every step of the way, with frequent visits and working with Wendell to bring out the best for the race. When we had concerns about certain things, Wendell would respond

and make the changes we required.during the week before the events started, Omni was there on site arranging everything except the camping which Wendell organized

(and charged for)

All the final touches, layout etc...is signed off by Omni-Motion as it is with every one of Omni's 24 hour events. Last year, we had less control as we were told that we HAD to use his newly built start/finish area which also houses showers and toilets. Although we were not happy with it, we had no choice but to use it. This layout caused

pedestrians to constantly walk across the track. This is something that had MANY riders complaining. The transition zone also was a mess and also caused by the fact that

Wendell was no longer allowed to use all of the open area. This was out of the control of Omni-motion and Wendell.

Wendell does brilliantly with what he has at the vlie and we don't fault

him, but to make such remarks without knowing all the facts is slanderous. Nobody ever makes the mention of the turbulent relationship between the land owners and the

neighbors. BOTH YEARS at the vlie, there were issues and fighting. One year it led to having the water turned off and one of the roads parked in. But nobody mentions

this.

Then the comment of "someone" at a bike shop not getting paid.... One of you is making that up. For the last several years all prizes were handed out at prize giving

by hand. If you have proof, show it or someone wants to speak up, contact me.

We have never know Wendell to have organized a 24 hour before. if he has he never mentioned it. "Since the 80's"? I don't think so. Again, nothing is wrong with Wendels

organization. The reasons The Bicycling 24 hour was moved are many and are listed in another thread here.

 

If you really made an attempt to contact Dimitri and you had no response, then thats regrettable, but what are you trying to say? We get 100's of mails with regards to the 24 hour and it might just have been that yours was overlooked. Nothing sinister about that. I sent 7 e-mails to the organizers of the Crater Cruise last year and didn't get a single response either but I didn't make a big deal of it.

We never made this a "us vs them" situation but it seems some people are to keen to stir trouble.

 

It's as you've said, you are biased. But what's worse is that you don't know the facts.

 

Anyway, we hope that riders entering the 24 at the vlei have an enjoyable event.

[Wyatt Earp]

Omnimotion has had the race for 12 years and well done to them, but I remember last years race where everything was set out at Rietvlei by Wendell, and Omnimotion only pitched up just before the race started!

 

Having chatted to someone at a local bike shop, I heard that they had still not been paid by Omnimotion for winning their category at last years 24 hour!

I left Demitri from Omnimotion 2 messages regarding last years race which he never returned!

 

A shorter lap at Rietvlei will make it more spectator friendly, and an improved camp site will make it more viby too.

 

PS I believe that Wendell has done 24 hour events since the 80's, and organizes bike and running races monthly!

 

Sorry I am clearly biased.

 

GO RIETVLEI!

 

I would be careful in what I assume had I been you.

 

Omni Motion have always been very hands on in their events.

Shorter lap/ longer lap has been an arduous discussion for years now and no conclusion has been reached.

 

24 Hour events since the 80's, this is news.

More viby campsite ?

Please, with all the posers and arrogant people who attend these events nowadays, it's become rather unfriendly regardless of the venue.

 

You have heard someone from a local bike shop ?

Well let's get the real facts in front of us, are they prepared to put their flag to the mast so that Redness and Omni Motion can respond.

 

@Redness, I have heard of people not receiving their prize money, is their any truth to this ?

 

I have stayed out of this till now, I am not prepared to want to take sides, I have respect for Wendell and I have respect for Dimitri and his team.

 

Hosting two events on the same weekend is just plain stupid and is killing , (I believe) the numbers that could be had in attendance.

 

I had some words with a long standing 24 hour rival yesterday, we seem to feel the same, this little battle and finger pointing is not doing anyone any good.

 

I think it's flippen disgusting and a more amicable solution could have been reached if all the parties involved put on their boxing gloves and fought things out.

 

Lastly , I found the Rietvlei course to be the worst course I had ever ridden as a 24 hour athlete, once that rain came pelting down it was no longer a pleasure, in the least. (This is in no reference to Wendell, but more on the course as a 24 hour route)

 

Tinker's exact words was "if it was to start raining, I would have stopped racing"

 

Organising a 24 hour event is not about any organizer or an individual in particular, it's about the entrants ,the people who make up the numbers to secure the success and the existence of an event.

 

All the best to both parties and may all the riders walk away happy.

[scotty]

Omni was there on site arranging everything except the camping which Wendell organized

(and charged for).

 

Correction, there were ample free camping site spaces available, i had a free spot less than 100m from the transition area and i arrived quite late at the venue.

 

The other points you mention about complaints with issues such as riders walking across the tracks i cannot relate, nor do i recall reading or hearing anything about it. In my experience, the route, venue and facilities were much better than when the event was held at N/Farms.

 

Anyway good luck to both, i'm sure there will be plenty of comments from riders and their experience of the event they chose.

Edited November 18, 2011 by scotty