[Event] Tour De PPA

[raptor]

if you look at the n group the winner averaged 40kmph and if you look at his previous results his nowere near that time, i can be wrong but i think allot of longer distance riders took the shorter route and with no timing mats on the routes exept the finish there could be some fishy times

[Wannabe]

Glad to report that my legs came back to life today. Rested on Wed/Thurs/Fri and Sat. Had a Vit B12 Complex shot on Fri, and swallowed hands full of Magnesium, Calsium, Potassium and all other kinds of 'sium tablets in the week.

 

H group took it fairly slow up to Hels (or at least so it felt to me, as my Polar watch battery died on me this morning, so no speed or any kind of info). Was at front at climb of Hels and together with three other guys we opened a bit of a gap on the rest. About halfway up I decided not to burn all my matches early on in the race and slowed down a bit. Crested Hels with about ten other guys. We worked well together up untill Simondium when a few of us got away on that little "rise". Caught up with a few G group guys and got a nice little group going. At the left turn from Voor Paardeberg rd (at the Prison) I noticed a "duwweltjie" sticking out the side of my front wheel. Scraped it off and hoped it did not go all the way through. No such luck, and my front wheel slowly deflated. I had to stop at the next T junction (at the right turn) to fix the flat. This was at the 70km mark, and looking at my watch, it was at about Two hours on the road.

 

About three fairly big groups passed me before I got going again. Chased down a couple of guys, but passed them without them being able to hook on. Solo'ed all the way to just before the Silo's where a chap on a lovely Fondriest caught me ( I group rider). We worked together until just before the Fruitsellers Stop when another chap caught us (#11 on his back).

We (he) picked the pace up a bit and we dropped Fondriest guy.

I ran out of water / mix before the Silo's and the heat started getting to me. I slowed down a bit and crossed the line feeling tired, but GOOD.

 

Wind was quite strong on R304 stretch, and with me being alone / in a small group of three, I lost quite a bit of time over the last 20 odd km. Factor the time lost with the flat wheel and losing the bunches, I am satisfied ( but also slightly disappointed) with the approx 3:15 it took me to do the race.

[Wannabe]

if you look at the n group the winner averaged 40kmph and if you look at his previous results his nowere near that time, i can be wrong but i think allot of longer distance riders took the shorter route and with no timing mats on the routes exept the finish there could be some fishy times

 

The "marshall" at the spot where the shorter route riders had to turn left from the R44 was fast asleep, and did not know which direction we must take. Luckily I knew the route and told the group to carry on straight, although one or two was not to sure and wanted to turn left.

Guess a few of the long route guys did turn left there.

[raptor]

i just hope these guys are honest and let ppa know to rectify the results

[Meezo]

 

 

The "marshall" at the spot where the shorter route riders had to turn left from the R44 was fast asleep

 

i saw that, CLASSIC

[Wannabe]

Official time for me, 3:20:58. Damn puncture.

Edited January 15, 2012 by Wannabe

['Dale]

Scrolling down, there are several questionable results sprinkled in between ordinary results...

[Zac.A]

I was in the 2nd group on the road of the 72km and we passes about 30 riders from the long route on the stretch where there should only be short rides.

[Meezo]

hence my "strange" in the results post

[Zac.A]

hence my "strange" in the results post

 

I originally thought that you meant it was strange they had been uploaded so early in the day...usually only after 5pm.

 

Not complaining, was a nice ride, had fun.

['Dale]

I was in the 2nd group on the road of the 72km and we passes about 30 riders from the long route on the stretch where there should only be short rides.

 

30 is like half a start bunch or something like that...

Oops!

[Zac.A]

30 is like half a start bunch or something like that...

Oops!

 

There were a few temps, some x's, some r's, even a few n's.

[NeverEnder]

Ignore the first free times on race tec. They probably switched to the medium/short route during the event. And STILL rolled over the mats. They may correct it later

 

Also Lance Muller & Jaco Venter broke away close to the end and won Elites by about 20-30sec. Their times are not on racetec.

[LeTurbo]

So last night I think, "Hey! The red Colnago's never done a race!" so pumped the tyres and packed the bag (why does it take so long). Remembered my timing chip at the last minute.

 

Get there, for the first time, in plenty of time. I decide on the 72. Start nicely after 3 pees.

 

Hels? Tralalala! Up she goes; small ring, middle of the 8-speed, "stand on the pedals, keep a smooth pace, play piano on the bars". Drop the start group. Perfection. I have a good lead. "Goodbye everybody, I've got to go, got to leave you all behind to face the truth," I sing to myself.

 

Join up with a fair-paced group, a bunch of H,I, J, & K (unlucky me is only seeded M, but evidently with good reason). "Good. Great. Lovely. I like being pulled along like this, thanks guys, the view from the back here is fine, carry on what you're doing and I won't bother you."

 

A few catch-ups necessary occasionally, but nothing rabid.

 

Well, not until the 3rd waterstop. Wham! Bam! Thank you, Le Turbo. Nothing left in the tank. All dead. Battery just goes "woer-woer-woer". 2 Cokes, a banana, fresh water, ice ... oh, and another pee ... but still nothing. Plod along at what feels like walking speed. Watch everyone I'd dropped on Hels come past, chortling happily. I wonder if there's a sweeper van.

 

Resort, finally, to a sluk of GU (I still have the empty sachet in my pocket, please note). That provided enough to get me to the end. Just. Dribble-dribble-dribble over the line - then it seems soooooo easy all the way back to collect my glorious medal, the symbol of achievement beyond all odds.

 

(One surprise: an 80s Rolls saddle isn't too bad. My bum goes as numb, at the same distance, on the more modern ones.)

 

Why in hell do we do this to ourselves? Any research been done on the mental and emotional relationship between Sado-masochists and cyclists?

 

(Edit: well, just looked - my goals been to try for top third, so 2:32; position 110 of 383; gender 99 of 297 .... but only 22 of 41 start group. Grrr. But I'll go have myself a nice cup of tea as a reward/consolation. And the rest of you racing snakes, stop laughing at my results.)

Edited January 15, 2012 by LeTurbo

[MTB_Roadie]

I have my doubts about the top 3 positions...

 

I crossed the line for the STARS in 3rd position, but then suddenly got put back towards 4th (Excl the 2:25min STAR rider that clearly broke away from the start that no one saw)...I am a bit upset about that as I know for fact there was to infront of me as I saw them....so I doubt the positions also...

 

My race report....Started in STARS....the beginning was so damn slow that I eventually had to go off on the front till we hit Hellshoogte, I cycled up there with a few hubber, tourvista being one of them...so we went over trying to form a nice group...pfffft.....what a bunch of wheel suckers, I realised now in league no one works...everyone want to wheel suck....anyway...so I went a bit off the front at the back section past simondium.....then people came back and speed climbed a bit....where we turned onto the road that goes towards the R44 I broke away, was a lone ranger for about 12km but slacked down due to I know there is about 50km left...Gerrit genis and them came past so I hooked on, we all worked well together, think there was about 5, we worked all the way till over Klip heuwel and so on...we hit the R304, maintaining a nice pace, I noticed loads of people dropping off as we go...we caght a E-F bunch, (Howzit 'Dale and Marius) and went on that way, last 10km i ran out of water, I was going to throw a attack the last 3km but with a dry throat, not a good plan...finished the sprint in 3rd (no wait according to them it is 4th)...average was +-37km/h and time was abour 2h 54min, think it turned out very well.

 

There was also a guy that cheated, as when I was on the break towards the R44 I went past a STAR rider, the marshall saw you and I am sure you will be reported....

 

Awesome seeing some hubbers...

Edited January 15, 2012 by MTB_Roadie

[MTB_Roadie]

So last night I think, "Hey! The red Colnago's never done a race!" so pumped the tyres and packed the bag (why does it take so long). Remembered my timing chip at the last minute.

 

Get there, for the first time, in plenty of time. I decide on the 72. Start nicely after 3 pees.

 

Hels? Tralalala! Up she goes; small ring, middle of the 8-speed, "stand on the pedals, keep a smooth pace, play piano on the bars". Drop the start group. Perfection. I have a good lead. "Goodbye everybody, I've got to go, got to leave you all behind to face the truth," I sing to myself.

 

Join up with a fair-paced group, a bunch of H,I, J, & K (unlucky me is only seeded M, but evidently with good reason). "Good. Great. Lovely. I like being pulled along like this, thanks guys, the view from the back here is fine, carry on what you're doing and I won't bother you."

 

A few catch-ups necessary occasionally, but nothing rabid.

 

Well, not until the 3rd waterstop. Wham! Bam! Thank you, Le Turbo. Nothing left in the tank. All dead. Battery just goes "woer-woer-woer". 2 Cokes, a banana, fresh water, ice ... oh, and another pee ... but still nothing. Plod along at what feels like walking speed. Watch everyone I'd dropped on Hels come past, chortling happily. I wonder if there's a sweeper van.

 

Resort, finally, to a sluk of GU (I still have the empty sachet in my pocket, please note). That provided enough to get me to the end. Just. Dribble-dribble-dribble over the line - then it seems soooooo easy all the way back to collect my glorious medal, the symbol of achievement beyond all odds.

 

(One surprise: an 80s Rolls saddle isn't too bad. My bum goes as numb, at the same distance, on the more modern ones.)

 

Why in hell do we do this to ourselves? Any research been done on the mental and emotional relationship between Sado-masochists and cyclists?

 

(Edit: well, just looked - my goals been to try for top third, so 2:32; position 110 of 383; gender 99 of 297 .... but only 22 of 41 start group. Grrr. But I'll go have myself a nice cup of tea as a reward/consolation. And the rest of you racing snakes, stop laughing at my results.)