Argus (and other races) starting groups

[krokki]

I think it is time that the licensed riders each start in their own groups. Why do the Ladies & Vets always have to start together. This is a recipe for desaster, proven once again by yesterdays crash in the finishing sprint. When 3 different categories sprint at once!

 

With other races when one category group passes another, nobody is allowed to fall in with the passing group. Why oh why are these other categories always put together???

 

I'm told that the ladies need faster finishing times, so they can qualify for races overseas, that is why they ride with the men's groups. If this is the case, I don't understand it, because if they cannot qualify for the faster times on their own here, how on earth will they then do it on their own somewhere else?

[Red Zone]

Agreed there needs to be a plan made to sort this out. There have been attempts to start the ladies in their own group in the past, all the ladies did was sit up and wait for the next group on the road to catch up so they could get a bit of a slip to the end. But joining subvets and vets in the same group as the ladies was a bad idea.

[walkerr]

Further back in the field it was also frustrating - the TT group I started with, and couple of groups just in front/behind had some seriously quick riders. But we spent the first hour or more dodging and weaving through the charity and corporate groups, especially at danger points like that dip and sudden rise on Boyes. Regular riders know to shift down (if they need too) in the dip to power out and up the other side. But the fun riders just stopped dead in front across the whole road. Damn near a nasty pile up in my bunch, and from what I read a lot of other problems happened at that spot too.

 

It's a great event and the fun riders have just as much right to enjoy it as anyone, especially when riding for a good cause. But I really think the organizers shouldn't have much faster riders starting behind them. There has to be a better way.

[LOOK695]

I think it is time that the licensed riders each start in their own groups. Why do the Ladies & Vets always have to start together. This is a recipe for desaster, proven once again by yesterdays crash in the finishing sprint. When 3 different categories sprint at once!

 

With other races when one category group passes another, nobody is allowed to fall in with the passing group. Why oh why are these other categories always put together???

 

I'm told that the ladies need faster finishing times, so they can qualify for races overseas, that is why they ride with the men's groups. If this is the case, I don't understand it, because if they cannot qualify for the faster times on their own here, how on earth will they then do it on their own somewhere else?

Agree. Let the different caterogories fight it out fair and square

[FrankTank]

Also too many tandems in the alphabet soup. Why can't they have a "social tandem group" in addition to the "racing tandems".

[scotty]

More groups containing less riders will push the start time for the later groups closer to midday. Currently there is a 3 min gap, reducing this will also lead to problems.

[Velouria]

Agreed there needs to be a plan made to sort this out. There have been attempts to start the ladies in their own group in the past, all the ladies did was sit up and wait for the next group on the road to catch up so they could get a bit of a slip to the end. But joining subvets and vets in the same group as the ladies was a bad idea.

 

It was Vets and Masters in the same group as the ladies. Sub Vets had to ride with the Elite riders.

 

The real solution would be to do away with age based racing and introduce categories based on ability. People of equal skill and ability get to race each other, and the guys who ride a road bike once a year get relegated to the seeded bunches.

[small h]

Also too many tandems in the alphabet soup. Why can't they have a "social tandem group" in addition to the "racing tandems".

 

there were 2 scheduled start groups for social tandems - so I was rather surprised to see tandems in the mix of the other groups

[FC&P2C]

 

 

there were 2 scheduled start groups for social tandems - so I was rather surprised to see tandems in the mix of the other groups

I am riding tandem in the seeded groups and it is a really dumb idea to put us with the single bikes as most single bike riders dont understand the lines of a tandem. Also impossible to match the singles on climbs and accellaration.

They should rather have a racing tandem group plus three other seeded tandem groups.

[2 X 2]

I think it is time that they put a cap on the entries of say 30 000 or less, which will allow them to create more groups (smaller)

[Tiny K]

Someone suggested this on FB:

Pro/Elite start at 6:00,

SV - 6:03,

Vets + Master - 6:06,

Ladies - 6:09,

Tandem 6:30,

A - 6:33,

B - 6:34 etc

[Slowbee]

Agree with all of the above.

 

However I would like to add this. For the single letter groups, yea sure go on off at a speed of knots and have a quick time. But if you are in the double letter groups surely you need to accept that there will be riders with HUGELY different skill levels. Starting in the PA group you could see the guys riding all over the road and looking down to change gears and everything you really should not do on a bike. But hey for these folk its a FUN ride! So no complaining.

 

We had some OA,OB, OC, OD and even OE riders come flying past doing the usually Lance impersonation, being all hoity toity arty farty about it. I have a gripe with this. If you want to ride fast then do a seeding ride and get into the seeded classes. Dont try be funny in the lower groups where most people are just wanting to finish.

[Martin PJ]

I am glad someone has brought this up, I have ridden with the ladies many times. I would rather not ride, than race in their bunch. Most race tactically and sit in the bunch, sprint at the end. In recent years the start has been partitioned off between the men and ladies in the same batch. The ladies are put in ahead in the same starting batch, you have no choice but to sit behind them. The first few kays is a massive roadblock trying to get through them. The bunches are huge in Argus, narrow roads. Last year around 400 in Vets bunch (VB and Masters, thankfully no ladies - they were with VA), at Chapmans Peak, about 100 A bunch lighties caught us going like the clappers. Up Chappies looking for parking the bunch is so big. Very frustrating to train so hard and see your best time left out of the road. It is now a fun ride. All the organisers care about is the money.

 

Races like 94.7, Amashova and Tour Durban are for the serious rider - good seedings, ride like hell, safe bunches and safe route. Think the Argus is a now a fun ride, they don't care about the serious cyclist.

 

If you want the ladies to ride faster, offer them money for good times. On the mountain bike they show that they are nearly as strong as the guys.

Edited March 12, 2012 by martinpe

[Stumbles]

there also seems to be a large number of charity groups, maybe cutting some of them out to allow the front groups to be broken up into smaller groups will help.

[walkerr]

If you want to ride fast then do a seeding ride and get into the seeded classes. Dont try be funny in the lower groups where most people are just wanting to finish.

 

Def true - but you'll need to get a long way up into the single letter seedings to be ahead of the charities and corporates, a tail end seeding like I had still sees you unable to really put your foot down which is pretty frustrating having taken the time to do seeding rides. Anyhow, don't want to sound gripey - still had an excellent day and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

[D-Mike]

I started in U group and was part of the front runners of that group. I got held up by many bunches throughout the race particularly from Simonstown through to Smitswinkel. I did a PB which could have been better. I consider this year as building for next year, when I will have a better seeding with hopefully less traffic.

 

With a race as big as the Argus, you cant keep everyone happy. With 31 000 cyclists things are bound to break down in some places, with every cyclist having different goals. If the Argus does not suit your style, don't race it. Its a priviledge to participate in the Argus.

 

I do however agree with the general comments about the groups for pro's, elites and veteran riders.