My first Tour Durban 105km road race

[geecee]

Thanks Geecee

 

Maybe your gf can cycle with me for the Argus and you can shoot off for your 330hrs. Then meet us at the end with FOOOOOOD!!!

 

Ha, but think I'll start training for Argus now, well once my bum back in working order.

 

Slept on my stomach last night.

 

hahah i dunno if i will ever convince her to cycle it again.

she had done it before when she was younger and then did it with me for my first argus.

 

missed this year tho. its such an expensive trip in the end. rather putting that money toward a house/holiday/something other than cycling

 

hahah them bum thing... eish yah, i dont think i will ever get used to these seats

[Giant]

It was my first road race in a long time, and was one of the scariest things I have ever done.

I started in O1 and was in the front 20 of the bunch. The guy next to me went down on the esplinade at about 45km's per hour.

A few minutes later, heard a crash behind me, I was not a happy bunny when we started overtaking people who were out for a ride on the closed roads.

I'm sure they were not stoked having a bunch role over them (passing left and right) probably going 20-25kms/hr faster than they were going.

Honestly some proper seeding should have been done for safety's sake.

I have never been happier to see a long climb, at least it slowed and spread the group.

Otherwise an awsome ride, and we had bossibly the best weather possible.

[Showtime]

 

@showtime - you weren't in the O1 batch by any chance?

 

 

Yes those were my people. Did 3:09:26 on a Scott CR1 so definitely not one of the front runners in O1.

[Andrew_ew]

 

 

Yes those were my people. Did 3:09:26 on a Scott CR1 so definitely not one of the front runners in O1.

 

I was in a small group that broke away on the m7 i think there were 5 or 6 of us and some stayed away for the rest of the race. After the turn around we dropped a few more guys and a I got dropped with 20k's to go. I don't know if there was another group in front of us.

 

I came in at 3:08:39 and the two guys who dropped me came in about 3:05. You were not too far behind us - we thought the group would catch us on the run in to Durban.

 

O1 was a nervous bunch especially after those two crashes - I hit the guy's water bottle from the first crash but managed to stay on.

 

Did the main group get through Rodger Sishi ( Blair Atholl) ok?

[Giant]

Hi Andrew&Showtime,

 

Also Did a 3:09:26 in O1 (orange raleigh and cycleshpere Kit)

 

We were a little short on willing pace setters on the run into Durban, Guy in Spur kit trying hard as well as a couple of others, but less than 10 guys in a beeg bunch

[Showtime]

Hi Andrew&Showtime,

 

Also Did a 3:09:26 in O1 (orange raleigh and cycleshpere Kit)

 

We were a little short on willing pace setters on the run into Durban, Guy in Spur kit trying hard as well as a couple of others, but less than 10 guys in a beeg bunch

 

I'm guilty over the run into Durban, I tend to loose interest in a big group. So you take a turn at the front then when you pull over 20 people with no intention to pull wont let you back in because they read it's better to ride at the front of the group.

 

Had fun working in the group till we got to the N2 but from then on I just relaxed.

[Ha Ha Kieran]

Sounds like an event-filled ride! Well done for sticking it out to the end

[Bateleur1]

Never done the Tour Durban. Have done a few Amashovas. Must say I long for another Shova. A few years has past since my last. Must pull my finger and enter one again.

[Agteros]

Wanted to, decided against due to no real seeding. Changed my mind, got seeded VC, dis not feel too good, started popping Vitamin C like Smarties, picked up my goodie bag, realised I'm actually sick, started taking more medicine, slept late & every afternoon so never rode At least the fever is broken now

[Bronabee]

Sounds like an event-filled ride! Well done for sticking it out to the end

 

Thanks

 

It was a nice sore wake-up call.

 

I'm eager to get back on the bike. Hoping to do a ride on Sunday from Umhlanga to Ushaka and back.

 

I may just be tempted to sit on a pillow though... ;p

[Wobbles]

Very well written Bronabee - great sense of humour which I really enjoy. Remember "time in the saddle" is what it is all about!

[LukeV-2]

I also enjoyed the race although started in the first unseeded batch and i entered way before the 17th of april.. Did anyone else start in the "a" batch?? Im pretty sure there was a crash like right behind me in first 5-6km??

[CrazyChild]

I also did the 105km... What a jol.

 

 

The route was awesome. Although the climb up the M7 wasn't that much fun, especially considering that the furtherest I have ridden this year is 60km.

 

 

Bronabee - I disagree with you about Shova being easier - I thought this was a much easier race, than Shova. And trust me I have done ZERO training

 

The organisation of Tour Durban leaves a lot to be desired. I did the mountain bike race on the Friday as well, and we waited over an hour to get our numbers because of their inability to organise a piss up in a brewery.

 

 

I did not enjoy having to carry my bike up and down THREE flights of scaffoloding, not once but twice. Stairs are not my friends at the best of times, now having to carry a bike and wear cleats...

 

 

 

Oh and VE688 you are a JACK ASS of the first degree. We have just turned on to the M7 and IDIOT has to throw his gui wrapper into the bushes. When I called him up on it, he shook his head at me, like I am the one with the problem and the idiot, but hey he was the one who can take it out his pocket but not put it back. Also more than a bit concerned as to why you need to be sucking on gui at 10kms into the race.

 

 

Will be back for the road race but not the mountain bike race

[The Big Bad Norm]

I also did the 105km... What a jol.

 

 

The route was awesome. Although the climb up the M7 wasn't that much fun, especially considering that the furtherest I have ridden this year is 60km.

 

 

Bronabee - I disagree with you about Shova being easier - I thought this was a much easier race, than Shova. And trust me I have done ZERO training

 

The organisation of Tour Durban leaves a lot to be desired. I did the mountain bike race on the Friday as well, and we waited over an hour to get our numbers because of their inability to organise a piss up in a brewery.

 

 

I did not enjoy having to carry my bike up and down THREE flights of scaffoloding, not once but twice. Stairs are not my friends at the best of times, now having to carry a bike and wear cleats...

 

 

 

Oh and VE688 you are a JACK ASS of the first degree. We have just turned on to the M7 and IDIOT has to throw his gui wrapper into the bushes. When I called him up on it, he shook his head at me, like I am the one with the problem and the idiot, but hey he was the one who can take it out his pocket but not put it back. Also more than a bit concerned as to why you need to be sucking on gui at 10kms into the race.

 

 

Will be back for the road race but not the mountain bike race

 

2nd the bridge crossing, not only a pain walking over the gravel to get to the bridge, but the steps were narrow, and no grip, so walking over the metal steps carrying your bike was not ideal.

 

I also clocked my time on my watch and cpu at 3:31 yet racetec has it as 3:37!!!

 

Thought the route was great and marshling was good, they tried their hardest, but durban drivers are the worst in my experience, and Umgeni road was a mine field.

 

Will be back for sure again next year, wont worry again with the goodie bag, got my number in 5min but then had to wait in a looooong que for the rubbish goody bag so skipped it.

 

thanks the organisers for keeping my car keys, that would have been a long walk back to JHB!

Edited May 3, 2012 by RobBarker

[Let's Ride]

Word of advice, Drop the ipod idea. Very dangerous even if it's only one ear.

[Bronabee]

 

 

Bronabee - I disagree with you about Shova being easier - I thought this was a much easier race, than Shova. And trust me I have done ZERO training

 

 

 

Eh, i don't know...just seemed harder for me and i checked my mates times from last year shova - they took longer to complete Tour compared to Shova.

 

Anyhoo, i may sing a different tune after shova 2012 ;p