Trans Baviaans 2012 training tips

[TrailWarrior]

I am doing the Trans Baviaans (two man team) in August. My riding partner and I have the same riding style and are quite well suited. He is strong on climbs and myself strong on the straight pulls. We are both Trans Baviaan's Novices and spent most of our years as roadies. Having just come out of the summer road season, we currently ride twice a week for around 1.5 to 2hrs at night. Weekends we put in a few more hours over Saturday & Sunday. 3 weeks ago we road 185km MTB. I rode 130km yesterday MTB in 6hrs30 on dirt road, jeep track.

 

Any suggestions on constructive training tips. We are just riding for the adventure part of it and wanting a finish. If we do it in 14 to 16hrs will be bonus!

 

Any advice, greatly appreciated.

[Azonic]

How many kilos are you doing per week?

[TrailWarrior]

How many kilos are you doing per week?

 

On average 200ks plus a week at the moment... night ride in week, day ride on weekend...

[Azonic]

Just do as much as you can during the week. Work takes up allot of time. I do on average about 50km 3 times a week (2 rides road bike, one ride MTB on road), plus a night time time trial once a week. Solo in the dark, flat out. Fridays rest. On weekends a 140km road bike, and like today 100km on the MTB on the road. Average about 400km a week. My teammate and I will step it up a little bit soon.

 

Apart from training, as a Trans novice, you should really think about logistics allot. I'm on my cell now, will give a few tips from my PC soon.

[Vetseun]

At least with your roadie background you will finish no problemo. There is a lot of logistic in terms of preparing your containers etc. Last year we totally underestimated which container to put our lights in. We expected to be at the check point much earlier. Couldnt ask others for advice because everybody was riding the langs baviaans for the first time. Had to ride a good distance in darkness without lights. A person must respect the Baviaans otherwise it will bite you hard.

We know we will never win it so training consists of two night rides in the week, between 60 and 85 km, Saturday a long ride of up to 160km and Sundays 60 odd km.

Enjoy!

The Baviaans is like a drug , if you do it once you just have to go back for more!

[Joe Low]

Skywalker - you are way ahead of me and my partner, Nancy Drew. She's done it twice and we're realistically looking at 17 hours doing 8-10 training hours a week. Hopefully that will move to 10-12 from now.

 

Azonic mentioned elsewhere that he's capable of finishing in 10.5 hours. So pitch yourself somewhere in the middle of him and us. The training hours and distance you're doing look like you'll make your goal nicley.

 

We went up Breedts neck last night and scared the bejeezus out of me (roadie). Suggest you do some night riding on rocky roads in the cold and find out enough about your lights, clothing and nutrition to feel comfortable you've got what you need. We were out for 4.5hrs and it told us a lot about that stuff.

Edited June 3, 2012 by Joe Low

[Azonic]

Get an Ironman style food box, the ones you put behind your stem on the top tube. That's where you'll keep your snacks between checkpoints. Sukkeling with stuff in your jersey pockets arent' worth it. And for flip sakes, if you are going to use a Camel Back, do not keep your food in it. Unless you aren't overly concerned for a good time. Stopping every 10km to get out a snack will destroy your time. I think there are 7 check points or so... Get little Jiffy bags and make up one for each check points. When you get to the checkpoint and fetch your crate, simply take out your half empty "snack pack" out of the food box and replace it with a fresh one. And take real foods. Too many jelly babies, chocs etc will make you puke. Ask me I know. Put two fresh bottles in each drop crate. Again, when you stop at the checkpoint. Check in. Put bike down, take out bottles (even if they still have something in them) as well as your half empty snack pack. Get your crate, and get fresh bottles and a snack pack. Bottles and snack pack back on bike. Check out of the checkpoint. Later on during the late afternoon/night, you WILL get gatvol of your sports drink, doesn't matter how much you think you like the taste at the start. So for the latter checkpoints, leave a 500ml Coke or something there. It works. And it goes without saying, no need to start the race with your lights strapped to your bike. You only need them 6-7 hours later. We always leave our lights at Bergplaas, if you have a decent ride you'll make it there during the day. I always use a helmet mounted LED light as well, its also a must as you probably know by now. If it uses AA batteries, do yourself a favour and get some AAA to AA battery converters. AAA batteries weigh half that of AA batteries. You can save about 60g on your helmet, and you can feel it. When you get to the checkpoint where your lights are, swap them out with AA battries. The AAA's are just backups incase you run into the night before you get your big lights.

 

Tha's all I can think of for now

Edited June 3, 2012 by Azonic

[TrailWarrior]

Get an Ironman style food box, the ones you put behind your stem on the top tube. That's where you'll keep your snacks between checkpoints. Sukkeling with stuff in your jersey pockets arent' worth it. And for flip sakes, if you are going to use a Camel Back, do not keep your food in it. Unless you aren't overly concerned for a good time. Stopping every 10km to get out a snack will destroy your time. I think there are 7 check points or so... Get little Jiffy bags and make up one for each check points. When you get to the checkpoint and fetch your crate, simply take out your half empty "snack pack" out of the food box and replace it with a fresh one. And take real foods. Too many jelly babies, chocs etc will make you puke. Ask me I know. Put two fresh bottles in each drop crate. Again, when you stop at the checkpoint. Check in. Put bike down, take out bottles (even if they still have something in them) as well as your half empty snack pack. Get your crate, and get fresh bottles and a snack pack. Bottles and snack pack back on bike. Check out of the checkpoint. Later on during the late afternoon/night, you WILL get gatvol of your sports drink, doesn't matter how much you think you like the taste at the start. So for the latter checkpoints, leave a 500ml Coke or something there. It works. And it goes without saying, no need to start the race with your lights strapped to your bike. You only need them 6-7 hours later. We always leave our lights at Bergplaas, if you have a decent ride you'll make it there during the day. I always use a helmet mounted LED light as well, its also a must as you probably know by now. If it uses AA batteries, do yourself a favour and get some AAA to AA battery converters. AAA batteries weigh half that of AA batteries. You can save about 60g on your helmet, and you can feel it. When you get to the checkpoint where your lights are, swap them out with AA battries. The AAA's are just backups incase you run into the night before you get your big lights.

 

Tha's all I can think of for now

Azonic! Hell, thanks for the insight. This is what I want to hear; especially from the guys that have done this stuff! Much appreciated! The info on the boxes for checkpoints is interesting. Great to have some tips here! Thanks again!

[TrailWarrior]

Skywalker - you are way ahead of me and my partner, Nancy Drew. She's done it twice and we're realistically looking at 17 hours doing 8-10 training hours a week. Hopefully that will move to 10-12 from now.

 

Azonic mentioned elsewhere that he's capable of finishing in 10.5 hours. So pitch yourself somewhere in the middle of him and us. The training hours and distance you're doing look like you'll make your goal nicley.

 

We went up Breedts neck last night and scared the bejeezus out of me (roadie). Suggest you do some night riding on rocky roads in the cold and find out enough about your lights, clothing and nutrition to feel comfortable you've got what you need. We were out for 4.5hrs and it told us a lot about that stuff.

 

Thanks for the advice. We are riding with Magicshine 1000 lumen and some of the terrain is pretty rough out here in the eastern cape mountains. Nutrition is something we are working on. Little bit different to doing a 110km road classic! Never the less, your advice is much appreciated. We will take all the advice we can get

[GLuvsMtb]

Some racing advice -

Dry feet:

- Get 2 or 3 pairs of Sealskinz socks (www.sealskinz.co.za). While water may start to seep in after the 10th water crossing (the ones so deep that your whole leg is submerged usually means water gets in), you'll at least have warmish feet as the wind stays out. Swop out for a fresh pair of socks ontop of Bergplaas and then again at Kondomo

- I take an extra pair of kit for a change at Kondomo. A face cloth and a small basin in the support vehicle for a quick wipe down and you'll feel a lot better for Never-Ender. Some guys even take a second set of shoes as well.

- Have a second light available incase your main light fails.

- Don't get sucked into racing other teams. You'll burn yourself out in the first 100km and suffer bigtime on the next 135km. Think of the first 100km as a free ride and a nice warm-up. After Geelhout you'll start the work.

- Don't underestimate the corrugations on the first 100km. Ride your usual tire pressures. Too many think that they should go ride the Baviaans at 2.4bar iso say 1.9bar for no real benefit and a lot of extra discomfort.

 

Training advice

- You're on the right track. Baviaans is by no stretch a technical ride (unless you ride the 2011 Langs Baviaans route) and 50 to 70km Dirt-Roadie rides in the week is perfect. Doing some riding on the weekend on your road bike is also not a bad idea, just make sure you go and find the big climbs on either road or mountain bike.

- Try and keep your HR to 75% or less on the long rides

- Have a few longish night rides with full kit on

- Be prepared for the unexpected. Last year many got caught out when the route changed in the last week.

[TrailWarrior]

Some racing advice -

Dry feet:

- Get 2 or 3 pairs of Sealskinz socks (www.sealskinz.co.za). While water may start to seep in after the 10th water crossing (the ones so deep that your whole leg is submerged usually means water gets in), you'll at least have warmish feet as the wind stays out. Swop out for a fresh pair of socks ontop of Bergplaas and then again at Kondomo

- I take an extra pair of kit for a change at Kondomo. A face cloth and a small basin in the support vehicle for a quick wipe down and you'll feel a lot better for Never-Ender. Some guys even take a second set of shoes as well.

- Have a second light available incase your main light fails.

- Don't get sucked into racing other teams. You'll burn yourself out in the first 100km and suffer bigtime on the next 135km. Think of the first 100km as a free ride and a nice warm-up. After Geelhout you'll start the work.

- Don't underestimate the corrugations on the first 100km. Ride your usual tire pressures. Too many think that they should go ride the Baviaans at 2.4bar iso say 1.9bar for no real benefit and a lot of extra discomfort.

 

Training advice

- You're on the right track. Baviaans is by no stretch a technical ride (unless you ride the 2011 Langs Baviaans route) and 50 to 70km Dirt-Roadie rides in the week is perfect. Doing some riding on the weekend on your road bike is also not a bad idea, just make sure you go and find the big climbs on either road or mountain bike.

- Try and keep your HR to 75% or less on the long rides

- Have a few longish night rides with full kit on

- Be prepared for the unexpected. Last year many got caught out when the route changed in the last week.

 

Awesome! So there are goin to be a couple of river crossings! not just one or two... All the advice is great!....one doesn't know if u should get more excited or more nervous Thanks for the tips!

[Velouria]

There's that old saying - if you can do half the distance comfortably, you can do the whole distance and survive. If you can do 185kms on a MTB, you'll be fine for Baviaans.

 

Key to Baviaans is riding within yourself, and communicating with your team mates. If you are riding to finish, ride from check point to check point being sure to sample the snacks available. If you are racing - do as much as you can on the bike. This implies that checkpoints are just there for restocking, not socialising or chilling, so be organised. Know what you want to get from a checkpoint before you get there, and where it is in your box.

 

If you can, wheelsuck (no shame in pulling some roadie moves). Climb at the slowest rider's pace - nothing worse than being the slowest rider and having your team ride away from you. Eat real food - I can vouch for Azonic's puke experience (twice).

 

Be prepared for all sorts of weather and pack accordingly.

 

Enjoy the scenery - it's a fantastic journey, and keep an eye out for buffalo

[Azonic]

As Velouria says, communication is key. I raced the wet 2006 Baviaans with my wife, there have never been worse conditions. Even during the day, I made a habit of asking her every couple of km's, Are you ok? How are you feeling? Rather slow down a bit for a few KM that kill yourself and have nothing for when you really need it.

 

Wheelsuck, DEF. And lots of it. Its super tempting to go to the front and lay some big ring down, but you are helping everyone except yourself and your teammate.

 

At low water crossings most teams BLAST through, everything is wet, everyone next to them is wet, etc. WTF for? Slow down to a crawl, and gently coast through the water. You'll be 10 seconds behind the group. As they slow to wipe water out of their eyes you are back on and dry.

[Help.Me.]

One thing that you must keep in mind is to stay with your partner at ALL times.....if he wants to push his bike you do the same and vice verse, do not cycle off in to the distance, its a killer..........and learn to enjoy it from the gun, its an adventure !!!

[TrailWarrior]

Cannot thank all of you guys enough for the tips, advice and shared experiences. It is freakin fantastic and really appreciate it. Reading some of the advice and all is reassuring especially when having thought some of the same ideas not knowing if it would be practical or not...you guys are putting allot into perspective for us...you guys rock! thanks...

[Jakkals.]

Cannot thank all of you guys enough for the tips, advice and shared experiences. It is freakin fantastic and really appreciate it. Reading some of the advice and all is reassuring especially when having thought some of the same ideas not knowing if it would be practical or not...you guys are putting allot into perspective for us...you guys rock! thanks...

 

I'm also doing it for the first time, and have been following both articles about the TB, and believe me, it help a lot. Thanks