The MTN OFM Classic

[Agteros]

 

just a pity about the idiocy of having 2 events at the same venue at the same time and having people walk all the way around the stadium after finishing a 107k event!!!!!

 

o ja and having to pay 90 buck for a crap t-shirt!!!!!!!!

I had no trouble moving from the finish past the beer garden back through a side gate (over the newly tarred section) back to the street we started in.

 

Still an awesome race this. I don't have the fitness at the moment so the AL group dropped me like a bad habit on the 2 hour mark.

 

I should have dropped off earlier because then I started enjoying the race. We formed a small group of about 8 for the next while which was much less nerve wrecking than the main bunch and once we hit the two climbs I just cruised home chatting to a few people along the way.

 

Thanks allot to the traffic department and the city who did a fantastic job.

 

There was a nasty crash in the AL group on the N1, I hope nobody was badly injured.

I know of two crashes in AL. One just as we went over the high way, on the corner turning right - did not look to hectic

The other was on the highway (out). I saw two guys next to the road (the youngster with pink booties, and an slightly older guy). Pink booties oke did not seem to be hurt (no blood), but the other bloke had blood on his face

[Garfield2010]

Either way I really like the new course. It makes for good racing. Gone are the days of keeping up for 15km until you hit the high way and then just suck along forever!

[hboli4]

Either way I really like the new course. It makes for good racing. Gone are the days of keeping up for 15km until you hit the high way and then just suck along forever!

 

Can't agree more, I think this is the route that should be kept, the distance is now also on par with the 'bigger' races.

[Garfield2010]

 

just a pity about the idiocy of having 2 events at the same venue at the same time and having people walk all the way around the stadium after finishing a 107k event!!!!!

 

o ja and having to pay 90 buck for a crap t-shirt!!!!!!!!

 

Fanie I think the problem was that there was a soccer match the same day that they had to cater for. Small price to pay for the quality and safe race that was put up. Really like the partial road closure on the N1.

[DieTakalani]

I take my hat off for they guys who have ridden with their mountain bikes the 107km yoh that's just gooood.

[SilverRider]

Coming from north of the Vaalriver, we only managed to arrive at the expo just before 14h00. The goodie bags were all gone, they only packed 3000 and the expo itself was almost a shadow of last year. The race itself was tough with the wind but still a good race.

[Wil6]

No I was riding in front with that oke with the Red shirt. That oke was a bloody monster. But ja the whole thing shattered upon those climbs. I rode at the front past the golf courses. Then on top of Albrecht I stopped for water. Once we passed Noordstad we formed sort of a group and I dragged them all the way to the end before they sprinted away. I probably lost you whilst stopping for water. Or I was a group back from the start.

The strong okes in our group was a guy with a Kumba iron ore t-shirt, one with Mankele 3 towers and a couple more that shirts I can not remember.See the winner of our group was a female and she also manage to take the fastest time of all the females.....

[KaKa]

this was my seventh consecutive ofm, this was the most difficult route, maybe this will be the route for the next couple of years. that long incline on the N1 in the wind was bone breaking/ spirit crushing,

 

I'll be back, to take revenge

[Garfield2010]

The strong okes in our group was a guy with a Kumba iron ore t-shirt, one with Mankele 3 towers and a couple more that shirts I can not remember.See the winner of our group was a female and she also manage to take the fastest time of all the females.....

 

Ok cool I was in that group. Remember the Kumba Ironore oke. He did a lot of work at the start. And that oke with the red shirt.

 

But obviously as the race went on and the going got tough the true alpha male namely "the Garf" came to the fore and drove that bunch on like pack of wild dogs......

[Wil6]

Ok cool I was in that group. Remember the Kumba Ironore oke. He did a lot of work at the start. And that oke with the red shirt.

 

But obviously as the race went on and the going got tough the true alpha male namely "the Garf" came to the fore and drove that bunch on like pack of wild dogs......

The Garf , did you by any chance saw a lady in our bunch as we hit Harrismith?

[Bateleur1]

Really enjoyed the race. It was my first OFM. Started from the EL bunch with my sister. Enjoyed the pace (I am not at top form at all at the moment). The hills were little nasty surprises but I liked it. I woke up at 2 that morning with some stomache virus that hit me so spend most of my time prior to the race on the toilette. For most of the race however I did not have any problems except of having to nurse my legs to prevent cramping. However on that drag on the N1 back to the one-stop, I was reminded of the virus and I had bad cramps in stomache. Crunched home for a 3:18. Will be back for the sub 3 next time.

[Garfield2010]

The Garf , did you by any chance saw a lady in our bunch as we hit Harrismith?

 

Did she wear Grey? I saw a lady wearing Grey and one with a cycle lab kit that was from Pta...........

[Wil6]

Did she wear Grey? I saw a lady wearing Grey and one with a cycle lab kit that was from Pta...........

I don't know, just baffled how she won the group C.And not even with a group.But big up to her.

[Agteros]

Really enjoyed the race. It was my first OFM. Started from the EL bunch with my sister. Enjoyed the pace (I am not at top form at all at the moment). The hills were little nasty surprises but I liked it. I woke up at 2 that morning with some stomache virus that hit me so spend most of my time prior to the race on the toilette. For most of the race however I did not have any problems except of having to nurse my legs to prevent cramping. However on that drag on the N1 back to the one-stop, I was reminded of the virus and I had bad cramps in stomache. Crunched home for a 3:18. Will be back for the sub 3 next time.

Wasn't you but somebody from your club who nearly rode me of my bike trying to squeeze through a non-existing gap from behind. AL, no need for naming and shaming. Just tell her I was not impressed, irrespective of the hasty apology from her.

[Stranger Thinkbike]

Just a quick word to the VB's. I was the Marshals for the day and THANKS GUYS, you made my job very easy with the way you rode. We were only 14 Marshals as requested by the race organiser, and frankly, we could have easily been double that on some sections. It is not easy trying to stay in front and then getting hassled from the back by traffic. Much easier when we have a lead and sweep.

 

The discipline though amongst the group was a pleasure.

[ADe]

I had one of those days on the bike yesterday. I had two punctures within the first 5 kms and and after that I tried to make up for lost time (mostly on my own) and with about 40km to go my legs started cramping and I just had to nurse myself to the finish for a 4:30 finish. Definitely one of my worst races to date. Except for this, I must say I still enjoyed the race. I hope they keep this route for future races.