Attakwas Extreme

[Overlord]

Any veterans of this event that can give a few pointers as to having a successful event.

[Cav']

Ask Dangle.

[udxcob]

Start slower than you would ever have done before, don't eat a burger at the 30k stop

[Squirrel]

Train and skip the burger

[duringd]

Oefen oefen oefen, en as jy dink jy het genoeg ge-oefen begin weer.....

[Overlord]

Training is not a problem. Doing that and a lot of it as well.

Was really just thinking of do's and dont's

[duringd]

Don't race the 1st 50km, their idea of rolling hills ain't correct. That 2nd 50km has a bite to it.

[jcza]

I'm also keen to give this a go in January. Hoping to get a battle plan from Dangle

[cowboylegs]

Just entered the event, so pretty nervous and very quite excited!

 

Does anybody have a training plan for this? Its a long way and a lot of climbing!

 

Not to sure about that burger....had one too many at the W2W last weekend ;-)

[Tieffels]

The burger never worried me, but TOTALLY underestimated the last 40 or 50 odd kms. That is when the real battle starts, the technical riding on the ox-wagon trail is lekker and keeps you distracted, the open roads thereafter is soul destroying.

 

Awesome ride though!

[Rapunzel]

Carry sufficient spares (tube - even if tubeless, spare valve, plugs, multitool, smartlink, derailleur hanger, derailleur cable, cable ties). Take some food with you even though the water stations are awesome - munch on something before WP1 - don't get caught short. Take it easy for the first 20 odd km's - it appears to claim more crash and mechanical victims than the rest of the route.

I also underestimated the last 40-50km's on my first Atta - the climbs are steep and relentless.

[arendoog]

Train well ,but rest totally the week before and pace yourself well .Eat good food at every waterpiont .Hydrate with rehidrate or game in your camelbak to stop cramping .Rather walk often to stretch your muscles and give your arms a rest .Do all the things you do for a 70k race just a little slower.Do the Grabedoo race from Grootbrak on the 31december.If you have energy left then you are ready,You have just done the 2d part of the atta

Edited November 13, 2012 by Blitzer

[GLuvsMtb]

I've done 3 Attas, all be it rather slowly in most people's books. (8 hours to just under 10 hours).

Here is what I've learnt:

1. Take it slower than what you think you should until you get to the 3rd water point (the spur burger water point)

2. Taking it slow will mean that you get stuck in traffic at places. Stay patient and pass when its safe and you don't need to expend too much energy in doing so.

3. Don't waste time at the water points. Stop, fill up, grab something to eat, stretch your neck, shoulders and back quickly, thank the water point volunteers and get going again, all be it slowly for the next 2 kms or so.

4. Break the race up in mini segments. On my first Atta I fell, fractured 2 ribs and dislocated a shoulder just before the 3rd water point. The next 65 odd kms were broken up into 5km segments and 12 segments later I crossed the finish line. I would have given up if I looked at 65km to go rather than 5km at a time.

5. Don't eat the Burger and Chips at wp 3. Its a trap to get you chundering all the way up the 18% climb that follows.

6. Make friends with the guys that are shooting past you in the first 50kms. You will end up catching them with 20km to go and you will all need to do some pulls over the rollers above Grootbrak.

7. Nothing tastes better than that spare rib pita when you've crossed the finish line... well maybe a double portion of ribs and 2 plates of chicken wings washed down with a couple of double thicks at the Spur in Hartenbos tastes better...

[zeabre]

1. Chuck away the light tyres. Go bomb proof. Took me two Attas to learn that lesson.

2. Go slower at the beginning.

3. Take it easy down the descent before the burger stop.

4. Pass on the Burger, grab the potatoes.

5. Sunscreen. We were lucky last year.

6. Carry proper spares.

7. When you think you're done, you're not.

8. Enjoy. It's one if the nicest races. Especially the waterpoints.

[megdobson]

Train well ,but rest totally the week before and pace yourself well .Eat good food at every waterpiont .Hydrate with rehidrate or game in your camelbak to stop cramping .Rather walk often to stretch your muscles and give your arms a rest .Do all the things you do for a 70k race just a little slower.Do the Grabedoo race from Grootbrak on the 31december.If you have energy left then you are ready,You have just done the 2d part of the atta

 

Does anyone have more info on the Great Brak Grabadoo event?

[Carmichael]

Ek raak nervous, did my tester voor die epic