Wines 2 Whales - 2013

[milky4130]

Started in D batch on day 1 & did 4:05, we then got bumped up to B. Day2 I struggled with a flat back wheel & buckled front wheel so couldn't really enjoy all that single track, did a 3:37 & stayed in B, day 3 more badluck, a thick branch lodged in between my rear wheel & frame (seat tube), was stopped in my tracks there & fell over as I was unable to clip due to crank position. As I fell over my ankle got crushed by the branch. I rode the rest of the 55km on pure adrenalin still managed a 3:45 & top 100 overall after 3 stages. All thanks to my super strong partner who virtually pushed me up all the climbs on all 3 days as I was obviously riding way too slow for him.

Awesome event & race village vibe, will definitely do it again. Weather turned out to be awesome. Not a drop of rain while riding only a few showers the Friday night/sat morning which I only heard of from others.

Food was world class.

Edited November 11, 2013 by milky4130

[kingalton]

Awesome riding & views today! Weather is perfect for riding. Briefly chatted with king Alton on route. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Hey JC, lekker to see someone in a hubber Kit - super race, was blessed to be able to ride it with my pops - had a great time with him - did my fair share of pushing him up the hills though.. ;-)

[jcza]

Hey JC, lekker to see someone in a hubber Kit - super race, was blessed to be able to ride it with my pops - had a great time with him - did my fair share of pushing him up the hills though.. ;-)

 

Awesome was a fantastic event

[Velouria]

The French Toast Mafia - a Wines2Whales Race report:

 

http://www.velotales.com/2013/11/wines2whales-2013.html

[DJR]

The French Toast Mafia - a Wines2Whales Race report:

 

http://www.velotales...hales-2013.html

Great read Now I'm really sorry I skipped it this year.

[Velouria]

Great read Now I'm really sorry I skipped it this year.

Thank you

 

It's a nice event, but I reckon you could have as much fun on almost the same trails if you and a bunch of mates took a weekend, stayed in a B&B, and explored Grabouw on mountain bikes. Schapenberg, Grabouw, Oak Valley, Paul Cluver, Thandi, Lebanon and the Hemel and Aarde valley trails.

[DJR]

Thank you

 

It's a nice event, but I reckon you could have as much fun on almost the same trails if you and a bunch of mates took a weekend, stayed in a B&B, and explored Grabouw on mountain bikes. Schapenberg, Grabouw, Oak Valley, Paul Cluver, Thandi, Lebanon and the Hemel and Aarde valley trails.

 

That is roughly the plan for next year. This year I did too much else already and DC still coming.......

[Skubarra]

The French Toast Mafia - a Wines2Whales Race report:

 

http://www.velotales...hales-2013.html

 

Cool race report Velouria, you guys have some serious ability if you manage to hang on to the sharp-end of the field without really "racing".

 

We spent most of our time in Group D and I found most riders to be fairly friendly and patient with okes who are not that quick on the singletrack. Only found some of the all-girls teams to be quite aggressive with each other and the riders around them (assume they were gunning for top 10 in their categories or something)

 

And I'm proud to say I will not be seen dead in those fugly compression socks!

Edited November 14, 2013 by Skubarra

[Rapunzel]

Started in D batch on day 1 & did 4:05, we then got bumped up to B. Day2 I struggled with a flat back wheel & buckled front wheel so couldn't really enjoy all that single track, did a 3:37 & stayed in B, day 3 more badluck, a thick branch lodged in between my rear wheel & frame (seat tube), was stopped in my tracks there & fell over as I was unable to clip due to crank position. As I fell over my ankle got crushed by the branch. I rode the rest of the 55km on pure adrenalin still managed a 3:45 & top 100 overall after 3 stages. All thanks to my super strong partner who virtually pushed me up all the climbs on all 3 days as I was obviously riding way too slow for him.

Awesome event & race village vibe, will definitely do it again. Weather turned out to be awesome. Not a drop of rain while riding only a few showers the Friday night/sat morning which I only heard of from others.

Food was world class.

...so that's how you wholeheartedly whipped my butt every day . Ditto on an amazing event / route / organisation / ...

Interesting reading our garmin HR stats after the ride - my partner and I were within 1 beat of each other on all 3 days with our average and max identical on the last day.

[Velouria]

Cool race report Velouria, you guys have some serious ability if you manage to hang on to the sharp-end of the field without really "racing".

 

We spent most of our time in Group D and I found most riders to be fairly friendly and patient with okes who are not that quick on the singletrack. Only found some of the all-girls teams to be quite aggressive with each other and the riders around them (assume they were gunning for top 10 in their categories or something)

 

And I'm proud to say I will not be seen dead in those fugly compression socks!

 

Thanks Skubarra - I think it's like that old quote from Greg LeMond: "It never gets easier, you just go faster."

 

I do feel for the racing ladies, as I'm quite sure they must their fair share of guys dicing them for position in the singletrack (despite most of them being able to ride singletrack as good if not better than the guys around them). People will be surprised to hear how well "Please" and "Thank You" works when trying to pass. Then again, as Ricky Bobby said: "If you ain't first, you're last".

 

I have a pair of compression pants from back when I was young and impressionable. I even wore them with shorts and slip slops, thinking I was the bee's knees. Nowadays, I reckon you can only wear compression pants if you hide them under long trousers, after an exhausting effort lasting at least 8 hours out on the bike, and you have to to it again the next day

[Rapunzel]

Thanks Skubarra - I think it's like that old quote from Greg LeMond: "It never gets easier, you just go faster."

 

I do feel for the racing ladies, as I'm quite sure they must their fair share of guys dicing them for position in the singletrack (despite most of them being able to ride singletrack as good if not better than the guys around them). People will be surprised to hear how well "Please" and "Thank You" works when trying to pass. Then again, as Ricky Bobby said: "If you ain't first, you're last".

 

I have a pair of compression pants from back when I was young and impressionable. I even wore them with shorts and slip slops, thinking I was the bee's knees. Nowadays, I reckon you can only wear compression pants if you hide them under long trousers, after an exhausting effort lasting at least 8 hours out on the bike, and you have to to it again the next day

I was riding mixed and was in A batch daily and it was intimidating due to the pace! Most of the guys on the trail treated me like anybody else but there were compliments after some technical sections and a very kind bloke in Hermanus Pharmacy kit gave me a helping shove on 2 occassions.

As a fairly competitive woman biker, the only challenges I recall from other trail users has come from the middle to back of the pack riders and noobs who would probably be equally unobliging to anybody trying to get past.

Edited November 15, 2013 by Rapunzel

[milky4130]

...so that's how you wholeheartedly whipped my butt every day . Ditto on an amazing event / route / organisation / ...

Interesting reading our garmin HR stats after the ride - my partner and I were within 1 beat of each other on all 3 days with our average and max identical on the last day.

i aoplogise it was unintentional :-) Edited November 15, 2013 by milky4130

[Slowbee]

Velo, as usual, your work is first class!

 

DC on the horizon as well ?

[Velouria]

As a fairly competitive woman biker, the only challenges I recall from other trail users has come from the middle to back of the pack riders and noobs who would probably be equally unobliging to anybody trying to get past.

 

It those noobs that get to me too - those guys who define themselves by where they came in a stage race. Every position closer to the front somehow makes more awesome in their own minds.

 

Velo, as usual, your work is first class!

 

DC on the horizon as well ?

Thanks

 

Yip - DC is the one ride us rouleurs can get our revenge on the mountain goats. I'm a little nervous though - we're trying to go one better and end up on the podium this year. The pain cave awaits.

[Marge]

I was riding mixed and was in A batch daily and it was intimidating due to the pace! Most of the guys on the trail treated me like anybody else but there were compliments after some technical sections and a very kind bloke in Hermanus Pharmacy kit gave me a helping shove on 2 occassions.

As a fairly competitive woman biker, the only challenges I recall from other trail users has come from the middle to back of the pack riders and noobs who would probably be equally unobliging to anybody trying to get past.

 

We started in B bunch but ended in E bunch on day 3. Most of the women that rode with us (mixed team) in the middle were faster and better technically on the single track than those men in the middle bunches, but I think we climb a bit slower so it's always difficult for me to keep up with the B or C bunch okes. (which makes me the one on the single track asking the guy in front of me if I can pass, 'pretty please'!)

[Dubber]

'I do feel for the racing ladies, as I'm quite sure they must their fair share of guys dicing them for position in the singletrack (despite most of them being able to ride singletrack as good if not better than the guys around them)'.

 

On entering the uphill switchback single track at the end of day 2 (before the pack houses), there were 4 guys and 2 ladies in front of me. By the time I got to the top, only the 2 ladies were still in front - not because I was fast and past the guys, rather all of them had fallen / bailed / rode into a tree etc. I don't think I saw either of the ladies 'dab' once. Well ridden!