Stage Races: When, Where and How Much

[rouxtjie]

I am only interested in one stage race and that is the Berg and Bush 2day, and I will be doing it this year.

Does berg and bush include longdrop pass?

 

If yes, that piece of trail is my favourite piece of riding everyday of the week...

Edited September 17, 2013 by rouxtjie

[hayleyearth]

Can someone please tell me how Berg and Bush 3 days work cause I can't figure it out from their site...

 

Does it start and finish at the same spot?

Does one sleep at the same place every night?

 

So is it a 'clover leave' race rather than a 'tour' race?

 

[beanz]

Yea...each have their own space, pros and cons...

 

@beans, if you have the moola, I say do both, both will give memories and in the end, that is what you pay for.

 

Absolutely! I can't afford to do both, at least not in the same year. Plus I'll never get a pass from the missus for that.

[beanz]

Can someone please tell me how Berg and Bush 3 days work cause I can't figure it out from their site...

 

Does it start and finish at the same spot?

Does one sleep at the same place every night?

 

So is it a 'clover leave' race rather than a 'tour' race?

 

The first day starts near Sterkfontein and you ride to Emseni. The next 2 days start and end at Emseni. Last year the 3rd day was to Winterton, but this year it is back to Emseni.

[Dubber]

Can someone please tell me how Berg and Bush 3 days work cause I can't figure it out from their site...

 

Does it start and finish at the same spot?

Does one sleep at the same place every night?

 

So is it a 'clover leave' race rather than a 'tour' race?

 

I think day 2 and 3 are from the same camp. But will leave confirmation to someone that has ridden it...

 

Edit: What Beanz said :-)

Edited September 17, 2013 by Dubber

[rouxtjie]

Can someone please tell me how Berg and Bush 3 days work cause I can't figure it out from their site...

 

Does it start and finish at the same spot?

Does one sleep at the same place every night?

 

So is it a 'clover leave' race rather than a 'tour' race?

From what I can see it clover leaf riding, which is awesome btw, no black boxes to carry and pack...make yourself comfortable in one spot

 

http://www.bergandbush.co.za/DisplayLink.aspx?group=Descent&name=Route

[Pax_]

Thanks for the list. Here are two more stage races that take place in the EC:

 

Great Zuurberg Trek

http://www.mountainevents.co.za/events/3

 

Fish River Sun MTB Challenge

http://www.mountainevents.co.za/events/6

[Clinton - theCOW]

OP - not quite a stage race but something i'd definitely recommend to anybody, would rank as the best event i did in 2012, it's called a Heritage ride but let's face facts, anytime there's more than 1 rider it's a race. No route markers etc, you follow a GPS. It's in Zim and i think the cost worked out round R2500 per person, we had a 3 man team and shared transport driving across. You can take tents if you want, we were lucky and the organisers gave us roofed accomodation with showers etc. The 2nd place had a donkey boiler (1st time i've ever seen 1) & a dude brought a 12v battery to power on the lights and let us charge our GPS (can't guarantee this). Riding was top class, i really enjoyed it.

 

http://www.matobo.org/heritage/heritageride.html

 

 

We have done 11 of the events on the list.

 

Two that I would really like to do are 3 Towers and Lord of the Chainring - however they are in the middle of my annual budgeting exercise so unless I change companies they will remain on my bucket list

Do Towers, was my 1st stage race 2 years ago, hurt like hell but i'm going back for my 3rd this year Do the budget ahead of time & build some fat in there for 3T.

 

Thanx for this Dubber. it's gonna really help because i have this bug up my ass to do every multistage event the country has to offer, after doing my first one The Lowveld Quest. and then maybe (and i say maybe) get some big girl panties and finish the EPIC one day.

 

The costs are very scary though so it's gonna take me a few years. I got in for Berg & Bush Descent next month as well as Sani2C Race next year. Still trying to explain to the wife why the CC keeps getting rejected while she doing the grocery shopping

 

I don't think i would do them more than once, other than The Lowveld Quest (I want retrobution for our last place on stage 1) because it would be the same as watching a good movie twice, it's never as good as the first time.

 

I did the same thing when i started cycling as roadie in 98 and did my first Argus, i said i would do 10 and did it in 2010 which was cool but then i was conned into 11 in 2012 and like a **** entered for 12th in 2014 to try for a PB depending on how fiks i am. To be honest I actually gatvol of the whole Argus trip thingy by number 4 or 5 due to costs, So when we talk about the cost of stage races and how much they increase every year, I think about what it cost me to do my 1st Argus and what it will cost me now, the cost increase from a % point is the same if not more. Next year it will cost me about 7.5K for the Argus weekend. A stage race about the same on average or a bit less but much more riding and far better value for money.

Marc - i looked at Shova vs 3Towers 2 years ago, became a no brainer for me to rather go do 3 days of riding for the same price as a 3hr road ride. Argus has become crazy price wise, 94.7 ain't cheap either for a single day race but i get to do it twice