[Event] NISSAN TRAILSEEKER #3 Van Gaalens

[ChUkKy]

 

A court of law, grief. Already that indicates a cultural problem of avoiding responsibility to one's self.

What would your suggestion be then, what more could be done?

Given that the event has been running for a number of years now and the route description in itself is widely known, it's safe to say that more than enough reasonable measures have been taken.

Newbies or not, at what point do grown adults take responsibility for themselves and do just the basics of informing themselves before an event?

It's an outdoors/adventure sport, by it's very nature it the ultimate responsibility rests on the individual.

 

Indeed it does, let them go play chess rather.

Maybe it's a case that since they can't succeed they must dumb it down to their level.

[Li Mu Bai]

I was in the (un)fortunate position of hearing the race briefing (and jokes and stories) given to every single bunch... It was categorically stated to each and every bunch to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and to stop at the water tables and drink but not waste the water. It was also categorically stated to ride in your limits and to be very careful on the downhill. The dangers of the downhill section and the sharp turn at the bottom were stressed as much as the hydrate aspect. Definitely nothing more could have been done by the organisers. Some people would clearly just rather feel than listen. (Or should they hand out ear buds and tell everyone to clear out their ears before the next briefing? Maybe start wiping people's bums for them too?)

raw silk for me please...

[BarHugger]

Who else saw they guy with all the protection - wrist, elbow and knee guards? Just short of full face helmet and goggles. Obviously he knew something about the race, knows his abilities and came prepared (although some oakes had a second look and giggle).

 

....and to add to the current gripe trend:

(a) what was up with those two barbershop poles in the middle of the track just after the start - almost wrapped my bike around it, what were the organizers thinking?

(b) why wasn't the dirt roads towards the cement climb closed for traffic - almost became harvester-trekker pulp, what were the organizers thinking?

(c ) where was the SPCA for all the stray animals on the course - almost had my ankle taken off by a chihuahua, what were the organizers thinking?

(d) how must you ride over barb fence wire with new set of wheels - almost had two simultaneous punctures, what were the organizers thinking?

(e) what about that single track climb next to the tar road so close to the fence - almost had my clothes ripped of my body when I struggled to keep the bike on track, what were the organizers thinking?

(f) see point (b) for the wide dirt roads with all the loose sand and dust - almost had an asthma attack of note with all the dust, what were the organizers thinking?

(g) why are so many small children allowed on the course with cyclist traveling at high speeds - almost had one of them sticking their hand into my wheels, what were the organizers thinking?

(h) why did I have to cycle through a garbage dump over a steel bridge - almost had broken beer bottles cut my tyres to shreds, what were the organizers thinking?

(i) how can you cycle through a bush laundry - almost got taken out with a wet towel against the head and my bike sliding underneath me with all the soap in the water and on the rocks, what were the organizers thinking?

(j) why wasn't there ample shading and seating at the last water point, not even to mention the lack of water, what were the organizers thinking?

(k) see point ( c), but now for those violent mad-disease infected cows on the way to the church - almost got knocked of my bike by one standing next to the track grazing, what were the organizers thinking?

(l) why wasn't the reed tunnel section cleared adequately - almost had my head taken off by those low hanging sections, what were the organizers thinking?

(m) what was up with all the dust in the parking area, my vehicle looked as if a dump truck has lost it load on it - almost had to wash my vehicle before going home and that after doing a marathon off hell, pain and anguish - what were the organizers thinking?

 

Thinking that is all for now, although not sure.

Edited September 16, 2013 by BarHugger

[Dirty Sanchez]

..snip

 

Did you manage to buy some cheese from the shop after the event? Because it will definitely go well with that whine

[BarHugger]

 

 

Did you manage to buy some cheese from the shop after the event? Because it will definitely go well with that whine

 

As sharp as a weeny whinger this early in the morning are we......ha,ha,ha

[nickc]

....and to add to the current gripe trend:

(a) what was up with those two barbershop poles in the middle of the track just after the start - almost wrapped my bike around it, what were the organizers thinking?

( B) why wasn't the dirt roads towards the cement climb closed for traffic - almost became harvester-trekker pulp, what were the organizers thinking?

(c ) where was the SPCA for all the stray animals on the course - almost had my ankle taken off by a chihuahua, what were the organizers thinking?

(d) how must you ride over barb fence wire with new set of wheels - almost had two simultaneous punctures, what were the organizers thinking?

(e) what about that single track climb next to the tar road so close to the fence - almost had my clothes ripped of my body when I struggled to keep the bike on track, what were the organizers thinking?

(f) see point ( B) for the wide dirt roads with all the loose sand and dust - almost had an asthma attack of note with all the dust, what were the organizers thinking?

(g) why are so many small children allowed on the course with cyclist traveling at high speeds - almost had one of them sticking their hand into my wheels, what were the organizers thinking?

(h) why did I have to cycle through a garbage dump over a steel bridge - almost had broken beer bottles cut my tyres to shreds, what were the organizers thinking?

(i) how can you cycle through a bush laundry - almost got taken out with a wet towel against the head and my bike sliding underneath me with all the soap in the water and on the rocks, what were the organizers thinking?

(j) why wasn't there ample shading and seating at the last water point, not even to mention the lack of water, what were the organizers thinking?

(k) see point ( c), but now for those violent mad-disease infected cows on the way to the church - almost got knocked of my bike by one standing next to the track grazing, what were the organizers thinking?

(l) why wasn't the reed tunnel section cleared adequately - almost had my head taken off by those low hanging sections, what were the organizers thinking?

(m) what was up with all the dust in the parking area, my vehicle looked as if a dump truck has lost it load on it - almost had to wash my vehicle before going home and that after doing a marathon off hell, pain and anguish - what were the organizers thinking?

 

Thinking that is all for now, although not sure.

 

Thats funny

[DIPSLICK]

This thread has got to a HUB common place ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN..........you say this I say that, and someone says it in a different way the first 2pages of race commentary have just been going ROUND AND ROUND in two different versions

 

 

SEAN IS THE "skills Chuck Norris " and everybody else can't ride. IS IT FRIDAY YET?????

[kosmonooit]

Too true dipslick, like a stuck record here .... when you made your point, move on. Even if others won't/don't or cant grasp it.

 

Looking at the results of the marathon 650 finishers, about 220 DNF's, how does that compare to other events?

 

Anyone with stats on injuries? (besides broken egos)

[ChUkKy]

Too true dipslick, like a stuck record here .... when you made your point, move on. Even if others won't/don't or cant grasp it.

 

Looking at the results of the marathon 650 finishers, about 220 DNF's, how does that compare to other events?

 

Anyone with stats on injuries? (besides broken egos)

Compares like *** but did make for less congestion.

The fun riders entered the wrong distance

[Hennie VR]

Speaking of children next to the route. Did that group of girls swear at any of you?

When I was riding towards them they started shouting: "Chocolate Chocolate" and as I pased them (did not give them a chocolate) they shouted "F@*k you"

[Mike Bike]

Speaking of children next to the route. Did that group of girls swear at any of you?

When I was riding towards them they started shouting: "Chocolate Chocolate" and as I pased them (did not give them a chocolate) they shouted "F@*k you"

that one you cant blame the organisers for

[Hennie VR]

that one you cant blame the organisers for

 

Oh but I can...............The organisers did not supply me with a chocolate in my goodie bag

[ChUkKy]

Speaking of children next to the route. Did that group of girls swear at any of you?

When I was riding towards them they started shouting: "Chocolate Chocolate" and as I pased them (did not give them a chocolate) they shouted "F@*k you"

 

Sounds like they tried to sweeten the deal, sies!

filthy buggers

[Swift01]

Mountain biking is evolving not only in bike technology but in the way the tracks are built and training.. Go watch DH racing from 10 yrs back and watch it now. Do you see GM complaining the jumps are too high?

Same with marathons. In 2000 when I started over the same distance my times now I would have put the Pro's of those days to shame. Training has changed 10 fold and those Pro's have evolved and are still klapping me yet my times are way faster than they used to be.

Same goes for course building. Bikes came in leaps and bounds, you are getting people that have grown up with a bike attached to them from birth and can ramp higher than a house (I am still an expert at just crashing over things with no style and just hang on for dear life, seems to work). The point being if courses did not get more challenging and evolve and stayed the same as in 2000 the sport may not have become so popular. We all like a challenge.

All ages and types of riders are taken care of in the different distances and each distance as they get longer get more technical. Just because you come from road riding (just an example) and can klap a 100km road race does not mean you are instantly ready for a proper marathon race like VG. Do a few technical 40km ones first then jump to the 70-80km races. No longer is it just the legs talking but the whole body got a serious workout (or was I the only one with sore arms afterwards, all I could hold was a beer bottle after). For the record I don't think just cause I can do good at marathons that I will instantly be good at road riding. Both have 2 wheels but it kind of stops there. So many different variables.

May be as a small solution to the problem is warning signs. I have seen 3 arrows pointing down and when i get there it's nothing wild, then you get the 3 arrows pointing down at VG race and yes sometimes they should ahve had 5 arrows. It could be a great way to grade some danger sections and warn new people that are crossing over from 40 to 70km that they should walk if they see 5 arrows in red with DANGER.... If they try ride it and fall, then may be they can't read.

[DIPSLICK]

Too true dipslick, like a stuck record here .... when you made your point, move on. Even if others won't/don't or cant grasp it.

 

Looking at the results of the marathon 650 finishers, about 220 DNF's, how does that compare to other events?

 

Anyone with stats on injuries? (besides broken egos)

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY HIGH DNF RATIO!!!so sean since you part of the 430 riders that "can" ride you have to admit that does sound a bit high, i know pros fall clearly seen in 2 races this weekend but even a couple of the top riders said it was technically very challenging, in fact they said it was the toughest technical race of the series, so there clearly is a point to what people are saying

[Swift01]

Too true dipslick, like a stuck record here .... when you made your point, move on. Even if others won't/don't or cant grasp it.

 

Looking at the results of the marathon 650 finishers, about 220 DNF's, how does that compare to other events?

 

Anyone with stats on injuries? (besides broken egos)

I think you were looking at the prelim results that didn't have everyone uploaded. Marathon there was approx 53 DNF's 5 DQ's and 672 finished on the latest results (7.8% DNF's) then in the half there was approx 45 DNF's and 6 DQ's with 1037 finishers (4.33% DNF's)

I would say thats not a bad result considering how hard the Marathon track was.