Bestmed Jacaranda race....Times must be very tough?

[Be-Spoked]

I share your sentiment! From Sasolburg to Cyclelab is almost exactly 100km, as well as a toll gate in between. I mailed the organisers to try and arrange for a number pick-up early that morning, but they did net even bother to reply to my e-mail. A quick "Sorry, but that is not possible." would have sufficed, but nada! Earlier this year I took part in the Carnical City race with the same dilemma. I e-mailed them, and almost immediately I was answered. They gave me EXACT details how about where I can collect my number on the morning of the race, as well as a cellphone number to call should I have any other problems. Why cannot ASG Events do the same? Or is it about the money, and not the sport of cycling? I think that I should stick to races at Stonehaven in Vanderbijlpark.

 

We cycle because we enjoy the sport...the outdoors and the fresh air....w have fallen prey and victims because we we buy expensive bicycles and we're tooo easy to open our wallets and pay for sub standard services, imagine they serviced your car in the same manner?

[Wrigs]

Most of us ride many races every year. The good ones stand out very clearly.

 

Pointing out the differences is the only way that responsible organisers and credible sponsors like ASG and Bestmed can become aware of them and decide whether or not to improve their offering.

 

When riders simply shrug their shoulders and resign themselves to the status quos they dont gives organisers an opportunity to consider changes.

[Be-Spoked]

Yes - its all about the money.

 

That's why the big bad boys are hijacking club races and ripping off cyclists with exorbitant entry fees.

 

There was a protest at the start of the JSC race today against these extortionists - hopefully it will open up everyones eyes to what is happening to our sport.

 

I will never support an ASG managed event again.

 

It's become a fashion show at these races, no longer about the sport or cycling.

 

It's much cheaper and far more fun to ride the Audax events, starting from 100km, 200km and 300km and the long one 400km and not as crowded at all.

It a real cyclists race not the over crowded fashion shows!! Hahahaha

[Be-Spoked]

Some pissed off people i see....

 

So how do we put petrol on the fire?

 

O man!!! How do you hide that away!!!

[Fred66]

This was my first time doing the Jacaranda Satellite Classic and while I enjoyed a hard race I was concerned about a number of safety aspects.

 

My group BL was far far too big. For the first 20ks it spread out about 500m. This meant whenever there was a gap in the traffic tens of cyclists went over the white line to overtake - at 45kph very dangerous.

 

At the turn after Hekpoort, the marshals didn't even see a car turning right into the racing line as my group was in the corner - nearly took out the whole group.

 

The finish was a joke - up over a hill, race at full speed dodging cars turning left out of the parking area across the race line and then get directed hard left into the finish road, across the line at 40ks only to slam on breaks to stop riding into the masses of riders that had just finished.

 

It's easy to fix the finish, just have the finish line on the main road 200m before the car park.

 

Nice set up at Saloon 66, but don't know how many cyclists saw it. It was too far away from the start finish.

[Be-Spoked]

Really do you guys reckon runners moan just as much about races? Surely not not as all events just keep growing....you enter a cycle race because you want to measure yourself against other riders point! So don't expect a goodie bag...most of the things in it go to the garbage bin. I have competed in many ASG events from the 1st up to now and must say in the beginning they were below par but recently they have done an excellent job

 

I run and with every race I have entered I have received a FREE T-Shirt in my Goodie Bag! I measure myself against myself each time I run thanks to champoin chip.

The entry fees cost a hell of a lot less than cycling, you have mashalls, traffic cops etc, you get coke at every water point, lucky draw and a lekker cold coke at the end of the race & your medal.

So how do they give you so much for so little?? Some thing here doesnt work out?

 

I mean....today at the finish there wasn't even a cold Coke?? That's if you could find the finish?

[Wrigs]

Looks like results are up

[HappyMartin]

I had no problems with the race other than I rode badly. Potholes were well marked, marshals were cool.

 

Try doing a race in Italy. 10 000 entrants. 4 start groups. 6 water points in 209km and the one seemed to only have espresso. No road closures

 

Guys need to chill. It's a cycling race. Not a nursery school. It's supposed to be hard and a bit dangerous.

 

Perhaps try mountain biking or golf.

[hayleyearth]

 

 

Agreed - and why persist with those useless medals - does anyone actually keep them???

 

I heard quite a few people ask for them at the finish.

[Zeffer]

Our 1st ever DNF on the tandem. Punctured @ 32km then busted our spare tube. Got 5 (yes, five) tubes and bombs from passing cyclists - thanksguys. Turns out 23C's burst in a 28C tyre - lesson learned.

 

Big up for the Road Ranger medic picking us up in his bakkie - not a sweep vehicle! So we end up spending the rest of the morning with Johan and the bikers assisting stranded tailenders and cramping optimiststs. Saw the weirdes stuff. One lady's shoelace got stuck in her chainand she drove into a thornbush!!!! And Rennies is the solution to cramps - its final.

 

So we did not spend time @ waterpoints or the finish, but had a true and unique adventure. Will need to be back next year....

 

Thanks Road Rangers!

[Wayne Potgieter]

So i heard there were a couple people "toi-toing" at the race this morning? What was that about?

Do white people even know how to Toi toi?

[F111]

 

 

I run and with every race I have entered I have received a FREE T-Shirt in my Goodie Bag! I measure myself against myself each time I run thanks to champoin chip.

The entry fees cost a hell of a lot less than cycling, you have mashalls, traffic cops etc, you get coke at every water point, lucky draw and a lekker cold coke at the end of the race & your medal.

So how do they give you so much for so little?? Some thing here doesnt work out?

 

I mean....today at the finish there wasn't even a cold Coke?? That's if you could find the finish?

I Agee coke at the Finnish is not negotiable

[DIPSLICK]

 

Farmer Glenn is also involved J2C?

And after 4 sani u don't think I know this????

 

[slowpoke]

Our 1st ever DNF on the tandem. Punctured @ 32km then busted our spare tube. Got 5 (yes, five) tubes and bombs from passing cyclists - thanksguys. Turns out 23C's burst in a 28C tyre - lesson learned.

 

Big up for the Road Ranger medic picking us up in his bakkie - not a sweep vehicle! So we end up spending the rest of the morning with Johan and the bikers assisting stranded tailenders and cramping optimiststs. Saw the weirdes stuff. One lady's shoelace got stuck in her chainand she drove into a thornbush!!!! And Rennies is the solution to cramps - its final.

 

So we did not spend time @ waterpoints or the finish, but had a true and unique adventure. Will need to be back next year....

 

Thanks Road Rangers!

 

Poor CharlieMoo. We've given up trying to convince her to switch to cleats but after today who knows!

 

Please say you did at least chirp Johan about being in the bakkie instead of on his bike like a good Road Ranger? ;-)

[VicanZA]

This is an expensive sport! Cost as much as golf... If u don't have the cash for the races don't do them, goodies bags have been crap for a long time now. Medals are plastic... As the sport becomes popular more people and companies are gonna try make millions out of ur love for the sport.

[Patchelicious]

This was my first time doing the Jacaranda Satellite Classic and while I enjoyed a hard race I was concerned about a number of safety aspects.

 

My group BL was far far too big. For the first 20ks it spread out about 500m. This meant whenever there was a gap in the traffic tens of cyclists went over the white line to overtake - at 45kph very dangerous.

 

At the turn after Hekpoort, the marshals didn't even see a car turning right into the racing line as my group was in the corner - nearly took out the whole group.

 

The finish was a joke - up over a hill, race at full speed dodging cars turning left out of the parking area across the race line and then get directed hard left into the finish road, across the line at 40ks only to slam on breaks to stop riding into the masses of riders that had just finished.

 

It's easy to fix the finish, just have the finish line on the main road 200m before the car park.

 

Nice set up at Saloon 66, but don't know how many cyclists saw it. It was too far away from the start finish.

 

Was it as bad as these comments from last year? http://www.bicycling.co.za/event/bestmed-jacaranda-satellite-classic/