Scary race stats

[Wolweseun]

We have far to many Funrides and it gets a bit expensive going to them.

I personally am not interested in the argus or any of the big Funrides as the racing is quite pathetic.

(What was your Argus Time) 

 

I have found that league and club races as well as some of the smaller races have far better quality of racing and they are usually much harder.

 

I am fairly confident that the new Vets Super series will do a lot to revive real racing again, Looking at all the teams when this gets off the ground it will be far more exciting than elite racing.   

[Zoo Cookie]

fairly new to the sport of cycling, so i still enjoy it very much. love to chat after races and even do lunch. also love the coffee and kuier after training rides.

only problem, need to find more money to do more races.

[scotty]

Carnival City is one of those growing in numbers.

[domenic]

 

Another reason I think (well for me anyway) is Road racing is not promoted as a fun family activity  

You are quite right, but this is only because of the racing being coupled to funrides. Previously racing was for all age categories on circuit type routes. It was very much a family activity and the spectating was great.

[Nancy Drew]

Those are timed riders. The real stats will be all riders.

MTb is growing very fast - most cyclists feel safer in the dirt.

I know cyclists who have converted to mtb and given up on road.

 

I agree Mudda, it would be interesting to see the same stats for Mtb.  I'm sure you would find a rapid increase.

 

Loook at Sani2C this year, hosting 2 events due to demand.

[widget]

 

Another reason I think (well for me anyway) is Road racing is not promoted as a fun family activity  

You are quite right' date=' but this is only because of the racing being coupled to funrides. Previously racing was for all age categories on circuit type routes. It was very much a family activity and the spectating was great.

[/quote']

 

You have a point there.!

 

[mdk555]

Which Cape Town route do you prefer?

[xak1]

I only do MTB'ing (too scared of road, with all the safety issues).  For me, in general, racing is a bit over-rated, although I get quite good results in Vets.  I choose 3 or 4 races a year to keep me motivated, but otherwise we have started to organise weekends, where we go for 2 to 4 days and do a big ride with between 10-20 cyclists.  This is much more enjoyable, and also is better preparation for the real growth area in cycling, i.e. MTB stage races.  If you talk to big sponsors, there interest has now really moved to stage-racing, as these races are normally over-subscribed by up to 5 times.  I think this has probably had the biggest impact, as many people now focus on the one or two big stage races, i.e. Epic, Sani, Sabie, and plan their calendar around this.  I know plenty of guys that raced a lot previously, but now focus on stage racing.  I also think 45 km to 80km MTB'ing races are growing, but there is definetly also a limit, as traditionally MTB'ing only had a couple of races.  With the many events now on offer, I think numbers per race will stabilise or even go down a bit.  I think the K2C has been fairly stable in terms of starters over the past 2-3 years.

[butafly]

 i wonder why track has one foot in the grave? its cheap, easy and no traffic.

[joevan]

I originally started out on MTB, and did the entire Western Cape circuit, then got a road bike to keep going in the summer, when it gets a bit hot in the mountains.

Started doing road rides, but both disciplines in terms of "funrides/races" have lost thier enjoyment for me.

The MTB rides have become too crowded, and you can no longer enjoy using technical skills, because you are continually held up by unskilled riders who cannot ride on a singletrack, uphill, or over a few rocks or loose sand. Apart from that this sport requires a lot of travelling to get to the venues, and petrol has got too expensive.

Road rides were fun, but with the mix of "league" and funriders, accidents etc have also lost thier glamour.

Add to that at both, you may come back and find some of your property missing, due to poor security at the races.

Add up the cost of travelling, entry fees and all the rest, and it's no longer fun.

I joined a local club, where we do regular weekend rides, and enjoy ourselves. Cost R200.00 per annum.

Now I pick only the races/funrides that I really enjoy, in either discipline, clubrides, and MTB rides with buddies.

I've got more time with the family, and my bank balance looks better.

Clubs may the way of the future for the "funriders", with racing becoming a sport for the serious riders only.

joevan2008-02-19 13:16:27

[Sungun25]

Having just got back on the road after a 5 year layoff, I can definitely say that its a negotiation with the family about how much I ride. Basically my wife agreed to the time it takes to ride on condition that most of my weekday training is on rollers and that I race only 1-2 times a month, with a focus on 94.7 Argus and shova. (I do one club ride a weekend and run on the other day) This means that I am usually done and home by 9h30 and I get to spend the day with my family. even though I am averaging around 10hrs a week of training.

 

Incidentally one of the primary reasons I havent migrated to MTB is the extended time that the discipline seems to require and that its a quantum more expensive than road will ever be. (although I guess you could argue this)

 

All training  in my opinion has to be balanced with my home  life, having an unhappy wife and kids is simply not a recipe for a happy life, Plus I really miss them.

 

[joevan]

Homer, satisfy my curiosity. Picture No 1 taken at Jonkershoek??

 

I have a pic taken on Womans day last August. which looks like the same spot. While the woman were enjoying thier day, a mate and I went there and spent 4hrs riding, climbed WAY up in the mountains, had some fun on switchbacks, splashed through lots of mud, and had some scary downhills through the forest. Cost? R20.00 for the permit!!!!!!!!!!1

[butafly]

The MTB rides have become too crowded' date=' and you can no longer enjoy using technical skills, because you are continually held up by unskilled riders who cannot ride on a singletrack, uphill, or over a few rocks or loose sand. Apart from that this sport requires a lot of travelling to get to the venues, and petrol has got too expensive.

[/quote']

 

can't handle this type of scene. too many riders, having to wait in a queue to negotiate a culvert or singletrack blows my mind.

[HomerSimpson]

Homer' date=' satisfy my curiosity. Picture No 1 taken at Jonkershoek??

 

I have a pic taken on Womans day last August. which looks like the same spot. While the woman were enjoying thier day, a mate and I went there and spent 4hrs riding, climbed WAY up in the mountains, had some fun on switchbacks, splashed through lots of mud, and had some scary downhills through the forest. Cost? R20.00 for the permit!!!!!!!!!!1

[/quote']

 

Yes, taken at Mason's lookout, near the start of the "Elioti" singletrack (what we used to call the "Neverending story" before they went all formal on us).  Was there again last night......Cost?   R300 for an annual permit for the entire family (4 cyclists)..right now I figure it is costing me about R1 per trip...

[decibach db]

I am getting back to things after a 10year being sleg.

 

 

 

 

 

All I can say is that the races became very expensive...

 

 

 

If you go and ride every Weekend you must budget an easy R1000 per month just to have fun....

 

 

 

but you don't....

 

 

 

cause the races are so poorly organized - trucks and cars comes flying past you...

 

You're concentrating levels are on them and not enjoying the race.

 

Even Training is very tense every day ... motorists just don't have any respect for cyclists anymore.

 

Some of them try to see how near they can past you.

 

 

 

But I love cycling....

 

 

 

and although the numbers at races go down... entries into clubs rise year after year...

 

and you see cyclists every where on weekends, being road or MTB.

 

 

 

Best sport there is....

 

 

 

I love it.

 

 

 

DB

 

 

 

 

[buckstopper]

I believe the concept of lap-racing (10-20km long laps) needs to be revisited. This way marshalling and traffic control will improve, as will spectator value. Road closure would also affect less people.