What happened to the other 10 000 cyclist?

[Cellar]

 

 

Illness, no training, cant afford the trip, better things to do, weather etc etc.

 

 

 

I was so happy when it started raining the night before. Imagine my disappointment when I woke to sunny skies on the day.

[funjunkie]

Was thinking the similar thing.

Just an observation:

Argus 2013 had 35 000-36 000 entries (Not sure the exact number) with 31 652 registered finishers = 88% of entrants registered as having completed the race

 

94.7 2013 had 31 000 entries with 20 580 registered finishers = 66% of entrants registered as completing the race.

 

88% vs 66% is a huge discrepency.

 

Possible Hypotheses for the discrepency:

 

1. You need to scan your racetec chip at number collection for the Argus. Cant collect your number without a Chip. Therefore fewer riders riding without a chip (Not sure how the collection process works for entrants without a racetec chip). .

2. 94.7 is tougher than the Argus. (Altitude, heat, road conditions). More non finishers.

3. Conversely, Capetonians are tougher and fitter. (Probably not)

4. More no shows for the 94.7

5. Number of entrants falsely inflated by the organisers of 94.7

 

Thats what I can think about for now.

Edited November 25, 2013 by funjunkie

[Active Monkey]

 

Once we find out who 'they' are we can then ask them what's potting.

 

Always have a snotty comment...

They ! Are the announcers that where talking at the start line

[Cellar]

 

2. 94.7 is tougher than the Argus. (Altitude, heat, road conditions). More non finishers.

 

 

This.

[Wil6]

Was thinking the similar thing.

Just an observation:

Argus 2013 had 35 000-36 000 entries (Not sure the exact number) with 31 652 registered finishers = 88% of entrants registered as having completed the race

 

94.7 2013 had 31 000 entries with 20 580 registered finishers = 66% of entrants registered as completing the race.

 

88% vs 66% is a huge discrepency.

 

Possible Hypotheses for the discrepency:

 

1. You need to scan your racetec chip at number collection for the Argus. Cant collect your number without a Chip. Therefore fewer riders riding without a chip (Not sure how the collection process works for entrants without a racetec chip). .

2. 94.7 is tougher than the Argus. (Altitude, heat, road conditions). More non finishers.

3. Conversely, Capetonians are tougher and fitter. (Probably not)

4. More no shows for the 94.7

5. Number of entrants falsely inflated by the organisers of 94.7

 

Thats what I can think about for now.

Make a poll and you will be surprised about the outcome. Definitely not harder.

[Kranswurm]

Make a poll and you will be surprised about the outcome. Definitely not harder.

 

Easier

[NotSoBigBen]

At least you can still get your 94.7 merchandise if you missed out

 

Momentum 94.7 ‏@momentum9476m

If you missed out on some merchandise, now's your chance - limited items left! Contact the Race Office 011 017 2700

[funjunkie]

Make a poll and you will be surprised about the outcome. Definitely not harder.

 

Personally, I think they are about the same.

[Falco]

94.7 is tougher than the Argus. (Altitude, heat, road conditions).

 

I beg to differ.

[Wil6]

Personally, I think they are about the same.

And you are entitled to your opinion, but the winning time for Argus was 2:39 where 94.7 was 2:08. That is a huge difference in difficulty

[Pusher]

Sell more entries than there are places. Ask the airlines to show you how!

[Wyatt Earp]

Always have a snotty comment...

They ! Are the announcers that where talking at the start line

 

Yes.

Well, in that case, where in the world is Arnie ?

[funjunkie]

And you are entitled to your opinion, but the winning time for Argus was 2:39 where 94.7 was 2:08. That is a huge difference in difficulty

 

I've only done 1 Argus thus far so i'm not professing to be an expert but can go on personal experience. Whilst the Argus is a longer race, there are many places where you can recover and take it easy.

I find that with the 94.7, the rolling nature of the course makes the downhills relatively short and allows little time to recover. The course also makes bunch riding difficulty. Every so often you come to a climb that destroys the group.

The N14 is a suffer fest of note. (Nothing like it on the Argus route.) Also, the openness of the roads in the 94.7 makes it more difficult for bunches to stick together.

 

Thefore, in my opinion, there extra distance of the Argus is offset by the difficult nature of the 94.7 course.

[silvertemplar]

When comparing the Argus vs. 94.7 i would also first want to know what % of the riders are from the Cape vs. how many are flying in. Reason being, assuming majority of 94.7 riders are from gauteng, it also means they are more likely to skip it as opposed to skipping out on a flight+accommodation requirement for the Argus.

 

In other words, if there's a large % gauteng riders doing the Argus, there's a good chance those people will be far more committed to pitching up at the Argus than they would be for the 94.7 .

 

I mean last year i remember entering the 94.7 on a whim because i live in gauteng like 6-7 months before whereas the Argus you seriously do a few calculations because it's quite an expensive exercise.

[kosmonooit]

Could be Gautengers are full of more bollox? big talkers / good-idea-at-the-time types.

 

As for the Argus, can remember being compelled to have my 'chip' scanned, done it a few times.

[patches]

What DID happen to the other 10 000 cyclists?!

 

*queue creepy music*

 

 

...or... they just didn't care about timing chips (as has already been established).