Magalies Monster 2014

[DieVlieg]

Someone asked I report back after the race to get a noobs response to the race. I would also like to ask you all to quote from this whenever a noob ever asks you what the race is like. This was my first ever race and by default also my first Monster.

 

Firstly I am a noob, I only started cycling regularly in December last year and I am riding a hard tail that cost me R10 000 which is a good enough bike to not allow me any excuses.

 

I got to the race early at 06:10 as I expected ques and chaos but soon realized that this race and I hope every other race I enter was well organised. After I parked I was done receiving my number and entering for the buffalo category within 15 minutes. The rest of the time I spent calming myself down. I seeded myself on what I thought my ability was but from my results I was mmm... a bit over confident. The race started and I was ampt and never felt better. For those that want to put a face to myself, I was the guy who walked back to the starting line with my chain in my hand 2km into the race. I got told to fix my bike and enter the 45km by everyone passing me but once the chain was fixed by Specialized I restarted just before the 45Km guys got to start. I felt like a winner and a loser at the same time. For roughly 15km I was alone. I then overtook the last guy and was shortly overtaken by the 45Km front runners.

I then hit the small monster and was able to pass some walkers but soon realised that this race was a back and forth cat and mouse game of passing. I do want to say more about the monster but my memory of it is contained in segments of meters of progression and it will take some therapy to puzzle it together in one long climb. The week before I did 100km on the bike and thought I relatively prepared myself but at the top of the monster I felt worse than than I would have dong 150km. So for those who want to attempt the monster first achieve some serious goals in cycling and stop asking if training at your local spot will prepare you in any way as it most likely wont. Also at the top of the monster I realized that now I have only completed about half of the race and if this was me on a Sunday afternoon ride I would have phoned home for backup. The second thing I realized was that I was on top of a mountain with no back brake. On the second half of the race I started to identify people who I made turns with to overtake each other and started to have the odd conversation every now and then. I think these conversations inspired me to continue and finish as I wanted to see these okes at the finish and show them I made it too.

Coming home was also not easy at all as there were still some climbs and I still only had a front brake and many downhills to navigate safely. And then it happened, I got to the top of the radio tower cement climb feeling like my end is near when on the downhill between a loose rock and a squeeze on the front brake I went over handlebars while desperately ejecting my feet from my pedals and tumbled a few meters frther than my bike. I then sat there a while and assessed my knee which took the hardest knock. It was to close to bail out so I continued and soon started to feel the stiffness in the knee.

 

I could not enjoy some of the nice drops closer to the finish as my brake situation would not allow me going down steep embankments with tight corners. I did pedal through the river for my last photo and then wondered how I would react on finishing. I heard my name called out and felt like a champion putting on that medal. Personally I felt like I have achieved something although my clock reading was 7:18 I know what I just finished and that it was no small achievement.

 

I heard there were a serious head injury and I hope that person managed to recover. I also take my hat off to those that finished the race in the top positions. You are true athletes and deserve to be called champions.

Thank you also to everyone participating and thank you for those organizing the race.

 

Alex

[Pieter1]

Pieter bro you're a machine. Did your sprint finish for the last 18k's get you a podium spot?

Bwhahahahahahaha! For a photo finish!

[CharlV]

At the top.

 

No suspension !!!! WDD !! Respect brother !

thanks to all invoved , what an awsome event !

[MrFine]

Good Day all.Who or which company took the photo's on saturdays race and the sunday trail run.Thanks

Edited May 26, 2014 by MrFine

[dirtrider]

Someone asked I report back after the race to get a noobs response to the race. I would also like to ask you all to quote from this whenever a noob ever asks you what the race is like. This was my first ever race and by default also my first Monster.

 

Firstly I am a noob, I only started cycling regularly in December last year and I am riding a hard tail that cost me R10 000 which is a good enough bike to not allow me any excuses.

 

I got to the race early at 06:10 as I expected ques and chaos but soon realized that this race and I hope every other race I enter was well organised. After I parked I was done receiving my number and entering for the buffalo category within 15 minutes. The rest of the time I spent calming myself down. I seeded myself on what I thought my ability was but from my results I was mmm... a bit over confident. The race started and I was ampt and never felt better. For those that want to put a face to myself, I was the guy who walked back to the starting line with my chain in my hand 2km into the race. I got told to fix my bike and enter the 45km by everyone passing me but once the chain was fixed by Specialized I restarted just before the 45Km guys got to start. I felt like a winner and a loser at the same time. For roughly 15km I was alone. I then overtook the last guy and was shortly overtaken by the 45Km front runners.

I then hit the small monster and was able to pass some walkers but soon realised that this race was a back and forth cat and mouse game of passing. I do want to say more about the monster but my memory of it is contained in segments of meters of progression and it will take some therapy to puzzle it together in one long climb. The week before I did 100km on the bike and thought I relatively prepared myself but at the top of the monster I felt worse than than I would have dong 150km. So for those who want to attempt the monster first achieve some serious goals in cycling and stop asking if training at your local spot will prepare you in any way as it most likely wont. Also at the top of the monster I realized that now I have only completed about half of the race and if this was me on a Sunday afternoon ride I would have phoned home for backup. The second thing I realized was that I was on top of a mountain with no back brake. On the second half of the race I started to identify people who I made turns with to overtake each other and started to have the odd conversation every now and then. I think these conversations inspired me to continue and finish as I wanted to see these okes at the finish and show them I made it too.

Coming home was also not easy at all as there were still some climbs and I still only had a front brake and many downhills to navigate safely. And then it happened, I got to the top of the radio tower cement climb feeling like my end is near when on the downhill between a loose rock and a squeeze on the front brake I went over handlebars while desperately ejecting my feet from my pedals and tumbled a few meters frther than my bike. I then sat there a while and assessed my knee which took the hardest knock. It was to close to bail out so I continued and soon started to feel the stiffness in the knee.

 

I could not enjoy some of the nice drops closer to the finish as my brake situation would not allow me going down steep embankments with tight corners. I did pedal through the river for my last photo and then wondered how I would react on finishing. I heard my name called out and felt like a champion putting on that medal. Personally I felt like I have achieved something although my clock reading was 7:18 I know what I just finished and that it was no small achievement.

 

I heard there were a serious head injury and I hope that person managed to recover. I also take my hat off to those that finished the race in the top positions. You are true athletes and deserve to be called champions.

Thank you also to everyone participating and thank you for those organizing the race.

 

Alex

 

You must have cycled with me !!! I stopped at the Tower climb to help the nice ladies who lost the chain .

[CharlV]

Someone asked I report back after the race to get a noobs response to the race. I would also like to ask you all to quote from this whenever a noob ever asks you what the race is like. This was my first ever race and by default also my first Monster.

 

Firstly I am a noob, I only started cycling regularly in December last year and I am riding a hard tail that cost me R10 000 which is a good enough bike to not allow me any excuses.

 

I got to the race early at 06:10 as I expected ques and chaos but soon realized that this race and I hope every other race I enter was well organised. After I parked I was done receiving my number and entering for the buffalo category within 15 minutes. The rest of the time I spent calming myself down. I seeded myself on what I thought my ability was but from my results I was mmm... a bit over confident. The race started and I was ampt and never felt better. For those that want to put a face to myself, I was the guy who walked back to the starting line with my chain in my hand 2km into the race. I got told to fix my bike and enter the 45km by everyone passing me but once the chain was fixed by Specialized I restarted just before the 45Km guys got to start. I felt like a winner and a loser at the same time. For roughly 15km I was alone. I then overtook the last guy and was shortly overtaken by the 45Km front runners.

I then hit the small monster and was able to pass some walkers but soon realised that this race was a back and forth cat and mouse game of passing. I do want to say more about the monster but my memory of it is contained in segments of meters of progression and it will take some therapy to puzzle it together in one long climb. The week before I did 100km on the bike and thought I relatively prepared myself but at the top of the monster I felt worse than than I would have dong 150km. So for those who want to attempt the monster first achieve some serious goals in cycling and stop asking if training at your local spot will prepare you in any way as it most likely wont. Also at the top of the monster I realized that now I have only completed about half of the race and if this was me on a Sunday afternoon ride I would have phoned home for backup. The second thing I realized was that I was on top of a mountain with no back brake. On the second half of the race I started to identify people who I made turns with to overtake each other and started to have the odd conversation every now and then. I think these conversations inspired me to continue and finish as I wanted to see these okes at the finish and show them I made it too.

Coming home was also not easy at all as there were still some climbs and I still only had a front brake and many downhills to navigate safely. And then it happened, I got to the top of the radio tower cement climb feeling like my end is near when on the downhill between a loose rock and a squeeze on the front brake I went over handlebars while desperately ejecting my feet from my pedals and tumbled a few meters frther than my bike. I then sat there a while and assessed my knee which took the hardest knock. It was to close to bail out so I continued and soon started to feel the stiffness in the knee.

 

I could not enjoy some of the nice drops closer to the finish as my brake situation would not allow me going down steep embankments with tight corners. I did pedal through the river for my last photo and then wondered how I would react on finishing. I heard my name called out and felt like a champion putting on that medal. Personally I felt like I have achieved something although my clock reading was 7:18 I know what I just finished and that it was no small achievement.

 

I heard there were a serious head injury and I hope that person managed to recover. I also take my hat off to those that finished the race in the top positions. You are true athletes and deserve to be called champions.

Thank you also to everyone participating and thank you for those organizing the race.

 

Alex

Hi ALex , respect boet ! Not bad for a noob taking on the Monster !

[arendoog]

Thanks Alex .It was me that asked for the feedback .You made it and learnt a lot .Good on you to not have given up with a broken chain and still attempted the full distance not knowing what to expect .This was my first event where i bailed because i was worried that i was damaging myself by continuing.This only comes from experience and knowing your body,s limits .Try some easier events ! They are all fun !

[rouxtjie]

well done alex....well done

 

You earned your stripes...monster is and will always be a tough day at the office..

[Sasquatch]

That unseeded start was an absolute nightmare, If you can even ride up the little climb at the start, than its probably a clue that you are in the wrong race. I really hope that the fix that next year, its really not difficult.

[DieVlieg]

Next up the 70km at Van Gaalens on the 14 June. Hope to see some of you there. BTW I've bee looking for photos of the race and saw some posts on the subject but I have not managed to find the official web space for them yet.

[rouxtjie]

That unseeded start was an absolute nightmare, If you can even ride up the little climb at the start, than its probably a clue that you are in the wrong race. I really hope that the fix that next year, its really not difficult.

Just did a quick check, time lost due to a few bottleneck at the start....all of 2 minutes and thirty second...really nothing in the greater scheme of things. They won't do batch starts I suspect and there are plenty of short little hills where passing is possible to sort the men from the boys in the beginning.

[Karinvdw]

Next up the 70km at Van Gaalens on the 14 June. Hope to see some of you there. BTW I've bee looking for photos of the race and saw some posts on the subject but I have not managed to find the official web space for them yet.

 

Hi a.l. Well done on completing the Monster. I was in a similar situation last year (although I have done many races before the Monster) and finished in 7:30 .......This year after much more training I finished in 5:45. really wanted to do it in 5:30 but guess with the few extra km's the time is acceptable. Will be back next year for a 5:00. Just keep on doing mtb races, it gets easier...

[jcza]

Thanks Alex .It was me that asked for the feedback .You made it and learnt a lot .Good on you to not have given up with a broken chain and still attempted the full distance not knowing what to expect .This was my first event where i bailed because i was worried that i was damaging myself by continuing.This only comes from experience and knowing your body,s limits .Try some easier events ! They are all fun !

 

Good to see you Blitzer, sorry to hear about the misfortune. See you at the next one!

 

Next up the 70km at Van Gaalens on the 14 June. Hope to see some of you there. BTW I've bee looking for photos of the race and saw some posts on the subject but I have not managed to find the official web space for them yet.

 

Pictures will be on jetlineactionphoto. Well done on finishing. Van Gaalen will be just as tough. Remember to save something for the church/blixem loop.

[JA-Q001]

Just did a quick check, time lost due to a few bottleneck at the start....all of 2 minutes and thirty second...really nothing in the greater scheme of things. They won't do batch starts I suspect and there are plenty of short little hills where passing is possible to sort the men from the boys in the beginning.

 

I must say that I think the time lost was even a bit more. My own fault for only getting into the chute 15min before the start, thus having to start 3/4 back (in road race we enter 3 min before the start and then almost nobody has lined up). I started my clock as the shot went and it took me almost a minute to cross the start, take that and the fact that you are riding about 5km/h slower over the first 10km, than you would have starting upfront, you can easily loose another 10min, but it teaches me to line up earlier, my own fault. Otherwise, great race. First big mtb race in 5 or 6 years, so I held back a lot, but it was worth it for the last 20km.

[Mountain Bru]

Someone asked I report back after the race to get a noobs response to the race. I would also like to ask you all to quote from this whenever a noob ever asks you what the race is like. This was my first ever race and by default also my first Monster.

 

Firstly I am a noob, I only started cycling regularly in December last year and I am riding a hard tail that cost me R10 000 which is a good enough bike to not allow me any excuses.

 

I got to the race early at 06:10 as I expected ques and chaos but soon realized that this race and I hope every other race I enter was well organised. After I parked I was done receiving my number and entering for the buffalo category within 15 minutes. The rest of the time I spent calming myself down. I seeded myself on what I thought my ability was but from my results I was mmm... a bit over confident. The race started and I was ampt and never felt better. For those that want to put a face to myself, I was the guy who walked back to the starting line with my chain in my hand 2km into the race. I got told to fix my bike and enter the 45km by everyone passing me but once the chain was fixed by Specialized I restarted just before the 45Km guys got to start. I felt like a winner and a loser at the same time. For roughly 15km I was alone. I then overtook the last guy and was shortly overtaken by the 45Km front runners.

I then hit the small monster and was able to pass some walkers but soon realised that this race was a back and forth cat and mouse game of passing. I do want to say more about the monster but my memory of it is contained in segments of meters of progression and it will take some therapy to puzzle it together in one long climb. The week before I did 100km on the bike and thought I relatively prepared myself but at the top of the monster I felt worse than than I would have dong 150km. So for those who want to attempt the monster first achieve some serious goals in cycling and stop asking if training at your local spot will prepare you in any way as it most likely wont. Also at the top of the monster I realized that now I have only completed about half of the race and if this was me on a Sunday afternoon ride I would have phoned home for backup. The second thing I realized was that I was on top of a mountain with no back brake. On the second half of the race I started to identify people who I made turns with to overtake each other and started to have the odd conversation every now and then. I think these conversations inspired me to continue and finish as I wanted to see these okes at the finish and show them I made it too.

Coming home was also not easy at all as there were still some climbs and I still only had a front brake and many downhills to navigate safely. And then it happened, I got to the top of the radio tower cement climb feeling like my end is near when on the downhill between a loose rock and a squeeze on the front brake I went over handlebars while desperately ejecting my feet from my pedals and tumbled a few meters frther than my bike. I then sat there a while and assessed my knee which took the hardest knock. It was to close to bail out so I continued and soon started to feel the stiffness in the knee.

 

I could not enjoy some of the nice drops closer to the finish as my brake situation would not allow me going down steep embankments with tight corners. I did pedal through the river for my last photo and then wondered how I would react on finishing. I heard my name called out and felt like a champion putting on that medal. Personally I felt like I have achieved something although my clock reading was 7:18 I know what I just finished and that it was no small achievement.

 

I heard there were a serious head injury and I hope that person managed to recover. I also take my hat off to those that finished the race in the top positions. You are true athletes and deserve to be called champions.

Thank you also to everyone participating and thank you for those organizing the race.

 

Alex

 

It was my first monster too. and all things considered I have to agree with the guy that said the route was not super technical. For me the absolute brutality of the climbs is what makes the race tough. It was one of my friends first races too, and even though he finished last, he still reckons it wasn't too technical and was able to ride the whole thing, even if it was super slowly. Not having a back brake does change things though. If I had to give advice to someone that wanted to do the race, I'd recommend that they don't stress too much about the technical bits and rather just make sure their fitness levels are good. The technical bits are also a lot more manageable if you're not completely buggered when you hit them.

[memakda]

RESPECT to all the MTB Riders!!!

 

(For context, I consider myself a decent roadie (almost) managing 3hour 94.7.)

Been doing a bit of MTB riding and decided to enter the full marathon on saturday. (after all what's 45km???)

 

So I dive there throught the mist at Hartebeesport and arrive all excited ready to seed myself mid pack and told the wife I'll be home by 2.

 

And thats where the fun stopped...

After that I got my A$$ handed to me chaffed and beaten up.

Halfway up the Monster, my Garmin decided that I was going too slow and kept on pausing. (How exactly do you keep a rthym with all those rocks?)

Got to the top and thought I could make up some time. Then pushed a bit too hard and started cramping at 40km.

Check my pockets and forgot the Magnesium at home.

 

Took it a bit easy after that and the pain and cramps started getting worse. at one point I had both my quads and calf muscles pulling at the same time. Leg was locked straight, one foot cleated in and the other on the ground unable to move. Fell once on a downhill when both legs locked up at the same time and I could not uncleat

 

At some point I couldn't pedal anymone without something pulling. Started walking up the hills and freewheeling downhill.

 

Managed to limp home in 7:30.

 

Will I be back next year.

DEFINATELY!!! maybe with a bit more training.

This was both the best and worst ride of my life.

Amazing organisation and scenery.

Edited May 26, 2014 by memakda