Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge 2014

[Escapee..]

And this coming weekend? One more long hard ride with some climbing or just an easy long one?

[Patchelicious]

And this coming weekend? One more long hard ride with some climbing or just an easy long one?

What kind of weekly hours have you been putting in leading up to this weekend?

[Escapee..]

What kind of weekly hours have you been putting in leading up to this weekend?

 

Usually two rides during the week and then either one or two longer over the weekend.

 

Was thinking of doing another long one with a loop through Suikerbos this weekend

[NotSoBigBen]

And this coming weekend? One more long hard ride with some climbing or just an easy long one?

 

And as per every previous year I must repeat one of the hubs 'sage' suggestions:-

 

Now is the time to put in a hard long week and ride as much as fast as you can

[Zatek]

Usually two rides during the week and then either one or two longer over the weekend.

 

Was thinking of doing another long one with a loop through Suikerbos this weekend

 What sort of a time must you have at SBR to get a sub3 with the new route?

[Iron Midge]

 What sort of a time must you have at SBR to get a sub3 with the new route?

 

That will depend on the colour of your bike.  

[Zatek]

That will depend on the colour of your bike.  

White with red racing stripes

[Falco]

At the start. Mnandi/"Pukes" hill.

 

The main part of the Mnandi climb is only 2.1km.

 

On the other hand, the "new" section past Waterfall, from the Jukskei bridge to the old start, is about 4k's, with much the same profile.

 

As a nice easy Sunday training ride, that section is nothing, but at race pace it's going to hurt like hell. Many riders will be going off the back there.

[Frosty]

Where is the longest climb on the route?

Kind of like asking how long is a piece of string

• Pooks Hill is 2Km, 104m up, 5.2% average.

  But the climbing doesn't stop there. The highest point before any descent is 7.4Km into the race (7.4Km, 157m up, 2.1% average).

• Heartbreak Hill is 900m, 46m, 5.1%
• R55 (Main Road) is 800m, 30m up, 3.7%
• Jukskei to Woodmead (M1) is 6.4Km, 151m up, 2.3%

  But with 4 steeper bits in between, it's probably the longest series of climbing. And although there's a relatively flat bit on the M1, there's another 30m ascending before Marlboro drive over 2.5Km, 30m up, 1.2%.

• M1 - 8.6Km, 159m up, 1.8% before...
• Wilds 1.6Km, 77m up, 4.8%.
• A few small bumps after Rissik, Mandela Bridge and Braamfontein.
• Jan Smuts (Bolton) - 400m, 23m up, 5.7%
• Jan Smuts (Republic) - 900m, 53m up, 5.9%
• Witkoppen Road - 3.1Km, 104m up, 3.4%
• Malibongwe Drive - 1.5Km, 63m up, 4.2%
• Cedar Road - 2.1Km, 91m, 4.3%
• Steyn City...?

That's a total of 984m on most of the uphills. There's a few I haven't included (Moray Road, a few on Jan Smuts like Zoo Lake, passed Varsity College, the first bit of the start before climbing onto Mnandi, the bit through Steyn City, the finish, little Witkoppen, etc.)

 

None of the climbs are really that difficult, it's just the intensity of the group you're in continuously driving the pace, or the PB you're chasing or the lack of fitness, or whatever.

 

My 2.5c

[Edit] elevation gain based on Garmin data imported into Strava

[CAAD4]

Was thinking of taking my IDT and putting it up just outside the start

 

I hope you don't have a carbon frame.....

[Zatek]

I hope you don't have a carbon frame.....

Why?

[NotSoBigBen]

 cut cut cut ....

 

None of the climbs are really that difficult, it's just the intensity of the group you're in continuously driving the pace, or the PB you're chasing or the lack of fitness, or whatever.

 

My 2.5c

 

Just wondering how much 'racecraft' or experience racing in those bunches plays a role in being able to hang in there?

 

Even strong guys that are very fit get caught out purely by the tactics employed by the well experienced few front runners that will do whatever it takes to shake off the 'baggage' they don't want to take with to the line. Those surges that come every so often that can rip the legs off even well trained and fit lads and lasses?

 

Even just that acceleration when there is a sharp turn ......

[rouxtjie]

Just wondering how much 'racecraft' or experience racing in those bunches plays a role in being able to hang in there?

 

Even strong guys that are very fit get caught out purely by the tactics employed by the well experienced few front runners that will do whatever it takes to shake off the 'baggage' they don't want to take with to the line. Those surges that come every so often that can rip the legs off even well trained and fit lads and lasses?

 

Even just that acceleration when there is a sharp turn ......

remember those pocket rockets at the fastone....ag my koot, I haven't hurt like that ever again

[Frosty]

Just wondering how much 'racecraft' or experience racing in those bunches plays a role in being able to hang in there?

 

Even strong guys that are very fit get caught out purely by the tactics employed by the well experienced few front runners that will do whatever it takes to shake off the 'baggage' they don't want to take with to the line. Those surges that come every so often that can rip the legs off even well trained and fit lads and lasses?

 

Even just that acceleration when there is a sharp turn ......

Yip, like what happened to me at the Midvaal 100, when the 2 lead tandems hit the downhill at the halfway mark.

 

Getting dropped on the descent wasn't the problem, being in the gutter and trying to close multiple gaps over 3km was the killer.

[Wez-O]

My recon ride last Sunday (with the previously mentioned detours) came to 1,600m elevation gain. Last years race was 1,300. Make of that what you will...

[Spinnekop]

My recon ride last Sunday (with the previously mentioned detours) came to 1,600m elevation gain. Last years race was 1,300. Make of that what you will...

ooooooo this is going to hurt on so many levels......uurrrggg.....