Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge 2014

[leon_pro]

Starting in E batch, I found the 20km odd to the highway two-paced, not to mention the highway section. Guys were not prepared to work upfront compared to last year. It felt like there was a decent headwind on the highway however, blowing from the front left shoulder.

 

Once we hit Joe Slovo the group pretty much disintegrated and until Witkoppen, it was a case of jumping between clusters of riders.

 

I approached the parking from Zinnia Rd and had absolutely no problems. I was there however nice and early as we did a car share and had an early starter.

 

Course:

Testing but good! 1402m of climbing over the 94km. Finished in 2h46min01sec.

Well done! Nice riding today! Broke a little on witkoppen . But was good. Finished 2:47.57. So close to the time you set at the start 2:45.

[Pusher]

Had a great day :-)

 

Guessed the traffic would be a problem so arranged for us to be dropped off by my step-daughter. Drove north up the N14 and then stopped on the grass near the Sandton / Harties off ramp and kitted up. Three of us rode from there to the start with lots of others. All down hill and without issue.

 

I started in AA with my son who's over from the UK (I was seeded M) and my partner started in X. That gave her 25mins head start over us. Started front of AA and took it fairly steady until we rode past Kyalami - which is always nice and fast. Then steady again until the M1 where we tried to turn it up a bit. Caught "Wendy" just before Joe Slovo and checked she was ok then just kept going . . . Played "Frogger" with pedestrians when we went past Ponte but other than that, no issues. Love the decents past the Zoo and through Randburg. Road got a bit dicey in Bryanston (those guys obviously don't pay their rates!) but we stayed upright. My son binned me going up Witkoppen from Douglasdale (how rude!) and I didn't reel him back in until the big climb on Cedar - which I've driven many times but never ridden. Felt a bit like Suikerbossie :-) He dropped me again going through SC but I caught him on the hills before the finish. There were more hills than either of us expected and I just had a bit more in the tank. I commented that "no one was talking much" on those last climbs and got some laughs. People were suffering in silence . . .

 

We finished wheel to wheel in 3:32. Dad is very proud of his boy, and hopefully the boy is impressed with his old man!

 

Overall, the atmosphere was fantastic, as always. The new route was tough, but do-able. The roadside support was great. Organisation (traffic aside) was good.

 

Apologies to anyone I may have cut up - it would have been unintentional.

 

Good day out. Next biggie - Berg & Dale . . . . ., then the Argus :-)

Kids! No respect for their elders.

[Ozzie NL]

Also made my group with 2 minutes to spare ,only because i parked next to the start by default .Horrific high speed crash by a single rider next to me down homestead .I saw the warning of " Uneven road surface "and reacted mtb style .He lost control of his front wheel and crashed at 60km/h at least with a crack as something broke when he went down .I rode swiftly and caughtiosley to the finish in 2h59"59 i think .I hope the rider is not to seriously hurt .Happend at about 8h30 .I found the route more difficult with a hot hill start and that last steyn city hill is a real smile wiper

That crash happened right behind me and heard a big single bang as he went down. Was bracing myself for someone sliding through and taking me down but was lucky

Anyone got news on state of this dude. Sounded really bad

[Pusher]

Some guy came past me on an electric bike without too much of an effort. I wonder if his results get adjusted?

[arendoog]

That crash happened right behind me and heard a big single bang as he went down. Was bracing myself for someone sliding through and taking me down but was lucky

Anyone got news on state of this dude. Sounded really bad

No news ,but it slowed me down in my mind considerably .Missed my sub 3h by 31 seconds

[GaryvdM]

Funny race day story: there was a guy in group D. CycleLab jersey. Very fit, but his riding style, and the fact he was always sitting outside of the group made me realise he probably does not have much riding experence. Anyway at the Homestead water point, where the people maning the point were very eager, this guy tries to get a cup while moving. The first one is a miss and ends up on the road. Never mind, try again, and he gets the second one, and chucks it over his helmet. The stickey thing though was that the cup had coke in it!

[Wyatt Earp]

The bunches didn't want to work together or couldn't work together.

Pretty much a solo ride for me on the first lap, on the second lap I had some good company from Joe Slovo to the water station going towards Rosebank.

[DIPSLICK]

The bunches didn't want to work together or couldn't work together.

Pretty much a solo ride for me on the first lap, on the second lap I had some good company from Joe Slovo to the water station going towards Rosebank.

Must say we worked well together at the pubs

[RossW]

Started in E and had a bit of a shocker. No one wanted to share the workload and pace was strange. Sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow.

Spot on. My feelings exactly having ridden in E as well.

[SimpleDom]

I managed a 3:29 from PP on the single speed, which I was pretty Happy with. From back there, the water points were a disaster. So many thirsty people blocking the road completely. No real complaint though... I really love the vibe of this race. Had a lot of good chats on the way.

[The_black_stig]

I managed a 3:29 from PP on the single speed, which I was pretty Happy with. From back there, the water points were a disaster. So many thirsty people blocking the road completely. No real complaint though... I really love the vibe of this race. Had a lot of good chats on the way.

Guess you're the SS rider, cruising up on the Cedar road uphill at 30kph and makes everyone looks weak in the knee...

but then again, I've also saw a number of SS also doing rounds at the back.

[MTB_wannabe]

One lady has the greatest amateur cyclist bragging rights in history... 'I was faster than Marianne Vos' even from another group...

Noticed that on the results too. In fact I think there were three ladies with a better overall time than Marianne.

[SpecialK]

Noticed that on the results too. In fact I think there were three ladies with a better overall time than Marianne.

I thought ladies were not allowed to ride in the A, B or C bunches...

[MTB_wannabe]

I thought ladies were not allowed to ride in the A, B or C bunches...

I am waaay to far back in the batches to know where these lady machines start. 

So first over the line takes gold, even if someone has a better time? - what are the details behind this as it is new to me

[SpecialK]

I am waaay to far back in the batches to know where these lady machines start.

So first over the line takes gold, even if someone has a better time? - what are the details behind this as it is new to me

First over the line from the racing bunch takes gold, so it becomes more about tactics than pure speed.

 

From the racing booklet:

"Any women found starting in open groups A, B or C will also be automatically disqualified as these groups are for the racing men exclusively"

[MTB_wannabe]

First over the line from the racing bunch takes gold, so it becomes more about tactics than pure speed.

 

From the racing booklet:

"Any women found starting in open groups A, B or C will also be automatically disqualified as these groups are for the racing men exclusively"

Txs for explaining SpecialK

Good bragging rights for the other three ladies though