Argus 2014-Lessons Learned

[carbon29er]

I learnt that Snickers have a bigger marketing budget to pay the organisers than Bar One. Would swop my goody bag Snicker for the Bar One girls on the bend just before descending into Misty Cliffs, any day.

Were their dancing girls along the course? I must pay more attention next year.

[carbon29er]

The organisers should have marshals to warn riders as well as barriers on the sharp 90 degree right hand turn on the Chapmans Peak decent (just after the toll booths). Apparently there were later in the day, but nothing at 9:00am. I for one had a major crash there and went over the wall and down Champmans cliff face. While recovered my bike, another 3 riders crashed in 2 separate accidents on the corner.

So the organisers get the blame because we go downhill too quickly? What next, they left some bumps in the road? A catseye didn't have a cover over it? A manhole cover was left exposed?

[Pure Savage]

The organisers should have marshals to warn riders as well as barriers on the sharp 90 degree right hand turn on the Chapmans Peak decent (just after the toll booths). Apparently there were later in the day, but nothing at 9:00am. I for one had a major crash there and went over the wall and down Champmans cliff face. While recovered my bike, another 3 riders crashed in 2 separate accidents on the corner.

 

Us locals need a home turf advantage over those that get to train at altitude

 

Just kidding, hope you heal up well and remember that spot next year

[canadonis]

 

 

While I get the whole fun rider bit, are you seriously saying that the lack of a free little chocolate bar caused this much discontent in your day? You couldn't just put a piece of food in your back pocket?

 

Ha ha I hear you but its the vibe with the free chockies and the girls and local people generally in happy mood that was missed. Come on snickers create the a vibe it's. Not abt filling the tour organizers coffers.

[TALUS]

Epic

Think I was sitting near you at the start. On the pavement near the loos. Still saw you just before Smits I think. Well done. If you were on a Santa you would have been faster though

[Boozman]

^{Overall I think it was well organised as always.}

 

^{The only thing I did not like was the KM markers every km. Nothing like knowing you still have 95kms to go.}

 

^{There was also a slight problem with kids running across the road just after Smits. They were playing some game and the guy in front of me almost clipped a little girl.}

 

^{80% of the problems with the Argus are the people and not the organisers. People are idiots and they cause accidents which I realised on Sunday especially with this wind.}

[Tubehunter]

Jeeeeeez, you lot can gripe! If you're coming to the Argus to race, be ready to race. Do some race day prep then. If you've committed that many hours of training and nutrition to be ready then also consider a recce of the route slowly before, yep in a car if you must, making some notes. If not, there are enough videos of the route available from many options. Check em out.

 

The seeding is as close to perfect as it can be without taking into account everyone's individual aspirations for the event. I've done both fast and slow Argus's, some slow one's from the front and some fast one's from the middle to back. The reasons for those chosen efforts were entirely dependant on how I felt and the Organisers can't plan for that. Woke up feeling unwell one year and went to check on the bike in the morning with both tubbies flat and training wheels had a proper buckle. Jumped on the mountainbike and did a 6 plus hour cruise around the peninsula, stopping at all those spectators who taunt you when you're riding and drank the beer and ate their bacon off their skottel. Had a whale of a time. Started in my normal seeding time as I had other committments for the early evening that would not allow me to drop right to the back. We all have to earn our seeding and it is our individual choice on how to use it.

 

Oh and yes OP there is a locakable bag service in operation at the start and has been for years. That's why your race pack includes the sticker for your tog bag...

 

The 1 min gaps in the front groups is a new thing and personally I don't think it worked well. As is the start chute process. This needs some more work too.

 

That being said... Well done Cycle Tour Trust on yet another great event. See you next year!!!!

['Dale]

Great event

Imperfect like anything but mostly superbly organised

 

Every year, I see little improvements and new innovations

 

The spirit of this event - wow really special

[TALUS]

Tubehunter - I mostly agree. Adding a few extra minute gaps in the beginning can be absorbed a bit further back easily. Surely big groups at speed is not a great plan. B/C was one group within a few K's.

[TALUS]

I had a rough look at my data - I lost all my time in the first 38km. After that held perfect splits for my target. I spent quite a bit of time TT into the wind to try and catch-up after an early crash. Big groups and wind must make a difference (I know the wind helped up Suikerbossie but it was a problem on both descents). I am really trying to tell myself I should keep on doing what I did for training. Age is creeping up quickly now.

[Skubarra]

I had a rough look at my data - I lost all my time in the first 38km. After that held perfect splits for my target. I spent quite a bit of time TT into the wind to try and catch-up after an early crash. Big groups and wind must make a difference (I know the wind helped up Suikerbossie but it was a problem on both descents). I am really trying to tell myself I should keep on doing what I did for training. Age is creeping up quickly now.

 

That's the frustrating thing for us mere mortals chasing a Sub-3, the margin of error is so small that months of training & effort can all go down the drain on the back of one small mishap, you really need a number of stars to align for you in the lead-up and on the day as well..

 

Hopefully in 2015 being a bit wiser and maybe slightly better prepared will make up for being a year older

[Toon63]

my first Argus and will be there next year again

I enjoyed it to start late

 

nice vibe!!!!!!!!

[jkoorts]

There are 55-60 year olds doing sub3's.

 

That's the frustrating thing for us mere mortals chasing a Sub-3, the margin of error is so small that months of training & effort can all go down the drain on the back of one small mishap, you really need a number of stars to align for you in the lead-up and on the day as well..

 

Hopefully in 2015 being a bit wiser and maybe slightly better prepared will make up for being a year older

[Sarnicoview]

Nooo, and I started in LL, with an Argus of 4:45. Maybe he does lots of other qualifying races. As a mountain biker, I didn't bother to re seed with all the off road races I do.

[Skubarra]

There are 55-60 year olds doing sub3's.

 

I wouldn't classify a 55-60 year old doing a sub3 as a fellow "mere mortal"...

[AndrewF]

Seeding seems to always be a topic post any "big" event. There are tons of other races to perform in where the "weekend warriors" are not participating. Race those ones and just take the bigger ones as they come?

 

I do think that some work needs to happen with the seeding in terms of the safety aspect. Having riders who clearly don't know how to bunch ride or hold lines through corners (never mind the wind issue) makes it VERY unsafe for themselves and fellow riders. I'm sure those riders also k*k themselves being surrounded by competent racers. I saw some very white faced mtb "commuters" who had started in D/E/F groups...

 

This was my first Argus and I absolutely loved it. The start system needs some work, but hey, they handles 30 000 odd riders pretty well. As said before, this is a large race. I knew this and got to the start early. Yes, this means waking up a little earlier and being chilly for an hour prior to starting. So what?! It's all part of the event.

 

The only concern I had on the day was safety. I have never seen so many crashes at an event. Even mtb races have fewer falls

 

I know the wind was an issue, but the development and "bumped" seeded riders issue needs to be addressed. That crash early on on the M3 (probably J/K group riders) was horrendous! maybe 20 riders went down at 40kph? More than likely due to someone who does not know how to ride in a bunch properly.

 

All round though - props to the organisers and a big Fu to the Cape Doctor - could have been a sub 3

 

Happy with the 3:27 though!

 

Scrumpy