Argus 2014-Lessons Learned

[GLuvsMtb]

Here is one with overlays of prior years times.

[GLuvsMtb]

2012 there seemed to be much more of a tail ito finishing times. Apart from it being quite hot in 2012, seeding could also have accounted for a flatter peak.

[djandre]

Anyone who rode the P&P Argus tour yesterday with an opinion on what worked and especially what DIDN'T! Please feel free to state your gripes and wins here and we'll forward it to Supreme Chancellor Zille to fix or at least consider for next year.

 

As my first Argus I was luckily with old-hands who showed me the way to go, so preparation, timing, parking and loading into the chute was pretty smooth sailing. It did help that I arrived early. All I had to do was look out for the Standard Bank building, as per map and get to H-group (and freeze) and wait.

 

There are a few things I would do differently;

 

Start procedure-

• deploy much more staff to check the 5 "required to race" items (chip, numbers on h/bars; on brake cable;on shirt, a helmet, race card)
  
• have more access points for riders to get to their respective groups
  
• add more lighting at the start holding areas
  
• supply more toilets and refuse bins at start area
  
• potentially add paid lock-up storage at start line
  
• deploy marshals inside the chutes to stop late-comers from pushing past riders who arrived on time, to secure better start position
  
• on windy and even non-windy days, add some sort of windbreak on exit of the start line (just past the buildings), to prevent cyclists getting blown off their bikes 30 seconds into the race
  

Timing of groups releases-

• Accept LESS entrants and charge a nominal amount more to recover that loss of income and THEN release the different groups further apart i.e. the current short intervals between groups are causing bottle-necks from Muizenberg through till halfway up Smitswinkel and the concertina effect on the Atlantic seaboard is potentially dangerous. Our group caught the G-group on the Blue Route and were caught by the head of F-group and even some flyers from J-group at Muizenberg because of the slow-and-go after Blue Route
  

Race timing(racetec)

• I had a noticeable discrepancy in my recorded time and official time of 3mins. I personally started my Polar RCX 5 -20 seconds after the starters gun and stopped it about 30 seconds after crossing the line, so maybe consider having a second timing supplier ( and NO it doesnt auto stop- also I didnt stop or get off once, so bugs in system??? No?
  

General observations

• The commentator at the finish line offering drinks could have more than one joke-something to do with “switching the wind off next year”
  
• More beer tents!
  
• Complimentary massages closer to the finish line
  
• More signage directing people to the Cyclelab and other VIP areas
  
• Not to play that “Suikerbossie” song at foot of Suikerbossie climb
  
• Deploy a person with a warning flag on final turn before Beach Road stretch to the finish line. I nearly overcooked it there, going in too hot and that would have been a long run carrying my bike
  

In spite of the wind, the race was a big success and an absolute pleasure to ride and more especially pleasurable to finish. I can’t wait for next year and will start training for sub 3 from tomorrow. Promise!

 

If you really want to know i did it in 03:36:06

 

 

Even If you got all those (nice) things, I get the feeling you still would've complained about something. just an observation. Peace

[Winstonian1984]

 

My advice, rather than trying to convince the organisers to change the system to something that would suit you. Take the effort to figure out how the seeding works (The seeding on PPA website is a good start), plan your cycling year properly then it's easy to get the seeding you feel you deserve.

 

This being my first Argus, I didnt know what to expect. I had fun though starting at 9:12 and finishing with a 4:16. Having read majority of the argus related threads about seedings etc, I think that finding a system to work for each individual is very hard to find, and as Skubarra has said, plan your cycling and set a "seeding index" goal, so that you are responsible for your start time come the Argus in 2015.

 

Being my first argus, I dont have any major cycling event to compare to, however I found that the Distance between the hospitality area, bike park and finish area are too far apart. Maybe it is set out like that due to logistics.

 

Can anyone explain why the parking area was vacant next to the finish area? could that space not be used?

[GLuvsMtb]

 

This being my first Argus, I didnt know what to expect. I had fun though starting at 9:12 and finishing with a 4:16. Having read majority of the argus related threads about seedings etc, I think that finding a system to work for each individual is very hard to find, and as Skubarra has said, plan your cycling and set a "seeding index" goal, so that you are responsible for your start time come the Argus in 2015.

 

Being my first argus, I dont have any major cycling event to compare to, however I found that the Distance between the hospitality area, bike park and finish area are too far apart. Maybe it is set out like that due to logistics.

 

Can anyone explain why the parking area was vacant next to the finish area? could that space not be used?

that is where the media trucks etc was that did the live broadcast. Also consider the pro podiums, interview areas etc. those would have been packed up by 11am. The rest of the finish area would have been set up between Friday night and Saturday night, so once the media circus left the space would be vacant.

[Pure Savage]

Here is an interesting graph on finishing times for this year.

 

Cant read the axis, whats up with the graph and what do we get from it? Can we tell what start groups they were from?

[GLuvsMtb]

Cant read the axis, whats up with the graph and what do we get from it? Can we tell what start groups they were from?

X axis is time increment (3 minutes), Y axis is number of riders (increments of 50) finishing within that time increment. It does not show batches but finish times only. One can assume that the spikes (particularly in Q1 of the race) represents the bulk of the groups and the dips represent the straglers / break aways. The graphs indicate the following:

2013 have quicker averages than 2014 (wind?)

2012 had more riders in the back end (heat / seeding?)

[Winstonian1984]

that is where the media trucks etc was that did the live broadcast. Also consider the pro podiums, interview areas etc. those would have been packed up by 11am. The rest of the finish area would have been set up between Friday night and Saturday night, so once the media circus left the space would be vacant.

 

Ah ok. Thanks for that.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Winstonian1984

[Pure Savage]

X axis is time increment (3 minutes), Y axis is number of riders (increments of 50) finishing within that time increment. It does not show batches but finish times only. One can assume that the spikes (particularly in Q1 of the race) represents the bulk of the groups and the dips represent the straglers / break aways. The graphs indicate the following:

2013 have quicker averages than 2014 (wind?)

2012 had more riders in the back end (heat / seeding?)

 

Awesome! Thanks for the graph. I reckon the wind slowed down the 3:15ers more than sub 3ers

 

 

[NeoOne]

Even If you got all those (nice) things, I get the feeling you still would've complained about something. just an observation. Peace

[G e r h a r d Odendaal]

Don't buy stuff from the expo to eat or drink for the race if you never tried it before.

 

Youve been watching Super Sport right?

[jkoorts]

Super Sport? What is that?

 

My TV is not connected to a dish or aerial

 

Anyway, had a bit of tummy upset and nearly took a dump between the bushes at clifton.