AmaShova 2014

[Falco]

Has anyone who asked for race numbers / packs to be couriered, actually received them? I know I haven't.

[Spirog]

Has anyone who asked for race numbers / packs to be couriered, actually received them? I know I haven't.

Nothing received yet, and no response from organisers to my query.

[FlyingScot]

Thanks tombeej for uploading the pictures with descriptions - really gives us first timers an idea of whats coming!

 

It looks like it is turning out to be a challenging ride, still looking very forward!

[pe3nguin]

First Shova.

Anyone with a bit of insight - could you translate a 2:35 bike leg in the TriRock to a potential Shova time?

[lucmccann]

Tombeej, keep 'em coming.

 

I can use all the pointers I can get for the day! I'm chasing a good time from this ride in the hope to qualify for World Champs next year

[tombeej]

Once you have bombed down the bends on the backside of Inchanga, you continue riding along the dragons back and ascend up through Drummond and on to Bothas Hill.

 

I couldn't find a cycling pic of the Drummond/Bothas Hill stretch, but here's one from Comrades below. In the top left corner you can see the flat-top summit of Inchanga that you would have just come from.

 

I say 'dragons back' because that's what is feels like - this is a continuous ridge line that runs all the way to Hillcrest with steep drops on either side. 

 

This stretch is twisty rollers, up and down, until it all ends with the fast descent down Bothas Hill. And then you keep heading down until you reach the M13 highway.

 

[b-rad]

Has anyone who asked for race numbers / packs to be couriered, actually received them? I know I haven't.

I received mine last week.

[tombeej]

Tombeej, keep 'em coming.

 

I can use all the pointers I can get for the day! I'm chasing a good time from this ride in the hope to qualify for World Champs next year

 

Re. race strategy for racing snakes, here are my thoughts (from someone who rides much of this course pretty much every weekend):

 

Section 1: From the Start up Fox Hill to the Thornville turn @ 17km:

• Almost all climbing, and into a headwind. Must stay at the front, but out of the wind until that left turn.

 

Section 2: Thornville turn @ 17km to Cato Ridge @ 43km:

• If the cross winds happen as I predict, it will shatter the bunches. If you’re not in the front at the Thornville turn then you’ll miss the front bunch when it goes.

 

Section 3: Cato Ridge @ 43km to Bothas Hill @ 60km: 

• An opportunity for a small group to get away if you’ve got strong legs. There’s lots of little ups and downs, it’s twisty and forested, so easy to get out of sight of a chasing bunch.

• This section ends with a descent down Bothas Hill that continues pretty much all the way to the M13 (6km of descending).

 

Section 4: M13 Highway @ 66km to N3 Highway @ 95km:

• If you’re still in a big bunch then chill from here and wait for your opportunity at 45th Cutting or the Berea ridge.

• The M13 is a wide open highway with a few testy rollers early on to burn tired legs, but you’ll feel that cross wind again as well.

• Enjoy the rush of the descent down Fields Hill (nearly 4km long) and then a fast flat ride down through Westville to 45th Cutting.

• You’ll know you’re at 45th Cutting when the fast, easy riding you’ve been enjoying suddenly comes to an abrupt end and you’re faced with a short little leg burner up to some traffic lights (end of highway). Riders can get away here because sometimes the legs don’t want to respond quickly enough.

 

The Finale: The last 10km:

• After 45th Cutting you hook onto the N3 Highway into Durbs. There is one last little bump to consider – over the Berea ridge. At the end of a hard race it could be another place to break away if you’re trying to avoid a sprint finish.

• Over the top of Berea, you bomb down into the City Centre (Look sharp! Even though the road is closed, people will still walk into the road and there have been some nasty high-speed collisions in town in the past).

• There is a hard left turn that puts you onto to the 2.5km straight drag that takes you to Moses Mabhida stadium. This is last years finishing straight and the wind will be at your back – very fast.

• This year they have extended the finish line. We’re not finishing in front of the stadium anymore, but a little bit further on.

• We will go past the old finish and take two quick hard right hand turns on to the boulevard going past Suncoast casino. A u-turn back into the wind.

• Again, look sharp here! This is going to be a tricky sprint finish. There are 2 traffic circles to get around and then the final 200m of bending road to the line. You will also be sprinting into a headwind so timing is important.

 

Here’s an image showing how the finish has changed. The yellow line starts from where last years finish line was:

[lucmccann]

 

 

 

You're a champ!

 

We should be getting race previews like this for every event

[FlyingScot]

Great thanks for all the work tombeej, much appreciated!

 

Any suggestions for someone looking for a sub 03:00:00, specifically how to approach Fox Hill, bearing in mind I start in batch C...not that great...

[shaun85]

@flyingscot find a couple guys and stick together taking turns to pull up Fox Hill. Don't sit at the back of a bunch that doesn't look quick enough. You'll know if they have intentions of sub 3hrs or not. For Inchanga start at the front so if you do drop back due to the pace you should be able to hold on till the crest. It is about 6mins of hard effort but will shatter the bunch separating the cyclists from the posers. Drink at the top of Bothas Hill so you have sugar in the legs for Kassier climb up to the hospital.

[tombeej]

You're a champ!

 

We should be getting race previews like this for every event

 

See you on the start line in 'A'.

But I've eaten too many pies this winter and enjoyed too much beach time, so I've got no aspirations for a result. If I'm still with the bunch at the top of Fox Hill I'll be shocked

[tombeej]

@flyingscot find a couple guys and stick together taking turns to pull up Fox Hill. Don't sit at the back of a bunch that doesn't look quick enough. You'll know if they have intentions of sub 3hrs or not. For Inchanga start at the front so if you do drop back due to the pace you should be able to hold on till the crest. It is about 6mins of hard effort but will shatter the bunch separating the cyclists from the posers. Drink at the top of Bothas Hill so you have sugar in the legs for Kassier climb up to the hospital.

 

Absolutely right - you can see right away which guys are serious about riding for a time. 

 

@flyingscot, hook in behind them right away (the climbing starts about 1.5km from the start) and see if the pace is ok. The top guys in 'C' last year came in comfortably inside 3:00 so you should have a few good guys in there to work with. Fox Hill - full gas if you can. Most of it is very slight gradient, don't get too stressed about it.

 

 

Edit: I see that the top 15 riders in C batch broke 3 hrs last year. But take into account the extra 5 minutes or so for the longer course. Based on that 5 min yardstick, the top 8 from last year would have stayed under 3 hrs.

[LongDonkey]

Hubbers and their batches (let me know if I've left anyone out):

 

 

Elite:

Spoke101 (?)

 

Corporate/Charity:

N-I-N-J-A

 

BB (Buddy):

Motard660

Harryn

 

MTA:

Garrethk

MariusKlokie

Slipstream08

 

TA (tandems):

SeanMort

geraldm24

 

VA:

JA-Q001

Prozac

 

A:

AryM

bradwentzel

 

lucmccann

shaun85

tombeej

Too tall

 

B:

BMXER

daithibach

 

C:

FlyingScot

JGR

Quintonb

Tjeckboek

 

D:

pe3nguin

Rob K

Wikusk

ZooBear

 

E:

Stiglitz86

 

F:

Dazshell

jimmycool

Pusher

Spirog

 

G:

TK-Sp3cialiSt

 

I:

Javas X

 

J:

Mailman7412

 

N:

RooiWillie

 

P:

Julian Goldmann

[Spirog]

Absolutely right - you can see right away which guys are serious about riding for a time. 

 

@flyingscot, hook in behind them right away (the climbing starts about 1.5km from the start) and see if the pace is ok. The top guys in 'C' last year came in comfortably inside 3:00 so you should have a few good guys in there to work with. Fox Hill - full gas if you can. Most of it is very slight gradient, don't get too stressed about it.

 

 

Edit: I see that the top 15 riders in C batch broke 3 hrs last year. But take into account the extra 5 minutes or so for the longer course. Based on that 5 min yardstick, the top 8 from last year would have stayed under 3 hrs.

 

I received mine last week.

Just in from organisers via email...

 

Dear Cyclist

 

We are contacting you regarding the courier of your race number -  due to circumstances beyond our control your race number has been delayed due to a strike affecting the delivery of these numbers. We apologise for the stress and inconvenience this may have caused.

 

We have just heard that a number of numbers were dispatched this morning and should reach you either later today or  tomorrow.

 

If your number does not reach you by the time you leave for the race we have a contingency in place  -  Caroline from our office will be on the start line on Sunday morning -  she will be positioned under the PMB City Hall Portico next to her red car with an official sticker across the back and front windows – and she will hand your number to you!  We apologise for this and trust that you will enjoy your ride on Sunday.

 

Many Thanks

 

Annie Batchelder - Race Director

 

[LongDonkey]

For those who think the first climb is gentle and easy..... its not.

 

Plan A

Get hopelessly outclassed again in Batch A. Do a nice lung pukeing pace up to top of Fox hill, and still loose out 3 minutes to A batch leaders. Wait for the B batch lead bus to come past. Hook in and wheel suck as long as I can.

 

Plan B

Pray