The Munga MTB Race

[gummibear]

Now the question - who will do the race on a cyclo cross bike.....?

This is what the gravel grinder was made for......

 

http://imgur.com/34bWbBR.jpg

[Wyatt Earp]

I have to wonder.

What is the aim of the organisers with such a big winning purse ?

Who do they plan on getting there ?

Are they trying to put SA mountain biking on the map ?(it already is)

 

And I disagree that a top adventure racing team will win.

As much as I admire them and respect what they do and are capable of.

 

The winning team will comprise of cyclists that sit just outside that top 5-10 % of any given field, but they can ride that pace the entire day, they will also be the best when it comes to nutrition and hydration, one of the riders is mechanically very sound and they can perform well under sleep deprivation.

 

They would also have to be mature enough to get along regardless of what gets thrown at them.

I reckon a RAAM winner is the type of individual we will be looking at to take the winning ticket.

[DIPSLICK]

I have to wonder.

What is the aim of the organisers with such a big winning purse ?

Who do they plan on getting there ?

Are they trying to put SA mountain biking on the map ?(it already is)

 

And I disagree that a top adventure racing team will win.

As much as I admire them and respect what they do and are capable of.

 

The winning team will comprise of cyclists that sit just outside that top 5-10 % of any given field, but they can ride that pace the entire day, they will also be the best when it comes to nutrition and hydration, one of the riders is mechanically very sound and they can perform well under sleep deprivation.

 

They would also have to be mature enough to get along regardless of what gets thrown at them.

I reckon a RAAM winner is the type of individual we will be looking at to take the winning ticket.

 

sounds like you throwing your name in the hat, IF YOU GUARANTEE ME A WIN, ILL PAY THE ENTRY AND SPLIT THE WINNINGS :whistling:

[Headshot]

Its aimed at being blood and guts - sort of like the mtb Hunger Games/Survivor combo with no killing, but maybe some deaths. I think it is great and will make good television and social media fodder. Its a change from the usual staid stage race scene - yes its expensive but at least the winners and others will be rewarded richly - unlike that other event which costs half as much per team now, offers limited prizes and has become as boring as hell, IMHO.

 

Of course time will tell whether this actually works. They could make this almost impossible to finish in 5 days if they choose their route with mountains and MTB in mind. If its just dirt roads, then yes, it will be more like a RAAM and not as exciting as it sounds at the moment. Somehow I doubt it will be just a boring slog but who knows...

[sometime]

Munga-organisers launches by far the most expensive mtb race in the world and nobody supposed to comment on the entry fee? Now there is a "ignorant and cognitively immature" demand if I ever saw one.

 

Maybe share some of your sage insight into "free market economy" to convince the whiners?

 

If informed, well reasoned debate is regarded as comment then fine. But bashing out on your keyboard about how much the race costs, and how people are being ripped off, and how much money the organisers will make, and who do they think they are charging so much blah, blah, blah is childlike whining.

 

A Market economy is an economy in which decisions regarding investment, production and distribution are based on supply and demand,^[1] and prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system

 

Source - Wikipedia

[Stretch]

If informed, well reasoned debate is regarded as comment then fine. But bashing out on your keyboard about how much the race costs, and how people are being ripped off, and how much money the organisers will make, and who do they think they are charging so much blah, blah, blah is childlike whining.

 

 

you see, if you actually read this thread - particularly in the last few pages - you will not see anything like that - please direct me to a recent post which says people are being ripped off? saying something is expensive does not imply being ripped off

[DIPSLICK]

BARNEY BARNEY BARNEY

[_David_]

This race is like "The Cannonball Run" for mountain bikes... Anyone can enter, everyone starts in one bunch at the same time. The first team to cross the finish line wins $750 000... This race will definitely take off!

 

http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/cannonball-run.jpg

 

Anyway I think its like Sean Badenhorst said - "For those complaining about the Munga entry fee; it's not a compulsory race. We have 50+ other great stage races in SA":-)

[tubed]

Enjoying reading the opinions on who may or may not be considered a winner.

 

I agree that the RAAM or Great Divide would be the place to start looking, I guess you just have to look at Alex Harris's palmares to figure out where he has been challenged and that should give a good indication of who he admires and may have had in mind.

 

Locally the obvious ones would be the past Freedom Challenge winners or runners up with maybe some of the 36One or Transbaviaans riders as challengers.

 

In my view the biggest consideration will be the route and the conditions. If the route is district road then its very different to one involving portaging and navigation at night, these last two factors will play a big role, (hell some guys cant even follow route signs in broad daylight.)

 

My early choices would be Dreyers (USN), Bird (Merrell), Harrison, etc.

Into that mix I would throw an Aramex team of James and Macintosh.

Perhaps a Rebull mix of Sandes and Griesel.

 

Of the road pros, I think they don't know the sleep deprivation side and for that there is little time to be race prepared. The only one I know who has some grinta is Lill, the others may well have it too, but the fact that they rode the 36One as a relay means to me they are still unproven.

 

Lastly the Race to Rhodes this year will be about the best idea of who is serious, its a newish addition to RASA and last year a couple of seasoned characters came unstuck in trying to get to Rhodes in one go, what it did show is how vulnerable even the best prepared and experienced can be when fatigue weakens the body.

 

"The Munga - a dash for cash"

[Skubarra]

If informed, well reasoned debate is regarded as comment then fine. But bashing out on your keyboard about how much the race costs, and how people are being ripped off, and how much money the organisers will make, and who do they think they are charging so much blah, blah, blah is childlike whining.

 

A Market economy is an economy in which decisions regarding investment, production and distribution are based on supply and demand,^[1] and prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system

 

Source - Wikipedia

 

Thanks, what I'm actually looking for is some well reasoned comments on why charging a seemingly ridiculous amount for a mtb race actually makes economic sense. The type of insight we'll not be getting from wikipedia copy + pastes

 

Anyway I think its like Sean Badenhorst said - "For those complaining about the Munga entry fee; it's not a compulsory race. We have 50+ other great stage races in SA":-)

 

If the race doesn't take off, Sean Badenhorst may just have given us one of the main reasons why....

[sometime]

saying something is expensive does not imply being ripped off

 

Ignoring the important question of defining what 'expensive' means:

 

A Specialized is expensive when compared to a Giant. I chose to ride a Giant.

 

Racing Ralph tyres are expensive when compared to Crossmark. I chose to run Schwalbe.

 

XTR is expensive when compared to XT. I chose to run XT

 

You may have exactly the opposite choices and we can have a good debate around the rationale of our repective decisions in the context of our respective expectations, requirments and budgets. But to state as fact that Shimano are charging too much for XTR or that I have too much money for running Racing Ralph's or that Specialized are making too much money is irrational and ignorant.

[DIPSLICK]

PERSONALLY this is the way i see it, ie my opinion

the beeeg boy pros can ride like bats out of hell, they beat us by hours by the time we pulled in they have had showers ,,chow,, massages and they chlling in the hotels, thats were i see a problem for the BEEG BOY PROS i know they put in beeeeeg mileage in training, but i really dont think they are conditioned to do events like this so i think they will not be as keen or up to the task, i think the winner will be a toppie, not a young PRO

[sometime]

Thanks, what I'm actually looking for is some well reasoned comments on why charging a seemingly ridiculous amount for a mtb race actually makes economic sense. The type of insight we'll not be getting from wikipedia copy + pastes

 

 

Why does it have to make sense?

[Sasquatch]

I just want to know who is going to pay for the Quota Rides, I am sure I can pay someone a "Marketing" fee to make me look previously disadvantage

[DIPSLICK]

Why does it have to make sense?

Thanks, what I'm actually looking for is some well reasoned comments on why charging a seemingly ridiculous amount for a mtb race actually makes economic sense. The type of insight we'll not be getting from wikipedia copy + pastes

 

 

 

If the race doesn't take off, Sean Badenhorst may just have given us one of the main reasons why....

honestly i know there is expensive ways of doing things and then there is a cheap way,,,CYCLING MAKES ZERO ECONOMIC SENSE period, speak to mates about cycling who dont cycle they will think you are mad(mine do)

COST OF MULTIDAY EVENTS

BUYING BIKES

UPGRADES

BIBS

[rouxtjie]

honestly i know there is expensive ways of doing things and then there is a cheap way,,,CYCLING MAKES ZERO ECONOMIC SENSE period, speak to mates about cycling who dont cycle they will think you are mad(mine do)

COST OF MULTIDAY EVENTS

BUYING BIKES

UPGRADES

BIBS

Yahtzeee....its a bottomless pit for money.

 

But oh my, its so lekker donnering your money down it.