The Munga MTB Race

[rock]

Kevin Evans has dropped some hints, not sure if he is serious though

 

Kev and David George reunited ??

[andydude]

it will be a toppie not a pro laaitjie

 

Pros go till old! So since you're so sure of of no roadie winning, give me good odds?

 

Giro today...

 

[andydude]

 

To me a big issue is going to be the drug tests. With this much money at stake there will be chancers.

 

Drug tests is a joke as in the rules. Probably just PR. Amateur who doesn't race, dopes to the gills, stops a week before, no problems.

 

This in any case sounds to me like a WWF 'match'. Not real, but good entertainment.

 

Go roadies!

[Kennyrfagan]

I am one of those crazy cyclists that have done some long solo rides in neighbouring countries . However the cost of this is the only thing holding me back . I think it would be nice to be a part of a big 1000km scramble. I know that my only chance would be for the under dog pick. In the end it will be more for the survivors badge.

[eddy]

Pros go till old! So since you're so sure of of no roadie winning, give me good odds?

 

Giro today...

 

 

And after a 4 and half hours he stopped, was given a hot bath and massage, dressed warmly, fed a high energy cooked meal and had 12 hours of sleep in a soft bed.

 

Meanwhile, the other guys were cycling.........

[DJR]

Pros go till old! So since you're so sure of of no roadie winning, give me good odds?

 

Giro today...

 

And after a 4 and half hours he stopped, was given a hot bath and massage, dressed warmly, fed a high energy cooked meal and had 12 hours of sleep in a soft bed.

 

Meanwhile, the other guys were cycling.........

 

This is why I like the Hub! To both of you

[andydude]

This is why I like the Hub! To both of you

 

Glad we could entertain you!

 

Can't you see I'm trying to steer the debate away from 26 vs 29 to roadies vs mtbers again?!

[Wyatt Earp]

And after a 4 and half hours he stopped, was given a hot bath and massage, dressed warmly, fed a high energy cooked meal and had 12 hours of sleep in a soft bed.

 

Meanwhile, the other guys were cycling.........

 

I like this Eddy guy a little.

[Wuzzie]

As someone who would be a rider and not in it to win it one has to ask.

Why is it so expensive if its unsupported. You are basically paying R100k for someone to map out a route. Probably an insane amount of district road. They are obviously hoping for min 100 entries to cover prize money and the rest is profit.

Not adverse to people profiting in MTB its a good thing but this formula is flawed.

The main bunch are riding a long unsupported boring ride at a huge cost to pay for the marketing hype, which is a huge purse to go to a few probables.

Then they try do a lottery system for the "sponsor" riders.

Rather charge much less give smaller prizes and create a kick ass supported race with big corporate sponsors.

another point the race will be around 3 days for winners the others will be riding alone with nobody interested as the big prize would have been won already. Only the golden ticket left to win.

I think Freedom Challenge and Epic are far more appealing.

[Skubarra]

Why is it so expensive if its unsupported.

 

It can really only be one of 2 things,

 

either you are contributing to the pot of prize money with the chance to win the big lucky draw - kind of like a stokvel with mtb bells & whistles

 

or

 

You are contributing to the organiser's massive profits because you get the chance to earn awesome bragging rights.

[Danger Dassie]

Organised anything similar then?

 

Granted it's a premium to enter. But organising an 'unssuported' event is still a mammoth task.

 

Emergency services co-ordination alone is an expensive exercise, and across multiple provinces. Plus event staff still, logistics, land access, security etc etc...

Alex and co spent two years odd 'mapping' a route.

 

FYI - the funding, including prize money has been secured already. Yes it's a premium event, it's never been denied. What other event anywhere can you win $100 000 as a lucky prize?

 

I'd love to enter and do a Dakar as a privateer, but unfortunately it's very much out of my finances. Although if I really wanted to do it, I'd make a plan. Same applies.

Good on the organisers, good on anyone who manages an entry (sponsored, self funded etc) and respect to anyone winning/completing it within the 2-5 days.

[Skubarra]

Organised anything similar then?

 

Granted it's a premium to enter. But organising an 'unssuported' event is still a mammoth task.

 

 

Nope, I have never organised a race. Ignoring prize money would it be much more expensive to organise this race than the Freedom Challenge which is more than double in distance and duration? The FC costs about R20K that is why I'm thinking about R30K is either contributing to the prize money or to the organisers pockets.

 

FYI - the funding, including prize money has been secured already. Yes it's a premium event, it's never been denied.

If the prize money is secured (and not recouped from the entry fee) then the premium can only go to the profits - that was the second possibility I mentioned..

 

What other event anywhere can you win $100 000 as a lucky prize?

Yes, and you pay for that lucky draw, which was the first possibility I mentioned.

 

Seems we are in agreement then.

[_David_]

I see the Munga made it onto BikeRadar.

 

Harris told BikeRadar: “I kind of found myself asking the question, what part does money play in this pool of characteristics around what truly motivates, and I truly believe money would play a big part. I also wondered why these fringe races don’t offer prize money and thought it would be great to offer something which combined all these elements.”

 

Despite some critical comments on prize money and entry fees from those who he called “purists”, Harris said the ‘overwhelming’ response the the race launch five days ago had been positive.

“By and large the overwhelming response has been positive. We’ve had just under 10 entries. We’ve had an entry from Italy already,” he said.

“Quite a few people are keen to enter but they want to know dependent is it on entries and we’re going to officially answer that in the next week or so to quell any fears,” he added.

 

Whether 10 guys or a hundred guys show up on the line, someone’s going to win $750,000,

 

http://www.bikeradar...launched-41183/

[Headshot]

Only ten entries so far! I wonder if they were expecting more interest...

[Skubarra]

Only ten entries so far! I wonder if they were expecting more interest...

 

Less than 10 actually.... But I guess just under 10 sounds better than 8

 

"We’ve had just under 10 entries. We’ve had an entry from Italy already,” he said."

 

Sarcasm aside, there might be a few "wait and see" interested people holding back until they are certain that the race will go ahead - going to be a bit of a challenge for organisers..

[banna]

Why are they making the entry fee so high? Not following the logic.