WezGK Posted June 4, 2014 Posted June 4, 2014 Anyone ridden the Save the Rhino stage race (Bela-Bela)? Any thoughts?
Swart Kat Posted June 4, 2014 Posted June 4, 2014 Du Toit Tankwa Trek is also on my wish list,just a bit expensive for me at this stage. Dit is n baie harde race daai! Dit het menigte groot manne van CW lat les op se di jaar en ry nou sommer heeltemal minder of glad ni meer fiets na dit ni.
BenReaper Posted June 4, 2014 Posted June 4, 2014 Eendag as ek groot is.sal eers moet werk aan my fiksheid en vaardigheid op di fiets.
Jeanpg Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Is there still life in this topic? I'm keen to do a stage race and am at a point in life where the time and the money is available (although I'm not expecting this to be true long term...) Unfortunately, my mates are not at the same point - they talk a good game about wanting to do it, but family, work and finances don't quite allow it. What is the role of a team member in a stage race (other than having company and hanging out with mates), and what should one consider for (and which stage races are more appropriate to) a solo stage race.
WezGK Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Did my first stage race this past weekend- 3 Towers challenge, was amazing!! Stage race bug has bitten hard, have convinced my partner that we do Berg and Bush next year- hoping to get into at least the Great Trek and put us on the waiting list for Sani2c Trail-hopefully 2016....
I FLY Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 My bucket list:- Tankwa - takes place during my year end auditCape Pioneer - takes place during my financial budgeting periodLord of Chainrings- takes place during my financial budgeting periodPE to Plett3 Towers- takes place during my financial budgeting period It looks as if I will have to find another job that does not have a December financial yearend before I can complete my list.
Ispeed_V Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Have entered the NamaquaQuest 3 day race next September. Definitely something for the bucket list.
Lurch the stalker Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 One I am keen to do...www.transafrikabikerace.co.za
Tromp Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 My bucket list:- Tankwa - takes place during my year end auditCape Pioneer - takes place during my financial budgeting periodLord of Chainrings- takes place during my financial budgeting periodPE to Plett3 Towers- takes place during my financial budgeting period It looks as if I will have to find another job that does not have a December financial yearend before I can complete my list. Jup. I am also forever " budgeting " Races are way to expensive.
Skubarra Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Unfortunately, my mates are not at the same point - they talk a good game about wanting to do it, but family, work and finances don't quite allow it. What is the role of a team member in a stage race (other than having company and hanging out with mates), and what should one consider for (and which stage races are more appropriate to) a solo stage race. I am in a situation where my cycling mates are either not up for stage racing or are racing snakes way beyond my modest skills. Luckily there are a lot a lot of nice stage races where you don't need a partner and I have rarely missed having a team mate when doing those. I don't prepare differently for a solo stage race than I would for a team stage race or normal mtb marathon. Unfortunately for some of the "bucket list" races you don't have a choice (Wines2Whales and Sani2C comes to mind). I guess it also depends on your personality (I like riding on my own but a number of people out there won't get on a bike unless they have some company)
Jeanpg Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 I am in a situation where my cycling mates are either not up for stage racing or are racing snakes way beyond my modest skills. Luckily there are a lot a lot of nice stage races where you don't need a partner and I have rarely missed having a team mate when doing those. I don't prepare differently for a solo stage race than I would for a team stage race or normal mtb marathon. Unfortunately for some of the "bucket list" races you unfortunately don't have a choice (Wines2Whales and Sani2C comes to mind). I guess it also depends on your personality (I like riding on my own but a number of people out there won't get on a bike unless they have some company) Riding on my own is good, as is riding with someone. The whole "only solo guy around" idea after the race when everybody is hanging out with mates worries me though. As far as skills and ability go, what are the pro's/ cons to having a partner with the same skills/ speed etc, so you don't keep each other back, vs someone with complimentary skills, each one strong where the other is weak, so you can 'pull' or help each other? The second one seems more beneficial (but also way more opportunity for frustration)
Skubarra Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Riding on my own is good, as is riding with someone. The whole "only solo guy around" idea after the race when everybody is hanging out with mates worries me though. As far as skills and ability go, what are the pro's/ cons to having a partner with the same skills/ speed etc, so you don't keep each other back, vs someone with complimentary skills, each one strong where the other is weak, so you can 'pull' or help each other? The second one seems more beneficial (but also way more opportunity for frustration) There are usually a lot of solo riders at stage races and you will also find that you end up seeing the "same faces" all the time along the route as riders of similar strength tend to ride in each others vicinity, so I have never had that feeling of being the only solo guy among 100's of teams. Second one, yes that's the ideal and you can really push each other but those partners are hard to find!
geomark Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Is there still life in this topic? I'm keen to do a stage race and am at a point in life where the time and the money is available (although I'm not expecting this to be true long term...) Unfortunately, my mates are not at the same point - they talk a good game about wanting to do it, but family, work and finances don't quite allow it. What is the role of a team member in a stage race (other than having company and hanging out with mates), and what should one consider for (and which stage races are more appropriate to) a solo stage race.The role of partners for me is to get you up in the morning and keep you going when left to your own devices you probably wouldn't, you would just give up, taking turns to have and not have a sense of humour etc. So moral support as well as safety! It helps with keeping you motivated for training as well. Saying that I have done both single and team events, with the right partner team it is definitely more fun but the right partner is a rare and precious thing. Very much a case of you want an evenly matched partner, there are not really complimentary skills in (technical non gravel road) mtb stage racing, its not like road where you can take turns to pull on flat vs hills depending on ability.
MaxKnox Posted October 8, 2014 Posted October 8, 2014 most amazing stage race i have done in ages and my new favorite which i would recommend whole heartily is the rift valley odyssey in kenya. very reasonable priced and painlessly easy to travel there..
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