joberg2c 2015

[cat-i]

I've been admiring this race from a respectful distance but I'm now starting to think that this race might be doable for me. So my question to the guys ( and gals) that have done it, How comfortable would it be for a rider with an SAseeding index in the low 40s, in terms of daily time in the saddle? 

 

Further, I have a very distinctive riding regime as I'm like sludge on the ascents and I let the mad cow loose on the descents. So finding riding partners has been a bit of challenge for me which means that a solo entry would be the most suitable, but how does riding 9 days solo affect you or is it not an issue? 

 

Oh and is there a serious waiting list or are entries relatively easy to comeby?

 

 

River Rat you'll get an entry if you want one. We entered after the cut-off date this year and still got in. You've done a Sani2C? The toughest days (5 and 6, in my opinion)  was about that middle Sani2C day with a bit of extra distance and climbing.

 

I do not have a sas-seeding whatso-ever. When my team mate got the joberg2c bug on days 8 and 9, we were right at the back of the pack, but we still made the cut-offs. The bonus is, if you're slow enough on the climbs, the singletrack would be congestion-free - - and the trails really are some of the best you'll find anywhere. Descending mount Paul on day 3, the descent off the escarpment on day 4, and everything on days 7-9 ... 

 

You will not regret this.

[River Rat]

River Rat you'll get an entry if you want one. We entered after the cut-off date this year and still got in. You've done a Sani2C? The toughest days (5 and 6, in my opinion)  was about that middle Sani2C day with a bit of extra distance and climbing.

 

I do not have a sas-seeding whatso-ever. When my team mate got the joberg2c bug on days 8 and 9, we were right at the back of the pack, but we still made the cut-offs. The bonus is, if you're slow enough on the climbs, the singletrack would be congestion-free - - and the trails really are some of the best you'll find anywhere. Descending mount Paul on day 3, the descent off the escarpment on day 4, and everything on days 7-9 ... 

 

You will not regret this.

Cat-i, yes this year will be my 4th Sani and I do find day 2 quite tough finishing it in about 7 hours thanks to the climb out of the valley. Done 2 day  Berg & Bush which I found quite easy and just loved the descents plus a bunch of Sabie Xs and 3 Towers. I very seldom find cut offs a problem, usually because I am well prepared unless, I have some sort of problem and then I find it quite difficult and I hate chasing cut offs because I have very little time/ speed reserves.   I am also concerned about the accumulative effect of 9 days riding with 4 days being my max but this I'll sort out in training. 

 

Do you think that doing it solo would make it tougher?

[Bat]

Cat-i, yes this year will be my 4th Sani and I do find day 2 quite tough finishing it in about 7 hours thanks to the climb out of the valley. Done 2 day  Berg & Bush which I found quite easy and just loved the descents plus a bunch of Sabie Xs and 3 Towers. I very seldom find cut offs a problem, usually because I am well prepared unless, I have some sort of problem and then I find it quite difficult and I hate chasing cut offs because I have very little time/ speed reserves.   I am also concerned about the accumulative effect of 9 days riding with 4 days being my max but this I'll sort out in training. 

 

Do you think that doing it solo would make it tougher?

My riding stile sounds similar to yours. Slow up hills and fast down hills. My sas seeding is 40. I rode it solo for last two years and never felt alone as there are always other riders around. Most of the time you don't even know who are teams or solo riders. I believe if you can do a 4 day stage race you can do the j2c. I personally never did any stage races before my first J2c. Finished just over 200 position this year, but I think this years riders were faster, but not more technical than last year. Just commit to it and do it. You will not regret it.

[DIPSLICK]

Rat, very doable challenge even for a "unfit" cyclist,

The cut off times are very reasonable, my partner and I went in with very low mileage, yes we spent loooong days out there but we were not bleeding we were riding, my partner was taking pics till his phone died, we stopped at every water point and we were never burning matches, depends on what you expecting from the ride, are you chasing your tail???? You will bleed, are you taking in the RIDE and experience drinking at night/lunch then you will have a blast, I wanted to do solo this year but I tore my PCL some time ago so very little training was done for both me and my partner(he had 600km in) but I'm glad I eventually went in a team here is why

In 2013 we done joberg2c and there was a big group of guys we knew and it was great always someone we knew around us so I thought it wouldn't make a difference and I could ride my pace not my partners but this year was a blast because we both went in expecting the same thing,,,,a finish maybe with my inquiry his inquiry we considered a finish a win

So loooong story short decide if you go hard ,,,train

If you want a blast I had 10 weeks"training" in after a LOOONG "off " season

[TALUS]

@RR I am very keen too. I have been thinking about this for a couple of years now. I am really crap on the downhills but steady on the up (as much as 92kg naked can hope for). I think I will focus on this for next year. I will go solo. You in?

[Blackbeard]

okes it was a lekke race,,,,,,,but i dont know too many people who are not still sitting on a throne   normally after a stage race i put on a couple of KGs this race is the exception, that bug from the villages im sure was/is a strain of the black plague  

Bloed *** soos 'n resies hoender.

[Benjamin]

Cat-i, yes this year will be my 4th Sani and I do find day 2 quite tough finishing it in about 7 hours thanks to the climb out of the valley. Done 2 day  Berg & Bush which I found quite easy and just loved the descents plus a bunch of Sabie Xs and 3 Towers. I very seldom find cut offs a problem, usually because I am well prepared unless, I have some sort of problem and then I find it quite difficult and I hate chasing cut offs because I have very little time/ speed reserves.   I am also concerned about the accumulative effect of 9 days riding with 4 days being my max but this I'll sort out in training. 

 

Do you think that doing it solo would make it tougher?

Joberg2C is just such an amazing experience. Does something to you that you can't describe until you've been there. I would highly recommend it. Just resets your focus in life a bit.

However, I would definately find a suited partner to enter with. You need that support and help over 9 days. That voice in your tent in the dark cold mornings telling you to get the hell up and stop whining is gold. But find a compatible partner, with the same race goals as you. Even better, one that you can do and share all your training and prep with. It will improve your race experience IMO.

[Hackster]

My first J2C this year.

 

It's not an elite endurance event but you do need miles and hills in your legs, the more you have, the easier it'll be. You could go in with no training but it won't be fun and you'll have to dig rather deep on some of those middle days.

 

I'd rather have a bit more training done as this allows you to finish earlier and catch a restorative nap or too during the afternoon.

 

An event well worth doing, even if only once.

[River Rat]

Okay, I'm convinced, I'm in. Now to sort out how to train for Dusi in Feb and J2C in April and see if I can find a partner. Maybe, I can convince my Dusi partner to do J2C as well that would have a certain symmetry to it. But convincing a 120kg 1,9m buffalo that he can ride a bike for 9 days in a row sounds harder than J2C itself.

 

Thanks for all the replies and info.

 

Talus your move .

[flyluis]

I found some pics...

 

http://www.jetlineactionphoto.com/find_photos.php

[arendoog]

I rode as a solo 2013 .As a Saffa and mtb er it was one of the most memorable things i have done .Should be on any mtb,s TO DO list .Best way is to commit 6 month,s before the event and plan around it .Logistics was a breeze 

[CleatsnCleavage]

@RR I am very keen too. I have been thinking about this for a couple of years now. I am really crap on the downhills but steady on the up (as much as 92kg naked can hope for). I think I will focus on this for next year. I will go solo. You in?

 

thanks now Im picturing you naked, on a scale

[TALUS]

thanks now Im picturing you naked, on a scale

Scott Scale?

[Slowbee]

as part of future planing .... did you guys look after your own bikes or did you have mechanic packages ?

 

I imagine brake pads are simple things to change - but what about other "technical issues"?

[TALUS]

 

Talus your move .

I have officially started negotiations with the management.

[Bat]

as part of future planing .... did you guys look after your own bikes or did you have mechanic packages ?

 

I imagine brake pads are simple things to change - but what about other "technical issues"?

Slowbee as I did it solo last two years I took the mechanical package. But don't know if I was just lucky as nothing went wrong, needed to be fixed, or replaced for the two races. Even with this years muddy wet start my brake pads lasted the whole event even after day 4 and day 6 hard braking.