Fedgroup Berg & Bush 2014 questions

[Squier]

Really looking forward to that!

[Christie]

Also doing Descent for the 1st time, aster 2xSani.

 

What are the tents like - same as Sani? (small 2 man tent with 2xmattrasses?)

 

Also, for Sani I found it better to take a very warm sleeping bag - McKenzie club was too cold for me overnight on the first one. It looks as coping with heat is more the norm here.

 

[VicanZA]

Also doing Descent for the 1st time, aster 2xSani.

 

What are the tents like - same as Sani? (small 2 man tent with 2xmattrasses?)

 

Also, for Sani I found it better to take a very warm sleeping bag - McKenzie club was too cold for me overnight on the first one. It looks as coping with heat is more the norm here.

 

yip its one 2 man tent, but the location by the river is awesome, the bathrooms are better too, as you have them for your section.

[VicanZA]

how does B&B compare to 3 towers?

[Sniffie]

More technical, enjoy the views on day 1 on Great Wall my china, not as long as Sani but the climb on day 2 is something to remember..

 

U gonna hit 60km/h on the decent on day 1 try stay on the bike.

I suppose you're referring to Bezuidenhouts pass. Although it is not technical at all it is fast with a few bumps on which you can get lots of air! Get the landing wrong and you are leaving in the back of an ambulance. Spoke to farmer Sollie a few weeks ago; they are busy cutting some new single track to get of the mountain and bypass Bezuidenhouts. So I don't think it will be part of the 2014 edition. There have been some bad falls on previous editions on Bezuidenhouts and the organizers are worried that sooner or later someone are going to get seriously injured there.

[River Rat]

how does B&B compare to 3 towers?

 

Similar in terms of fun but not as technical as 3 towers.

[GrantRH]

i have heard that solly's folly and the switchbacks on day 1 down the escarpment are going to be re-routed. Lots of injuries and that section also becomes quite congested.

 

Day 1 almost killed me in terms of heat exhaustion. Someone recorded 42 in the sun at some point! I must have stopped for a dam swim (full kit except shoes) to cool off on at least 3 occassions along the route. A mate of mine who has done many B&Bs and who is a relatively strong rider, was dehydrated after day 1 and had to pull out. I was also a little dehydrated which hurt me on day 2, but I found my legs after Spionkop.

 

Day 3 was just epic... I was cheering to myself the entire route of day 3 and didn't want it to end.

 

The race village was well run and at a great location. Tents were fine.

 

I can't wait for it this year, and I will be better prepared and trained.

[BarHugger]

.......and no one has mentioned the rhinos......and I am not referring to the next rider classification that follows Buffalo.......

[Gen]

.......and no one has mentioned the rhinos......and I am not referring to the next rider classification that follows Buffalo.......

 

That guy got nailed by the rhino at the 2day event last yr.

 

We also doing the 2day again this yr.. can't wait.. a had a lovely time.

 

[BarHugger]

 

 

That guy got nailed by the rhino at the 2day event last yr.

 

We also doing the 2day again this yr.. can't wait.. a had a lovely time.

 

Ditto, +1, same here......

[Squier]

i have heard that solly's folly and the switchbacks on day 1 down the escarpment are going to be re-routed. Lots of injuries and that section also becomes quite congested.

 

Day 1 almost killed me in terms of heat exhaustion. Someone recorded 42 in the sun at some point! I must have stopped for a dam swim (full kit except shoes) to cool off on at least 3 occassions along the route. A mate of mine who has done many B&Bs and who is a relatively strong rider, was dehydrated after day 1 and had to pull out. I was also a little dehydrated which hurt me on day 2, but I found my legs after Spionkop.

 

Day 3 was just epic... I was cheering to myself the entire route of day 3 and didn't want it to end.

 

The race village was well run and at a great location. Tents were fine.

 

I can't wait for it this year, and I will be better prepared and trained.

 

I thought that October will still be quite mild, but apparently not. Is it only Day 1 that is really hot? I would assume that the same would go for the following two days?

 

Has there been any rain in the past over these 3 days?

[Sniffie]

i have heard that solly's folly and the switchbacks on day 1 down the escarpment are going to be re-routed. Lots of injuries and that section also becomes quite congested.

 

Day 1 almost killed me in terms of heat exhaustion. Someone recorded 42 in the sun at some point! I must have stopped for a dam swim (full kit except shoes) to cool off on at least 3 occassions along the route. A mate of mine who has done many B&Bs and who is a relatively strong rider, was dehydrated after day 1 and had to pull out. I was also a little dehydrated which hurt me on day 2, but I found my legs after Spionkop.

 

Day 3 was just epic... I was cheering to myself the entire route of day 3 and didn't want it to end.

 

The race village was well run and at a great location. Tents were fine.

 

I can't wait for it this year, and I will be better prepared and trained.

Rest assured, Solly's folly is such a signature of B&B just as Great Wall My China that it will never be re-routed. In fact more single track are being cut at the moment, so expect more of the same. The fast decent down Bezuidenhouts pass are replaced by the new single track decent. Expect a drop of 600 m from GWMC for the next 12 or 13 km.

[GrantRH]

 

I thought that October will still be quite mild, but apparently not. Is it only Day 1 that is really hot? I would assume that the same would go for the following two days?

 

Has there been any rain in the past over these 3 days?

 

Day 1 was scorching (42 in the sun), day 2 hot but not as bad (+- 36 I would say), day 3 was overcast with light rain (maybe 28). Day 3 was perfect weather.

 

I have heard that previous B&Bs have been wet (in fact I think it may have been the 2012 edition) but last years certainly wasn't.

 

All I can say is take lots of fluids. On day 2 I was sharing water with people lying under trees to escape the heat and who had run out of water. That situation was maybe a little unique as the dam crossing had to be re-routed due to heavy winds, which meant that one more water point would have helped.

[Squier]

 

Day 1 was scorching (42 in the sun), day 2 hot but not as bad (+- 36 I would say), day 3 was overcast with light rain (maybe 28). Day 3 was perfect weather.

 

I have heard that previous B&Bs have been wet (in fact I think it may have been the 2012 edition) but last years certainly wasn't.

 

All I can say is take lots of fluids. On day 2 I was sharing water with people lying under trees to escape the heat and who had run out of water. That situation was maybe a little unique as the dam crossing had to be re-routed due to heavy winds, which meant that one more water point would have helped.

and I was just contemplating ditching the hydration pack. Thanks Grant!

[Ratty]

2 years ago, the Descent had major rain and parts of the route had to be change as the rivers were too full.

The Great Trek was dry, but strong headwinds on day 1 and 2.

 

Last years Descent was Schorher on day1, hot and windy on day 2.

 

We even stopped at a village and filled out bottles from their jojo tank.

[BarHugger]

2 years ago, the Descent had major rain and parts of the route had to be change as the rivers were too full.

The Great Trek was dry, but strong headwinds on day 1 and 2.

 

Last years Descent was Schorher on day1, hot and windy on day 2.

 

We even stopped at a village and filled out bottles from their jojo tank.

 

The weekend after the hot weather the 2-day started in single digit weather........nice and chilly.

 

Long and short......come prepared for anything and everything.