[Event] FNB Wines2Whales MTB

[TALUS]

C Start bunch. Aiming for A start on Day 2.

Go hard up to the portage. Worked for me before. This year it is not the plan.

[flymango]

Bike mech booked.

Massages booked for day 1 and 2.

Luxury tent booked.

Now to hit the next 3 and a bit weeks hard!

Ditto. Except my wife and I will be lucky if we've got daylight left to socialise.

 

Sure to see you at the tents.

 

Soooo not ready, but really excited.

[Cycle Fan]

Can anyone shed some light on the crates/boxes/bags for all your stuff?

 

Does each team get a box or each rider? Do we need to bring our own bag? Does sleeping bag and pillow need to fit into the bag/box?

 

Thanks

[Guest Smimby]

Can anyone shed some light on the crates/boxes/bags for all your stuff?

 

Does each team get a box or each rider? Do we need to bring our own bag? Does sleeping bag and pillow need to fit into the bag/box?

 

Thanks

Last year they gave us bags. It was big enough for pillow and sleeping bag etc

[Cycle Fan]

Last year they gave us bags. It was big enough for pillow and sleeping bag etc

 

Thanks - yes I believe so but thought I saw something on their Facebook page that said they were giving jackets this year and not bags?

 

Did you get a free jacket as well as the bag last year?

[Big JD]

Jackets only this year. Pretty sure they will just provide numbered tags and you use your own bag.

[Guest Smimby]

Thanks - yes I believe so but thought I saw something on their Facebook page that said they were giving jackets this year and not bags?

 

Did you get a free jacket as well as the bag last year?

Only a bag last year

[Jorrie]

When is the race seedings coming out?

[nox1111]

I've mailed them with questions regarding the safety of kit/tools and packing, and I only got a short nondescript email back saying that they don't allow extra stuff in the truck because 1300 people have to send stuff with.  So still no idea if the site is safe to leave stuff in tent, and what to do with kit/tools/parts & recommended items as per their website also sleeping bag/pillow and what bag to pack everything in - as I'm only allowed one bag on the truck...

Anyone know better - please share.

 

Edited for spelling

[Donovan Le Cok]

When is the race seedings coming out?

 

Tomorrow sometime as per the website.

[WR 1.0]

Only a bag last year

And the t-shirt at the end of day 1

[Benjamin]

For those that have done both, how does W2W compare to Sani, in terms of riding difficulty and times?

[nox1111]

For the last 2 years I have done this race it has been safe. If you have not done a stage race then you will be surprised a how well everything just works. People leave stuff all over the place and I am always very pleasantly surprised to say I have never heard of anything going missing. As far as I know you are allowed one big bag. Pack wisely. It is only 3 days no need for the kitchen sink or a hair dryer. Take a little lock which can lock a tent. Same one as a bag lock. If the weather is good then most people just make washing lines all over the place for stuff to dry. Leave your valuables in your tent with a lock.

Pack your sleeping bag and pillow into your bag. Take 2 shirts 2 shorts and some soap. Your riding stuff and voila. I wouldn't pack spare wheels or a spare frame!! Put all your stuff on your bed. Then think if you really need it. If not don't tale it. If you need any help send me a pm and I will try and explain to you. If you are in CT we can go for a beer and I can try and help you (you pay for the beer).

Just pack smart and you will be fine. They have lots of security there. These guys pride themselves on being one of the best organised races.

Thanks Copperhead,

 

good to know that it's that organised - and will do on a lock!  Yes, this will be my first stage race, so new to the setup.

 

I'm actually considering taking a spare wheelset - as I can't buy loose spokes for my wheels, you have to buy a spoke set - different for F /R and those cost in excess of R1200 a set... (DT Swiss Tricon with bladed spokes), and I have a spare identical set of wheels which would make sense to just throw in the whole set...  I haven't had any issues with losing spokes, or bent rims, but I have terrible luck normally...

 

Other than that not really overpacking, but prefer to do basic maintenance and checkups myself - and want to pack accordingly. 

 

Darnit, I'm going to have to take my hair dryer out my bag

 

I'm in Paarl, but if I'm heading your way, I'll take you up on a beer catchup.

 

cheers

[Skubarra]

For those that have done both, how does W2W compare to Sani, in terms of riding difficulty and times?

 

Shorter distances, less climbing but more singletrack and definitely more technically challenging (but nothing too serious)

 

Riding times would be roughly similar to Day 1 and 3 of Sani2C

[waveduke]

Tomorrow sometime as per the website.

A little rant about the seeding...

 

There were a couple of races in the past months which were labelled seeding events for W2W. So I dutifully signed up and raced my ass of for the Pennypincher Series and the Grabouw Race in order to improve my seeding. Now I checked the indexes for my results on the SASeeding website and it turns out that the winning index for each of these races only started at 40.00. Therefore these races were of no use for anyone trying to lower the overall index below 30.00 to have a chance to start in group A. Although not a big deal I find they should have mentioned that somewhere...   

[Sasquatch]

My first one, doing the race, getting really excited now.