Bestmed Jacaranda Satellite Classic (80km and 106km)

[RastaMan]

I was the main idiot to swear ... but smiling and waving neutralises the situation far easier

look it is easier to swear back, we are very quick to react. but what comes of that

worse case scenario both of you get angry, road rage happens and 1 dies,

best case scenario you are both pissed of and if you are like me, you stay angry for at least for 10 minutes afterwards.

 

If you smile and wave only he stays angry.

In JHB motorists already don't like us, we are not making it any easier by swearing every time they hoot

[IdeJongh]

haha!  Indeed, I thought the same - decided early on the climb to let them go, but in the end I see they only took about 5 minutes on us - so possibly could/should have hung on.

 

Me red UTi kit - we finished together and shared a word with you commenting on "finally got that sub 3" - plus you are indeed a tall bastard so I did the maths!  Anyway you finished strong and did a lot of work - good ride.

 

You should have given it beans. Also in BL and rode max HR up hekpoort and managed to hang with the break.  We worked flippen hard from the top to the finish to try and keep the gap, and I barely finished with the other 3 (2 from BL one was from another group). I gambled a bit on the climb but it seemed to have paid off.

[Paulst12]

Did anyone see the action in the VB's after a bakkie tried to over take the group and I think some guy in the front shouted at the driver?

 

After the incident between bakkie and the front of the VB's the guy in the bakkie decided to drive at the front of the group and kept on braking forcing the whole group brake, he did it for a couple of times till he probably got bored of looking at men in tights....

Yup... There were 6 of us up front and he tried to force us off the road for some reason. Not sure what the issue was. Then also drove further up the road hooting at some of the solo riders that had been dropped from VA... crazy stuff but at least everyone was smart enough to let him go on his "I'm angry and achieved nothing" way.... We had Hekpoordt to deal with. Thats where it really got fun. 

 

The marshal was nowhere to be found although we did have the commissar talking to some guys a little later.

[dracs]

You should have given it beans. Also in BL and rode max HR up hekpoort and managed to hang with the break.  We worked flippen hard from the top to the finish to try and keep the gap, and I barely finished with the other 3 (2 from BL one was from another group). I gambled a bit on the climb but it seemed to have paid off.

 good job - yes next time I won't die wondering...  I think I gave hekpoort a little too much respect after hearing so much about it...

[arendoog]

Yup... There were 6 of us up front and he tried to force us off the road for some reason. Not sure what the issue was. Then also drove further up the road hooting at some of the solo riders that had been dropped from VA... crazy stuff but at least everyone was smart enough to let him go on his "I'm angry and achieved nothing" way.... We had Hekpoordt to deal with. Thats where it really got fun. 

 

The marshal was nowhere to be found although we did have the commissar talking to some guys a little later.

Was  it  a Toyota land cruiser pickup ,beige in colour with logo,s and fat tyres

[Paulst12]

Was  it  a Toyota land cruiser pickup ,beige in colour with logo,s and fat tyres

Nope... was a white double cab bakkie. I didnt see the make as i was trying to avoid being pushed off the road.

[arendoog]

The landcruiser bakkie driver looked annoyed when he passed us in B group .Must have calmed down later

[Wez-O]

Nope... was a white double cab bakkie. I didnt see the make as i was trying to avoid being pushed off the road.

I vaguely remember seeing that dooooooos at some point up Hekpoort I think it was. Perhaps he was unhappy as he had just finished his supersized Coke and seven breakfast pies and was in a hurry to get to the nearest McDonald?

[LongDonkey]

 good job - yes next time I won't die wondering...  I think I gave hekpoort a little too much respect after hearing so much about it...

If i do this race again, i will go hard as well.

[HBO]

Morning guys, I wanted to do the race but are a bit concerned about traffic and safety. What are your views on this and would you recommend it.

 

Currently I only ride the 94.7 and Argus each year due to the full road closure. I want to do more though especially now that I start loosing some weight and begin to look more like a cyclist.

 

I think I'll do ride 4 sight next year, since I've heard good reviews about it.

[Wez-O]

Morning guys, I wanted to do the race but are a bit concerned about traffic and safety. What are your views on this and would you recommend it.

 

Currently I only ride the 94.7 and Argus each year due to the full road closure. I want to do more though especially now that I start loosing some weight and begin to look more like a cyclist.

 

I think I'll do ride 4 sight next year, since I've heard good reviews about it.

If you are comfortable in the mass groups of the Argus, most Joburg races should be a breeze.

Although the roads of the Jacaranda are a little narrow at times, for the most part, the marshaling is very good.

The races closer to Joburg generally have wider/safer roads except for perhaps the West Rand races such as D2D and Wilro. 

[RastaMan]

Morning guys, I wanted to do the race but are a bit concerned about traffic and safety. What are your views on this and would you recommend it.

 

Currently I only ride the 94.7 and Argus each year due to the full road closure. I want to do more though especially now that I start loosing some weight and begin to look more like a cyclist.

 

I think I'll do ride 4 sight next year, since I've heard good reviews about it.

ride for sight is probably the most dangerous race in JHB, I saw atleast 3 accidents, and I had to go offroad twice to avoid them.

Problem is not traffic, its mass of cyclists at high speed, one mistake and all goes down.

 

I think all but 3 guys in the JL group went down this year.

 

Still a good race

 

I personally rather deal with traffic than 400 group bunches as I find them more dangerous

 

Here is a summary of my experiences on JHB based races

 

Wilro - had almost no traffic

Satelite Classic- I must be honest traffic was not a problem for us at all

Meals on wheals - traffic was quite hectic

D2D - new route has quite a bit of traffic going back to krugesdorp

Carnival city national Steel classic - Lots of traffic

Berge en Dale - Almost no traffic and shoulder lanes almost the entire route

Fast one - very little traffic

Race for Victory - Very Little traffic

Ride for sight - Very little traffic

Jock cycle Classique - minimal traffic

Amashova - full road closure if im not mistaken still to do this one

Lost city Classic - Very quite, maybe small bit of traffic towards Sun City depends how late you start

[dracs]

If you are comfortable in the mass groups of the Argus, most Joburg races should be a breeze.

Although the roads of the Jacaranda are a little narrow at times, for the most part, the marshaling is very good.

The races closer to Joburg generally have wider/safer roads except for perhaps the West Rand races such as D2D and Wilro. 

 

Ja and if/where concerned about trucks passing etc on certain sections (as I am), I always position myself on the left even if its not the ideal race spot.  That way if someone pushes in from the outside and causes a crash in the peloton, I know I am more likely to end up in a bush or fence rather than under a truck tyre.

 

PS I found the traffic fine on the Satellite, though once or twice held my breath when cars overtook the entire peloton while it was still a very big group before hekpoort (we had no escorting bikes to tell them when safe to do so)

[Max001]

Did anyone see the action in the VB's after a bakkie tried to over take the group and I think some guy in the front shouted at the driver?

 

After the incident between bakkie and the front of the VB's the guy in the bakkie decided to drive at the front of the group and kept on braking forcing the whole group brake, he did it for a couple of times till he probably got bored of looking at men in tights....

yip that was me. went up the road just before hekpoort and that knob in the bakkie nearly took me out. I was a bit vocal after that but unfortunately my early attack came to a grinding holt. lost my rhythm and my personality by then !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rob K]

ride for sight is probably the most dangerous race in JHB, I saw atleast 3 accidents, and I had to go offroad twice to avoid them.

Problem is not traffic, its mass of cyclists at high speed, one mistake and all goes down.

 

I think all but 3 guys in the JL group went down this year.

 

Still a good race

 

I personally rather deal with traffic than 400 group bunches as I find them more dangerous

 

Here is a summary of my experiences on JHB based races

 

Wilro - had almost no traffic

Satelite Classic- I must be honest traffic was not a problem for us at all

Meals on wheals - traffic was quite hectic

D2D - new route has quite a bit of traffic going back to krugesdorp

Carnival city national Steel classic - Lots of traffic

Berge en Dale - Almost no traffic and shoulder lanes almost the entire route

Fast one - very little traffic

Race for Victory - Very Little traffic

Ride for sight - Very little traffic

Jock cycle Classique - minimal traffic

Amashova - full road closure if im not mistaken still to do this one

Lost city Classic - Very quite, maybe small bit of traffic towards Sun City depends how late you start

 

RastaMan, I have to agree with your summary.

I am probably a couple of groups behind you but would echo your feelings.

 

Initially when I started riding about 3 years ago - I decided to only ride the full road closure events.

I subsequently found out that the big groups are probably more of a concern than the traffic and now am happy to ride the races which traditionally have low traffic impact.

 

The two Durban races are really ideal, offering full road closure as well as reasonably small groups, though I suspect these will grow.

 

The Jock was also very easy from a traffic point of view (only).

 

Rob

[Rob K]

ride for sight is probably the most dangerous race in JHB, I saw atleast 3 accidents, and I had to go offroad twice to avoid them.

Problem is not traffic, its mass of cyclists at high speed, one mistake and all goes down.

 

I think all but 3 guys in the JL group went down this year.

 

Still a good race

 

I personally rather deal with traffic than 400 group bunches as I find them more dangerous

 

Here is a summary of my experiences on JHB based races

 

Wilro - had almost no traffic

Satelite Classic- I must be honest traffic was not a problem for us at all

Meals on wheals - traffic was quite hectic

D2D - new route has quite a bit of traffic going back to krugesdorp

Carnival city national Steel classic - Lots of traffic

Berge en Dale - Almost no traffic and shoulder lanes almost the entire route

Fast one - very little traffic

Race for Victory - Very Little traffic

Ride for sight - Very little traffic

Jock cycle Classique - minimal traffic

Amashova - full road closure if im not mistaken still to do this one

Lost city Classic - Very quite, maybe small bit of traffic towards Sun City depends how late you start

RastaMan, I have to agree with your summary.

I am probably a couple of groups behind you but would echo your feelings.

 

Initially when I started riding about 3 years ago - I decided to only ride the full road closure events.

I subsequently found out that the big groups are probably more of a concern than the traffic and now am happy to ride the races which traditionally have low traffic impact.

 

The two Durban races are really ideal, offering full road closure as well as reasonably small groups, though I suspect these will grow.

 

The Jock was also very easy from a traffic point of view (only).

 

Rob

 

Edit: Apologies - double post to correct reply