Underachiever Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Well done on your sub-3. We could have gone a lot faster than we did, but our goal was to get all the club members (inexperienced in racing terms) to the finish together, and finish with a time of about 2:45 (compared the EL 2014 time of 2:52 for the bunch. They needed to learn what riding at the front of group means and how much better it is at the front. We purposely slowed the group down up the Diduza climb and then allowed the weaker members to get back into the group before pushing the pace again close to or above 40km/h. The problem approaching the DL crash was that we (at the front) didn't know what was happening and it was on a downhill section on a wide road, so the guys at the back couldn't really see what was going on. Once passed the crash, we upped the pace (our tactic to thin the bunch out - so if you burnt matches to keep up - sorry). It got a bit hairy from Carnival City to the finish with the slow riders, and then of course everyone that sits in the group wanting to come to the front. I think this is the hardest I've worked at a race in a long time - keeping everyone (from our club) together and still having to concentrate on my own ride. 12 club members in the top 20 is not a bad finish considering the traffic we had to dodge on the run-in and with everyone else fighting for position at the front. Normally in a Vet's race, I'm one of 2 or 3 club riders and we're out numbered by better organised teams and far stronger riders. Now we're looking to develop the club members we have to see if we can be competitive again in 2-3 years. My ride in the Vets bunch is more about getting to finish in one piece and not contesting the sprint or a breakaway. I'm not in their league, and prefer to just ride in the group. Great job Gerald!!! Mike did an outstanding ride!! The last stretch from Carnival to the finish was just super scary - too big an EL bunch and too many slower inexperienced riders from the lower distance race. I was super happy that we could escape a big crash like the DL one we saw. A safe race is a great race!!
Supersix EVO Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Great post! Fully support what Patch has said. I was in a similar situation to you at the end. Also rode VA's - didn't do much work in the race as it was not needed. On the bridge I chased a few breaks and spent myself, leaving very little for the final sprint. Good race guys, well done.Don't worry there is around 46 other guys that feels exactly the same you guys do. This is why I have a problem with it. Please let me know what you meant by "not needed for you to work". So you would have been happy just for the breakaway to ride away and win the race without putting in effort to bring them back? If that is the case then why not go back to the A bunch?
Patchelicious Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Thank you for taking time to write me an full race report of your races during 2015 and letting everyone on The Hub know that you know all the who is who's in cycling. Fact is that 90% of the people in the bunch was wheel sucking just to come on here and say we did a 44km/h ave. If you weren't part of Clover, Germiston or Cycle Fit then you didn't do squat to bring back the break. (and if you were part of them I do apologize) " like in break away or when you need to catch a break" your words not mine. I rest my case. If everyone had the mind set you have then the break away would have been long gone. But I guess that it comes with ignorance in racing as you stated you are new to the VA's. My comment towards the VB's being neutralized was not directed at you but to everyone complaining about it. All the VB's that I spoke to afterwards knew that they have been caught by the VC's break away and thus the reason they have been neutralized. Good luck to you for the rest of the year and see you at the next race.Exactly, it was not needed, as those teams were well represented and were doing the chasing and doing it well!!! So my help was not needed. Do you think they would have chased the break if they had guys in it? I didn't say I know them, I said I spoke to them, and I was just telling you this to paint a picture and to show you my perspective, that's all. Yes there will always be guys who don't help, that just how it is. Its an even bigger issue in AL BL etc. Relax man, not everything on the Hub needs to turn into an argument. It was a great race, we went at a great pace, we all made it across the line in once piece, bar the guy right next to me who clipped another guys wheel at speed, he probably made a little poo, I did! I thought for sure he was going down, but he saved it!! So lets be happy with what was all in all a successful event. I am sure that one day we will need each others help to chase a break, or even better go on a break!
FlyingScot Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Don't worry there is around 46 other guys that feels exactly the same you guys do. This is why I have a problem with it. Please let me know what you meant by "not needed for you to work". So you would have been happy just for the breakaway to ride away and win the race without putting in effort to bring them back? If that is the case then why not go back to the A bunch? Refer to Patch's post #275...I don't feel this deserves anymore time!
StevieL Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Personally, I think what races need in terms of profile is a bit of a hill (leg tester) in the early stages of the race to split the bunches a bit.That's exactly what the issue was in the DL crash (I know because it happened right next to me), is that that group was 120+ riders all trying to get into a nice position towards the end, whilst also trying to negotiate the shorter distance riders... Those bunches were faaaar too big yesterday.
Bianchisti Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Started in B : thought I was ready today... yea right (spat out on that hill like i was reversing)... seriously need to lose another 10 kgs . 10 kilometer solo TT saw all my matches burnout at once. Then it was just to hang onto everyone and anyone merciful enough to tow me along. C passed me and i barely hung onto the back of D ... No drama's so kinda pleased with a 2h53 Great seing all you nutters again today, really adds value to my day Lekke Man. Careful shedding weight so you don’t lose power. What you go through on the “bumps” is what we with skinny legs go through on windy days. Only thing worse than popping out the back on a bump, is popping out the back on the pancake stuff!
Frosty Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Unless there were hundreds of cyclists without a timing chip, the results show the groups were smaller than 200 (edit: many closer to 153 than 200). A quick count going passed the DL crash at 75Km was about 10 cyclists (give or take a few).Only KL - the last of the 103Km event - was 500 (that's crazy). If the number of late arrivals made this group THAT big, then it's a huge problem that needs to be addressed. Most of the races in Gauteng (excluding 947) have groups between 150 and 250 depending on the size of the race. What makes this race extremely dangerous is having the two distances on the same route for 25Km, and with single lane roads for a part of it. One of the biggest problems too, is letting the cars remain stationary (on the race route) at a traffic intersection. Rule #1 for marshals is to keep the roads clean of cars, but I can guarantee anyone that the cars were stopping, or stopped, because the robot was red. We (group EL) must have passed a stationary car at every robot on Rondebult. Luckily we were vocal the whole time warning the bunch of many hazards on the route.
RastaMan Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Nice one dude!! You seem to do better and better at each race, nice!!thank youHaving a coach makes a huge difference.Ive got a year or so left before I can race VA's plan to be in a state where I can compete anyone know when you are allowed to race VA's after you are 30 or the year you turn 30? **edit**as for the guys who arrived late. i have a rule when I start at 6:30 I make sure im at the venue 5:30(1 hour before) even when there is traffic this gives me enough time to dress, eat, take a leak and if for some reason I forgot my chip go and get a new one
Patchelicious Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 thank youHaving a coach makes a huge difference.Ive got a year or so left before I can race VA's plan to be in a state where I can compete anyone know when you are allowed to race VA's after you are 30 or the year you turn 30? **edit**as for the guys who arrived late. i have a rule when I start at 6:30 I make sure im at the venue 5:30(1 hour before) even when there is traffic this gives me enough time to dress, eat, take a leak and if for some reason I forgot my chip go and get a new oneThat one. The coach thing does help, but its still YOU doing the training.But seeing as you are coming to VA soon, you can stop training so much now
Frosty Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 thank youHaving a coach makes a huge difference.Ive got a year or so left before I can race VA's plan to be in a state where I can compete anyone know when you are allowed to race VA's after you are 30 or the year you turn 30? **edit**as for the guys who arrived late. i have a rule when I start at 6:30 I make sure im at the venue 5:30(1 hour before) even when there is traffic this gives me enough time to dress, eat, take a leak and if for some reason I forgot my chip go and get a new oneI moved up to VB the year I turned 40
RastaMan Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 so turning 29 in Dec this year, so next year I am eligible for VA... interesting
FlyingScot Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 so turning 29 in Dec this year, so next year I am eligible for VA... interesting I know you...lol...I thought Rastaman ringed a bell...now you have to figure out who I am. Think back to your old dota days!
SurferChild Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 so turning 29 in Dec this year, so next year I am eligible for VA... interestingHey Rasta-bud! Good result there in elites! That is indeed a good time you put up there!The year you turn 30 is the year you can go into VA's regardless of whether it's in Jan or Dec
RastaMan Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Hey Rasta-bud! Good result there in elites! That is indeed a good time you put up there!The year you turn 30 is the year you can go into VA's regardless of whether it's in Jan or Deccool & thanks. how was ur race? you on the new bike yet? @Flyingscot It is a small world after all, I have no idea, just glad im not the only gamer to have turned to cycling
Patchelicious Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 cool & thanks. how was ur race? you on the new bike yet? @Flyingscot It is a small world after all, I have no idea, just glad im not the only gamer to have turned to cyclingerm... playing dota does not make you a gamer, it makes you a noob .... now if you played CSS well then we can talk turkey!
FlyingScot Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 cool & thanks. how was ur race? you on the new bike yet? @Flyingscot It is a small world after all, I have no idea, just glad im not the only gamer to have turned to cycling Likewise bud...best decision ever. So much better being out on my bike than behind my desk!
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