Amashova 2015

[pe3nguin]

Bump. Everyone's legs ready for Fox Hill?

[jimmycool]

Bump. Everyone's legs ready for Fox Hill?

Getting there!

I decidied that if I can't get my weight down to the level I am happy with I shall just have to make sure I am fitter than last time to ensure I can post a similar or better time!

[Sharkie 2]

What are the options to get back to PMB from Durban. My wife is racing elites and I will be somewhere in the open bunches. 

 

Can we book a transfer of some sorts?

[mecheng89]

Bump. Everyone's legs ready for Fox Hill?

5 weeks to go. I'll be ready. 

[Spoke101]

What are the options to get back to PMB from Durban. My wife is racing elites and I will be somewhere in the open bunches. 

 

Can we book a transfer of some sorts?

Bum a lift with a PMB local

[Sarge]

Hi guys,

Those that have not yet entered, look sharp. Entries close on the 18th. I see that they are taking late entries at registration though.

Regards

Sarge

[Veebee]

Bump. Everyone's legs ready for Fox Hill?

 

it's my first Shova, never been up there before but will be riding part of the route with my club in October so hope I am ready by then.

[pe3nguin]

it's my first Shova, never been up there before but will be riding part of the route with my club in October so hope I am ready by then.

My advice - do that bit of the training ride at race speed. The front runners in every group go hard and fast up this hill and you don't wanna be unhitched that early so just push and hold on for dear life. Once it is over, most of the hard work for the day is done

[Veebee]

My advice - do that bit of the training ride at race speed. The front runners in every group go hard and fast up this hill and you don't wanna be unhitched that early so just push and hold on for dear life. Once it is over, most of the hard work for the day is done

 

thanks, this is what I have been told a few times already. I see this being somewhat of a problem as I take a few km to warm up and get going, so to push hard from the line might not go down well.

[ScottCM]

thanks, this is what I have been told a few times already. I see this being somewhat of a problem as I take a few km to warm up and get going, so to push hard from the line might not go down well.

 

I have a solution for you, If you ride to the start from Durbz your legs should be good and properly warm

[pe3nguin]

thanks, this is what I have been told a few times already. I see this being somewhat of a problem as I take a few km to warm up and get going, so to push hard from the line might not go down well.

 

Quite a few roads in the inner PMB area will be closed off and will allow sufficient room to rev your engine for a few minutes before blast off.

 

The bigger issue is finding some place to go potty. Portable-loo's were almost non-existent last year which meant thousands of grown men (and presumably women too) resorted to peeing against buildings. The area must have smelt ripe once the lunchtime sun started baking down.

[tombeej]

My advice - do that bit of the training ride at race speed. The front runners in every group go hard and fast up this hill and you don't wanna be unhitched that early so just push and hold on for dear life. Once it is over, most of the hard work for the day is done

 

Eish, not for me. 

 

For me the really hard work always starts around Inchanga. That stretch through Drummond - Bothas Hill is deceptively hard and often when the bunches start to break apart. 

 

Then by the time you get onto the M13 those small climbs - with the last one cresting at Old Main Rd offramp - become very intimidating. People who have been going full gas just to stay with the bunch up to that point generally crack there.

 

That's around the 70km mark, and it's when I normally crack.

 

So my sole focus this year is all about the top of the final climb on the M13 at Old Main Rd. If I make it up there with the bunch and my legs still have something in them, then I know I'll be ok.

[pe3nguin]

Snip

 

I call bull****. We all know you will crack around the 110km mark when you have parked your ass down for a beverage at the bike&bean.

[quintonb]

For me I limit my losses up Fox Hill. Put yourself in the red there and you on the back foot the whole race.

Obviously if you racing Elite or seeded Vets then you will have to bury yourself, but for the normal Batched rides, rather keep the heart rate down and survive over the top. There will always be a bunch right behind you that you can hook onto. 

This will be my 23rd consecutive Amashova and in my later years of not riding competitively I have adopted this approach and I still usually ride sub 3 hrs (Only just ). Didn't last year because of 2 flats..

[tombeej]

Route profile.

 

The 'hurt box' lurks between Inchanga and Bothas Hill, and then the second one lies along those innocuous looking little sharks teeth on the M13 (the last bump in that sequence before the run to Field Hill is the climb to Old Main Rd offramp).

 

 

Click on image to enlarge...

[Veebee]

I have a solution for you, If you ride to the start from Durbz your legs should be good and properly warm

 

haha, will have to leave the night before to make it there in time for my start.

 

@ Quinton B, that's exactly what I had in mind. Easy up the first 15 or so then go full gas from there. My aim is to be in at about a 3:45 or so, actually anything under 4 and I will be happy.