Odinson Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 The drive back to jhb was the worst, after 8h on the bike, mad cramps and two frosties. I would stay over next time. Jeepers, eight hours?! That's a long time in the saddle.
Odinson Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 What is the typical weather on the day? Dry and cold?
Gen Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 What is the typical weather on the day? Dry and cold? Last year it was chilly at the start..but warmed up nicely. Last year we got very handy arm-warmers in the goodie bag.. (doubles up as a bandage if need be )
arendoog Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 On a hot day everybody cramps at some point except the pro,s and Teresa Ralph
Pieter1 Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 Jeepers, eight hours?! That's a long time in the saddle.Jip... Was fun tho!
Francois Pienaar Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 What is the typical weather on the day? Dry and cold?I have done the 80km once and the 42km 4 times. The morning is COLD, but the race is HOT. Don't bother with longs etc.
watsonr Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 i know that description: Start, shuffle for position, climb, ride....climb.. walk.. climb loose rocks...portage...rocky downhill...climb..sand climb....climb...walk...climb...climb Oh F@ck climb... Portage donwhill...climb..ahh district road, climb..waterpoint..wohoo...i see puking at the waterpoint..some people are laying around...why is there an ambulance... downhilll woooh..oh F@ck thats fast..... steady climb...ahh... seat rail snap...damnit... clmb...cramp....crawl, watrpoint.... climb...cramp..climb.....cramp....rocky downhill...cramp. Hear music... the must be the end.....turn away from music... climb...cramp....climb..cramp...cramp cramp finish...woohoo...cramp cry inside...icebath massage beer....beer...beer...Last year was my first one and I became the Mayor of Negative town when that happened. At least I'll be mentally prepared for that this year.
Francois Pienaar Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 This race still scares the living daylights out of me. Have done 3 halfs. Would love to do the full, but extremely nervous about cramps on a tough ride like this. Did Van Gaalen marathon last year in 5:45, did Barberton marathon this year in 5:10 (cramping from 30km into the race and it's not fun). I believe this race is just a nodge harder than Van Gaalen marathon. Correct?The race is hard, make no mistake. This is how I remember the race in pieces: - Start off rocking the orange orchards and over a little river in between nice forest trees.- First little leg tester <10km short sharp climb on paved road.- Nice single track next to river through some stones and onto the first test of the day - a proper little climb to get your heart going.- Enter the nature reserve for some undulating tarred roads, nothing serious (+-20km)- Mid 20skm you hit a PROPER rocky climb that you will use the MAX granny if you have it. - Mega rocky descent after followed by a portage over a river and carrying your bike UP a cliff.- Rocky single track up and over around bounce bounce and then you hit a fork in the road (left for Monster and right home) +-32km- The Monster starts shortly there after and you simply climb and climb. All of it is VERY ride able and you just need a nice rhythm to complete it.- Mega downhill (4km long) at the +-40km mark.- You dive into bouncy single track that chomps the legs. You go via a view Protea fields and the energy is drained from your body.- Post this you cross the road and head up the side of a rocky climb (we call it little breedts) and down again.- Join up the 42km mark at the 60km, 20km to go.- Now the riding becomes a lot easier, through a few orange orchards with the last obstacle of the day looming, a paved road to the signal tower. - After the signal tower a few tricky descents remain and then the most beautiful ride home awaits.- Single track through the forest with the smell of braai drawing closer.- You cross the finish line in +-30degree heat and think back to what you've just accomplished, not exactly an EPIC stage, but something pretty close. 80km of pure mountain biking!
Mojoman Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 The race is hard, make no mistake. This is how I remember the race in pieces: - Start off rocking the orange orchards and over a little river in between nice forest trees.- First little leg tester <10km short sharp climb on paved road.- Nice single track next to river through some stones and onto the first test of the day - a proper little climb to get your heart going.- Enter the nature reserve for some undulating tarred roads, nothing serious (+-20km)- Mid 20skm you hit a PROPER rocky climb that you will use the MAX granny if you have it. - Mega rocky descent after followed by a portage over a river and carrying your bike UP a cliff.- Rocky single track up and over around bounce bounce and then you hit a fork in the road (left for Monster and right home) +-32km- The Monster starts shortly there after and you simply climb and climb. All of it is VERY ride able and you just need a nice rhythm to complete it.- Mega downhill (4km long) at the +-40km mark.- You dive into bouncy single track that chomps the legs. You go via a view Protea fields and the energy is drained from your body.- Post this you cross the road and head up the side of a rocky climb (we call it little breedts) and down again.- Join up the 42km mark at the 60km, 20km to go.- Now the riding becomes a lot easier, through a few orange orchards with the last obstacle of the day looming, a paved road to the signal tower. - After the signal tower a few tricky descents remain and then the most beautiful ride home awaits.- Single track through the forest with the smell of braai drawing closer.- You cross the finish line in +-30degree heat and think back to what you've just accomplished, not exactly an EPIC stage, but something pretty close. 80km of pure mountain biking!Don't forget that awesomely miserable sand at the bottom of the mountain pass 40km;s in....!
ACM Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 i have tried all other mag supplements as well ,and this one works the best for me, you get them in sachet form so i even mix them with my water on a race,I've also tried a number of diff supplements. Cramp ease pills and spray seams to work best for me (& more endurance training). When I have time to experiment again, I'll give this a go. Tx for the tip!
ACM Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 Nope... VG marathon harder imoKeep in mind though that its in similar areas so the technical aspects are similar. Just the monster has concrete strips, so that makes it easier than the "concrete climb" at VGThe technical bits don't bother me and if it's similar to VG I'm sure I'll still complete in a good (enough) time. So, might just have to bite the bullet and go for it :-)
ACM Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 The race is hard, make no mistake. This is how I remember the race in pieces: - Start off rocking the orange orchards and over a little river in between nice forest trees.- First little leg tester <10km short sharp climb on paved road.- Nice single track next to river through some stones and onto the first test of the day - a proper little climb to get your heart going.- Enter the nature reserve for some undulating tarred roads, nothing serious (+-20km)- Mid 20skm you hit a PROPER rocky climb that you will use the MAX granny if you have it. - Mega rocky descent after followed by a portage over a river and carrying your bike UP a cliff.- Rocky single track up and over around bounce bounce and then you hit a fork in the road (left for Monster and right home) +-32km- The Monster starts shortly there after and you simply climb and climb. All of it is VERY ride able and you just need a nice rhythm to complete it.- Mega downhill (4km long) at the +-40km mark.- You dive into bouncy single track that chomps the legs. You go via a view Protea fields and the energy is drained from your body.- Post this you cross the road and head up the side of a rocky climb (we call it little breedts) and down again.- Join up the 42km mark at the 60km, 20km to go.- Now the riding becomes a lot easier, through a few orange orchards with the last obstacle of the day looming, a paved road to the signal tower. - After the signal tower a few tricky descents remain and then the most beautiful ride home awaits.- Single track through the forest with the smell of braai drawing closer.- You cross the finish line in +-30degree heat and think back to what you've just accomplished, not exactly an EPIC stage, but something pretty close. 80km of pure mountain biking!Tx for comprehensive 'review'. I've done 3 halfs - so very familiar with route up to split. How does the monster climb compare in terrain to the rocky climb before the split? I've also done breedtsnek a number of times - so very familiar with the portion of the climb and the downhill. Never done mini breedts - how does that compare to rocky climb (terrain)? Cheers & thanks for info!
Pieter1 Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 Tx for comprehensive 'review'. I've done 3 halfs - so very familiar with route up to split. How does the monster climb compare in terrain to the rocky climb before the split? I've also done breedtsnek a number of times - so very familiar with the portion of the climb and the downhill. Never done mini breedts - how does that compare to rocky climb (terrain)? Cheers & thanks for info!I'ts rocky and grassy. I found it hard to get hard into a rythm.
_David_ Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 FOMO is a terrible thing... in for my first 80km monster.
sirmoun10goat Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 but this isn't the breedts neck road - it starts in the depths of the mountain sanctuary and you climb for around 10km
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