SpecialK Posted May 25, 2015 Share Pros1: The trails: everything that everyone made it out to be.2: The vibe throughout was great, and I felt that I could leave any of my valuables around without constantly having to worry about them wandering off.3: Food at Mackenzie was top-notch. I felt the selection of just steak with potatoes and a bit of green salad at Jolivet left a few things to be desired4: The water points: well stocked and super friendly5: The staff and organisation: everyone was really helpful and most things ran smoothly, from registration to the finish Cons1: My partner came down with food poisoning on day 2, spending the night not even being able to hold down water. He was unable to ride on day 3. With the amount of riders relying on the catered food, it must be 100% perfect, especially with the entry fee having been quite steep for us. To miss out on one of the days and getting a DNF due to the catering – not cool!!!2: Ladies showers and toilets at Jolivet – way too few toilets, and the showers were just so uncomfortable. Nowhere dry to put your clothes, felt more like prison showers than anything else.3: The changing start times… SMS’s wrong, ride guide wrong, even the announcement at the race briefing at Jolivet clearly stated “we will keep the gap at 10 minutes between batches”. The next morning: another scramble as we earlier than announced the night before.4: the finish left me very underwhelmed. I just completed the toughest physical challenge I have attempted to date, and I admit that I was one of the last over the line at the Race, and that I can’t expect everyone to hang around to see the last finishers come in. The experience extended to a quick “congrats”, number board was clipped off and that’s that… 3 days of having a brilliant vibe at the race villages, the lack of atmosphere at the finish left a small shadow on an awesome event.5: the begging on route. Even when you tell the kids “no” they point to the energy bar in your pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustSupp Posted May 25, 2015 Share The Bad: 1. Battling for hours to register when entries open online - don't always have access to internet , plan the whole day around registering just to be told come back tomorrow. 2. Showers at Mackenzie.3. Finish, parking and no decent shower facilities.4. Clothing quality The good. 1. well organised2. water tables3. all upgrades to Jolivet.4. food5. Fantastic route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Hubs Posted May 25, 2015 Share Most has been said... The Good:1. Day 1 and day 2 - Brilliant trails (even with slow riders in front)2. Route markers were 99.9% great. The only near miss I had was when I was looking at the GPS!3. Fast descents and Slow climbs. 4. Being part of a unique experience.5. Food preparation on time. Bad & Ugly1. The finish was a HUGE let down. Felt like all the organizers stopped offering the great hospitality as we crossed the finish line. Take your stuff and voetsek... 2. Most of the guys look better with clothes ON 3. Bike wash and toilet/shower queues. When you gotta go...4. Paying for bottled water5. Coffee band ONLY activated from day 2! Not worth R100, but better than floor sweepings... But like most, I'll try be back for more...on a scale of 10, i'll rate the event a 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skubarra Posted May 25, 2015 Share Agree with that, some nice gent was kind enough to open a water pipe with his wrench at one of the abandoned farms Sorry, I disagree with Stevie here, its 27km between the 2 waterpoints and not exactly a secret that it will likely be hot & involve climbing. If you imagine yourself having the ability to finish a 3-day stage race you should have the ability & preparedness to cycle 27km on your own devices. I also find it a bit ironic how people don't want this event to become too commercialised but at the same time demand improved facilities at the race villages. Don't underestimate how much those annoying sponsors contribute to expenses & improvements over and above your already high entry fee, without them the race will be more expensive and the facilities more limited. (Not agreeing with the Supergroup-group early seeding on Day 2 brainfart though) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper74 Posted May 25, 2015 Share As a fourth time participant, I think everyone has pointed out the main issues, but just to drive the point home: The good:Really good water tables that are well stocked with most of what you need The food at the villages is always good (albeit that my steak was a bit tough on night 2) The trails are awesome, even though they were very dry and quite bumpy in sections this year. This is MTB though... The new dining area at Jolivet and new showers too (breakfast was way better than in previous years) The general vibe at Sani is incredibleThe bad:The floating bridge and race finish needs to be re-thought. A great novelty, but make the bridge wider and/or shorter to prevent a swim - this should speed things up and reduce the congestion experienced. It will also allow everyone (including pros) to finish dry and in good spirits... The finish in the parking lot is shambolic and spoils everything good about the race. The kit was not up to scratch this year, but instead of creating the annual Sani clothing swap that always ensues, why not give participants a decent race bag instead (like W2W or Epic)? This might ease the pain of the parking lot shambles and will make life a little easier in the race villages - those boxes are a bitch to carry around. The showers at Mackenzie were terrible in comparison to the new Jolivet (which was also hit and miss in terms of water temp and pressure). The trees at Jolivet are getting too big and the entrance to some tents are blocked by branches just about growing into your tent. If SG wants to ride as a group, they need to start in M/N batch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cube120 Posted May 25, 2015 Share As opposed to listing good and bad points most of what has been commented on appears to very similar.Likes and dislikes are much the same. BIG ISSUE: At Scottburgh beach the clowns calling themselves traffic officers controlling access to and from the beach were beyond useless. Suggestion:All those collecting riders should be allowed access to the area and the caravan park should make their premises available for parking.Its effectively not for the entire day and if they derived some income out of it the exercise would be of huge benefit to ALL concerned.And the owner is also a mountainbiker as well so he will understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtr1 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Road the Race Good 1. Trails and route2. New start venue3. Jolivet4. Hospitality - Food, drink, USN etc.etc.5. Great race Bad 1. Finish experience - on the beach is good, but it feels like, we have your money, you are finished, now leave. Area is a shambles to collect and pack, no showers, and not even USN recovery etc. Need them after day 3 as much as other days.2. Beggars on route......chocolate, chocolate, chocolate !!3. Clothing not same standard as previous years.4. Paying R100 for average coffee5. Toilet queue's for toilets in morning at McKenzie Oh, and bad......my partner that DNF again !!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratherberidin' Posted May 25, 2015 Share 4th Sani, great as always. My views below. YES!:- Trails smoother and cleaner than Contadors legs, it's (mostly) abt the ride anyway!- Great gees (spirit) from the organisers, look like peoples people- Logistics and infrastructure generally well done- Them steaks at Joli, YES!!!!! Food is a BIG deal and you NAILED IT!! NO!:- Ok so I wanted a Salomon top again, can't blame me they're amazing! The long version is, although one has to keep in mind the spending on infrastructure, as there has been lots, and the effect of that on the "perks" like lekker Aca Joe/Salomon kit. It sparks the debate of infrastructure not being a luxury but a necessity after 11 years of the race. Unfortunately for organisers, perks like seriously cool goodies get people talking and it's the first thing they'll complain about. The consensus of "cost cutting" on the goodies was less than lekker.- SUPERGROUP - Although I was not effected by them, seriously guys. We all gladly pay our entry fees and do our training for a good race, it SUCKS sitting behind the corporate group. I'm all for letting them ride but not where I paid and trained to be, not on.- Unfortunately ALL men in Sani want to pay homage to bowel movements between 6 and 7 am. Not sure how you solve this one but it's stressful waiting in a potty-line when your start time is approaching. Managed to make a plan though - That's it. Loved it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcza Posted May 25, 2015 Share GreatRouteOrganisationGoodStart at GlencairnJolivetUSN, AmpedNot so goodFinish, please move it, keep the ride along the floating bridge and beach. Showers at MckenziePresentation at Mckenzie (couldn't see a thing, project it on the inside of the tent)Clothing exchange, left my name on a list and that was it. Forcing riders to buy 6 packs at MckenzieCan't really complain but you asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevief Posted May 25, 2015 Share Sorry, I disagree with Stevie here, its 27km between the 2 waterpoints and not exactly a secret that it will likely be hot & involve climbing. If you imagine yourself having the ability to finish a 3-day stage race you should have the ability & preparedness to cycle 27km on your own devices. 27km of 1400m climbing is different to just 27km. The time it takes for wp1 to wp2is a long time not the distance. And i suggested just a watertruck not a new water/food station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramrod Posted May 25, 2015 Share So this was my fourth one (1 race and 3 trails) Good:I love the new registration areaJolivet was awesomeFood was greatTrails were awesomeBridges were all perfect. Bad:My wife having to share showers with naked men in JolivetThe clothing is poor quality. The fleece leaves a residue on any clothing you wear.The finish on the beach sucks in that once you cross the finish line it is a mission to do anything else. We wash on the pavement as we always need to get back home. To get to your car and then back is a nightmare and the parking leaves much to be desired! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen Posted May 25, 2015 Share So this was my fourth one (1 race and 3 trails) Good:I love the new registration areaJolivet was awesomeFood was greatTrails were awesomeBridges were all perfect. Bad:My wife having to share showers with naked men in JolivetThe clothing is poor quality. The fleece leaves a residue on any clothing you wear.The finish on the beach sucks in that once you cross the finish line it is a mission to do anything else. We wash on the pavement as we always need to get back home. To get to your car and then back is a nightmare and the parking leaves much to be desired!Your wife had to do what?[emoji15] [emoji15] [emoji15] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramrod Posted May 25, 2015 Share Your wife had to do what?[emoji15] [emoji15] [emoji15]use the same showers. And she wasn't the only woman either. Hot water or water in the ladies showers ran out out they were sent down to use the mens showers. Had a bunch of naked men walking around passing crude comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen Posted May 25, 2015 Share use the same showers. And she wasn't the only woman either. Hot water or water in the ladies showers ran out out they were sent down to use the mens showers. Had a bunch of naked men walking around passing crude comments!Oh that's not on hey. . Us ladies like our privacy.. I would he highly disgusted if I had to use a shower area where there aren't cubicals.. it's not st 5 veld school, never mind go use the mens shower with men prancing around in there ... naha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramrod Posted May 25, 2015 Share Oh that's not on hey. . Us ladies like our privacy.. I would he highly disgusted if I had to use a shower area where there aren't cubicals.. it's not st 5 veld school, never mind go use the mens shower with men prancing around in there ... naha.There were cubicles. But some men were standing butt nekkid waiting for or getting out of the showers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen Posted May 25, 2015 Share There were cubicles. But some men were standing butt nekkid waiting for or getting out of the showers.Ag nee man.. and I bet you they didn't look like Thor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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