[Event] Eurosteel Drak Descent 2016

[zappa]

Final Grooming

 

Erosion control

 

Hard at work.

 

Edited January 6, 2016 by zappa

[zappa]

Entry deadline has been extended to the 19th January to accommodate as many cyclists as possible. 

[zappa]

repost sorry

[zappa]

Day 1 Start:

 

 

Day 2 detour:

 

[Grantc]

Zappa - what are the suggested accommodation options?

[DubbelBuys]

Looks like a jol!

 

Anyone looking for a team member?

 

Is there a backpackers nearby?

[Grantc]

Looks like a jol!

 

Anyone looking for a team member?

 

Is there a backpackers nearby?

Agreed - it looks like a jol.

 

I got a entry this morning - so now trying to work out start / finish vehicle logistics.

 

Also might go up on Thursday and ride Sani pass as a warm up on Friday

[Grantc]

Does anybody have GPX files of the daily routes?

[zappa]

Hi All, sorry for late reply.

 

For accommodation: Brian Cross 0829401124. Restmount Childrens Home has accommodation at the start of the race.

 

Vehicle Shuttle: Shuttle Service:

Please consider reducing your Carbon Footprint and easing congestion in our mountains by making use of the excellent fundraising Shuttle Service being offered by Underberg High School.  They will transport your car for you and will shuttle it to the end of the race.  There is also a bus that they will run.  Contact Jenny Grinwis on 082 376 0424 or jengrin@telkomsa.net

 

Gps Routes: We do have .TCX routes, however we have been requested not to make these available because of Rogue Riders during the year on private property. Routes will be very well marked, and 90% is on single track! 

[Griffin]

Heading out there on Friday PM and will be providing images from Friday registration through to the prize giving on Sunday. If you see me pop up and flash firing don't get a fright ... although that could make for a classic photo

 

The route is fantastic and scenery is stunning.. you wont find this kind of riding and terrain anywhere else. 

 

Some 2015 images..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2016 by Griffin

[Grantc]

 

 

Gps Routes: We do have .TCX routes, however we have been requested not to make these available because of Rogue Riders during the year on private property. Routes will be very well marked, and 90% is on single track! 

Zappa, really wanted the files so I could have a look at where we are riding and what the route profiles are. If you could send us those it would be great.

[zappa]

Eurosteel Drak Descent Day 1:

 

Eurosteel Drak Descent Day 2:

[zappa]

Route and Profile Eurosteel Drak Descent Day 1:

 

 

 

Route and Profile Eurosteel Drak Descent Day 2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 17, 2016 by zappa

[zappa]

Route and Profile of Day 1 GWK Light:

 

 

 

 

Route and Profile of Day 2 GWK Light is the same as last 20km of Eurosteel Drak Descent Day 2:

 

Edited January 17, 2016 by zappa

[zappa]

Drak Descent Newsletter No. 2 – 17^th January 2016

Hello Again to all Euro Steel Drak Descent Riders,

Thanks to you all for the wonderful response to the Euro steel Drak Descent. Interest in the ride has been fantastic and we are sure that all will be in for a great two days of riding, running and fun.

 

Principal Sponsors

As principal sponsors, Euro Steel has been absolutely amazing in their support of this event – and thus mountain biking in general in our area. We as the Sani Spoors team and the Euro Steel organising committee would really like to thank Colin and David Wilson for assisting us in making this event a possibility.

 

Race Information

Further to our first newsletter, a reminder that the start for Day 1 is at 7.00am at Restmount - which is about 20 – 23 kms out on the Drakensberg Gardens road. Restmount  Children’s home on whose property we start is a beneficiary of the ride.

The trail run will start at 6.00am and the GWK challenge at 8.30am at the same venue.

 

Batching:

S A Seeding will be doing the batching for Day 1. It is for this reason that we encourage all entrants to make sure that if you have changed your partner that the substitution is done prior to close of entries at midnight on the 19^th January 2016.

Batches will go off at 5 minutes   intervals.

Should you feel that you are batched incorrectly please will you bring proof to substantiate your claim, to registration on Friday so we can consider your concern.  NO changes will be made on race day.

Any rider moving up a batch without prior approval will have a 1(one) hour time penalty added to their team time.

 

Late Substitutions.  

Substitutions after close of entries at midnight on the 19^th will cost R 200.These will be entertained from  16h00 on the day of registration.

It is critical that should you change your partner that the substitution is done on the system  as the full race entry file containing Medical and Ice numbers are given to the medical team.

 

 Medical and Safety

Berg Protection Services under Doctor Grant Lindsay will be handling any medical issues.

ICE stickers with contact details will be stuck on the back of all number boards.

We must stress that the race is challenging and technical in nature and we request that riders ride at speeds suitable to their capabilities. We really want to avoid any accidents.

 

 

Cut – Offs: 11.30

Cut off   for day 1 will be at 11.30 at Ekerolds water table at the Eurosteels waltzing bridge and at Callaway on day 2 at GWK’s water table. We request that riders who are stopped or redirected onto the shorter course respect the decisions made. It will be for your own health and safety.

 

 

MySOS

We would like to request that you all install the mySOS app onto your phones so that in case of emergency, whether it is for yourself, your partner or fellow participant assistance can be called. See the link below for details on how the App works and how you install it on your phones.

 

For any further details or queries please contact:  support@mysos.co.za or Elja Van Urk on 0828570085.

 

Friday 22 January – 6.00pm: “Meet the Sponsors” and Landowners Evening

“Meet the Sponsors and Landowners” evening will be held at Sani Spoors (2kms on the Drak Gardens road) on Friday 22^rd Jan at around 6.00pm. It is hoped that after Registration  which is at the same venue  riders will stay and mingle with  our sponsors , landowners and other riders and enjoy a few drinks and food that will be for sale at the Olde Ducke Restaurant.

You will be able to select your meat from our local butchery, Underberg Meat Supplies who will be present and then braai it yourself on the fires provided.

 

Administration Issues

Unfortunately, as with most matters in life, there are the inevitable admin issues to be handled :-

1. Cycling SA - Day Licenses

As the Drak Descent is a Cycling SA sanctioned event there is a legal requirement on Sani Spoors, as the race organisers, to collect CSA Day Licenses at R35 per day (or R70 for the event) from anyone who is not licensed with Cycling SA for 2016. It is up to each rider to be able to prove at Registration that they have purchased a 2016 Cycling SA license – or they will have to pay the R70 prior to us being able to issue them with a race number board.

 

Prizes and Prize Sponsors

As advised on the Sani Spoors webpage there will be no cash prizes awarded.  There will however be product prizes handed out at the end of day 2 for the top Men’s, Women’s, Mixed and junior winners, second and third positions.

Sani Spoors is also sponsoring product prizes on both Day 1 and Day 2 - to the first three men and women in both the Fun Ride and the Trail Run.

Two exciting lucky dip prizes will be drawn at prize giving on Day 2 - from all the stage race and the fun ride/run entries  – one of the lucky dip prizes is sponsored by Kalbo Designs (1 x 10 full conversion  kit) valued at R2500.

 

Emergency Spares and Bike Repairs

Good news is that Howick Cycle and Gear, represented by Travis Boden (076 913 3879) and Sean Symons (072 454 7689), will be present at Sani Spoors from Friday afternoon/evening to assist you with minor bike maintenance and repairs. Being seasoned stage race riders you would all know that you should arrive with your bike newly serviced and maintained!!

Farm Equipment and Garden Centre (033 - 701 1119) in Underberg (next to the Shell Garage and KFC) also stock basic cycle spares and equipment.

 

Water Tables

We will have two water tables on day 1 and three on day 2 as well as the river along a large portion of the route. This is a lot for the distances but once again we must stress it is a challenging route.

We do request after last year’s ride where we experienced extreme heat that riders take their own liquid and not to rely solely on the water tables.

The river is also a real option for filling up water bottles if desperate, but a real way to cool down if you feel you are overheating. (Just watch out for canoeists who definitely have the right of way in the river).

 

Rider Shuttles

Please consider reducing your Carbon Footprint and easing congestion in our mountains by making use of the excellent fundraising Shuttle Service being offered by Underberg High School. They will transport your car for you and will shuttle it to the end of the race. There is also a bus that they will run. Contact Jenny Grinwis on 082 376 0424 or jengrin@telkomsa.net

 

Race Tip

If the weather over the last week or two is anything to go by, then one does not want to try and predict the weather normally at this time of the year we can expect hot or overcast mornings, with wet and stormy afternoons. The trails dry out quickly, but depending on the most recent storm/s there are the inevitable soggy and wet patches (and the possibility of falling into the river, of course!) so suggest you lube your bike well before and during the event. There will also be some emergency lube available at the water tables.

 

In conclusion

If you hear that your team mate has not received an email Newsletter please ask him/her to email me their correct email address. We have had a fair amount of difficulty with some of the emails coming back “Undelivered”.

Otherwise, less than a week to go (no festive season excuses anymore!!) and watch your emails and Facebook for more updates. We are looking really forward to hosting you in Underberg for a ride that promises to be challenging, exciting and beautiful. Our target at the start of preparation for this year’s route was to prepare a route that we felt 90% of riders would be able to ride 90% of the way. We think we have achieved this.

Derek Christie and the Sani Spoors Team

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Edited January 17, 2016 by zappa

[mazambaan]

Hmmm, I am somewhat alarmed. My partner who entered for us assured me it was a "descent" and therefore downhill. Now I peruse this thread and see the word "climbs", along with some photographs of sections that, to my jaundiced eye, appear to be UPHILL. Shock and horror  .

 

Needless to say affor-mentioned "partner" is not answering his phone, or texts intelligently, just telling me where we will meet. I am perplexed.

 

Seriously, it looks a great track with plenty of  interesting sections and work done on it and I'm looking forward to being just ahead of the sweeper.