USN MTB CUP race #1 at Modders

[RocknRolla]

Is that little stream that runs from AECI premises still such a multicouloured rainbow of waste?

 

I was mesmerised by it in December... I considered falling into it.. but I knew afterwards, with great power comes great responsibility.....

[nonky]

Started in B batch and rode with/amongst front B-batch guys most of the way, so no real hold-ups or delays.

 

I had a good race and thought the route was really excellent - well laid out and lots of fun.

 

We can all moan about goodie packs, cost etc. but this was a well-organized race and a fun morning on the bike.

 

I be back for the next one.

[Long Wheel Base]

Started in B batch and rode with/amongst front B-batch guys most of the way, so no real hold-ups or delays.

 

I had a good race and thought the route was really excellent - well laid out and lots of fun.

 

We can all moan about goodie packs, cost etc. but this was a well-organized race and a fun morning on the bike.

 

I be back for the next one.

We must have crossed paths at some stage then. Was also among the front of B. Got held up a bit from about 12km till we hit a tar road section that climbed a bit and I was able to pass them. But lets be honest, if the race was just long open district roads it would be boring so I don't mind getting held up on single track from time to time. I live close enough to the park so strava can be bettered another time.

[Speeltyd]

Yeah I also decided to give this one a skip because of previous USN races. Felt like a proper rip off before and it seems that sentiment still exists.

Why do you say this? What rip off was there?

It was a nice, well organised race.

[nonky]

We must have crossed paths at some stage then. Was also among the front of B. Got held up a bit from about 12km till we hit a tar road section that climbed a bit and I was able to pass them. But lets be honest, if the race was just long open district roads it would be boring so I don't mind getting held up on single track from time to time. I live close enough to the park so strava can be bettered another time.

 

I was riding with/behind the Freedom Challenge/Munga guy with the tri-bars and (unfortunately) in front of the good looking blonde lass...

[s14phoenix]

was a nice race but it seems the organizers have no idea have to block off the groups so it is not just one big mess.

 

Battled to get to my batch. The rest was fine. enjoyed the route but was short on tech sections as Modder always is. I was very surprised that there was so little mud. The climbing was a bit tougher than I thought it would be...

 

Still good fun and apart from the start batching issues a great day out. Not a bad race value wise. Think some people need to get off their high horse and come pedal a bike instead...

[dirtrider]

I was riding with/behind the Freedom Challenge/Munga guy with the tri-bars and (unfortunately) in front of the good looking blonde lass...

 

A freedom rider with Tri-bars ? Really can't see a freedom challenge rider doing a race like this . 

[GSG]

Wow am I glad the race was yesterday. Been solid rain since 23h30 here and I stay just a few min away from modder.

Rode there on Sunday and wasn't muddy at all to my surprise.

[nonky]

A freedom rider with Tri-bars ? Really can't see a freedom challenge rider doing a race like this . 

 

He was wearing a Freedom Challenge shirt and said he'd just finished the Munga.

 

Hey, maybe i'm too gullible but he looked legit.

 

Anyhoo, back to work

[Long Wheel Base]

I was riding with/behind the Freedom Challenge/Munga guy with the tri-bars and (unfortunately) in front of the good looking blonde lass...

O yeah I saw him. He came passed me towards the end actually. One of my lady team mates was also in group B and she finished not to far behind me. What kit was this blonde lass wearing?

[JA-Q001]

was a nice race but it seems the organizers have no idea have to block off the groups so it is not just one big mess.

 

Battled to get to my batch. The rest was fine. enjoyed the route but was short on tech sections as Modder always is. I was very surprised that there was so little mud. The climbing was a bit tougher than I thought it would be...

 

Still good fun and apart from the start batching issues a great day out. Not a bad race value wise. Think some people need to get off their high horse and come pedal a bike instead...

 

 

I must say, I agree that there was no control with batching, After A started, I had to make my way around D and E group riders to try and get to the B group start. Wasn't easy catching the front 2 of B when starting behind in the group. 

 

Race was fun and fast, just bummed about the 5 km it was too short.

I Wonder what crap seeding index they are going to give the winner, probably 25 or something.

[karlito]

I must say, I agree that there was no control with batching, After A started, I had to make my way around D and E group riders to try and get to the B group start. Wasn't easy catching the front 2 of B when starting behind in the group. 

 

Race was fun and fast, just bummed about the 5 km it was too short.

I Wonder what crap seeding index they are going to give the winner, probably 25 or something.

 

That is if they are ever actually going to do the seeding index for this race. It has been a LONG time since they updated any indexes on their site.

[nonky]

That is if they are ever actually going to do the seeding index for this race. It has been a LONG time since they updated any indexes on their site.

 

I sent sa seeding an email asking what's going on - will provide feedback as soon as I get it.

[nonky]

I sent sa seeding an email asking what's going on - will provide feedback as soon as I get it.

 

Modders USN race only on saseeding in 2 weeks' time.

 

They cannot upload on the new site yet.

[AndreL]

I read someone's comment here about rather taking up complaints direct with the organisers, which I did.

 

As a slow senior new to the sport, I started in the 50km E batch and soon we were being passed by the 30km A batch guys, at about the 2nd red route climb and Mcquillan Hill (as per Strava segments), which is single track with nowhere to really pass, so I moved over for them - as I think one ought to do - off the singletrack, into tall grass with unseen lurkers etc. Net result was my first punctures in 6 months of riding events, and a 40 minute crash course in tube replacement. Back on the bike and now stuck behind the 30km E batch guys where people were perhaps too nervous to make way for a passing rider had me forced to sit and watch lots of people separating unceremoniously from their bikes at each obstacle, causing bottlenecks. Eventually got back onto the 50km route for a long, lonely trudge to the finish.

 

To their credit, the organisers responded to my query immediately, but not quite that clearly. Something about the Park Run being on the same timr, but there were no "Park Runners" on the MTB course that I could see so I still think that the faster batches for all distances should have been sent out first, and I mentioned as much to the organisers. It must be equally, if not more, frustrating for someone riding for actual results (rather than just riding to finish) to turn a corner and see the dozens of weekend warriors in our group they would need to get past in narrow and windy single track climbs.

 

Just my observations as a relative newcomer to all if this, which hopefully the organisers will take to heart going forward.

 

Regarding the goodie bag complaints, they have merit, given the main sponsor's business as a supplement company (i received plenty more supplement- type stuff at the Magalies Adventure and other events) - but I do not believe anyone enters an event for the freebies in the goodie bag.

 

I would rather have had a more considered approach to the starting order of the various batches, and therefore a more enjoyable ride, than receive anything in goodie bad at all.

 

If any notice was taken to all of this, Avianto on the 27th will be better managed. If not, that will be the last event of theirs I enter.

[worriesnot]

I read someone's comment here about rather taking up complaints direct with the organisers, which I did.

 

As a slow senior new to the sport, I started in the 50km E batch and soon we were being passed by the 30km A batch guys, at about the 2nd red route climb and Mcquillan Hill (as per Strava segments), which is single track with nowhere to really pass, so I moved over for them - as I think one ought to do - off the singletrack, into tall grass with unseen lurkers etc. Net result was my first punctures in 6 months of riding events, and a 40 minute crash course in tube replacement. Back on the bike and now stuck behind the 30km E batch guys where people were perhaps too nervous to make way for a passing rider had me forced to sit and watch lots of people separating unceremoniously from their bikes at each obstacle, causing bottlenecks. Eventually got back onto the 50km route for a long, lonely trudge to the finish.

 

To their credit, the organisers responded to my query immediately, but not quite that clearly. Something about the Park Run being on the same timr, but there were no "Park Runners" on the MTB course that I could see so I still think that the faster batches for all distances should have been sent out first, and I mentioned as much to the organisers. It must be equally, if not more, frustrating for someone riding for actual results (rather than just riding to finish) to turn a corner and see the dozens of weekend warriors in our group they would need to get past in narrow and windy single track climbs.

 

Just my observations as a relative newcomer to all if this, which hopefully the organisers will take to heart going forward.

 

Regarding the goodie bag complaints, they have merit, given the main sponsor's business as a supplement company (i received plenty more supplement- type stuff at the Magalies Adventure and other events) - but I do not believe anyone enters an event for the freebies in the goodie bag.

 

I would rather have had a more considered approach to the starting order of the various batches, and therefore a more enjoyable ride, than receive anything in goodie bad at all.

 

If any notice was taken to all of this, Avianto on the 27th will be better managed. If not, that will be the last event of theirs I enter.

 

Avianto last year the 30km riders also caught up with 50km starters - same route for the first 20km I think. 

I don't think it will be any different this year so be prepared for the same thing.

Pack your climbing legs... Avianto took us to about 900m climbing over 46km, so a tad more challenging than Modders.