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[Event] Dis-Chem Ride For Sight 2016


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Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 6:49 PM, RastaMan said:

awesome race in VA

Must say when we hit that turn into the headwind I was too far back

Passing group after group but never making it to the front

From there on it was chasing all the way, sometimes on my own sometimes with peeps but good fun

 

Also had some fun in the last km, but I did my fair share of work.

Surprised when racetec said I finished 21st overall and 12 in VA, did not expect that

 

That was my 3rd VA race, still rock hard. Gonna be an interesting year

But remember you rode elites last year. Nice seeing you again.
Posted

From us ou toppies at the back side of the 'race'

 

Started in HL. Hectic pace at the start (for us fun riders) as always but managed to keep up with the bunch. At about 40km into the race a guy came off his bicycle near the front of the bunch but everybody managed to go around him and not over him. How ridiculous is this, 1h33 for the first 56km and 2H45 from there to the finish. That wind was insane. Was my worst R4S by 25 minutes.  Well organised race once again.

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 5:23 PM, RearWheelDrive said:

I was in Cl and the pace upfront was insane. Or maybe I'm just slow :whistling:  We were going out after the S bends at well over 50kph and I couldn't catch the lead guys. Burnt too many matches there.

 

Had a nice group up to just before the big climb at the back of Suikerbos. That crosswind on the fast downhill section was the end of me. I can't do crosswinds. 

 

We had a bunch coming out of Heidelberg but everyone was waiting for someone to go pick up the pace. I would've had I not been so stuffed. Looks like everyone was a little tender after this ride. My legs were sore and I just nursed myself home. Other than that I was ok.

 

Didn't see any crashes. Although my wife took a tumble in the short ride :mellow:  She's ok rode to the end. I passed  her and fixed her bike a bit.

OKay ..so i wasnt mad .. That pace from the start in C was insane !!! The guys from Club energy pulled a sneaky move ... but kudos it worked. Had 4 guys up front pacing themselves off one at a time and we left them thinking (thats right, kill yourselves).

Turns out they were the sacrificial lambs... Their 4 A bunch team mates then came around us... i knew this was a tactic and prepared for hell to break loose(And it did ) 

50 km mark they did a full scale attack and i blew myself in spectacular style trying to stay with the front bunch... to no avail.. 

Did the first 100kms in 2h45 , last 16 in 45 mins ( couldnt have gone slower even if i tried), the short bunch integration didnt help either ... near misses left , right and centre all at snail pace 

No drinks for the last hour didnt help much either, so a bit of cramping my side too.

 

3h30 final time    sufferfest of note for me  :drool:

Posted

Why everyone hating on us Short riders... I did the 62km coz its only my 3rd ever race. I started in DS and overtook people right from the start.. About 5km in about 4 or 5 of us started working together. One gent in particular gave some group riding advice all the way and kinda coached me on rotation. I actually felt really strong and did most of the riding at the front. On the merge with some of the vets he asked me how I felt and I said Fine, he said I should then try and keep up with the vets. Which I did until that last turn off the Carnival City road.. BUT I towed a vet home for which he thanked me abundantly. I saw the guy was struggling and I was still okayish so I got out in front and rode in front of him. Was fun riding forba few kays with the vets, even though I was just hanging onto the back.. Anyway, that stint with them got me home in 1hr56m which is by far my PB and it also won me my group.. so im chuffed

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 6:33 PM, Shangri la said:

Bit of a chage of topic..... I have noticed all these races are pushing the entry fees but giving absolute crap in the goodie bags.

We used to get a tee shirt and a waterbottle for this race, not a bunch of crap that ended in the dustbin this year.

 

Maybe time to go back to running :thumbdown:

Maybe change to tiddlywinks? Or Frisbee-ing. In fact, I am sure the little vita thion branded frisbee would have performed superbly today.

 

Anyway, I did the short distance today in BS, having been off the bike for 3 weeks or so due an episode of hypochondria. We were in a nice small bunch, which got very big and nervous, just before 5 people came down right in front of me and my 2 mates. We somehow managed to avoid the crash, but the experience was jarring. We stopped to help, as we had been chatting to, and working with the fallen (among them an energetic lady, Karen, who was spurring her group on with wonderful encouragement). miraculously, there were no injuries, everyone got back on their bikes, but they must be eina tonight. If any are reading this, I wish them well.

 

After this crash, I lost my confidence and decided to stay totally out of the bunches, so had a very very tough time out in the wind on my own in the last 20km. It was intimidating being passed by long distance riders, mainly looking at us like we had the Zika virus or worse. But, boy, most of them were pretty spent!

 

I'm Sorry to be missing Carnival City next week, due to a family Batmitzvah. Though if the wind blows like today, It might be a blessing in disguise.

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 8:23 PM, PietSw said:

Why everyone hating on us Short riders... I did the 62km coz its only my 3rd ever race. I started in DS and overtook people right from the start.. About 5km in about 4 or 5 of us started working together. One gent in particular gave some group riding advice all the way and kinda coached me on rotation. I actually felt really strong and did most of the riding at the front. On the merge with some of the vets he asked me how I felt and I said Fine, he said I should then try and keep up with the vets. Which I did until that last turn off the Carnival City road.. BUT I towed a vet home for which he thanked me abundantly. I saw the guy was struggling and I was still okayish so I got out in front and rode in front of him. Was fun riding forba few kays with the vets, even though I was just hanging onto the back.. Anyway, that stint with them got me home in 1hr56m which is by far my PB and it also won me my group.. so im chuffed

Not hating on All Short Riders, more those that rode 5 abreast on oversized mountain bikes(handle bars a meter wide, or so it seemed) that were socialising and swearing at Us when we asked for a bit of space...  I go so far as to thank those who move over a bit when we say bunch coming through . You will understand when you come play on the Big Rides in that heat and wind ...and then have to play dodgem.

If everyone is just a tad considerate it makes for a more pleasant experience for everyone .

Well done on your achievement .

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 8:23 PM, PietSw said:

Why everyone hating on us Short riders... I did the 62km coz its only my 3rd ever race. I started in DS and overtook people right from the start.. About 5km in about 4 or 5 of us started working together. One gent in particular gave some group riding advice all the way and kinda coached me on rotation. I actually felt really strong and did most of the riding at the front. On the merge with some of the vets he asked me how I felt and I said Fine, he said I should then try and keep up with the vets. Which I did until that last turn off the Carnival City road.. BUT I towed a vet home for which he thanked me abundantly. I saw the guy was struggling and I was still okayish so I got out in front and rode in front of him. Was fun riding forba few kays with the vets, even though I was just hanging onto the back.. Anyway, that stint with them got me home in 1hr56m which is by far my PB and it also won me my group.. so im chuffed

We dont hate short riders. I was almost taken out 3 times by one because he was trying to stay with us no matter what. If the guys stayed in the group without causing near misses or at the back no problem.

 

Its a more of a safety thing.

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 6:33 PM, Shangri la said:

Bit of a chage of topic..... I have noticed all these races are pushing the entry fees but giving absolute crap in the goodie bags.

We used to get a tee shirt and a waterbottle for this race, not a bunch of crap that ended in the dustbin this year.

 

Maybe time to go back to running :thumbdown:

You should have picked your number up at TDF, they threw in a free eye test. 

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 8:23 PM, PietSw said:

Why everyone hating on us Short riders... I did the 62km coz its only my 3rd ever race. I started in DS and overtook people right from the start.. About 5km in about 4 or 5 of us started working together. One gent in particular gave some group riding advice all the way and kinda coached me on rotation. I actually felt really strong and did most of the riding at the front. On the merge with some of the vets he asked me how I felt and I said Fine, he said I should then try and keep up with the vets. Which I did until that last turn off the Carnival City road.. BUT I towed a vet home for which he thanked me abundantly. I saw the guy was struggling and I was still okayish so I got out in front and rode in front of him. Was fun riding forba few kays with the vets, even though I was just hanging onto the back.. Anyway, that stint with them got me home in 1hr56m which is by far my PB and it also won me my group.. so im chuffed

I personally don't have a problem with the short course riders.

The long course riders would just prefer that you guys keep as far left as possible, look back if you are going to overtake a slower rider and hold your line.  This is what the long course riders do all the time.

I limped home with the 2nd half of VC.  On the left we had short course riders riding in a bunch, but not one behind the other, all next to each other.  We tried to pass with about 30 very tired riders, with cars passing on the RH side doing in excess of 100km/h.

Then you get the guys who think it would be a good idea to join the bunch, but they seriously lack bunch riding skills, and are trying to ride/race in a vets group.

We ate all out there enjoying(not so sure) our day out in the wind & sun, we just need to be aware that the speed differential can at times be large, and having to dodge slower riders, in a tight bunch will lead to tears.

I have had bad days where I have needed to wheel suck a short course rider home, so not hating on you guys.

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 8:23 PM, PietSw said:

Why everyone hating on us Short riders... I did the 62km coz its only my 3rd ever race. I started in DS and overtook people right from the start.. About 5km in about 4 or 5 of us started working together. One gent in particular gave some group riding advice all the way and kinda coached me on rotation. I actually felt really strong and did most of the riding at the front. On the merge with some of the vets he asked me how I felt and I said Fine, he said I should then try and keep up with the vets. Which I did until that last turn off the Carnival City road.. BUT I towed a vet home for which he thanked me abundantly. I saw the guy was struggling and I was still okayish so I got out in front and rode in front of him. Was fun riding forba few kays with the vets, even though I was just hanging onto the back.. Anyway, that stint with them got me home in 1hr56m which is by far my PB and it also won me my group.. so im chuffed

I rode in VC, we rode in our own group for the entire race just going past the occasional rider that got dropped from the groups in front of us. With about 20km to go we joined the short ride. All of a sudden there are 100's of riders all over the place going at a much slower pace. Most of them are not riding in organized groups but are all over the place. I was worried about crashes or getting stuck behind slower riders while my VC group went past.

Posted

Hey Guys,

Was a decently organised race, I stopped to help a few people with mechanical issues so I ended up right at the back, I was very upset when I found marshals sitting down and EMPD officers sitting in their cars. There was one decent sized intersection with just one EMPD officer. She sat in her car and when cyclist approached, she simply put on her lights and siren. Someone came flying through the intersection and almost hit me, a taxi ended up cutting off the traffic to allow the cyclist to past, I found this troubling, I hope some motorcycle marshals addressed this when they passed.

I was also extremely shocked that at the finish there was no water tent and no medic tent. Everyone had packed up and the race wasn't even close to ending. The drinks vendors had also run out of drinks so I had to drive to a petrol station to get something cold to drink.

 

There was a bad accident where a cycling was hit by a car at 6kms to go. The bike was damaged at the back and the cars windshield was smashed, does anyone know if the cyclist is ok? I saw an ambulance leave the scene. I cant find anything online about it.

 

All in all it was a good race and my first over 100km race, but wow it was hot and windy at the end. Good prep for Argus

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 8:23 PM, PietSw said:

Why everyone hating on us Short riders... I did the 62km coz its only my 3rd ever race. I started in DS and overtook people right from the start.. About 5km in about 4 or 5 of us started working together. One gent in particular gave some group riding advice all the way and kinda coached me on rotation. I actually felt really strong and did most of the riding at the front. On the merge with some of the vets he asked me how I felt and I said Fine, he said I should then try and keep up with the vets. Which I did until that last turn off the Carnival City road.. BUT I towed a vet home for which he thanked me abundantly. I saw the guy was struggling and I was still okayish so I got out in front and rode in front of him. Was fun riding forba few kays with the vets, even though I was just hanging onto the back.. Anyway, that stint with them got me home in 1hr56m which is by far my PB and it also won me my group.. so im chuffed

Well done. Nobody "hates" the short distance riders, they just commenting that the merge is not ideal.

Posted
  On 2/14/2016 at 6:41 PM, Patchelicious said:

Do people still actually queue at the goodie bag table???

Also hope so too.......

Had a "friendly chat" to one of the CSA tannies at the Ride for Sight table.....

"Never going to happen" was the firm answer. 

All the suggestions I gave was immediately shot down without thinking.

 

Sad.  :huh:  :(

Posted

Hi Guys

 

Had a good first 116 km race, did the 62 km race last year, started in JL group and we were in a bunch for the first 60 km going at a fairly high pace (30 - 35 km\h) after that the bunch seemed to slit up slowly. For the next 30 km\h was myself and a Chinese guy overtaking everyone on in sight which resulted in both of us failing at life after due to the wind...

 

1st hour managed around 35 -40 km

2nd hour got to 60 + km

3rd hour got to 90 km

took 1.5 hours to complete the rest of the race... much cramping little wow...

 

Otherwise when I went through the Marshals and Metro were all amazing. At the end of the race didn't look for a water tent, just went straight to the Vitality tent to get what i needed.

 

Well organised and really enjoyed it. only saw one accident which was within the first 15 km.

 

Heard they stopped the race at 12:30 due to the weather being to hot???

 

Well done everyone on the times.

Posted

Suffered like a dog and got almost blown off my bike a couple of times.

For some reason the HR just did not play along.....

Went over the line and found a tree and went to lay down for a while very very still.  hehehhehe

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