[Event] 947 Cycle Challenge 2016

[Pikey]

That sounds normal. Racing Elite's is not for the faint at heart.

 

It's a combination of things: Inexperience, speed, stupidity, testosterone, team managers orders, 100 riders and a limited amount of road, etc...  You learn very quickly bumping bars and rubbing elbows is constant and very normal, you have to hold your ground and if you touch the brakes you loose 20 positions. You learn very quickly that if someone in the middle of the bunch points, flicks there head or even looks to move out you make a gap or else you will end up on the floor.

You should try a race where there is a big bunch sprint. Yesterday will be tame in comparison.

Have a look at this for some incite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE97iUvSHk0

Holy sh$te that's hectic. You can keep that thanks ????

[FHB]

2nd one for me, first time 5:12, and this time 4:28. The first 10km's were very hard on me, did not get rhythm and only when on R55 did the rhythm come. Obviously weighing 130kgs did not help on the hills (I did not get off and walk, I cycled, even if in granny gear) all the hills, Steyn City included. The flat tyre did not help 20kms from the finish. But I really blasted down the downhills, clocking 90.4km/hr at one point. 

 

Will I do it again? Hell Yeah.

 

What will I do next year different? Do races before the time, get a good seeding (went from JJ) and then get stuck in a bunch. When going so late, there are no cohesion, all just doing their own thing. 

 

Goal next year would be loose a shitload of kilograms, do lots of hills and come back very strong for a 3:15 time.

[Grey Hubs]

2nd one for me, first time 5:12, and this time 4:28. The first 10km's were very hard on me, did not get rhythm and only when on R55 did the rhythm come. Obviously weighing 130kgs did not help on the hills (I did not get off and walk, I cycled, even if in granny gear) all the hills, Steyn City included. The flat tyre did not help 20kms from the finish. But I really blasted down the downhills, clocking 90.4km/hr at one point. 

 

Will I do it again? Hell Yeah.

 

What will I do next year different? Do races before the time, get a good seeding (went from JJ) and then get stuck in a bunch. When going so late, there are no cohesion, all just doing their own thing. 

 

Goal next year would be loose a shitload of kilograms, do lots of hills and come back very strong for a 3:15 time.

That 90km/hr will help the average! Damn!

[Spoke101]

I've done one race where Elite and VA were combined into one group. Probably the best performance I've had i.t.o. workload, but that day I ended up in a mass pileup 500m from the finish. Lucky for me, I landed on top of people and bikes and not the road. Took 2 minutes to get up, untangle bikes and roll over the line.

 

From that day on, I vowed to sit up if I wasn't in the top 10 places and capable of contesting the sprint - no point sprinting for 20th, 30th, 40th or 50th place. Rather come back and ride another day.

 

Very true. Have also sat up with 500m to go in my last 2 elite Shova's

[Veebee]

2nd one for me, first time 5:12, and this time 4:28. The first 10km's were very hard on me, did not get rhythm and only when on R55 did the rhythm come. Obviously weighing 130kgs did not help on the hills (I did not get off and walk, I cycled, even if in granny gear) all the hills, Steyn City included. The flat tyre did not help 20kms from the finish. But I really blasted down the downhills, clocking 90.4km/hr at one point. 

 

Will I do it again? Hell Yeah.

 

What will I do next year different? Do races before the time, get a good seeding (went from JJ) and then get stuck in a bunch. When going so late, there are no cohesion, all just doing their own thing. 

 

Goal next year would be loose a shitload of kilograms, do lots of hills and come back very strong for a 3:15 time.

 

Well that's just the attitude you want and need !!

 

My first 1 in 2014 was 6:10 and yesterday was 3:04. Crashed 2 weeks before it last year so didn't do it.

I was also a heavy guy when I did the first. This year I was 22kg lighter and that made a massive difference. Had flash backs of walking up Steyn city, sitting on the side until I could get up to walk up the hills just to roll down to the next.

[Frosty]

I am wondering about the number of entrants vs. starters/finishers. The organisers quoted 33,000 entrants in this year's race. Racetec has just under 20,500 timed finishers. That means that nearly 13,000 people either didn't start, didn't finish or rode without a chip. I know that there were a few people without chips getting past the marshalls (despite the organisers' "no chip, no ride" policy) and there will always be those that don't feel they can ride on the day and obviously those that don't finish, but 13,000 just seems really high to me.

I have just seen the invoice from Racetec for the timing of the race I'm involved with - and it matches the number of online entries and late entries exactly.

 

The cost charged is per person, so I can imagine that this event doesn't want to pay per person if 13,000 don't have a chip. I can understand their "no-chip no-ride" policy.

[Paul Ruinaard]

That sounds normal. Racing Elite's is not for the faint at heart.

 

It's a combination of things: Inexperience, speed, stupidity, testosterone, team managers orders, 100 riders and a limited amount of road, etc...  You learn very quickly bumping bars and rubbing elbows is constant and very normal, you have to hold your ground and if you touch the brakes you loose 20 positions. You learn very quickly that if someone in the middle of the bunch points, flicks there head or even looks to move out you make a gap or else you will end up on the floor.

You should try a race where there is a big bunch sprint. Yesterday will be tame in comparison.

Have a look at this for some incite:

This video is psychotic.

 

I know that you get good at it and its a normal day at the office but this is plain crazy.

 

and the next time the guy in the argus bunch complains when i change line I will tell him to pissoff.

[hilton_]

I have just seen the invoice from Racetec for the timing of the race I'm involved with - and it matches the number of online entries and late entries exactly.

 

The cost charged is per person, so I can imagine that this event doesn't want to pay per person if 13,000 don't have a chip. I can understand their "no-chip no-ride" policy.

 

I really don't understand why this isn't as strictly enforced as the organisers clearly want it to be. CTCT does a far better job at making sure there's a chip on every bike/cyclist. Based on the chaotic experience in loading, it seems as if the marshalls simply weren't (aren't ever) briefed properly. 

[Patchelicious]

This video is psychotic.

 

I know that you get good at it and its a normal day at the office but this is plain crazy.

 

and the next time the guy in the argus bunch complains when i change line I will tell him to pissoff.

You shouldn't change your line, the guys around you in the Argus aren't the same guys that are in that video.

[Pikey]

You shouldn't change your line, the guys around you in the Argus aren't the same guys that are in that video.

And the general lack of foresight & bike handling skills is pretty scary at best.

[Frosty]

R380 for the Emperor's if you don't take the "early bird" discount. and no road closures!!

correction - R390

 

 

[nonky]

correction - R390

emperors.PNG

 

correction - R390

emperors.PNG

 

Aquelle Tour Durban 2017 is ZAR350, with full road closure (and over a long weekend).

[IceCreamMan]

I have just seen the invoice from Racetec for the timing of the race I'm involved with - and it matches the number of online entries and late entries exactly.

 

The cost charged is per person, so I can imagine that this event doesn't want to pay per person if 13,000 don't have a chip. I can understand their "no-chip no-ride" policy.

Makes no difference to the organizer whether ppl have the chip or not. They have 33 000 entries.

 

Unless of course they get a kickback from racetec on the sale of chips

[nonky]

This video is psychotic.

 

I know that you get good at it and its a normal day at the office but this is plain crazy.

 

and the next time the guy in the argus bunch complains when i change line I will tell him to pissoff.

 

I never realised that cycling was a contact sport

[Jigghead]

What a day, my birthday and we're moving house in 10 days. Really happy to receive a pink slip for this one as my alternative was packing boxes. Make my way to Dainfern Shops and have some brekkie at the Mugg & Bean. Ride to the start, riding for NSPCA so stop by the tent for some pics.

 

Amble off to the start and wait, gathering up the atmosphere, two mates have dumped me for my birthday ride so I'm solo. Get to the start and meet a pretty and friendly lady called Annie. She seems legit so I'm thinking I have some company. We even get matching selfies and I think cool, no strings company on my ride. Anyway, about a third of the way up the first hill and she's lost. Seems I'm solo again.

 

Nice ride, usual banter with some social strangers, I'm starting in a charity batch and off for a cruise around JHB. Hit the M1 and see a mate on the side of the road. I stop, it appears he's lost his riding partners. So we wait and see one hauling ass past us. So we catch up and the banter starts. Victor Matfield passes us and both my riding partners scream out that we need him to make a comeback, more like begging, but he ignores us. He's clearly focused on his Mrs. who doesn't look too bad in lycra, from behind anyway, but he's pushing her so clearly he's in for a longer ride than us.

 

I loose my mates, but it's fine. For my birthday, I have some lazy friends offering everything from weed to tequila and in between. Thankfully, all I got was a cupcake and an ice cream. I can't feel my ass having covered only 180km during the year and I seriously consider putting the ice cream in my bibs, but sanity prevails. I complain about the "gooch cream" I'm using for chafing. One of my mates suggests that I shouldn't put it in but rather on and around.

 

I dish out almost all my cramp blockers to those needing some relief, and make it to the end dreading the climb back to Dainfern. Once back at my breakfast spot I need a beer and settle in. Another rider eases in at the table beside me and recognises me from Midmar Mile 8 Mile Club 2014. I end up drinking more beer than was perhaps necessary talking **** to this fella. We swap cell numbers and Strava profiles and I amble home to my delicious lamb lunch and an afternoon nap while my awesome wife occupies the kids and allows for some silence before I'm woken at 17h00 with Happy Birthday and cake.

 

Official time: 4h55

Riding time: 4h21

Fun factor: 10

Bike: Giant XTC0

 

I still feel like I'm sitting on a golf ball, but I'll be back next year and this time I'll rub the chafing cream on and around             

Edited November 21, 2016 by Jigghead

[Nettie R]

I am wondering about the number of entrants vs. starters/finishers. The organisers quoted 33,000 entrants in this year's race. Racetec has just under 20,500 timed finishers.

It doesn't sound lekker to say they pull less riders than the argus. So I think they manipulate the number a bit.

Previous years the entries were sold out but this year late entries were available at registration. Numbers are down and I think the entry fee has a lot to do with it. Times are tough for some.