[Event] Cullinan 2 Tonteldoos MTB Ultra (260km)

[CAAD4]

Well done Oom. Respect.

[Slowbee]

Ma se hare, that was pretty tough ... Those climbs in the last third can hurt old legs

 

Enjoyed it though, I love gadgets and stuff so the navigation was right up my alley

 

No rain at the event but the mud from the previous day's rain was a bit 'troublesome' in the last 25k's

 

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I will refuse to say a formal congrats and well done (!) until such a time as there are photo's and ride reports!

 

Informally, however ...!! well done ! Must have been an awesome pedal.

[Mamil]

Full race reports please - we want to hear every detail of the suffering and the joy ....

[SwissVan]

Well done guys, that a long way on dirt

[DPLot]

Full race reports please - we want to hear every detail of the suffering and the joy ....

 

 

Ok so short recap of the race. - There will be a full write up in next months Ride Magazine.

 

Heading out of town the first 10km was a neutral zone but we averaged 30kph on the tar. Once we turned off the guys really went out hard and split the bunch before the 20km mark.

 

As we hit the first water point at 50km it was all confusion as you had to check in with your support crew ( we only had a little mud some sidetrack and a puddle or 2 to contend with up until this point). This split the bunch again 3 guys got away with a big bunch forming behind them these guys put down the hammer and I decided to rather drop off and keep my own pace. 5 min later my lights failed as JCZA said lights/batteries and comparability was a problem. I rode with Corras using his light to guide us to the second check were i could get a new light.

 

This was the biggest stop but luckily we were very split up and it was easy going through. I strapped on my second light and got my food packet and was off again. this section of the route was very lonely with a few small climbs i only passed 1 team in 45km there were lots of support vehicles coming and going to ease the nervousness of "am I still on the right route?"

 

I have to comment as well solo at night in the middle of nowhere is an amazing experience they should keep the late start and finish it adds to the epicness of this event 

 

Heading into the next checkpoint a long tar decent lead to a farm track next to a water channel it was very muddy but not mess up you drive train muddy. Just enough to make sure you got your wits about you and not crash into the channel.

 

This checkpoint had some burgers and mechanics ready to help. not having to feed or do repairs I sped through heading out on another tar section. just As I cot back on the dirt another team that had stopped for burgers caught me and we had a good ride up the climbs. We were picking up solo and team riders all the way.....this was 80km from the finish with 1800m of climbing left end some were already pushing.  This section had a few puddles but nothing you couldn't avoid.

 

I had to lube and tack another major food parcel at the next stop that went quick the team and solo riders I was racing with decided to stop for another rest so I headed on solo. This section had some rocky climbs not to bad but I did lose my hot cross bun I was looking forward to for 195km because of one bump.

 

This section consisted of long rocky tree lined drags and you could already feel the increase in altitude. I managed to catch the leading bunch With about 57 km to go I manged to break away the decent into the last water point was very rutted and just running my lights on dimm to save power I snakebited my rear wheel and just manged to keep it together into the checkpoint to fix it.

 

Another long tar section took us to what we where all expecting the race to be........a mudfest. my wheels just disappeared into the mud and i crashed about 4 times. I hear it cleared up later and it was easier to get through that section. There where about 8 big bogs but the rest was fine just energy sapping.

 

 

The final nail in the coffin is a 1,4km pass up to Tonteldoos. this was supper muddy and drained what ever you had left. luckily after that it was 6km downhill to the finish at this point my lights had drained completely and i had to rely on a small usb light to nurse it home.

 

So in conclusion......buy the best lights you can afford and an backup battery to keep with you.

 

This event is tougher than Baviaans according to me the solo aspect and all the climbing at the end really plays a role. Its not technical but the night light factor makes even a small rut a problem.

 

This is a bucket list race and so awesome close to JHB.

 

Pics by Eric Vermeulen

 

A short vid....it was very dark out there.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BS9UJ6iB1sI/

Edited April 16, 2017 by DPLot

[Mamil]

This choked me up a bit I have to confess - I think that might have broken me.

 

Congratulations DPLot - sounds like you nailed it.

 

 

I had to lube and tack another major food parcel at the next stop that went quick the team and solo riders I was racing with decided to stop for another rest so I headed on solo. This section had some rocky climbs not to bad but I did lose my hot cross bun I was looking forward to for 195km because of one bump.

[Harryn]

Ma se hare, that was pretty tough ... Those climbs in the last third can hurt old legs [emoji17]

 

Enjoyed it though, I love gadgets and stuff so the navigation was right up my alley [emoji41]

 

No rain at the event but the mud from the previous day's rain was a bit 'troublesome' in the last 25k's [emoji53]

 

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Machine, much respect, Ben![emoji122]

 

Stupid question: were you not concerned about your Garmin battery dying, and did you have a backup?

[the nerd]

Machine, much respect, Ben![emoji122]

 

Stupid question: were you not concerned about your Garmin battery dying, and did you have a backup?

 

I can comment here: 

 

We used a 510 and plugged the garmin into a power bank, it charged and worked as per usual, no issues at all!

[NotSoBigBen]

Machine, much respect, Ben![emoji122]

 

Stupid question: were you not concerned about your Garmin battery dying, and did you have a backup?

Thanks Harry!

 

As the the nerd said I also used an 810 plugged into a powerbank and it worked with no problems.

['Kaze Pete]

Thanks Harry!

 

As the the nerd said I also used an 810 plugged into a powerbank and it worked with no problems.

Size (mAh, not dimensions) of said powerbank?

[the nerd]

Size (mAh, not dimensions) of said powerbank?

 

I am not sure, think it was an 8 or 10k mAh.. was my brothers.. 

[DPLot]

Charging my Edge 520 I get about 8hours extra using a 2500mAh running the screen at 20% back light.

[NotSoBigBen]

I went with this elegant/slim stem size/shaped 4500 mAh model for its aero advantages at speed [emoji582]

[NotSoBigBen]

It is my considered opinion that many underestimated the amount of light required (effectively about 8-9hrs), I used 6 batteries .... a new one at each CP regardless.

 

Also how tough those last about 100k's actually are .... It's a crap load of climbing! Up to there it was let's just say pretty easy going and many gave it horns without regard for what was to come. That came back to bite them pretty heavily .... Reminded me of a quote I had placed on my FB a week or two before 'in the first half don't be an idiot, in the second half don't be a wimp'

 

'Know your GPS' .... Was emphasised a few times at the info evening. That meant you had to actually go out and follow a route BEFORE the time ????

 

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[Slowbee]

It is my considered opinion that many underestimated the amount of light required (effectively about 8-9hrs), I used 6 batteries .... a new one at each CP regardless.

 

Also how tough those last about 100k's actually are .... It's a crap load of climbing! Up to there it was let's just say pretty easy going and many gave it horns without regard for what was to come. That came back to bite them pretty heavily .... Reminded me of a quote I had placed on my FB a week or two before 'in the first half don't be an idiot, in the second half don't be a wimp'

 

'Know your GPS' .... Was emphasised a few times at the info evening. That meant you had to actually go out and follow a route BEFORE the time

 

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WTKakesister, you mean you want me to do Munga twice ? Nee donkie......

 

This GPS thingy and light battery thingy are making me worry a wee bit about riding through the night. But following a little purple line is going to be fun. Maybe S2C will be good practice on the new route Day2.

[NotSoBigBen]

WTKakesister, you mean you want me to do Munga twice ? Nee donkie......

 

This GPS thingy and light battery thingy are making me worry a wee bit about riding through the night. But following a little purple line is going to be fun. Maybe S2C will be good practice on the new route Day2.

A route not THE route ????

 

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