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[Event] The Swartberg100 Gran Fondo (Cancelled)


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Posted

What's the gradients like? I have 34/32 ?

For Hell and Back I got my fat ass up there on 32/32 with some effort but never considered walking. Some short sections at 18% if I remember correctly. You should be fine 34/32.
Posted

Should be a great weekend away. Hope to sit in the bunch till the pass and then it will be every man for himself. 

Do not underestimate the climb before the pass - on the Oudemuragie road. The "bunch" could be in a million pieces by then....

Posted

Should be a great weekend away. Hope to sit in the bunch till the pass and then it will be every man for himself. 

Yeah, we are turning it into a weekend thing too, booked into the Vrisch Gewagt Boutique Self-Catering Olive Farm (never been there, but look nice) will arrive the Friday and stay till Sunday. Folks and wife coming along too.

Posted

Do not underestimate the climb before the pass - on the Oudemuragie road. The "bunch" could be in a million pieces by then....

 

I'm going in blind and hoping for the best. 

Posted

Yeah, we are turning it into a weekend thing too, booked into the Vrisch Gewagt Boutique Self-Catering Olive Farm (never been there, but look nice) will arrive the Friday and stay till Sunday. Folks and wife coming along too.

 

Same here, staying until Monday. Don't think I've been to Prince Albert before. 

Posted

For Hell and Back I got my fat ass up there on 32/32 with some effort but never considered walking. Some short sections at 18% if I remember correctly. You should be fine 34/32.

I did Swartberg 3 times from that side - twice in CPT.  My Polar shows an avg gradient of 10.6% for the last 3.5 km, I cannot remember it ramping up more than 15%. In training I was probably on a 22x30 on my heavy HT (14kg).  In CPT we climbed 2700m in 87 km, so I was in my 22x34 on the Anthem and bleeding.  But hey, I'm not that gifted. 

 

Would love to know what works for you - the race is seriously on my bucket list!!!

Posted (edited)

Same here, staying until Monday. Don't think I've been to Prince Albert before. 

You will love the place.

 

Go to Swartberg Hotel, sit on the stoep and order a 500ml Glenhoff draft.  Priceless.  Even better go dine at the hotel in the evening.  Their lambshack is do die for!!!  And the ambience is super rustic and in the English Colonial style

Edited by Underachiever
Posted

Yeah, we are turning it into a weekend thing too, booked into the Vrisch Gewagt Boutique Self-Catering Olive Farm (never been there, but look nice) will arrive the Friday and stay till Sunday. Folks and wife coming along too.

Ah, that is on the eastern side of the Tredouw pass I think, please let me know how that is.  Looking for options for December - normally we stay in a self catering house in town.

Posted

Do not underestimate the climb before the pass - on the Oudemuragie road. The "bunch" could be in a million pieces by then....

Yeah this talk of "bunch" is not doing it for me. Going into this so unfit, fat and blind, I'm just going to ride it out and take in the views.

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