2017 Freedom Challenge RASA & RTR

[dirtrider]

Yes, it would appear that one camper is not so happy.....but it's easy to be smart-ass behind a keyboard, I wasn't stomping around there in the dark getting frustrated.

 

If you get frustrated because you going in circles then you entered the wrong race 

[dirtrider]

Pity about Andrew but Mark is on the go again . It looks like they camped very close to my personal favorite spot .  

[tubed]

I am totally shook! (as my teenage daughters would say)

 

You mean to say the race organisers (if one can call those callous people race organisers!), they knowing left two people out on the course, knowingly let them descend into the Umkomaas valley with night falling, one of the poor souls being a visiting American citizen, and then left them there through the night, after watching them walk around in circles (I bet they gave them those trackers so that they could in a perverse way watch them get lost),

 

Should they not have called the race off, sent in the teams, neutralised things at the very least.

 

I hope the bikehub police get hold of this thread and it runs for days - scandal that it is! 

[Marnitz Nienaber]

I am totally shook! (as my teenage daughters would say)

 

You mean to say the race organisers (if one can call those callous people race organisers!), they knowing left two people out on the course, knowingly let them descend into the Umkomaas valley with night falling, one of the poor souls being a visiting American citizen, and then left them there through the night, after watching them walk around in circles (I bet they gave them those trackers so that they could in a perverse way watch them get lost),

 

Should they not have called the race off, sent in the teams, neutralised things at the very least.

 

I hope the bikehub police get hold of this thread and it runs for days - scandal that it is! 

With the race getting more popular more of this might happen, not because of the race organizers, but because of ignorant participants who thirst of all don't read the emails send to them by the race organizers and secondly if you want to partake in this race you need to read as much as possible to prepare yourself for the worst, because Mother Nature can change your plans at any moment.

 

The Race Organizers and previous participants even give workshops to prepare anyone interested in participation in the race, to be able to read and understand maps, the culture of the race and what to expect.

 

I can assure you that the race organizers had everything under control, they know everybody along the route, not only the SS family but the people in between as well, then you must also take in account that the picture you see on you tracker site ain't exactly the same as the detailed one they see. The tracker has got an emergency button and when pushed the organizers will put a rescue plan into action, it is the choice of the participant to push it or not. 

 

I have been sleeping out in the race on many occasions without any worries, but I have prepared myself and I know what I'm getting myself into.

 

I can tell you that the Organizers deeply care for everyone participating in the race, this fortunately ain't a race which you can enter unprepared, without knowledge and fitness and buy yourself a wip or a blanket.......

 

Then you must also take in account that it easy to discredit or blame the organizers and the race itself if you haven't participated in the race yet, once you've got you wipp or blanket or even tried to get one it will be a completely different story.........  

 

       

[dave303e]

I am totally shook! (as my teenage daughters would say)

 

You mean to say the race organisers (if one can call those callous people race organisers!), they knowing left two people out on the course, knowingly let them descend into the Umkomaas valley with night falling, one of the poor souls being a visiting American citizen, and then left them there through the night, after watching them walk around in circles (I bet they gave them those trackers so that they could in a perverse way watch them get lost),

 

Should they not have called the race off, sent in the teams, neutralised things at the very least.

 

I hope the bikehub police get hold of this thread and it runs for days - scandal that it is! 

 

This isn't a trailseeker, you know what you are in for, they all have space blankets and base and shell layers so they shouldn't die.

Would be silly not to slip a bivvy bag into their bag, but really a night in the bush like that with nothing but your bike is sometimes better than a night in your bed.

Sleeping at the checkpoints is a trap, easy way to waste a lot of time cos it is warm and comfy.

[Guest]

With the race getting more popular more of this might happen, not because of the race organizers, but because of ignorant participants who thirst of all don't read the emails send to them by the race organizers and secondly if you want to partake in this race you need to read as much as possible to prepare yourself for the worst, because Mother Nature can change your plans at any moment.

 

The Race Organizers and previous participants even give workshops to prepare anyone interested in participation in the race, to be able to read and understand maps, the culture of the race and what to expect.

 

I can assure you that the race organizers had everything under control, they know everybody along the route, not only the SS family but the people in between as well, then you must also take in account that the picture you see on you tracker site ain't exactly the same as the detailed one they see. The tracker has got an emergency button and when pushed the organizers will put a rescue plan into action, it is the choice of the participant to push it or not. 

 

I have been sleeping out in the race on many occasions without any worries, but I have prepared myself and I know what I'm getting myself into.

 

I can tell you that the Organizers deeply care for everyone participating in the race, this fortunately ain't a race which you can enter unprepared, without knowledge and fitness and buy yourself a wip or a blanket.......

 

Then you must also take in account that it easy to discredit or blame the organizers and the race itself if you haven't participated in the race yet, once you've got you wipp or blanket or even tried to get one it will be a completely different story.........  

 

       

I think Tubed was making a joke in light of recent races where stages were cancelled when things got hairy.   

[dave303e]

I think Tubed was making a joke in light of recent races where stages were cancelled when things got hairy.   

o oops, took that hook line and sinker as well then

[Jewbacca]

HAHAHA I think Tubed was playing on the shortening of satge 2 at the epic, the neutral zone day 2 at Sani etc...... Guys jumped in there hard!

 

Camping out on the Freedom Trail is common place. It can be quite a relief when you eventually give your bum a rest!

[tubed]

oops, I think I need to ease the sarcasm into the thread this year - yes guys I was totally joking.

 

What the race does say is "Adventure Guaranteed" there's just no telling when YOU decide to make it happen.

 

Serious kudos to Mark Leisher, it seems he has 'the stuff', being tested on Day1 is a real test. Look at him go today - that's what its all about.

 

Philip Fullaway is another - last year he couldn't have found Nkaaandla or Centacow if you promised him a tender. He bailed at the top of mountain above Rhodes in a hissy fit (apologies Philip but that is what it was). This year he seems to have resolve, direction and we know he has an engine. This year, he's done a solo wander, slashed a tire, got a replacement and is seemingly unstoppable to Rhodes.

[Marnitz Nienaber]

o oops, took that hook line and sinker as well then

 

Waiting for Tube to release my hook and sinker, because this race I can honestly say ain't the Sani, the Epic or the Tour Divide which Jill Homer will happily confess to.......

 

   

[dirtrider]

That was easy . 

[Dusty]

Has the Queens Mercy Mugg and Bean been re-opened?

[dirtrider]

It was open last year .

[johannrissik]

Looks like the Weskusklong not only swallowed the hook, the line the fishing rod and half of Tubed's arm????????????????

Just goes to show how passionate we are about our event.

And one guy sleeping in the bush in the Umko valley is really a non-event. Except for the spectators....and the sleeper ????????????????

[dirtrider]

Is Mark heading for my 2nd camping spot ?

[Marnitz Nienaber]

Looks like the Weskusklong not only swallowed the hook, the line the fishing rod and half of Tubed's arm

Just goes to show how passionate we are about our event.

 

 

I'm struggling to swallow the ski boat hooked onto the trailer on the back of a VX 200 never mind the hook, but yeah I owe Tube a bottle or 2, maybe even more at the finish.

 

Passionate is a understatement, it runs deep in the veins frozen solid to the core, the fire deep within is lit and the urge to race is getting bigger, I might just succumb to the pressure and pitch up on the 12th........