2017 Freedom Challenge RASA & RTR

[Shebeen]

Gutted for Leon, he really put a lot of preparation into this.

 

Wonder if a spare tyre betwen them would have helped, I carried one, its an insurance policy after a lot of time and effort invested.

It's a tradeoff. carrying 800gr for backup is quite an ask

 

I chose to take repair stuff, boots, plugs, needle and thread. and I did need it all - ended up with a slime tyre and tyre boot for about 2/3 days riding.

Had a spare tyre back home with my folks, that got shipped to pearston when i eventually required it. i don't think i lost much time, and fortunately was able to keep on trucking

[The Crazy German]

I agree that it probably looks a bit better than it is, Martin had what seems to be his first decent sleep (hard to believe), and it does indeed look like his body has responded and he is hauling again.

 

Hauling too are Jacques and Leon, they recced this section in race to Willowmore a month or two ago, I doubt they will put a foot wrong here. Essentially this is the last bit of navigation for RASA for these guys and it will then come down to who sleeps less and who is freshest. That's where I do think the duo have an advantage.

 

The last roll of the dice might be the route through Stettyns.

Jacques has a special edition map for mordor with extra notes

[The Crazy German]

Gutted for Leon, he really put a lot of preparation into this.

 

Wonder if a spare tyre betwen them would have helped, I carried one, its an insurance policy after a lot of time and effort invested.

You don't if you race You take a slichtly beafier tire and take it a bit calmer on the downhills. You don't know whats gonna break and if you need one you take the 3 hour penalty. I didn't know my handlebar was gonna get ruined going into Tinana. For RTR you just MTFU if going al the way you ask nicely and take the penalty. And the penalty is often not even that bad if well timed its just differently planned rest. Last year Bruce didn't loose much although he had several penalty's. The only time he really lost out when sleep monsters made him miss the Mordor gate.

[Shebeen]

going back to that light conversation

 

I had a closer look at martin's 'unicorn', firstly it appears to not be a Rush, but the fancier Scalpel. That's a lighter bike and probably carbon too. Got a bit fooled by it not being with a lefty, normally the entry level 'Dales come with a normal fork.

 

But, take a gander here, and while he doesn't have a map board count the lights he has at his disposal.

 

[Shebeen]

how lekker does this spot check? Jakkalsfontein!

 

[Trackz]

Yesterday afternoon and last night had some special moments for me.

 

John Bowen let me know he was pushing for Romansfontein after leaving Philippa at Brosterlea.(They'd had puncture issues) He chose to do this knowing that his light wasn't going to make the night (that's another story which I will leave to Auntie Karma to sort out). 

 

Philippa called to ask me if it was possible to get from Brosterlea to Hofmeyr in one shot (she must be there before 08h00 to beat the cut-off) My response to her was "If you want to, you can leave at 02h00 and do it."

Stop and think about that for a moment. A woman on her own, wat nie 'n woord Afrikaans verstaan nie, setting out into the pitch dark and icy cold. On her own.

When I saw her tracker showing signs of life before 2am it brought on a flood of emotion.

 

John meanwhile was plugging along on his own and I kept on wondering why he was moving so slowly....he eventually walked in at about 04h00. Walked in the moonlight because his light didn't last the night. 

 

So, to whoever unplugged John's light fom the charger at Kranskop, ....thank you. You gave him a night he won't forget in a hurry. 

 

Here's to them both in Hofmeyr tonight!

I think few who have not "been there" or "gone there" will understand what it's like to head off into a dark, cold and lonely night into the unknown solo. There's a huge difference between riding with even one person and riding alone (some of those on this forum obviously know this). Point is I have the biggest respect for anyone who even allows such thoughts into their minds, never mind do it. I know its little consolation having to withdraw from a race but for me anyone who even ventures out on the trail and then rides into the night .. is already my kind of people. Kudos to them all. Bunch of heroes!

[Trackz]

Play of the Day.

Andy and Sean left Kleinpoort around 4h30. Interesting move. They need about 7-8 hours or so to get to Hadley which will be around midday. Leaving so early, they must have ambitions to get through to Cambria and it may well mean half of Mordor in the dark. Risky but doable.

[Eddie Stafford]

going back to that light conversation

 

I had a closer look at martin's 'unicorn', firstly it appears to not be a Rush, but the fancier Scalpel. That's a lighter bike and probably carbon too. Got a bit fooled by it not being with a lefty, normally the entry level 'Dales come with a normal fork.

 

But, take a gander here, and while he doesn't have a map board count the lights he has at his disposal.

 

 

It looks like Martin is using a dynamo hub and as far as I know this hub wont work on a lefty hence the normal fork.

[dirtypot]

going back to that light conversation

 

I had a closer look at martin's 'unicorn', firstly it appears to not be a Rush, but the fancier Scalpel. That's a lighter bike and probably carbon too. Got a bit fooled by it not being with a lefty, normally the entry level 'Dales come with a normal fork.

 

But, take a gander here, and while he doesn't have a map board count the lights he has at his disposal.

 

 

Also notice the CSixx carbon rims!  That's a light weight setup for sure.

[dirtrider]

I think few who have not "been there" or "gone there" will understand what it's like to head off into a dark, cold and lonely night into the unknown solo. There's a huge difference between riding with even one person and riding alone (some of those on this forum obviously know this). Point is I have the biggest respect for anyone who even allows such thoughts into their minds, never mind do it. I know its little consolation having to withdraw from a race but for me anyone who even ventures out on the trail and then rides into the night .. is already my kind of people. Kudos to them all. Bunch of heroes!

 

But you must remember some of us don't like to ride at night but we have to because we held the map upside down and went the wrong way . Talking of alone and in the dark , I always use to sing "over at Frankensteins place " when it happened . I know the song very well by now .

[eddy]

Also notice the CSixx carbon rims!  That's a light weight setup for sure.

And Chaoyang takkies.

 

All of it lightweight but NOT at the expense of durability and reliability. To finish first, first you have to finish.....

[tubed]

Well spotted Eddie, looks like a beefy hub with a tiny wire wrapped on the top end fox fork. Those csixx rims are also probably part of the bespoke wheel build

[Slowbee]

man I am loving this thread. cant dot watch at work - but at least get updates through you guys chatting

 

#stealing ideas for Munga

[Jewbacca]

We did Mordor in the dark backwards in May... Bear in mind 150 odd guys went through there a month ago. The route is a veritable main road compared to other years.

 

Drop down the Osseberg (which has been cleaned up hugely as well), cross the river, climb the saddle and drop into the start of the criss cross..... I'm pretty sure I even cleared most of those terrible jumping cactus plants with my shins 4 weeks ago!

[Thug]

Play of the Day.

Andy and Sean left Kleinpoort around 4h30. Interesting move. They need about 7-8 hours or so to get to Hadley which will be around midday. Leaving so early, they must have ambitions to get through to Cambria and it may well mean half of Mordor in the dark. Risky but doable.

 

Looks like they are making good progress.

[Shebeen]

It looks like Martin is using a dynamo hub and as far as I know this hub wont work on a lefty hence the normal fork.

Well spotted indeed - that makes a lot of sense..amongst all the light discussion, top of my list would be a dynamo hub. when you're martin 'I don't really stop at the SS" dreyer, this is crucial to your planning.

 

Martin has been with Omnico for a while, if i remember correctly the 2012 race was done on a GT hardtail, and his Change a life guys have also had omnico bikes (i think)

I just assumed it was a cannondale rush because they do come with a normal 2 stanchion fork, where are all the cannondale fanbois to correct you when you need them. I'm guessing it's a fancy ass Scalpel, and with cannondale/fox both being omnico the switch wasn't tough.

 

http://www.treadmtb.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/EV_Jeannie-Dreyer-Munga-MTB-Tread-MTB_03.jpg