2017 Freedom Challenge RASA & RTR

[PieterW]

Any of the shimano MT44 or similar range.

 

It is NOT a bike race where power transfer is important and 'pfft, I can ride the portages'...

 

In fact, there will likely be some days when you will push your bike up some gentle gradient gravel roads just because.

 

Thanks.  My thoughts are that shoes with Gore-Tex would not be a good choice due to poor drainage when crossing rivers.  Is that correct?

 

There is a pair of Giro Terraduro for sale in the classifieds.  Will they work?  

 

or how about these Scott trial shoes?:

[G.S.W]

Thanks.  My thoughts are that shoes with Gore-Tex would not be a good choice due to poor drainage when crossing rivers.  Is that correct?

 

There is a pair of Giro Terraduro for sale in the classifieds.  Will they work?  

 

or how about these Scott trial shoes?:

 

Depends, the Gore-Tex shoes/boots keep feet warm, important for the pre-dawn starts when your water bottles freeze in a matter of minutes.

[Jewbacca]

Thanks.  My thoughts are that shoes with Gore-Tex would not be a good choice due to poor drainage when crossing rivers.  Is that correct?

 

There is a pair of Giro Terraduro for sale in the classifieds.  Will they work?  

 

or how about these Scott trial shoes?:

I would go even more walky... Proper hike a bike shoes. The Terraduro's 'can' be walked in but are not hike a bike shoes. Don't skimp or think the shoes are 'uncool'... having no toe nails and being forced to pull out of the race is far more uncool.

 

I also would highly recommend doctored neoprene booties or overshoes. If you ride through the night or have early starts things get properly cold. Sweat and water turns to ice before your eyes, especially the 1st 700km in and out of Rhodes. 

[The Crazy German]

Depends, the Gore-Tex shoes/boots keep feet warm, important for the pre-dawn starts when your water bottles freeze in a matter of minutes.

Thats why you get sealskinz socks or a good pair of booties from any brand

[The Crazy German]

Thanks.  My thoughts are that shoes with Gore-Tex would not be a good choice due to poor drainage when crossing rivers.  Is that correct?

 

There is a pair of Giro Terraduro for sale in the classifieds.  Will they work?  

 

or how about these Scott trial shoes?:

I used the Scott trail bo'as in 2015 and really appreciated them. Used a pair of shimano MT 53 for recce really liked those though they died a dead from the massakala bog and couldn't find a replacement. To avoid mud entry and sole separation put some rapid glue where the rubber has an opening for the cleat. I am one of thos that believes the route can be ridden and I went to Rhodes in recce with very little walking but still recommend a shoe you can walk in. 

 

Cos a race snake will want to vary to change stress and a mere mortal will have to walk regularly.

[Shebeen]

There is no perfect shoe... It all depends.

 

Uge Nel rides with running shoes and cages. I wouldn't recommend it, but he swears by it. And he's gone quickly

[Philippa C]

How much water do people carry?

 

And how often do you need to fill up at streams?

[Marnitz Nienaber]

How much water do people carry?

 

And how often do you need to fill up at streams?

 

I normlly carry 1.5 liter, but in recent years it has been very hot in the section from Grootdam to PA, more than enough windmills to fill your bottles, shouldn't be a problem.

 

I have ridden both the Shimano boots,MW7 and XM9, the XM9 is much warmer, but get's heavier when it rains, very comfortable boot and it last quit well, just need to seal the rubber edges around the cleat. XM9 not as warm, much lighter, doesn't walk as good as the leather boot XM9, no problem with rubber soles separating in wet conditions and will last only till the end with no grip left.

 

I prefer the MW7 but then again my quickest time was with the XM9 boots, no stud pressure at all.

 

At the moment I've got bigger problems, still need a new bike, otherwise I'll give chase on my faithful 26"

 

       

[dirtrider]

Since I don't use cleats or any other fancy means to attach myself to the bike , I have been cycling with normal hiking shoes . From the few adverture races I have done in the past I have learned :

 

1 . There's no such thing as a water proof boot , but some dry quicker than others

2 . The lighter the boot the shorter the distance you can travel with them before they fall apart

3 . There is no such thing as a warm boot that drains water quickly . 

4 . Velcro is not a good substitute for shoelaces 

 

After looking at all the options it was down to the Solomon's and Hi-Tech's . I got the both and after a few months of using them settled on the H-Tech's . Fantastic shoes although I had to bin them after the race . 

 

But all this information is useless if you like to be attached to your bike .

 

Never pass the opportunity to fill your water bottles . If you follow that rule you will be ok with 4 bottles .

[dirtrider]

I normlly carry 1.5 liter, but in recent years it has been very hot in the section from Grootdam to PA, more than enough windmills to fill your bottles, shouldn't be a problem.

 

I have ridden both the Shimano boots,MW7 and XM9, the XM9 is much warmer, but get's heavier when it rains, very comfortable boot and it last quit well, just need to seal the rubber edges around the cleat. XM9 not as warm, much lighter, doesn't walk as good as the leather boot XM9, no problem with rubber soles separating in wet conditions and will last only till the end with no grip left.

 

I prefer the MW7 but then again my quickest time was with the XM9 boots, no stud pressure at all.

 

At the moment I've got bigger problems, still need a new bike, otherwise I'll give chase on my faithful 26"

 

       

 

I got a 29" frame , used once by an old lady . You just need the wheels , the rest from your old bike will work . Collect + 6 beers .

[PieterW]

Since I don't use cleats or any other fancy means to attach myself to the bike , I have been cycling with normal hiking shoes . From the few adverture races I have done in the past I have learned :

 

1 . There's no such thing as a water proof boot , but some dry quicker than others

2 . The lighter the boot the shorter the distance you can travel with them before they fall apart

3 . There is no such thing as a warm boot that drains water quickly . 

4 . Velcro is not a good substitute for shoelaces 

 

After looking at all the options it was down to the Solomon's and Hi-Tech's . I got the both and after a few months of using them settled on the H-Tech's . Fantastic shoes although I had to bin them after the race . 

 

But all this information is useless if you like to be attached to your bike .

 

Never pass the opportunity to fill your water bottles . If you follow that rule you will be ok with 4 bottles .

I think most of this applies to clipless as well ...

[Marnitz Nienaber]

I was flying on my bike till yesterday when the 10 kg bag slowed me down, that bag make one hell of a difference, time to get stronger......

 

   

[dave303e]

Ya it is a bit of an adjustment riding with a pack, but you will learn to work with it soon enough. It comes in very handy when hike a biking as you can pretty much hang the bike on the bag and just walk. 

[Sharkcatcher01]

Any of the shimano MT44 or similar range.

 

It is NOT a bike race where power transfer is important and 'pfft, I can ride the portages'...

 

In fact, there will likely be some days when you will push your bike up some gentle gradient gravel roads just because.

 

This couldn't be more true. There are roads that you will walk on just because it seems like a good idea at the time. 

 

And roads that you will walk on because you are so tired that you can't concentrate for long enough to stay on the road. 

 

I rode with Lake shoes, they were absolutely destroyed by the end of day 4, and one of the guys riding with us lent me his running shoes for Lehana's otherwise that would have been a long walk in slops. 

 

And water wise a 3l camelbak and topped that up with coke (yes, coke and water) at most spaza shops. You will be surprised how pleasant it is drinking something that has a slightly different flavour. 

[MTBeer]

Ya it is a bit of an adjustment riding with a pack, but you will learn to work with it soon enough. It comes in very handy when hike a biking as you can pretty much hang the bike on the bag and just walk. 

I think Marnitz has ridden a few times before with a backpack....

[Sharkcatcher01]

Thanks.  My thoughts are that shoes with Gore-Tex would not be a good choice due to poor drainage when crossing rivers.  Is that correct?

 

There is a pair of Giro Terraduro for sale in the classifieds.  Will they work?  

 

or how about these Scott trial shoes?:

 

The only river we crossed was on Day 1, and we took our shoes off for that anyway. Bearing in mind this was R2R and we were not 'racing' per say.