"Classic" grumble and who are the MTB classics

[Chris NewbyFraser]

It really makes my fossil flubber judder when I see event organisers calling their races a " classic". For instance the recently announced Levubu "Classic". How can an unknown event with low numbers, which has only been in existence for a few years, be called a classic. 

 

To me a classic is an event that boats considerable history(10 years + in South Africa), elitism, respect and it has 'gravitas'. In SA, there are few MTB events that can be described as a (in my opinion) classic. None of them are young.

 

Some that come to mind are:

Epic, Sabie, Barberton, Attakwas, Knysna, Sani2c, Karoo2coast.

 

Which events do you feel should be included?

 

Which of these could be deemed South Africa's mtb monuments?

[Brickleberry]

1 day road races are maybe in line to be considered classics. Gets my flubber to shudder ??? (Is that even a thing) when the mtb lads want our roadie things . If it's a mtb race it's not a classic . ????????

[CogitoErgoSum]

Hi. This might come across as a tad negative - sorry...

 

I am more concerned about the deminishing underground watertable and drought conditions we experience on the farm. And the crapload of debt the business is in.

 

Who calls what "classic", "legendary", "untamed" whatever else is really just marketing and sales gibberish.

 

Not much of a concern to me.

 

*oops, thought it is friday already*

 

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

[DJR]

There are no MTB "classics". The true classics are all road races run in Europe.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_cycle_races

[EmptyB]

This is classic!

[Spock]

It's as imaginative as the A2B format for race names

[bikebloke]

oh sh ! t wait till the mtb mud huggers see this thread ...

 

id take cover now if I where you Fossil and take brickleberry with you

 

you are totally correct .. but that wont save you

[DJR]

All joking aside, it is difficult to define what makes a classic. 

 

I would say it is a combination of age, tradition and offers something iconic. In the case of mountain biking, it should offer the essence of the type of race it claims to be.

 

Stage race? - Epic is youngish, but it may well become a true classic, it pioneered this type of race after all and it went international. To Hell & Back is 21 years old, so age and tradition may well get it there, but it is so small, does it qualify? Some others too?

 

One day race? - Help me out here!

[karma]

you should really not let the small stuff get to you...

[dirtrider]

Magalies Monster

[SEANSTEP]

Yep, and when events in there first year of existence get called ICONIC. Mind you DSTV has so diminished the word it now roughly translates to "a tad interesting".

[Matchstix]

DJR are you doing THAB this year?

['Dale]

A classic never calls itself a classic

 

Like the top 10 riders in my age category never refer to themselves as fast or strong or race snake

 

Ironic ain't it

[Gen]

There are no MTB "classics". The true classics are all road races run in Europe.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_cycle_races

AMEN.

 

I see classics and I think Spring classics.

[DJR]

DJR are you doing THAB this year?

No, I'll miss this year, but I've got something else up my sleeve for that part of the world. Kind of inspired-by-the-Tour-de-Ara, I just have to get it past the "authorities" before I can talk about it.

[EmptyB]

AMEN.

 

I see classics and I think Spring classics.

 

Exactly....roll on March 2017