Karoobaix - Hell of the South

[etienne_jordaan]

Going on the different posts on all forms of social media/forums, it seems there is going to be an interesting spread of bikes on the startline. Out of curiosity was just wondering what kind of gearratios some of you guys are considering?

[Stan Engelbrecht]

Going on the different posts on all forms of social media/forums, it seems there is going to be an interesting spread of bikes on the startline. Out of curiosity was just wondering what kind of gearratios some of you guys are considering?

Hi ettienne_jordaan. Personally I'm riding a pretty wide spread on my Mercer - 46/34 x 11-36. Something similar is possible running a 1x drivetrain, but I'm set up with a 2 x 10-speed group.

[V12man]

Going on the different posts on all forms of social media/forums, it seems there is going to be an interesting spread of bikes on the startline. Out of curiosity was just wondering what kind of gearratios some of you guys are considering?

42 with 42/11 cluster - 1x11

[IH8MUD]

42 with 42/11 cluster - 1x11

NICE!! 

And people always think my 38t with 42/11 is to big. 

[Kranswurm]

At least you are guaranteed some spectators....

[jcza]

Would dearly like to do this. Furiously scheming and planning. Hope to be on the line with 50/34 and 11-32 cassette. 

[Skubarra]

Would dearly like to do this. Furiously scheming and planning. Hope to be on the line with 50/34 and 11-32 cassette. 

 

On behalf of the people who already entered I beg you not to, can't handle another cancelled race 

[jcza]

On behalf of the people who already entered I beg you not to, can't handle another cancelled race 

 

My luck has changed....I think. I can't see this one cancelled due to heat/cold/hunger/thirst/earthquake/tsunami or similar. Fingers crossed. 

[etienne_jordaan]

Would dearly like to do this. Furiously scheming and planning. Hope to be on the line with 50/34 and 11-32 cassette.

[etienne_jordaan]

That's the gearing I'm also planning to use. Just a little bit concerned about the little hill on day 1 when you've already got 180kms in your legs.????

[eddy]

On behalf of the people who already entered I beg you not to, can't handle another cancelled race 

I had entered the L'Etape, Argus and the Swartberg Gran Fondo. I am 3 out of 3 for this year.

 

Hope to be on the line with a 50/34 and a 12-40. (I have ridden the Ouberg pass and know that you cannot go light enough)

[jcza]

I had entered the L'Etape, Argus and the Swartberg Gran Fondo. I am 3 out of 3 for this year.

 

Hope to be on the line with a 50/34 and a 12-40. (I have ridden the Ouberg pass and know that you cannot go light enough)

 

How does Ouberg pass compare with Breedts from the shebeen to the top in terms of gradient and surface? 

 

PS: I'm only 2/3, didn't enter L'Etape 

[eddy]

How does Ouberg pass compare with Breedts from the shebeen to the top in terms of gradient and surface? 

 

 

Surface is better (it did not have anything as bad as the top part of Breedts) but is both steeper in parts than the steepest part of either side of Breedts and is of course about 10 times longer.

 

I have also not done 185 km of off-road cycling before hitting Breedts????????

 

So, like Cameron Diaz and David Cameron, not really comparable........

[Skubarra]

Surface is better (it did not have anything as bad as the top part of Breedts) but is both steeper in parts than the steepest part of either side of Breedts and is of course about 10 times longer.

 

I have also not done 185 km of off-road cycling before hitting Breedts

 

So, like Cameron Diaz and David Cameron, not really comparable........

 

I had entered the L'Etape, Argus and the Swartberg Gran Fondo. I am 3 out of 3 for this year.

 

Hope to be on the line with a 50/34 and a 12-40. (I have ridden the Ouberg pass and know that you cannot go light enough)

 

Few years back at the Transkaroo I walked half of it and still managed a Top 10 on strava... Even the winner on the day didn't cycle the whole way up.

 

I would say comfortable shoes are more important than your gear ratio 

[jcza]

Surface is better (it did not have anything as bad as the top part of Breedts) but is both steeper in parts than the steepest part of either side of Breedts and is of course about 10 times longer.

 

I have also not done 185 km of off-road cycling before hitting Breedts

 

So, like Cameron Diaz and David Cameron, not really comparable........

 

Thanks Eddy, seems like we'll be standing in places. From what I can gather it is approx 15km in length with ave gradient of 5% but much steeper near the top. 

[eddy]

From what I can gather it is approx 15km in length with ave gradient of 5% but much steeper near the top.

 

I supposte it depends on where you start measuring from.

 

Looking at my Garmin profile, the last 7.5 km climbs 720 m so that stretch is at 10% average with parts much steeper. I think that there is nothing in the last 9km as gentle as 5%.

 

Nobody around me rode the whole way and everyone walked most of it, and we were all on MTBs and this was before 1x gearing.