2017 Tiletoria Elgin Valley MTB

[LeoKnight]

This was my second time doing the long route and this year it was in much better shape than last year. Thoroughly enjoyed it and I will be back next year.

Thought next year I would rather do the 45, but now I have tasted Groenlandberg (en die nek), I would want to try them again.

[LeoKnight]

Was there a challenge with the starting groups? when we started there was about only 10 of us at the start.

[Hilton.]

Did the 65km today. So despite suffering a bit with the climb to the neck after the mast, I thoroughly enjoyed my ride today. What a spectacular route!!

 

The downhills were great. Water points were nice as well. Big ups to PPA and Tiletoria!

[milky4130]

Was there a challenge with the starting groups? when we started there was about only 10 of us at the start.

thats because every "auntie & uncle in tekkies" decided they had to start in the "70km Race" category. Royal Stuff up from PPA to let unseeded riders start there. I mean people were getting off their bikes to push across that first A-Frame. Took me all of 15mins to work my way through the masses, ultimately missing the front groups.

[Rouxenator]

I started in the "70km Ride" category and we had no problems at all, good riding from everyone in the MA-MB start group. The Race start did seem a bit large to me and I'm glad I opted for Ride instead. 

 

Race start group : 

[Meezo]

I was only a half an hour late for my start ????

[dannygirl]

Enjoyed the 45km (erm...49km) a lot despite not having my climbing lungs on board!  Lots of really good ST and a very good workout.  Routes well-marked, and well-managed where routes merged etc.  Good job PPA and Tiletoria!

[Skubarra]

I had no problems with the large "race" starting group

 

The race starting group was no bigger than your typical w2w starting group, an A-frame 1km from the start will cause some walking when 100+ people approach it at the same time, has nothing to do with skills, just physics given that it can only be crossed one at a time.

 

I would take a slightly too large starting group everyday over the old PPA nanny starting system where tiny groups of less than 10 start at a time while you stand at the back of the start staring at open dirt roads waiting 10 more minutes to be set off.

[Ferro]

Enjoyed the 45km (erm...49km) a lot despite not having my climbing lungs on board! Lots of really good ST and a very good workout. Routes well-marked, and well-managed where routes merged etc. Good job PPA and Tiletoria!

Ditto. Sheer lekkerness.

[babse]

I had no problems with the large "race" starting group

 

The race starting group was no bigger than your typical w2w starting group, an A-frame 1km from the start will cause some walking when 100+ people approach it at the same time, has nothing to do with skills, just physics given that it can only be crossed one at a time.

 

I would take a slightly too large starting group everyday over the old PPA nanny starting system where tiny groups of less than 10 start at a time while you stand at the back of the start staring at open dirt roads waiting 10 more minutes to be set off.

Fair point, but the fact that anyone with an extra R50 could start in the race group for me is a balls up. Surely seeding should apply!? 

I too struggled a bit weaving thru traffic but that was partially my fault standing dead last in the chute.

 

But like someone said above this route was not your typical PPA route, it was rough and tough, route markings were no issue (other then when we had to scale a fence), waterpoints and support looked sufficient and timing seemed faultless so kudos all involved.

 

Proper day out and first time groenlander! 

 

Plus i won a prize in the lucky draw 

[milky4130]

I had no problems with the large "race" starting group

 

The race starting group was no bigger than your typical w2w starting group, an A-frame 1km from the start will cause some walking when 100+ people approach it at the same time, has nothing to do with skills, just physics given that it can only be crossed one at a time.

 

I would take a slightly too large starting group everyday over the old PPA nanny starting system where tiny groups of less than 10 start at a time while you stand at the back of the start staring at open dirt roads waiting 10 more minutes to be set off.

are you kidding? did you see how wide that A - Frame was, looked like a freaking highway could easily have fitted 3-4 abreast. 

[Skubarra]

Fair point, but the fact that anyone with an extra R50 could start in the race group for me is a balls up. Surely seeding should apply!? 

 

Don't think it was an issue this year but yes, in the long run the "self-seeding" system is not ideal. I would say restrict it to people with at least a MB seeding.

[Skubarra]

are you kidding? did you see how wide that A - Frame was, looked like a freaking highway could easily have fitted 3-4 abreast. 

 

4 abreast??? Not sure we saw the same one   Personally I would not attempt to ride alongside another rider crossing an A-frame, especially at high speed, but that is just me.

[Ferro]

Don't think it was an issue this year but yes, in the long run the "self-seeding" system is not ideal. I would say restrict it to people with at least a MB seeding.

 

...or 1000 posts on the Hub

[babse]

if seeding is done properly (more than 3 MTB seeding groups) and decide on the day which groups go off together to keep numbers consistent, there would be no need for money making strategy "Race group" !?

[LeoKnight]

4 abreast??? Not sure we saw the same one   Personally I would not attempt to ride alongside another rider crossing an A-frame, especially at high speed, but that is just me.

 

Maybe we talking about a different A-frame, is it the one near the start to wonderland (dam) or the  highway one, where the gate to the left of it was open?