2017 Stellenbosch Cycle Tour

[Skubarra]

I did the 2017 99er and it counted toward my 2017 CTCT seeding. But.... I got my entry via a substitution, which took place after the 99er. 

 

Maybe that is how dee_biker also got his seeding?

 

A clever way to sneak in with a good seeding if you ride a good 99er? Cancel your entry and get a late substitution? 

[Wannabe]

For PPA members, I found that your current PPA seeding gets used to seed you for CTCT. Happened to me both the previous years. 

 

edit: Not that it's gonna be the case this year, as I've not renewed my PPA membership (yet), and also have not done any road races since this years CTCT. And you all know how well that went down.

[Bankie99]

Will only add 15 minutes to the rest of the bunches start time.  They can even move $ earlier by that much as more than light enough and then 2a up will stay same start times

 

6am start for $ is already a tight squeeze especially for the majority who have to drive in from CPT and even worse for the southern subs guys.

 

Imagine riding in from Houtbay to get to the race, park your car, warm up, take a piss, last min checks and into the start chute 20-30mins before the start.  

 

I have to agree tho that 1 mins start gaps is not enough for the 1A-1E start batches so perhaps change that to 2 or 3 min gaps.

[Skubarra]

6am start for $ is already a tight squeeze especially for the majority who have to drive in from CPT and even worse for the southern subs guys.

 

Imagine riding in from Houtbay to get to the race, park your car, warm up, take a piss, last min checks and into the start chute 20-30mins before the start.  

 

I have to agree tho that 1 mins start gaps is not enough for the 1A-1E start batches so perhaps change that to 2 or 3 min gaps.

 

The one problem the organisers have is the cut-off times cannot be extended. Too much other stuff going on in the winelands this time of the year so the authorities even forced the cut-off times to be earlier this year, so I don't know how much they can extend the starting gaps.

 

This race is at an uncomfortable spot in terms of size, too many riders for open roads but not enough to "demand" road closures from the authorities.

 

I have heard rumours that big changes might be coming for next year (which would be good as I think this race needs a bit of re-imagining)

[LeoKnight]

The one problem the organisers have is the cut-off times cannot be extended. Too much other stuff going on in the winelands this time of the year so the authorities even forced the cut-off times to be earlier this year, so I don't know how much they can extend the starting gaps.

 

This race is at an uncomfortable spot in terms of size, too many riders for open roads but not enough to "demand" road closures from the authorities.

 

I have heard rumours that big changes might be coming for next year (which would be good as I think this race needs a bit of re-imagining)

 

Maybe we should race it clockwise, imagine knowing all the time that you have Hellshoogte at the end of the race ;-)

[geomark]

Maybe we should race it clockwise, imagine knowing all the time that you have Hellshoogte at the end of the race ;-)

Not a bad idea, its quite a bit gentler from the other side and you know your done when you get to Tokara and can freewheel in if you have to, the turn left will see some beauties of crashes though

[milky4130]

Or move it to Simonsig like they did with Cyclo Sportif #5 give enough time for the bunches to spread out & Hels will be climbed at much faster pace thus reducing the bunching & swelling on the other side.

[Meezo]

Or move it to Simonsig like they did with Cyclo Sportif #5 give enough time for the bunches to spread out & Hels will be climbed at much faster pace thus reducing the bunching & swelling on the other side.

 

great idea, another race of more of the same

[bleedToWin]

 

I would rather be told I ride like a %00$ than think I'm riding perfect and everyone pi$$ed at me as I'm all over the place.

 

 

Have spoken to them. No use.

Shouting PASSING RIGHT on every slightly down section then going into oncoming traffic while it's pissing with rain and expecting the cyclists of this massive bunch to make space for you when a car comes just so you can stuff up the rhythm of the paceline up front as soon as the gradient tilts up again. Dangerous and arrogant..

</rant>

[dev null]

Maybe we should race it clockwise, imagine knowing all the time that you have Hellshoogte at the end of the race ;-)

 

It is quite easy from the other side. Only one little piece that is about 500m long that is a bit tough.

 

I regularly ride from Strand to the T-junction at the bottom going to Franschhoek and back.

[Shebeen]

Why on earth would you "really like to see the carnage"??

 

As someone involved in that "carnage", I find this rather distasteful.  Guys really hurt themselves out there.   No one would have chosen to crash, and actually, there was nothing anyone could do to avoid that crash. Perhaps you shouldn't use others' bad luck and accidents for your entertainment.

carnage was definitely the wrong word, my apologies. 

 

For some reason i thought there was a video edit of it. Seeing pics of the crash does help as it was an awkward part of the race and by being able to see how the crash happened I chalk it up to experience.

[Shell Belle]

carnage was definitely the wrong word, my apologies. 

 

For some reason i thought there was a video edit of it. Seeing pics of the crash does help as it was an awkward part of the race and by being able to see how the crash happened I chalk it up to experience.

 

Apology accepted 

 

I think guys went into a pothole filled with water and came down.  Carbon wheels and rain don't make for great braking and there was nowhere to go with the traffic either which just resulted in a skittles effect.  I have a massive wheel/tyre haematoma under my arms and on my ribs.

[geomark]

Apology accepted

 

I think guys went into a pothole filled with water and came down. Carbon wheels and rain don't make for great braking and there was nowhere to go with the traffic either which just resulted in a skittles effect. I have a massive wheel/tyre haematoma under my arms and on my ribs.

Riding a specialized? took a while to get you unclipped? glad it’s just bruising, did you manage to finish?

[Shebeen]

my SCT

 

• wake up on wednesday and realise this is a Argus seeding race
• late entries were a dream at newlands, somehow still have a seeding so start in 3B
• throw everything in the car, except helmet
• realise this about 10mins from home, so turn around is fine but puts timing tight
• rock up to group about 30seconds before we actually start so join in the back
• starts pissing with rain
• group is laaank chilled, am in second place before we even leave the gumtrees up helshoogte
• nice and easy descent on helshoogte and some 3C riders catch up and a lekker big group forms by wemmershoek

• continues pissing with rain
• riding is fine and everyone is chilling in the bunch with not many doing work

• continues pissing with rain
• turn around at wellington and my legs aren't feeling as lekker as i started with 35km to go

• continues pissing with rain
• play it nice and tactical by following tandems or teddy bears down each of the rollers

• continues pissing with rain
• collect a potjie sized pothole in klapmuts, it was under water so no way to see it
• join the group of okes fixing their punctures

I'm in the back here, the guy in the mabulance who wiped has already left.

• continues pissing with rain
• put sparetjoop in

• continues pissing with rain
•  being a total IDJUT i have brought a crappy pump and don't pump to enough pressure
• get riding again
•  
• continues pissing with rain
•  
• get snakebite flat on a cat eye 2km later near Wiesenhof
•  
•  
• continues pissing with rain
•  
• got two flat tyres, but a puncture repair kit. now i'm not really worried about time and just want to finish on own steam
•  
• continues pissing with rain
•  
• ever tried getting a patch kit to stick in the pissing rain?
•  
• continues pissing with rain
•  
• put on jacket, as this is now going to be a saga. me vs the f@#$% puncture
•  
• continues pissing with rain
•  
• 2 attempts to get flat done end up in a slow leak 100m further down the road
•  
•  
• continues pissing with rain
•  
•  
• pull out a super duper macguyver move. take patch on tube. wrap empty energy bar wrapper around it three times. use multitool to get cable tie off race number without breaking it, use this to keep wrapper on the tube. 

 

• get religious for a few seconds
•  
• pump it back up
• continues pissing with rain
•  
•  
• ride to finish
• continues pissing with rain
•  
• dodge puncture trick survives 15km, until the final left hand turn off at nietvoorbiyj.
•  
• some oke cramps and just careens straight into two okes slowed down to take corner
•  
•  
• sort of stops raining
•  
•  
• swear a bit, and ride last 1km on super flat tyre
•  
• get to finish, was on track for about a 3:20, end up with 4:15. ho hum, that's life!
•  
• have a spur burger
•  
• go back to car, can't find car key
•  
• continues pissing with rain again
•  
• forgot phone in car, so need to phone wife using a good samaritan for the spare
• continues pissing with rain
•  
•  
• know one of the race doctors so use his phone as a point of contact whilst i wait
•  
• go back to race village in wet clothes go 'chill with a waterbottle' at medic station
• stops raining!
•  
•  
• hero wifey arrives with spare key, get to car and leaves me with kids for the afternoon
•  
• head back along route to points where i stopped
•  
• find key exactly where i took off my jacket.
•  
• celebrate with a Venison Pie and Deneys Full cream milkshake 

 

[Shebeen]

Apology accepted 

 

I think guys went into a pothole filled with water and came down.  Carbon wheels and rain don't make for great braking and there was nowhere to go with the traffic either which just resulted in a skittles effect.  I have a massive wheel/tyre haematoma under my arms and on my ribs.

no probs, hope you heal up nicely!

[Shell Belle]

Riding a specialized? took a while to get you unclipped? glad it’s just bruising, did you manage to finish?

 

Yes that was me - 2 wonderful guys unclipped me and had to carry me to the car.  Couldn't finish unfortunately Can't put any weight on my right leg due to something in my hip.  Really hoping its just bruising and not tendon/cartilage damage but its too soon to tell.  Hobbling in crutches with a follow up appointment Monday