Zatopek Posted February 10, 2018 Posted February 10, 2018 Interesting day... Thought for the most part the pace in % bunch was pretty slow, for long periods felt more like a coffee ride than a race, was really worried that A bunch would catch us and cause a cluster%$^ of a large bunch on the narrow roads but luckily that didn't happen. Then on Slent the pace picked up and as soon as that happened a nasty crash occurred so maybe the initial slower pace was a good thing... The new section on the N7 was nice & fast - enjoyed it (but I do miss the bumpy challenge of Van Schoors...) And then the usual suffering up Vissershok & Odendaal - don't think I will every really do well on steep climbs like that but at least finished in the front half of the group - really hope this ride was good enough to get me back in B bunch, the slide in my seeding index is killing me So that Sle(n)t stretch is not gravel any more. Skubarra 1
Mamil Posted February 10, 2018 Posted February 10, 2018 Thanks Dale - appreciate that sentiment - super strict adherence to excellent surgeon's and and brilliant physio's instructions plus biokineticist's expert services. 6 months ago it was Mamil and the octogenarians in the rehab pool at Vincent Palotti practicing underwater pedaling while suspended from a pool noodle thinking "This is your life Charlie Brown". Mamil,Well done on coming back from intensive rehab and courageously throwing your leg over a saddle again with a race nr on your backRespect!
Rouxenator Posted February 10, 2018 Posted February 10, 2018 We had the same scenario. B group just didn't want to work together. So we went through at (what I felt was) a fairly sedate pace.I wish it stayed like that, eventually got dropped on the N7, but still happy I stuck with B for that long. New route is excellent and while I don't do road rides that often I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Dubber 1
FootballingCyclist Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 So myself and my mate started in Q(I was seeded P but dropped down to ride with him).. We went along very nicely and after the 1st 40kms we were averaging 36km/h.. Passed plenty groups and the Found a nice group and we all did some work(often felt like I could be reading a book) until we reached the turn off for the N7 where it opened up again, got to the top of the long drag with a few guys and then hammered down the N7 and nobody jumped on so it was basically a time trial until the left turn... Got to Vissershok(aberage was 35km/h before the start) and and all of sudden I stood to climb and my foot slipped, looked down and my whole cleat had come loose.. Had no way of climbing with any kind of power and using only 1 leg up Vissershok started to hurt!! Got to the top eventually but was passed by 2 others from my group, Chased them on the downhill and then obviously up Odendal rd, without being able to climb they opened a gap and rode away... I managed to finish 3rd in Q with a time(3:18 average 30) that would have put me in the top 5 in the J group.. So am still quite happy with my ride.. Lovely day out, lovely route and weather played it's part! Thanks to all the guys who worked hard and did their turn on the front, to the rest hope you finished without incident as there were a few nervy moments with inexperienced bunch riders just swerving here and there without signal... I'll do it again next year!! Karman de Lange, Schmorglebot and Rouxenator 3
Skubarra Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Aw FFS just cant catch a break with the bloody PPA seeding computer! Nobody outside of $ bunch would have gotten a seeding better than C for this race (including the ladies winner Anriette Shoeman...) The struggle is real... Seems I'll have to wait for one of those infamous seeding hill climbs to get back into B again.
Karman de Lange Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Aw FFS just cant catch a break with the bloody PPA seeding computer! Nobody outside of $ bunch would have gotten a seeding better than C for this race (including the ladies winner Anriette Shoeman...) The struggle is real... Seems I'll have to wait for one of those infamous seeding hill climbs to get back into B again. Do the one tonner .. beta normally high so easy to up seeding. G e r h a r d Odendaal 1
Duane_Bosch Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Stomach bug hit Friday night. Man down the whole weekend. no 99er. Bummed.
Zub Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Aw FFS just cant catch a break with the bloody PPA seeding computer! Nobody outside of $ bunch would have gotten a seeding better than C for this race (including the ladies winner Anriette Shoeman...) The struggle is real... Seems I'll have to wait for one of those infamous seeding hill climbs to get back into B again. Yeah that adjusted winning time was quite harsh, but also expected.
Karman de Lange Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Do the one tonner .. beta normally high so easy to up seeding. Aw FFS just cant catch a break with the bloody PPA seeding computer! Nobody outside of $ bunch would have gotten a seeding better than C for this race (including the ladies winner Anriette Shoeman...) The struggle is real... Seems I'll have to wait for one of those infamous seeding hill climbs to get back into B again. Sheezz .. they seriously adjusted the winning time, from 2:39:16 to 02:27:58 .. thats 12 minutes... The winner only getting index of ~9
Skubarra Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 (edited) Do the one tonner .. beta normally high so easy to up seeding. Yes I agree - problem is when something goes wrong at the One Tonner (like it did for me) then suddenly there is very little opportunity to actually meaningfully improve your seeding when you are around B & C. Edited February 12, 2018 by Skubarra
thisismyotherbike Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Aw FFS just cant catch a break with the bloody PPA seeding computer! Nobody outside of $ bunch would have gotten a seeding better than C for this race (including the ladies winner Anriette Shoeman...) The struggle is real... Seems I'll have to wait for one of those infamous seeding hill climbs to get back into B again. The slow starting pace in B batch worked for me as I managed to hold on until the group fractured on the last two hills. Index went from 23.43 to 20.96. Any chance of convincing CTCT to bump up my seeding for the race?
Cat2forLife Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Aw FFS just cant catch a break with the bloody PPA seeding computer! Nobody outside of $ bunch would have gotten a seeding better than C for this race (including the ladies winner Anriette Shoeman...) The struggle is real... Seems I'll have to wait for one of those infamous seeding hill climbs to get back into B again. Missed my A seeding by 0.8 Very frustrating.. Oh well. Have to just race hard at Tour de PPA Dubber 1
Pure Savage Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Sheezz .. they seriously adjusted the winning time, from 2:39:16 to 02:27:58 .. thats 12 minutes... The winner only getting index of ~9 Yeah race was pretty slow up front. Donovan Le Cok 1
DJTerblanche Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Winning time in 2014 was 2h30, which would have been a "nice" adjusted time. I think we had the gravel slen road that year, and the pro's wasn't at SA's. Even a 2h42 didn't give a sub 10 seeding. Abit off-topic: I have been thinking that it would be nice if they made add another seeding group which is index 5 - 10. Theres a hell of a difference between the top guys and someone with a ~9 seeding. But they will probably then combine the groups for most races anyways.
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