[Event] PHILADELPHIA MTB

[Annemart]

To Annemart and team - thanks for another very well-organised event!

 

My 2c:

Markings were great (37km)

Distance was what it said it would be

Start, finish area, bike park etc all worked well

Think the introduction of a 57km route was very positive. Perhaps not all will agree, but seeing as there is now a longer middle distance route, perhaps consider reducing the distance of the 37km to closer to 30km...that way some of the 13km bunch could possibly move up a bit, plus in my opinion that last 5/6km sandy bit is just more of the same and don't really add any value...

Oh, (and this is something that would be nice for most events on farms) a would it not be nice to know on which farm we are riding?

 

Things I've seen today:

Sand

A tandem MTB cycling up that steepest bit near the top of the climb to the mast where us mere mortals struggled to even push...

Spectacular falls - all in soft sand...

Sand

 

Will be back next year!

[Annemart]

Thanks!! Only a pleasure from our side!! We love what we do in our beautiful surroundings.

We appreciate all the remarks, comments and advice.  We will surely make a note of it for next year and to take our event to an even higher level.

Thanks again for all your loyal support!

[LeoKnight]

Seeding is out for the event, and you would not guess, the Beta dropped from 1.14 to 0.88 for the 75km...Can just assume that most people doing the 75km had a great day out there

[karma]

Seeding is out for the event, and you would not guess, the Beta dropped from 1.14 to 0.88 for the 75km...Can just assume that most people doing the 75km had a great day out there

 

As mentioned earlier, it is not impossible that some took shorter distance splits, and finished without informing anyone. 

[LeoKnight]

As mentioned earlier, it is not impossible that some took shorter distance splits, and finished without informing anyone. 

 

makes sense, that would give them a nice boost in their seedings, but negatively impact the overall beta. Except having an additional mat at another spot there is not really a way to police this is there.

 

..or flag those that had a HUGE improvement in their time and see if they strava

Edited April 18, 2018 by LeoKnight

[dannygirl]

Seeding is out for the event, and you would not guess, the Beta dropped from 1.14 to 0.88 for the 75km...Can just assume that most people doing the 75km had a great day out there

 

Where did you get the seeding from?

[LeoKnight]

Where did you get the seeding from?

 

http://www.pedalpower.org.za/seeding/

[dannygirl]

Thanks LeoKnight.  

 

Doesn't look like the 37km (or the CTCT MTB 20km) were added to seeding calculations (although both events' 2017 versions are in the mix) - strange...

[LeoKnight]

Thanks LeoKnight.  

 

Doesn't look like the 37km (or the CTCT MTB 20km) were added to seeding calculations (although both events' 2017 versions are in the mix) - strange...

eish I miss a better seeing with 1 min, oh well.

 

Is strange maybe they only got a seeding for the 75 and 56 (the two longer races)

[Twaatie]

eish I miss a better seeing with 1 min, oh well.

 

Is strange maybe they only got a seeding for the 75 and 56 (the two longer races)

Seeding for 56 isn't right. They used a winning time of 1:43 but race tech shows winning time of 2:24 Edited April 18, 2018 by Twaatie

[mrcg]

I will definitely also be back next year. I totally underestimated this 75km ride. Not having done this before and limited real info, I was expecting more gravel grinding. Boy was I pleasantly surprised - cos I actually prefer technical and difficult routes.

Having said that, I bombed badly as I missed some vital nutrition and thus crawled into the finish from 10km out. And my number board kept falling off (cable ties broke!??!) - so a few stops to shove it back into my rear pants lol.

My improvement suggestions:

* no single track after 500m - major congestion immediately strung the whole pack out. And I needed some wind protection! lol

* that first sign post which rerouted us A batch wrongly was probably swayed by the wind - so placement of boards is key - and maybe track knowledge of leading motor bike?

* there were some unclear markings/routes along way, so maybe some sand/white arrows or something? Saw some guys take "short cuts" (unintentional) because they easily missed some sign boards.

Can't think of anything else right now. Course was great - some rough, tough sections and hard climbs. Natural habitat though. Can't help the sand much if there's a drought - so no complaints there. Loved the single track at end despite having bonked.

And it's close to home - nice sleep in and there in 20min.

Next year will take an hour off my time   

[milky4130]

I will definitely also be back next year. I totally underestimated this 75km ride. Not having done this before and limited real info, I was expecting more gravel grinding. Boy was I pleasantly surprised - cos I actually prefer technical and difficult routes.

Having said that, I bombed badly as I missed some vital nutrition and thus crawled into the finish from 10km out. And my number board kept falling off (cable ties broke!??!) - so a few stops to shove it back into my rear pants lol.

My improvement suggestions:

* no single track after 500m - major congestion immediately strung the whole pack out. And I needed some wind protection! lol

* that first sign post which rerouted us A batch wrongly was probably swayed by the wind - so placement of boards is key - and maybe track knowledge of leading motor bike?

* there were some unclear markings/routes along way, so maybe some sand/white arrows or something? Saw some guys take "short cuts" (unintentional) because they easily missed some sign boards.

Can't think of anything else right now. Course was great - some rough, tough sections and hard climbs. Natural habitat though. Can't help the sand much if there's a drought - so no complaints there. Loved the single track at end despite having bonked.

And it's close to home - nice sleep in and there in 20min.

Next year will take an hour off my time

WRT to that first arrow that was wrong. Organiser already acknowledged that it was their error but I can see what you mean that the wind blew it, as further into the route the lead out bike guy kept twisting the arrows in the right directions after the wind changed it.

2ndly again that first wrong turn, the leading cyclist ignored the leadout bike & took the wrong turn. Point is the motorbike knew the route but we sheepishly followed the rider in front. I immediately knew we were wrong as I came over the top just In time to see that back go down the hill while we went right, I decided too late when we already got to the bottom of that hill that I'm turning around, just then the bike came chasing us down to tell us to turn around.

Edited April 18, 2018 by milky4130

[LeoKnight]

Seeding for 56 isn't right. They used a winning time of 1:43 but race tech shows winning time of 2:24

 

They do sometimes change the winners time