Karoo to Coast

[LongDonkey]

I don't know what to compare this race to: Barberton? Cratercruise? One of the stages of the S2C? Sabie?

Sani2C D2 without Iconic is probably close.  A lot of climbing. Make sure you have a proper breakfast. Do not expect there to be stalls selling breakfast there. Well at least when I did it there were no stalls, and i suffered badly.

Edited September 13, 2018 by LongDonkey

[Skubarra]

I don't know what to compare this race to: Barberton? Cratercruise? One of the stages of the S2C? Sabie?

 

Hard to think of a comparable race, similar to previous poster I would say if you can imagine S2C Day 2 on district roads you wouldn't be wildly off.

 

Don't believe the route profile, you will spend a large portion of the day climbing. But in general the climbs are more gradual than what you get on technical trails.

 

And on your question of how far is Ou Wapad from the start - not far enough... Try to be in the front half of you starting chute and be ready to go balls to the wall from the start to get there before the majority of walkers

[Rouxenator]

ja, maar jy KAN ry...

LOL, snaaks genoeg was my beste tyd 2016 toe ek laat was en agter in B weggespring het. Toe was die ou Silverback nog 2x10 wat ook gehelp het. En ek was nog mooi en jonk... 

[Williepotch]

Ok,also my first K2K.Feel I did a lot of training althou not enough races.Last one was up Breeds neck at the gravel express and found it brutal! My question- Im starting in the last group. and I hear from most prev riders that the major problem on this race is the huge amount of walkers! I presume starting in the last group this problem will be magnified x1000??Any advice?

[sias]

Ok,also my first K2K... I presume starting in the last group this problem will be magnified x1000??Any advice?

Comfortable tekkies?

[Robbie Stewart]

Ok,also my first K2K.Feel I did a lot of training althou not enough races.Last one was up Breeds neck at the gravel express and found it brutal! My question- Im starting in the last group. and I hear from most prev riders that the major problem on this race is the huge amount of walkers! I presume starting in the last group this problem will be magnified x1000??Any advice?

 

Firstly, welcome to your maiden K2C. You will be blown away by the spectacular beauty of the landscape. Enjoy the ride.

 

You are going likely to find yourself pushing up Ouwapad. Make peace with it now, and don't let that dampen your enthusiasm. Pushing Ouwapad is a right of passage of sorts. It will take you around 45 minutes if your lucky, an hour if not so to reach the first waterpoint at the top of Ouwapad from the start.

 

From there, chill. Seriously. Chill.

 

There is still a looooong way to go, and the descent from the top of Spitskop is deceiving. The bottom of Spitskop is only 36km in, and then the fun starts. 2 big climbs still ahead, before a bit of a respite through the Knysna forest. Enjoy that surreal experience. Then drop down to the Gouna river. Take it easy down that last drop. It has some hairy, sharp, steep corners. Then cross the river and prepare for Simola.

 

Your mettle WILL be put to the test up this (unending) hill. Put your head down and shut the demons out screaming at you to stop.

 

Once over the top, drop down the other side on tar (again, easy does it, unless you're into speed) to the N2, before crossing the culvert and a final portage up some stairs which spit you out on the side of the N2 into Knysna. Then it's a last tar sprint to the finish, where you will cross the line and get a medal which you PROUDLY wear for the rest of the day.

 

Congrats on finishing your first K2C.

 

p.s. You will promise yourself, and everyone in ear shot, that you will NEVER do another one again. Ignore that. You WILL do another one again, and again, and again and....

[Robbie Stewart]

Comfortable tekkies?

 

Not far from true...

 

I bought a new pair of mtb shoes last week. I will not be riding with those for this race. Worn in does the trick.

[matthieup]

also a K2C virgin here... Feeling totally unprepared but we'll see

[dsw]

Ok,also my first K2K.Feel I did a lot of training althou not enough races.Last one was up Breeds neck at the gravel express and found it brutal! My question- Im starting in the last group. and I hear from most prev riders that the major problem on this race is the huge amount of walkers! I presume starting in the last group this problem will be magnified x1000??Any advice?

 

I don't think you should stress too much about it... 

 

Unless you are going for a top 100  finish (sub 4 ) a brisk walk up the old wapad should not have a massive impact on your overall result as there is still a lot of open roads ahead of you . 

 

There is no reason why you cannot set a relative good time even if you start in the last group. Last year there were 5 riders from G who did sub 4.30's and ended in top 300 out of about 2 900 finishers. (Source: Racetec), so it can be done.

 

Enjoy. 

[Rouxenator]

Comfortable tekkies?

For sure. Flat pedals are way better on MTB. 

[sias]

Then I'll have to hoof it up those first few bumps to get to the climb first so I can choose my walking line between the two tracks carefully and without pressure  I'll put some nice music on my i-pod so I can't hear the other people's shouting and going on's.

[geomark]

First K2C for me, have driven the route years back and love it.  Anyone else doing the Dr Evil in the 3 days before?

[Robbie Stewart]

Then I'll have to hoof it up those first few bumps to get to the climb first so I can choose my walking line between the two tracks carefully and without pressure  I'll put some nice music on my i-pod so I can't hear the other people's shouting and going on's.

 

Lekker. Just please choose the left track if you listen to your music, as some folks do try ride up, passing on the right. I will be doing my level best to not have to be a walker, so it will be awfully generous if when I ask to pass, I get heard.

[Williepotch]

Wow, thanx Robbie and DSW for all the info! Looking forward to a grueling but enjoyable ride. Don’t think I’ll be ditching the cleats for flats though. Can’t remember when last I used flats and takkies????

[Robbie Stewart]

I think it's time also to make mention of the fact which often gets overlooked for the most part, which I can only attribute to the fact no-one wants to face it.

 

Falling.

 

I have seen some gruesome wipeouts on K2C, worst of all last year, when 2 ladies managed to get themselves to Knysna the fast way, i.e. in the back of an Ambulance. Both these falls happened at the bottom of the Boskop climb start within 100 meters from one another.

Take the descents easy, as help is not readily at hand. Ride within your abilities for the first timers, and stay loose and in control. The road, although "just gravel", is not always smooth. There has been a ton of rain during last weekend, and the roads are likely to be rutted and corrugated badly.

 

Bly veilig mense ,en wees lekker.

[Williepotch]

Thanks Robbie. Whats your thoughts on flats in regards to me starting right at rhe back?? Don’t really want to battle those uphills without my cleats?