Karoo to Coast

[L46]

I have shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors that perform pretty well on steep downhills. 

 

When you refer to cutting tires: is it very rocky?

 

Hydraulic brakes should do the trick.

 

Did it some time back but remember on the downhill after that first hill out of Uniondale a few people lost there bottles and saw one or 2 with flats there, but we were riding in batch C/D so lines were shaky.  It's basically Jeep track so you'll be able to choose different lines and avoid rocks if you don't have someone next to you.  If you pass this section you'll be fine

[Malduik]

Hydraulic brakes should do the trick.

 

Did it some time back but remember on the downhill after that first hill out of Uniondale a few people lost there bottles and saw one or 2 with flats there, but we were riding in batch C/D so lines were shaky.  It's basically Jeep track so you'll be able to choose different lines and avoid rocks if you don't have someone next to you.  If you pass this section you'll be fine

Cheers guys, think I'll give it a go! Personally think that fitness levels will also be key. I tend to make mistakes when I'm tired

[eddy]

First time for me, and wondering whether it's do-able on a cyclo-cross bike?

 

Running  on a caadx ultegra with 38mm panaracer gravelking sk's (which is by the way the most fun you could have with metal between your legs!).

 

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

 

No problem, very doable. I have done it rigid and the only sketchy stretch is down the ou wapad but it is 3-4km of trickiness.

[Boerklong]

Just survive the downhill after Ou Wapad. Smooth sailing from there.

[Suidwes Boytjie]

Morning Hubland

 

Does anyone know if there is a vehicle service? I have emailed them (zandile) but haven't had any responses.

 

Thanx

[lerouc]

Morning Hubland

 

Does anyone know if there is a vehicle service? I have emailed them (zandile) but haven't had any responses.

 

Thanx

 

Daar is gewoonlik, dink hul rotary club reel dit.

[sias]

When can we expect the seeding and starting time e-mail? I didn't do any seeding events, so I'll probably start somewhere at the back.

 

 

And as if by telepathy - here's the e-mail with the details!

Edited August 21, 2018 by sias

[Fattyboom]

Sias received an email today from them confirming seeding to be sent first week September.

[TheEd]

Based on the single time I've participated in the Karoo To Coast in 2017, my thoughts are as follows:

 

Worst walking event ever!  You're forced to drag a bicycle along for the first 10 km...

 

Jokes aside, this is because I did not jump through hoops to get better seeding.  I actually did not even have any form of seeding, as I haven't ridden any timed/seeded events, so I ended up in the second last group.

 

What soured my experience even further was the fact that shortly after I was able to get on my bicycle after the 10 km mark, I was recklessly overtaken by a dude in a T-shirt and PT shorts, got bumped into another cyclist and crashed.  Sadly, I took the other bloke down with me, but he seemed to have survived the crash mostly unscathed.  The guy who caused it just rode on, which was probably better, otherwise I would have been making these comments from jail.

 

I, however, was beaten, bruised and bleeding, and left with a bent and broken ego... I mean front wheel... that was miraculously sealed by Stan's No Tubes (the wheel, not the ego).  Man, is it scary to go downhill on a bike with a wobbly front wheel that basically loses all traction the moment you go faster than 25 km/h!!!  And I still managed to hit 53 km/h on a steep, very straight, descent 

 

Insult to injury was the bee that stung me on my right shin, just below a wounded knee, about 20 km from the finish!  Fortunately I'm not allergic.

 

For a race that's supposedly downhill, there's a whole lot of climbing to be done!  No matter how hard you prepare for it, it's difficult to manage when your left calf is stiff from being bumped in a crash, already turning a zombie-like mix of green, blue and purple, and your right knee is sporting a throbbing open wound.

 

I was able to finish the race in 8 hours, despite training for what I had hoped would be a 6 hour finish.

 

Being stubborn, as I usually tend to be, and ranting at the finish line, I declared that I would not participate in the Karoo To Coast in 2018.  I was specific about the year, as I acknowledged the terrible feeling might be fleeting and despite feeling like the entire universe conspired against me I still felt like I needed to prove to myself that I can do it in 6 hours.

 

So... When the urge to enter again hit me in May, I recalled my declaration not to do it in 2018.  The decision was eased by the fact that I became a father and we are not yet feeling completely comfortable to endeavour travelling from Bloemfontein to Knysna with the wee one.

 

Now I have cooled down completely and warmed up to the idea of entering again.  If all goes as planned, you will most likely see me at the 2019 edition of the Karoo To Coast!

 

Lessons, free of charge, to anyone willing to listen:

1. It is a great event and your personal enjoyment should be paramount, especially if it's your first time!  Stop and smell the flowers, enjoy the scenery and push your limits on the downhills.
2. Don't burn yourself to a crisp!  That means wear sunscreen, but also don't try and exceed your means in terms of pedal power.  Thanks to clouds the sun wasn't a great concern in 2017, but the same might not be true again.
3. If you do end up in the crowd and you need to walk the first 10 km, don't rant about it!  You have been warned...  Don't power walk past everyone.  Keep the same pace as the people around you, start a conversation and make jokes.  Even if you think it's frustrating, making a friend would be worth much more!
4. Don't be a d**s!  Adhere to the rules, have common courtesy and use common sense.

To every entrant of the 2018 Karoo To Coast:  I wish thee well!

Have fun! 

 

PS: Writing this was a "big deal" for me, as it's the first time I'm able to publicly talk about it.  

[Robbie Stewart]

For anyone unable to ride up Ouwapad...please stay home. 
 

rerig mense, dis nie so moeilik nie. Al wat jy hoef te doen is om op jou fiets te klim en te begin trap. Hou net aan met trap totdat jy bo is. Daarna kan jy afklim en erens op 'n hopie gaan sit en tjank omdat jy al die jare vir jouself gelieg het dat jy werklik nie teen Ouwapad kan uitry nie, of jy kan net daar en dan besluit dat hierdie jaar gaan jy jou beste tyd aanteken. Keuse is joune om te maak. Maak dit.

[TheEd]

For anyone unable to ride up Ouwapad...please stay home. 

 

rerig mense, dis nie so moeilik nie. Al wat jy hoef te doen is om op jou fiets te klim en te begin trap. Hou net aan met trap totdat jy bo is. Daarna kan jy afklim en erens op 'n hopie gaan sit en tjank omdat jy al die jare vir jouself gelieg het dat jy werklik nie teen Ouwapad kan uitry nie, of jy kan net daar en dan besluit dat hierdie jaar gaan jy jou beste tyd aanteken. Keuse is joune om te maak. Maak dit.

 

En hopelik kan ek dan ook volgende jaar voel hoe dit voel om teen Ouwapad uit te trap, sonder om te moet koes vir voetgangers of in lewensgevaar te verkeer... 

[Skubarra]

For anyone unable to ride up Ouwapad...please stay home. 

 

rerig mense, dis nie so moeilik nie. Al wat jy hoef te doen is om op jou fiets te klim en te begin trap. Hou net aan met trap totdat jy bo is. Daarna kan jy afklim en erens op 'n hopie gaan sit en tjank omdat jy al die jare vir jouself gelieg het dat jy werklik nie teen Ouwapad kan uitry nie, of jy kan net daar en dan besluit dat hierdie jaar gaan jy jou beste tyd aanteken. Keuse is joune om te maak. Maak dit.

 

No K2C thread is complete without this little rant...

 

However

 

1 jeeptrack. 

3000 cyclists

 

Physics 101 tells us no one other than the first few riders are riding up there without being blocked.

 

It's got nothing to do with skills or fitness - just simple physics 

[Mailman7412]

For anyone unable to ride up Ouwapad...please stay home. 

 

rerig mense, dis nie so moeilik nie. Al wat jy hoef te doen is om op jou fiets te klim en te begin trap. Hou net aan met trap totdat jy bo is. Daarna kan jy afklim en erens op 'n hopie gaan sit en tjank omdat jy al die jare vir jouself gelieg het dat jy werklik nie teen Ouwapad kan uitry nie, of jy kan net daar en dan besluit dat hierdie jaar gaan jy jou beste tyd aanteken. Keuse is joune om te maak. Maak dit.

En nou vir die stuk wysheid. As jy nie in die A groep begin nie of miskien B , gaan jy loop. Dis maar net hoe dit is

Edited August 21, 2018 by Mailman7412

[Skubarra]

En nou vir die stuk wysheid. As jy nie in die A groep begin nie of miskien B , gaan jy loop. Dis maar net hoe dit is

 

Selfs die meeste ryers in A loop ook. Dit vat letterlik net 1 ou wat 'n fout maak en jy het 'n sneeubal effek.

Edited August 21, 2018 by Skubarra

[gogo@]

No K2C thread is complete without this little rant...

 

However

 

1 jeeptrack. 

3000 cyclists

 

Physics 101 tells us no one other than the first few riders are riding up there without being blocked.

 

It's got nothing to do with skills or fitness - just simple physics 

Yup!!

And people riding in cleats who are not used to much more than tar.  They see something like a large rock and, 100m before they reach it, uncleat, just in case... and the walking begins.

I can ride up there in my sleep, but not when someone doing hike-a-bike gets their brookies caught on my handlebars when they try pushing round the guy in front of them, and all is (nearly) revealed.  No photos, but, true story.

Did I say, I ride flats??

[DieselnDust]

Good evening bike hubbers

 

Recently I entered the Karoo to Coast. Super excited about it, but now I seriously need to start training and not only do social rides

 

Any specific training training plan anyone can suggest, I'm already doing alot of long distance rides and then hills.

 

And then if there is anyone in the Worcester, Rawsonville and surrounding area or towns that wants to train with our group leave me a pm. Will be really nice adding more of the 'all ass, no gas' type

 

Thank you in advance

 

How is the training coming along?

I forgot to ask.........What is your CTCT time?.......