Reversed Route 94.7 2018

[mecheng89]

Had a proper look at the route again.

 

First 50km is going to be killer, especially for us heavy okes (>95kg).

 

Previously we could relatively easily hang on all the way until Jan Smuts and then solo the last 20kms of climbs at our own pace having made up allot of time with the bunch in the preceding 70 odd kms.

 

This time though the lightweights will drop us fairly early, we will be hitting the M1 in much smaller groups than before but at least it is downhill till the "final" group of climbs around kyalami.

 

Actually think a sub 3 is going to be harder this way round because of the splintering that will happen early on, unless if you have a good group of guys that want to work together as you hit the M1.

Only time will tell i the first 50km is going to be a killer. 

[s14phoenix]

Had a proper look at the route again.

 

First 50km is going to be killer, especially for us heavy okes (>95kg).

 

Previously we could relatively easily hang on all the way until Jan Smuts and then solo the last 20kms of climbs at our own pace having made up allot of time with the bunch in the preceding 70 odd kms.

 

This time though the lightweights will drop us fairly early, we will be hitting the M1 in much smaller groups than before but at least it is downhill till the "final" group of climbs around kyalami.

 

Actually think a sub 3 is going to be harder this way round because of the splintering that will happen early on, unless if you have a good group of guys that want to work together as you hit the M1.

 

I agree... the first half will be brutal especially in the higher seeded groups.

 

Previously the manne with the big muscles was killing us lightweights until woodmead where the groups would shatter. If you where able to hang on to the horsepower heavyweights till there you would come out in a very select bunch of strong lightweights with the best of the heavier guys and do a good time. Those that got dropped early often lost 15min instantly by not holding on.

 

I think this year will be interesting - sounds a lot like what Amashova does. Which is a great race and experience due to the early suffering.

[CASSIE1975]

COUGH COUGH...Entry fee...COUGH COUGH 

 

Also true    I see only 6014 people have entered up to date for 2018...R504.50 per entry 

[Dexter-morgan]

COUGH COUGH...Entry fee...COUGH COUGH 

Yip, I promised myself I will do 10 then that is it but now it seems like I have to sell a kidney to do No.10 next year.

[Milosh]

My take as a social Roadie and predominantly MTB,  have only done Peyn city 947's And 1 Argus 

 

 

The argus was far better in memory as the last bit was easier and I was able to absorb it all and enjoy the run into the finish ,  947 was not nearly as much fun.

[Andrew Steer]

Getting a fair bit of the hard stuff out the way with fresh legs early on doesn't sound too bad to me... it's easier to keep it together on easier terrain later in the race. The bunches will definitely be smaller though on the highway... but even a dozen guys together should eat that up pretty quickly.

 

Will make a nice change regardless, after riding a dozen odd it's always nice to have a fresh challenge. 

Entry fee starting to feel a little on the high side I must say, but it feels pretty much that way with everything at the moment

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Well it was always a race through terraaaaable headwinds... Maybe now that problem will be solved  

[CASSIE1975]

Yip, I promised myself I will do 10 then that is it but now it seems like I have to sell a kidney to do No.10 next year.

 

My first 94.7 on 20 November 2011 cost R280.00 and this year with my 8th in a row it's almost DOUBLE the cost      already need to start saving for my 10th in 2020   

[Kalahari Vegmot]

My first 94.7 on 20 November 2011 cost R280.00 and this year with my 8th in a row it's almost DOUBLE the cost      already need to start saving for my 10th in 2020   

Wow that's scary

[coppi]

Yip, I promised myself I will do 10 then that is it but now it seems like I have to sell a kidney to do No.10 next year.

Me too....... 

[eddy]

My first 94.7 on 20 November 2011 cost R280.00 and this year with my 8th in a row it's almost DOUBLE the cost      already need to start saving for my 10th in 2020   

 

I took the ZAR/USD exchange rate on 1 June 2011 and todays rate and calculated the cost.

In $$$$ terms, it has come down slightly   but in RRRR terms it has risen by 80% over the 7 years or just below 9% p/a.

 

          R 280   @ 6.88   $40.70

          R 504   @ 12.4  $40.51

[CASSIE1975]

I took the ZAR/USD exchange rate on 1 June 2011 and todays rate and calculated the cost.

In $$$$ terms, it has come down slightly   but in RRRR terms it has risen by 80% over the 7 years or just below 9% p/a.

 

          R 280   @ 6.88   $40.70

          R 504   @ 12.4  $40.51

 

HAIR raising 

[The Ouzo]

HAIR raising 

I think I paid under R200 for my first one.

[Schnavel]

While it is stil expensive, it is still well priced compared to a lot of other races on the calendar.

 

If I remember correctly, Emperor's Palace was R420 and that was without full road closure. I'm happy to pay the bit extra for the complete road closure.

 

Plus, this event is always well organised and run. I can't always say the same for other races... cough cough... ASG...

[Frosty]

I think the reverse route is a good thing. Something new, but still the same event. It’s the year of Lion Lager for me (No17), and there are a few firsts (2):

 

1. First time I won’t be riding south on the M1;

2. Have always wondered what it would be like climbing Jan Smuts passed the zoo, and we finally have that chance.

 

Time for some new segments on Strava - probably the most important reason for the change. Read this section in your comic sans font

 

It is expensive, relative to other events of a similar distance, but it is the only race in GP with proper FULL ROAD CLOSURE... Tshwane doesn’t count if taxis/cars were breaking through the barriers - maybe it will change. The 100CycleChallenge shared the highway with cars.

 

Very few bunch sprints, which means the course IS one of the harder ones on the calendar.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Spinnekop]

While it is stil expensive, it is still well priced compared to a lot of other races on the calendar.

 

If I remember correctly, Emperor's Palace was R420 and that was without full road closure. I'm happy to pay the bit extra for the complete road closure.

 

Plus, this event is always well organised and run. I can't always say the same for other races... cough cough... ASG...

Jip.  Agreed.

I'll skip one or two others and pay for this one.