Neels Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 All multi stage races seem to be reserved for teams of two. Wondered if there aren't more people like me that would love to take part in some, or most of these races but can not due to the lack of partners. Either organisers could create a seperate catagory or perhaps organise a race for individuals only. I might be wrong but I find the advent of sponsored teams in the MTB world totally contrary to the whole spirit of MTB, When you see road racing peleton tactics dominating technical and individual skills, the MTB has lost the plot. It only becomes a road race played out on a gravel road. A case of the big money moves in and the soul moves out.
Nancy Drew Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 welcome to the hub Neels!I have always understood that having teams of two in a mtb stage race is more for the riders safety than anything else. These races take one into very remote areas which puts a rider on his/her own at risk. I stand to be corrected.
Cheryl J Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 The Cederberg Experience in October is a 3 day stage race for individuals.
MildlyWild Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 Dunno about safety - there'll always be another rider of sweeper coming along.But I think the camaraderie of a 2 man team is awesome - gives you someone to share the pain, adrenaline and beauty with.Who else you gonna say to afterwards: "Remember that strectch where..."?Maybe stagger the start times?
Groot Lem Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 the 3 day Oudtshoorn race at the end of September is an individual race.
SwissVan Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 welcome to the hub Neels!I have always understood that having teams of two in a mtb stage race is more for the riders safety than anything else. These races take one into very remote areas which puts a rider on his/her own at risk. I stand to be corrected. With regards to the safety excuse question, whats the diffs between being somewhere remote on a 1 day race and remote on a stage race?Ive seen and been in some pretty remote places in 1 day races and having to have a team mate for safety has never been required. Ok so a stage race after a few days everyone is more fatigued ect, but if you break ure neck or get bitten by a poffadder in a one day or multi day race the same sh*t is going to happen....
Flea Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 I think that the issue is that if you have done 7 days of the Epic, and battling to get in for the time limit, do you have the same awareness of the health of a fellow competitor, knowing that if you had to help, you would have lost your medal?
Cranky Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 Not sure what happened in the Epic, but at Sani2c many two-man teams were split up, well beyond the 2-min gap allowed. So again that doesn't help with safety.
Borriz Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 I quite enjoy stage races and 2 man team setups. But having been on the receiving end of partner pulling out a week before Sani2C and having to ride in event, plus share a tent, with a "blind date" made my experience not as pleasurable. If you and your partner train together then the you will stay together during the ride 90% of the time. If you don't train together, then you get the scenario we experienced at S2C - teams splitting up. My view on why they make this team events is to bring the fun into it. If it ended up being an individual entry then it would be a race. Team events are more fun, with more chirping than an England Australia 5 day test match.
Tumbleweed Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 Dunno about safety - there'll always be another rider of sweeper coming along. But I think the camaraderie of a 2 man team is awesome - gives you someone to share the pain' date=' adrenaline and beauty with.Who else you gonna say to afterwards: "Remember that strectch where..."?Maybe stagger the start times?[/quote'] the safety-as-a-team thing is often brought up when the epic is mentioned. because of the lengths of the stages, it is deemed safer for someone to ride with a team member.
Nancy Drew Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 welcome to the hub Neels!I have always understood that having teams of two in a mtb stage race is more for the riders safety than anything else. These races take one into very remote areas which puts a rider on his/her own at risk. I stand to be corrected. With regards to the safety excuse question' date=' whats the diffs between being somewhere remote on a 1 day race and remote on a stage race?Ive seen and been in some pretty remote places in 1 day races and having to have a team mate for safety has never been required. Ok so a stage race after a few days everyone is more fatigued ect, but if you break ure neck or get bitten by a poffadder in a one day or multi day race the same sh*t is going to happen.... [/quote'] Like I said...... I stand to be corrected
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