UndercoverBrother Posted May 16, 2019 Share Hi guys,I would love to know what your thoughts are on a 5km gravel section in a road race. You rate only for the pro's with support vehicles?Also, if you fall out of the bunch and get stuck behind a queue of Team Vehicles, it will get mega dusty.I do not have experience with this, but seriously considering adding it to one of the events.Will people bring different bikes for the specific Let a brother know. Vetplant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchelicious Posted May 16, 2019 Share Great idea for road bikes, as long as.... Its well communicated before the event to allow people to prep spares.Its hard pack, and not sandy.Its not very fast section. Otherwise, lekker! Furbz, Dirkitech and gummibear 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMCfan Posted May 16, 2019 Share Absolutely love it! We used to have two races here innie Kaap in ek se, that had gravel!It's one thing to ride your roadbike over a gravel piece, but oh my!!! SOOOOO much fun to race over it!!!! I say, bring it on!!!! Hamstring, Dirkitech, Furbz and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomo Posted May 16, 2019 Share The gravel included in the funrides/races BMCfan refers to got mixed reviews.Suspect mostly because of the state of the surface and the chaos it can create for the less experienced/capable rider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstV8 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Bring it on . Adds a bit of spice to a road race . A bit like the cobbles in Paris Roubaix DieselnDust and davidtinker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin D Smith Posted May 16, 2019 Share It happens anyway when you are not awake in a road race. Well not for 05km !! DieselnDust, MDJ, Dirkitech and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmorglebot Posted May 16, 2019 Share The sound of a stone being kicked up by a tyre and striking my carbon frame or wheels sends shivers down my spine at the best of times, and that's during a road ride/race. I wouldn't want to subject my baby to prolonged risk of that happening, possibly repeatedly L46, Richard F, Dirkitech and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchelicious Posted May 16, 2019 Share The sound of a stone being kicked up by a tyre and striking my carbon frame or wheels sends shivers down my spine at the best of times, and that's during a road ride/race. I wouldn't want to subject my baby to prolonged risk of that happening, possibly repeatedlyLike veganism, the answer to everything seems to be, ride it on a Levo. Pure Savage 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skubarra Posted May 16, 2019 Share Hi guys,I would love to know what your thoughts are on a 5km gravel section in a road race. I do not have experience with this, but seriously considering adding it to one of the events.Will people bring different bikes for the specific Let a brother know. Make sure you communicate it very well in your marketing Look up the hub comments on the 2014 99er race when they included 2km of gravel. Sounded like a novel idea beforehand but after a number of crashes, punctures and scratched bikes on the gravel section organisers were at the receiving end of a massive backlash from participants and dropped that section for the next year. Reality is that our Saffas aren't used to road racing on gravel so it's a risky decision. Dirkitech, MDJ, Richard F and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vetplant Posted May 16, 2019 Share Could be a cool idea, but riders need to be clearly informed of this before they enter. Otherwise you will get complaints aplenty. How about a dedicated race with close to 50%-50% split between time on tar and time on gravel? Bring your weapon of choice. Like the Swartberg Pass event, but with more forgiving gravel sections... DJR and Rowl 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Wheel Base Posted May 16, 2019 Share A few years back the Race for Victory used a gravel road. It was only like 1 km or so. IICR the one year it had rained the night before and was a mud bath. They eventually found a new venue. Not sure if it was because of the gravel road or not. Anyway, while I never had issues with flats or crashes, I hated it. I was so worried about crashing or stones hitting my bike. It was like 1km from the start(and then 1km from the finish) and of course it was used to launch attacks to get rid of riders like myself who were not keen on going all out. Richard F and L46 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomR Posted May 16, 2019 Share Make sure you communicate it very well in your marketing Look up the hub comments on the 2014 99er race when they included 2km of gravel. Sounded like a novel idea beforehand but after a number of crashes, punctures and scratched bikes on the gravel section organisers were at the receiving end of a massive backlash from participants and dropped that section for the next year. Reality is that our Saffas aren't used to road racing on gravel so it's a risky decision. I remember doing this race. There was a downhill gravel section, and it was absolute chaos. I love watching the pro's riding mixed surfaces, but for an amateur doing a road race on a road bike with no support vehicle, I think it is a bad idea. Vetplant, MDJ, Capricorn and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ouzo Posted May 16, 2019 Share as mentioned, if you're going to do it then please clearly communicate it.i would not be that keen on it. Patchelicious 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirkitech Posted May 16, 2019 Share Could be a cool idea, but riders need to be clearly informed of this before they enter. Otherwise you will get complaints aplenty. How about a dedicated race with close to 50%-50% split between time on tar and time on gravel? Bring your weapon of choice. Like the Swartberg Pass event, but with more forgiving gravel sections...Isnt that just a gravel race then? Like so many other comments, I'd continue to single out communicating it as the most important aspect (after having it hard packed and thornless too!). I've ridden my road bike on hard packed dirt roads with stones and potholes and I really grit my teeth the whole ride and turning a blind eye at each "PING!" i heard! Edited May 16, 2019 by Dirkitech DieselnDust 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselnDust Posted May 16, 2019 Share very cool idea. I like it a lot. Our road races need to be more technical anyways and okes need to HTFU and just ride. Too much moaning about this and that and tit for tat.In Europe if you can't ride a section of dirt road well then you're aren't going to be racing much gummibear and Hamstring 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skubarra Posted May 16, 2019 Share I remember doing this race. There was a downhill gravel section, and it was absolute chaos. I love watching the pro's riding mixed surfaces, but for an amateur doing a road race on a road bike with no support vehicle, I think it is a bad idea. Me too, punctured... Which turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the puncture forcing me to stop meant I narrowly avoided a massive group crash seconds later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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