[Event] Takealot Jock Classic

[PRFullstop]

Event Name: Takealot Jock Classic
When: 13 July 2019
Where: Mbombela Stadium, Mpumulanga
Category: Road

The one-day, three-stage Takealot Jock Classic takes place on July 13 on the traditional route between Nelspruit, White River and Sabie.

 

The 2019 stages are:

 

Stage 1: Nelspruit – White River: 48.5km

Stage 2: White River – Sabie (via Spitskop): 45km

Stage 3: Sabie – Nelspruit (via Long Tom Pass): 62km

Go to Event Page

[Neville Bailey]

Time for me to give this bucket list event a go!

 

Any tips for a first-timer from those who have done it before?

[Craai]

Time for me to give this bucket list event a go!

 

Any tips for a first-timer from those who have done it before?

. Two words: Hill + training; and lots of it

[shaper]

Dress for cold weather in the morning, take change of kit in the bag that goes in the trucks to each of the stop points for breakfast and lunch, change as the weather gets warmer to hot.  Put slops in your bag too else you have to walk to breakfast and lunch in your cleats.

 

Slog it out on the hills as best you can, if you can get into a bunch after Longtom on the way back to the stadium, do so as you will fly home, else is a serious slog going solo, so be savy and even sit up and wait for the next group.

 

Gear up for hills, compact with 11-28/30 to save your legs, else a semi-compact.

 

Have fun and enjoy the scenery through the sweaty eyes!!

Edited May 27, 2019 by shaper

[Dgas]

Its a great race you will love it. The first stage is cold and then the day gets warmer. Make sure you have somewhere to put the kit you will be taking off. My wife normally follows me around, so kit and breakfast and lunch is taken care off by her. There are lots of hills so make sure your gearing is suitable. Most hills are around 6 - 7 % with the top of Spitskop at around 11% but only for a short bit. Long Tom is 7- 9 % for most of the length. I ride 52/36 oval chainrings on the front and 11/27 on the back and have no problems on the hills. I use the same gearing for the Panorama.

[Neville Bailey]

Thanks for the tips! I am both terrified and excited about doing it.

 

At the moment I have 34-50 at the front and 11-28 at the back (10 speed). I think I will look at getting 11-32 at the back. I will need all the help I can to get up those climbs!

Edited May 30, 2019 by Neville Bailey

[IceCreamMan]

Rather have the gearing and not need than need it and not have. If going 32 you might need a new derailleur too. Just check it out.

 

I only did one jock before leaving za and I shat bricks most of the day. I had some remains of flu which made my day hell. But it was very cool to finish, made it all worthwhile,

[Neville Bailey]

As a matter of interest, as the Jock is a multi stage event, how do most cyclists record it on Strava - as three separate activities or as one activity (with auto pause active)?

[IceCreamMan]

As a matter of interest, as the Jock is a multi stage event, how do most cyclists record it on Strava - as three separate activities or as one activity (with auto pause active)?

I recorded it as3 separate stages.

[CharlesZ]

As a matter of interest, as the Jock is a multi stage event, how do most cyclists record it on Strava - as three separate activities or as one activity (with auto pause active)?

that's all up to you. 

Start and stop every stage

start, stop and save after every stage

remember if you use auto pause if will start recording when you free wheel and walk with your bike between the different stages

[Stricker]

Afternoon,

 

Can someone please assist with a route profile or Strava File.

Would like to see all the climbs so I can prepare myself for them

 

Tnx 

[Long Wheel Base]

Time for me to give this bucket list event a go!

 

Any tips for a first-timer from those who have done it before?

Don't relax too much between stages, especially before the last stage. You will get lazy and then won't feel like climbing back onto the bike. I would sit down in a chair after the stage but resist the urge to lie down or even sit on the floor. Depending how late you start each stage your rest is actually shorter which in a way is better for the riders towards the back of the race as they don't get a chance to "cool don". One year at the kremetart they delayed the start of one stage(think it was between stage 2 and 3) because people were still finishing. Those poor riders had to finish and then just go straight to the back of the start group. Also eat/drink properly between stages, with such short stages I hardly ate and drank at all while riding, just fueled up between stages.

[Zatek]

Still pondering if I should go. Think stage 1 starts way to early.

[Fat Boab]

Ride stage 1 well within yourself.

 

Don't start stage 2 too fast...There's some solid climbing to do before you drop down into Sabir (and if you haven't recce'd the route the climb is quite deceptive).

 

Don't charge out of Sabie on stage 3. With luck you'll pass lots of people on the Long Tom!

 

And hold something back for the ride back to the finish as the rollers can bite on tired legs!

 

So in summary...ride it and don't race it first-time out!

[Neville Bailey]

Afternoon,

 

Can someone please assist with a route profile or Strava File.

Would like to see all the climbs so I can prepare myself for them

 

Tnx 

 

I created these Strava routes, based on the route information on the Jock Classic website - hopefully they will help.

Jock Classic Stage 1.gpx

Jock Classic Stage 2.gpx

Jock Classic Stage 3.gpx

[Neville Bailey]

It's here!