Cape Town Cycle Tour 2020

[eddy]

THIS IS NOT A RANT:

 

Don't know what my seeding will be, last racetec results were from 2018 where I did a 3h13 seeded in 3C at CTCT (would have placed me at 50th percentile in  1H and top 25 % in 2A) a 4h40 at K@C and 3.06 at 947 after getting caught up in a big crash and sat with one of the guys for a bit. 

 

Not expecting much in terms of seeding although I am in better shape than I was in 2018. Similar conditions, similar seeding, I suppose I can take maybe 10 mins off and finish in the low 3 hours and single digits again. 

 

But, I have a friend who recently started cycling and has entered.  She can't stick with me when the power is down but she is stronger than me on the hills and I can no longer match her up Conrad Drive (1.79 km, 101m, 6%).

 

At 50kg and a lifelong history of dancing and running, she is a natural climber.

 

She had no problem up Llundudno, Chappies from either side or Suikerbossie. She can comfortably ride 100km, and the long loop at SBR. She finished top 20 in the 974 40km out of the 800+ women having ridden to the start and riding home again. Starting in the very last group at the Fast one yesterday, she time-trialed her way around, and finished top 30% of the women in the field. Her pack skills in the Cradle are fine and certainly up to what we see in big races beyond the top riders.

 

Objectively, if she were to start in one of the mid 3 groups at CTCT, she would ride sub 4 comfortably; probably around 3h45. But is likely to get a ZZ seeding.

 

I will drop back and ride with her, so that will ruin my seeding forever....

 

 

I understand the need for separating slow from fast riders and in the impossible  world of perfect seeding, there would be no overtaking groups in front.

 

I also understand the CTCT/Racetec/etc. business model. Make people enter "other" races that pay for the privilege of being "seeding" races and force people to slowly work their way up over the course of multiple events so you can get a CTCT seeding that gives you a chance of seeing what you can do, which is actually all she is interested in - racing herself.

 

 

She will in all likelihood do only the one CTCT as riding walking up Edinburgh drive, Chapmans, et al, when she is capable of staying with some 3h30 riders up the climbs will be very frustrating, negate her advantage and reduce her time to that of the lowest common denominator on the route. Her time will therefore not improve her seeding much for a next attempt and she will probably not bother again.

 

So what to do other than do some Gravel races or K2C ? Not that those will improve her seeding (maybe K2C will).

 

Or am I wrong, can one ride the hills from the last group at reasonable pace if you have the speed ? 

 

THIS WAS NOT A RANT

Edited January 27, 2020 by eddy

[Long Wheel Base]

THIS IS NOT A RANT:

 

Don't know what my seeding will be, last racetec results were from 2018 where I did a 3h13 seeded in 3C at CTCT (would have placed me at 50th percentile in  1H and top 25 % in 2A) a 4h40 at K@C and 3.06 at 947 after getting caught up in a big crash and sat with one of the guys for a bit. 

 

Not expecting much in terms of seeding although I am in better shape than I was in 2018. Similar conditions, similar seeding, I suppose I can take maybe 10 mins off and finish in the low 3 hours and single digits again. 

 

But, I have a friend who recently started cycling and has entered.  She can't stick with me when the power is down but she is stronger than me on the hills and I can no longer match her up Conrad Drive (1.79 km, 101m, 6%).

At 50kg and a lifelong history of dancing and running, she is a natural climber.

 

She had no problem up Llundudno, Chappies from either side or Suikerbossie. She can comfortably ride 100km, and the long loop at SBR. She finished top 20 in the 974 40km out of the 800+ women having ridden to the start and riding home again. Starting in the very last group at the Fast one yesterday, she time-trialed her way around, and finished top 30% of the women in the field. Her pack skills in the Cradle are fine and certainly up to what we see in big races beyond the top riders.

 

Objectively, if she were to start in one of the mid 3 groups at CTCT, she would ride sub 4 comfortably; probably around 3h45. But is likely to get a ZZ seeding.

 

I will drop back and ride with her, so that will ruin my seeding forever....

 

 

I understand the need for separating slow from fast riders and in the impossible  world of perfect seeding, there would be no overtaking groups in front.

 

I also understand the CTCT/Racetec/etc. business model. Make people enter "other" races that pay for the privilege of being "seeding" races and force people to slowly work their way up over the course of multiple events so you can get a CTCT seeding that gives you a chance of seeing what you can do, which is actually all she is interested in - racing herself.

 

 

She will in all likelihood do only the one CTCT as riding walking up Edinburgh drive, Chapmans, et al, when she is capable of staying with some 3h30 riders up the climbs will be very frustrating, negate her advantage and reduce her time to that of the lowest common denominator on the route. Her time will therefore not improve her seeding much for a next attempt and she will probably not bother again.

 

So what to do other than do some Gravel races or K2C ? Not that those will improve her seeding (maybe K2C will).

 

THIS WAS NOT A RANT

Last year, there was some story about people in her position being able to submit strava results from other races. I am not sure if it was a success or if anyone here attempted it or if it will still apply this year. If it is possible, maybe she should try that. I do think there is a fee payable though, added to all the other costs to get to the race it might not be viable but worth looking into.

[Skubarra]

Starting in the very last group at the Fast one yesterday, she time-trialed her way around, and finished top 30% of the women in the field. Her pack skills in the Cradle are fine and certainly up to what we see in big races beyond the top riders.

 

Assuming she wore a timing chip yesterday this result should count towards her seeding?

 

The organisers use all racetec timed events for seeding, with a penalty if it is not an official seeding event - but if the goal is just that you don't want to start right at the back then the penalty is not really material.

 

If there is another racetec timed race this weekend (maybe even next weekend) she can do, this will also help.

 

I have also heard of a few people managing to improve their starting groups by having a chat at registration (bring along strava results or past race results), seems to be far more effective than sending the organisers emails re seeding.

[JohanDiv]

 

 

Objectively, if she were to start in one of the mid 3 groups at CTCT, she would ride sub 4 comfortably; probably around 3h45. But is likely to get a ZZ seeding.

 

I will drop back and ride with her, so that will ruin my seeding forever....

 

 

 

 

 

Why do you think your seeding will be ruined forever? Racetec only uses your best race to seed you, not all your races. As long as it is a recent race and haven't got time penalties added yet. Your own seeding will be wayyyy down already if your last Racetec timed race was two years ago because of these time penalties. Say for instance you get a mechanical that ruins your race, they understand that and that race won't be used, they also understand that we don't race all the time and do it for the fun sometimes. I sometimes drop back on races to ride it with my wife and it doesn't impact my seeding. Was still seeded 1A at SCT after I did a race with her at the back. Link your Strava account to your Racetec profile..they might give you a bit of a break if they can see that you didn't completely stop riding in the two years you haven't done a Racetec timed race.

[MORNE]

THIS IS NOT A RANT:

 

snip

pretty sure i've read on here somewhere of people doing very competitive times from the back. But does it really matter? it's a fun race after all lol.

I enjoy the mid to rear pack riding...lots of fun....and its not like you can really go that much faster on a 1x mtb lol. To be honest it is really not that bad...especially the spots you mentioned...(Edinburgh drive, Chapmans, et al).

 

i started with the wife right at the back...as in the LAST (6E or F?) group last year....and literally the only place we were walking was right at the start going up the ramp to the highway due to all the wannabe snakes being unable to clip in.... as well as everybody trying to get a selfie with Victor Mattfield. As soon as you hit the highway there is plenty of space to pass q00s if not 1000s of people...you bascially loose them at first hill going past the university lol....and don't forget they stop EVERYWHERE...you'll pass a few-hundred at a time if you skip the stops before Muizenberg.

 

​also...there are lots of faster riders in the lower groups that are there because they are going around the second time that day...sometimes in small groups even.

 

​just enjoy it imo.

[Kranswurm]

Cyclists crossing the Hout Bay River during the 1887 Argus

 

 

[Jase619]

SNIP But does it really matter? it's a fun race after all lol. SNIP

 

Someone always has to post this. . . 

[Duane_Bosch]

If everyone got the seeding they think they deserved there would be 30000 people in $

Edited January 27, 2020 by Duane_Bosch

[Long Wheel Base]

If everyone got the seeding they think they deserved there would be 30000 people in $

HAHA this is true. It is a different ball game up front. 

[eddy]

If everyone got the seeding they think they deserved there would be 30000 people in $

 

On the contrary.

 

Those I ride with and talk to are unanimous that if you want your very best time,  the ideal is the group where you can just hang in when the going gets tough; where you are spent, just riding in the pack.

 

Next best is one group slower; where you can hang in without bleeding through you eyeballs and where you are spent because you are doing some work upfront.

 

Much worse than that is one group too fast where you get dropped up one of the climbs and have to battle along by yourself. 

 

Each group ahead of than that gives you an even worse result as you get dropped earlier and by more successive groups until you find one that started 20 minutes after you that you can hang in with.

 

Works for me. I have dropped back from A to B or from B to C when I thought I was not capable of riding with my theoretical equals. 

 

PS. I suspect that with the new, reverse route of 947 I will always drop one group as the (relatively) long steep hills at the start take too much out of my old puncheur body.

Edited January 27, 2020 by eddy

[Duane_Bosch]

On the contrary.

 

Font amended.

[Spinnekop]

If everyone got the seeding they think they deserved there would be 30000 people in $

I have seen the OPPOSITE where "honesty seeding" has been applied.

Very strange indeed........

 

That said, you WILL get a couple of old ballies with tank slappers that will go "see if I could stick the the laaities" 

Edited January 27, 2020 by Spinnekop

[Skubarra]

I have seen the OPPOSITE where "honesty seeding" has been applied.

Very strange indeed........

 

That said, you WILL get a couple of old ballies with tank slappers that will go "see if I could stick the the laaities" 

 

Honesty seeding     

 

If ever you need scientific proof on how cyclists over-estimate their own abilities!

 

Luckily I have only encountered that once or twice at events 

[eddy]

Font amended.

 

Emoji added...

[Dadbod Racing]

Koesisters inni Boekaap

 

if you like "Koesisters" then you have to try "Bollas" 

 

But as a Capetonian we just can't get away from those bladdy things... 

 

My daughters send me messages (when I'm out training on a Sunday morning) and when I come home empty handed then, they pissed off with me.... Proper flippen Capetonians, Sunday = Bollas

 

I use them as recovery food #dadbodforever

[Jewbacca]

if you like "Koesisters" then you have to try "Bollas" 

 

But as a Capetonian we just can't get away from those bladdy things... 

 

My daughters send me messages (when I'm out training on a Sunday morning) and when I come home empty handed then, they pissed off with me.... Proper flippen Capetonians, Sunday = Bollas

 

I use them as recovery food #dadbodforever

I don't even know what Bollas are..... 

 

I know I have Ballas, but they belong to my wife