2019 Amashova

[LongDonkey]

Condolances to the rider down and their family.

 

BL start and just got in under 3 hours. Very hot ride towards the end. I think they should start the 160 km at 5 am and teh rest at 6 am. The half route start times, i am unsure of. Congestion and people who dont know how to ride (its not their fault as they are slow recreational riders) when a large fast peleton comes past is just asking for *** (imho).

Lost a bottle a the rough patch near Camperdown. Only noticed just after water point 2. so suffered without water for 20 kms. Was ok as i had a banana (which i brought myself to the race) and temps were not too bad at that stage and had just had a good swig of my juice just after the water point.

Water point guys were very helpful handing water to us riding past which was nice so we did not have to stop. I think a water point should be just that, water. Anything else you get is a bonus if they have. Its a marketing thing from the organisers and probably pretty difficult to arrange.

Lots of wheel suckers, struggled to do my bit when i could and sat in the pack to recover.

Use your pockets next time Andre for your wrappers. I have no problem outing people who litter. Just forgot to get his number.

[Jarl Borg]

Bananas, oranges, water and coke. That's more than enough nutrition to complete the event.

 

It’s different cultures I suppose and it’s good to experience with different cultures. I couldn’t complete a race on oranges and bananas, I didn’t even touch any of those. I had to call my wife to buy me a five course meal as she was driving back down to Durbs. I can’t even pack a single course coz I wear a lose MTB jersey with no back pockets. It’s funny how I never use to eat on my MTB when I started, I’d even get up a cycle on a empty stomach. But it got drilled in me that I gotta eat before I ride, eat while riding, eat after the ride, eat ad nauseum. Edited October 21, 2019 by Jarl Borg

[Frosty]

I usually make it to the finish with water/juice in my 750ml bottles, on most 100Km events, and seldom grab a water unless it's really hot. Having cycled down from Joburg, in the heat, I was drinking double my usual amount of fluids, and was probably a little under hydrated than for other races where I don't cycle there for 3 days. I also lost a bar somewhere on the route, probably when trying to get the bottled water out my back pocket.

 

Yesterday I stopped at the 3rd water point just after Arthur's Seat as I had already dropped a full bottle one Km back. In my younger days, I probably would've carried on, and try grab a water point bottle/sachet on the move (which is not a good practice, but do it anyway). Instead, this year was the first club Tour where I listened to my body over my ambition to ride the full distance - which is why I stopped and got in the car (on days 1 and 2), and lost the opportunity to stay with the group at yesterday's race. 

 

With "my" race coming up this weekend, the discussion of sufficient water has already been discussed between committee members, given that current forecasts showing scorching temperature and windy conditions, and our experiences these last 4 days.

[Jarl Borg]

I usually make it to the finish with water/juice in my 750ml bottles, on most 100Km events, and seldom grab a water unless it's really hot. Having cycled down from Joburg, in the heat, I was drinking double my usual amount of fluids, and was probably a little under hydrated than for other races where I don't cycle there for 3 days. I also lost a bar somewhere on the route, probably when trying to get the bottled water out my back pocket.

 

Yesterday I stopped at the 3rd water point just after Arthur's Seat as I had already dropped a full bottle one Km back. In my younger days, I probably would've carried on, and try grab a water point bottle/sachet on the move (which is not a good practice, but do it anyway). Instead, this year was the first club Tour where I listened to my body over my ambition to ride the full distance - which is why I stopped and got in the car (on days 1 and 2), and lost the opportunity to stay with the group at yesterday's race.

 

With "my" race coming up this weekend, the discussion of sufficient water has already been discussed between committee members, given that current forecasts showing scorching temperature and windy conditions, and our experiences these last 4 days.

That’s the spirit. I passed a lot of riders yesterday who listened to their bodies and bailed out coz it was too hot for them, way before the race was officially stopped. That’s the most valuable lesson I learned yesterday; listen to your bod. Ultimately there’s nothing at the finish line but a medal. Unless of course you racing for the payday. Edited October 21, 2019 by Jarl Borg

[Frosty]

That’s the spirit. I passed a lot of riders yesterday who listened to their bodies and bailed out coz it was too hot for them, way before the race was officially stopped. That’s the most valuable lesson I learned yesterday; listen to your bod. Ultimately there’s nothing at the finish line but a medal. Unless of course you racing for the payday.

The medal was the same as the year before, and the girls handing them out couldn't understand why I didn't want one.

[scotty]

Its one thing for a sub 3 or even a sub 4 hour rider to state 2 water bottles, some gels and a banana is enough but if I look at the finishing results, the last rider across was 6.47, that's a long time in the saddle.Even the tour riders don't ride that long without feed bags and extra bottles, so yes events need to ensure their WP have more than just plain tap water. 

[Jarl Borg]

The medal was the same as the year before, and the girls handing them out couldn't understand why I didn't want one.

I took three so I’m covered for the next 2 years LOL

[Veebee]

Its one thing for a sub 3 or even a sub 4 hour rider to state 2 water bottles, some gels and a banana is enough but if I look at the finishing results, the last rider across was 6.47, that's a long time in the saddle.Even the tour riders don't ride that long without feed bags and extra bottles, so yes events need to ensure their WP have more than just plain tap water.

What do people do on their long training rides ???

 

Learn to be self supportive, use your jerset pockets to stock up, add an extra bottle cage if you need to. Look at forecasts in the week leading up to the race and prepare accordingly.

 

Theres tons of info available, but many people just look pass this.

[Roguemeister]

What do people do on their long training rides ???

 

Learn to be self supportive, use your jerset pockets to stock up, add an extra bottle cage if you need to. Look at forecasts in the week leading up to the race and prepare accordingly.

 

Theres tons of info available, but many people just look pass this.

They stop at coffee shops and bakeries [emoji23]

[The Ouzo]

Some folks here seem to forget that these events attract not just elites but also weekend warriors.

 

Not everyone can do 100km on 2 bottles on a normal day, let alone a hot day.

To most of these weekend warriors 100km is maxed out.

And telling people they should enter the shorter routes, where’s the challenge in that?

 

Sounds to me the organizers miss judged the amount of water needed. The fact that they stopped the event also tells me it was unusually hot.

[scotty]

What do people do on their long training rides ???

 

Learn to be self supportive, use your jerset pockets to stock up, add an extra bottle cage if you need to. Look at forecasts in the week leading up to the race and prepare accordingly.

 

Theres tons of info available, but many people just look pass this.

Really ? Perhaps the "tons of info" you claim is available to ride over 5 hours and not needing a WP can be incorporated into races like the Epic, I'm sure riders particularly the pros' would be keen to reduce stopping at WP.

 

Next time you in Jhb bring your bike and I'll take you on a 6 hour route. NB You need to be self sufficient. 

[scotty]

Some folks here seem to forget that these events attract not just elites but also weekend warriors.

 

Not everyone can do 100km on 2 bottles on a normal day, let alone a hot day.

To most of these weekend warriors 100km is maxed out.

And telling people they should enter the shorter routes, where’s the challenge in that?

 

Sounds to me the organizers miss judged the amount of water needed. The fact that they stopped the event also tells me it was unusually hot.

The irony here is that its the back enders that are affected and told to HTFU, however its those that start earlier and are termed "better prepared" doing sub 4's using the refreshments resulting in later "less prepared" riders receiving nothing. 

[LongDonkey]

for the people who do 6.5 hours, i can accept that they need sustenance. But if you know you will take 4 to 6 hours, you need to plan for the ride which includes sustenance. The person who does 6 hours most likely does not know better (which is why it takes 6 hours due to not being strong enough or training rises to do 3 hours). Oranges, bananas are good food for a race, and i try leave the stuff for the slower people. Swallow a bit of pride that the bananas are not so great, but they will help you finish.

It is a smallish race and expecting cape epic catering at a lower price is a bit unrealistic for the organisers.

The people who are having a go at the organisers, maybe add or expand on your comments on this. It is a real concern for organisers and riders alike. 

 

PS Frosty : Hope you have water points with uber alles for this weekend. #goodluck

[Kranswurm]

Really ? Perhaps the "tons of info" you claim is available to ride over 5 hours and not needing a WP can be incorporated into races like the Epic, I'm sure riders particularly the pros' would be keen to reduce stopping at WP.

 

Next time you in Jhb bring your bike and I'll take you on a 6 hour route. NB You need to be self sufficient. 

Coke and a Tex Bar at the next Caltex in Koster will do me

[scotty]

Coke and a Tex Bar at the next Caltex in Koster will do me

What can I add except you unique, is everyone the same ? 

[Kranswurm]

What can I add except you unique, is everyone the same ? 

Am I??

WTF have I been doing wrong all these years.

What else do you do when out for a 150k jol on the road

I'm not going to carry all that sh*t

The challenge comes with a 100k jaunt on the mtb.Again the odd spaza comes in extremely useful