[Event] Gryphon 99er Cycle Tour 2020

[Skubarra]

I kept thinking to myself this weekend that it's called the 99'er but is 102km in distance.

 

Is that because the race only really begins at 99km when you have to tackle Vissershok Rd and Odendaal?

 

Don't forget Van Schoorsdrift is back in the route, crappy bumpy narrow drag of a road with some short silly climbs, often the group scatters there when the front attacks. And then Vissershok to kill off us heavies & the crappy climbers that managed to hang on until then. 

[Karman de Lange]

Don't forget Van Schoorsdrift is back in the route, crappy bumpy narrow drag of a road with some short silly climbs, often the group scatters there when the front attacks. And then Vissershok to kill off us heavies & the crappy climbers that managed to hang on until then. 

 

Anyone know how the condition is of Van Schoorsdrift, Should I take gravel bike?

[Karman de Lange]

I kept thinking to myself this weekend that it's called the 99'er but is 102km in distance.

 

Is that because the race only really begins at 99km when you have to tackle Vissershok Rd and Odendaal?

LOL

 

From history page:

The 99er Cycle Tour first took place in 1999. The inaugural event was 99km long and so the name “The 99er” was born.

[Skubarra]

Anyone know how the condition is of Van Schoorsdrift, Should I take gravel bike?

 

No idea, not aware of any repairs that were made since the last time we used that road - gravel bike might just be a great idea!

[Arrie]

we did a recon ride 2 weeks ago, that road is bad, i could not imagine a race on that road. It feels like you riding over potholes

[Schmorglebot]

Anyone know how the condition is of Van Schoorsdrift, Should I take gravel bike?

 

According to the 99er's website there should be full road closures on Van Schoorsdrift and the City of Cape Town will be repairing the potholes. Fingers crossed they do a good job, that road has "attack here" written all over it.

 

"Full road closure has been applied for the portion of Van Schoorsdrif (Old Malmesbury) Road (DR1111) from the R304 (Philidelphia Road) to the CTN Ostrich Ranch turn off. Pot holes on Van Schoorsdrif Road will be repaired by the City of Cape Town."

['Dale]

Prepare for a bumpy hilly segment that’ll rattle your fillings and will splinter the bunch as some will be aggressive and some cautious (aka dead wheels)

 

Save some horsepower for what’s to come as there’s little recovery time before Vissies which effectively starts within a km of the N7

[Thomo]

Its easier, untill the last ~10km

99er is actually just a 10km race.

Everything before the final 10 is just the warm up. LOL

[dsw]

Prepare for a bumpy hilly segment that’ll rattle your fillings and will splinter the bunch as some will be aggressive and some cautious (aka dead wheels)

 

Save some horsepower for what’s to come as there’s little recovery time before Vissies which effectively starts within a km of the N7

 That is correct. I find the section from the N7 to Vissies mentally harder than the actual climbs up Vissies and Odendaals.

[Skubarra]

Save some horsepower for what’s to come as there’s little recovery time before Vissies which effectively starts within a km of the N7

 

They can let me start the race at the bottom of the N7 with a kilometer head start and I will still get dropped on Vissershok... So no point for me to save horsepower for the inevitable    

[Thomo]

That is correct. I find the section from the N7 to Vissies mentally harder than the actual climbs up Vissies and Odendaals.

The mind/legs/road goes completely out of sync.

Visually that section of road convinces the mind that you should be going harder/faster but the legs quickly blow up spectacularly.

And no matter how many times you do the route, it stays difficult to avoid the mishap. LOL

[buchanan]

The cost to enter the 99er looks to be a lot more than most of the other events?

 

I just paid R430 each for my wife and I (including compulsory CSA day license), whereas Tour de PPA in a couple of weeks looks like it will only be R240.

[Wannabe]

The cost to enter the 99er looks to be a lot more than most of the other events?

 

I just paid R430 each for my wife and I (including compulsory CSA day license), whereas Tour de PPA in a couple of weeks looks like it will only be R240.

 

 

This, and the poor condition of the Van Schoorsdrif road is the two main reason why I'm not entering for this race.

Will get my chance to climb Vissershok with the Tour de PPA race,. 

[billygoat0523]

went past the piece of the N7 that's part of the race route and the roadworks are still going there with one lane closed to traffic.  sent an enquiry to the 99er organisers and I got a very quick response:

 

Hi,

 

we’ve been in constant communication over the last week with the Western Cape Roads department, National Traffic as well as the contractor himself. Our first priority is to look after the cyclists safety. 

 

 We have further calls scheduled this afternoon with the authorities where we should know more. Further communication regarding the N7 will follow soon to all entrants.

[babse]

i see another gravel road stretch coming along 

(not sure if that part of malanshoogte is still gravel)

[Karman de Lange]

i see another gravel road stretch coming along 

(not sure if that part of malanshoogte is still gravel)

Dont give them ideas