aquaratza Posted March 3, 2020 Share I had as hard a day out in Banhoek as I anticipated Better to be safe than sorry I think, I also walked a few of the sandy downhill switchback sections. It wasn't an easy course; my friends struggled a lot, one almost didn't make the cutoff. Well done on attempting it and persevering, and even more well done for helping others Edited March 3, 2020 by aquaratza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chingy182 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Better to be safe than sorry I think, I also walked a few of the sandy downhill switchback sections. It wasn't an easy course; my friends struggled a lot, one almost didn't make the cutoff. Well done on attempting it and persevering, and even more well done for helping others Again I'll say this was not an easy ride even for moderately fit riders. I have a LOT of respect for the guys at the back end who are half as fit as me and still manage to finish the race. I always feel sorry for the one's who come in and prize giving and lucky draws have already finished. aquaratza 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I FLY Posted March 3, 2020 Share I always feel sorry for the one's who come in and prize giving and lucky draws have already finished.This worries me less than no foods stalls being still there aquaratza 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohanDiv Posted March 3, 2020 Share Again I'll say this was not an easy ride even for moderately fit riders. I have a LOT of respect for the guys at the back end who are half as fit as me and still manage to finish the race. I always feel sorry for the one's who come in and prize giving and lucky draws have already finished.A mate of mine decided to do the Gravel Travel 50km after two weeks of cycling. He finished dead last hours after everyone, but at least had the sense of humor left to post a pic on Strava of his vehicle parked all alone on that big open field with not another soul in sight. Chingy182, Nick_A, Mamil and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSG Posted March 3, 2020 Share A mate of mine decided to do the Gravel Travel 50km after two weeks of cycling. He finished dead last hours after everyone, but at least had the sense of humor left to post a pic on Strava of his vehicle parked all alone on that big open field with not another soul in sight.Same thing happened to me in 2009 with the Karoo 2 coast. Not even a finish line when I eventually got to the finish. [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji3061] JohanDiv and LeoKnight 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_A Posted March 3, 2020 Share Did the 60km with my old man - views were incredible, organisation was quality, and the dip in the river at 50km was pure bliss! Still, I don't think either of us will be back again. Neither of us are particularly fit at the moment (fractured ankle towards end of 2019 for me and constant travel for work for my dad) so took some strain doing the distance in the heat. But the many, many walkers, super sandy and dusty sections, lack of fun, flowing single track, and the numerous boxes who (if they even had the decency to announce themselves) would shout to pass and bully people out the way even when there's no point in doing so, are what put me off. I'm by all measures a fairly average rider, and I really didn't think it was a technical race - the switchbacks weren't too sharp, descents weren't too fast, and no technical single track that I can recall. The only times I had to walk was when someone on an e-bike caused a bunch of us to stop when he decided to climb off his bike in front of us just as a short, steep uphill started (and then proceeded to tell us all not to push our bikes past him because he wanted to ride), and again near the end of that very long sandy section of the road. Otherwise it was all very manageable (even that section with the cliff drop-off; but I can totally understand people opting to walk - rather safe than sorry if you're not comfortable!). For the XC boys I can imagine it would have been lots of fun, so fair game! But wasn't my cup of tea - different strokes for different folks. Still had a blast being out there on such a beautiful day though. All the best to those riding CTCT this weekend. DieselnDust and Long Wheel Base 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoKnight Posted March 3, 2020 Share I thought that the 30km course would have been too easy but the 60km one was too long for me. I was never an endurance athlete and ageing has deleted what I had. For me the sweet spot is 45-50km distance Long Wheel Base and Nick_A 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCD Posted March 3, 2020 Share eBikes... man, let them start looong time after the last group. Ideally on the next day. As an eBiking buddy of mine said: "It is a different sport". That is great, and I respect that. So stay true to it. Don't mix it up...it doesn't mix well, really... aquaratza, JohanDiv, Rouxenator and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselnDust Posted March 4, 2020 Share eBikes... man, let them start looong time after the last group. Ideally on the next day. As an eBiking buddy of mine said: "It is a different sport". That is great, and I respect that. So stay true to it. Don't mix it up...it doesn't mix well, really...After my experience with ebikes at the MTB challenge I am much more aligned to views of the anti ebike sharing events crowd than I was. So much more now than if someone slipped a petition under my nose I’d probably sign in pencil whereas 6 months ago I’d have used it for toilet paper. In these shorter events they have enough range to be an unnecessary nuisance Mamil and JohanDiv 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rouxenator Posted March 4, 2020 Share Better to be safe than sorry I think, I also walked a few of the sandy downhill switchback sections. Just out of curiosity, do you ride with cleats or flat pedals? eBikes... man, let them start looong time after the last group. Ideally on the next day. LOL - I think they can help to increase the rider total, and income, an event makes. But yeah - start at the back, do not ask to pass - do so only when safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaratza Posted March 4, 2020 Share Just out of curiosity, do you ride with cleats or flat pedals?Cleats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rouxenator Posted March 4, 2020 Share OK, makes sense then. I could ride everything with flats although I did have to put my foot out on some of those switchbacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaratza Posted March 4, 2020 Share Haha, it's not the cleats, I'm actually pretty good with cleats. I'm just really generally unskilled and super risk averse ????????. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dev null Posted March 4, 2020 Share Haha, it's not the cleats, I'm actually pretty good with cleats. I'm just really generally unskilled and super risk averse . You sir, need a few appointments with Mr. Jonkers. Start with Never Ending Story, and work you way up to the big boys, like the Plumber. Make sure you have medical ensurance before attempting the Plumber. Edited March 4, 2020 by Moridin Rouxenator 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_A Posted March 5, 2020 Share OK, makes sense then. I could ride everything with flats although I did have to put my foot out on some of those switchbacks. Haha, it's not the cleats, I'm actually pretty good with cleats. I'm just really generally unskilled and super risk averse . Don't think it's a cleats vs flats thing - I ride cleats (would love to give flats a go though) and never had any issues with the course. I saw way too many people struggle on every downhill switchback we came across... like @Aquaratza said, think it's mostly down to being 'unskilled' as a result of never having ridden on those types of surfaces. Grease_Monkey, JohanDiv and DieselnDust 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samson99 Posted March 5, 2020 Share anyone know where we can see the photos that were taken? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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