99er Cycle Tour

[Rouxenator]

Now that was lekker, started in G, ended up with N and I could just about keep up on the 26er.

99er - 99km warm up then go "er" and now you race back to where you parked. 

I'm 8 minutes slower than last year but I'll blame it on the bike. Nothing to do with the fact that I was smashed after turning onto Adderley. I felt like that Jeep Compass.... a bit off and on my side.

[Wannabe]

And I made a rookie mistake.

Took my time getting ready this morning, took a leisurely warmup ride to the start, found a comfortable place to wait till Shawn called us to the starting blocks, all cool and calm like a seasoned veteran. Starter set us off, and as I heard the first "beep beeps" of chips registering over the starting mats, it struck me........ I never took my "chip" out of the cupboard, so no official time for me. 🤦‍♂️

Guess I'll have to mail them my Strava and Garmin files. 

 

[Newbie321]

Only my second race, was lots of fun and fast.

On a related note, anyone know who we can email to get this event count for the CTCT seeding?

[El Duderino]

1 hour ago, Newbie321 said:

Only my second race, was lots of fun and fast.

On a related note, anyone know who we can email to get this event count for the CTCT seeding?

You don't have to email anyone. Last year I was automatically re-seeded to a better group after doing the 99er. It was my first road race.

[Newbie321]

10 minutes ago, El Duderino said:

You don't have to email anyone. Last year I was automatically re-seeded to a better group after doing the 99er. It was my first road race.

In the race seeding they explained it won't be automatic for this year, only next

[leon_pro]

2 hours ago, Newbie321 said:

Only my second race, was lots of fun and fast.

On a related note, anyone know who we can email to get this event count for the CTCT seeding?

 

[El Duderino]

15 minutes ago, Newbie321 said:

In the race seeding they explained it won't be automatic for this year, only next

Okay. 

[avatar]

Boring negative racing as usual in the $ group, funriders must get some! Now no one gets a good seeding because A group did a waaaay better time. Those complaining that it was a zone one ride or easy should have gone and made it a race then. 

['Dale]

My spouse and son with a chilled 6 pack of cola screaming for me as if I’m gonna win the rainbow jersey while I’m crawling up the hill - priceless.

[Jbr]

1 hour ago, avatar said:

Boring negative racing as usual in the $ group, funriders must get some! Now no one gets a good seeding because A group did a waaaay better time. Those complaining that it was a zone one ride or easy should have gone and made it a race then. 

The savages were very active early in the race.

For some reason we were not allowed to breakaway at the 30k mark when all of the major teams were represented up the road 🤷‍♂️

Then when I tried something after the intermediate sprint nobody followed even though I made no secret about my intentions 😜. I think that intermediate sprint just screws the race everytime nothing happens before it… although nothing happens after it either. I said I wasn’t excited for the 1st 98km and there wasn’t much excitement indeed…

Edited February 11, 2023 by Jbr

[Mamil]

I made both splits in E batch and only got dropped from the leading 12 riders on the last drag up adderley and that because a youngster on the short route had me boxed in so I couldn't execute my "carry your momentum and take advantage of p=MV" strategy to give myself slipping room without heading into oncoming Fortuner.

Still thrilled with my fastest ever for the distance. Good fun. #mamilpower #55goingon15

[Mamil]

1 hour ago, 'Dale said:

My spouse and son with a chilled 6 pack of cola screaming for me as if I’m gonna win the rainbow jersey while I’m crawling up the hill - priceless.

Admit it Dale...in your mind you were winning those stripes 😘

[Skubarra]

2 hours ago, avatar said:

Boring negative racing as usual in the $ group, funriders must get some! Now no one gets a good seeding because A group did a waaaay better time. Those complaining that it was a zone one ride or easy should have gone and made it a race then. 

Not complaining, not doing this event for seeding. As a funrider surrounded by mostly stronger riders I saw no point trying to launch attacks or push the pace, was quite happy to have a tea party in the bunch.

[GLuvsMtb]

I had a nice easy ride with the missus out of V batch. Nearly had a run-in with the officials at the 80km water point when they suggested that the race was stopped. They allowed us to continue at our own risk citing the extreme heat. We were well hydrated and were riding well within my wife’s limits, so it was nice to be able to finish. 

[ChrisF]

Looking a bit further back ....

 

A-bunch took off and I never saw them again ... frankly never expected anything different.  Was funny noting my heart rate firmly in zone 5 ,,,, as if I had any chance of playing with these riders.

 

B-Bunch caught up just as I started onto Klipheuwel road, next to Vierlanden.  Saw them coming, kept well left .... and they flew past me like I was looking for parking.

 

C-Bunch caught up quicker than expected, just before the Fisantkraal bridge .... but now the passing pace was not as rapid.  By now I saw a pattern of my heart rate going to zone 5 when these groups came past ..... I knew I would have to calm down, or risk cramping.

 

I saw D-bunch behind me for a while, but they closed in very slowly, and was mid-pack with them as we turned onto the R304 Buurmanskraal road.  I was sticking to my pace, and yet almost hanging with this group for a short bit.

 

It was a long slog before E-bunch caught it.  In fact, one or two lone riders broke away and were intent on catching D-bunch.

 

F-bunch had just passed me when we got to the scene of the accident.  F in sight, not really pulling away, G a few hundred meters behind, and not really closing either.  They only passed me on the dip towards Malmesbury .... boxing and slowing me on the hills.

 

After the turn onto the Kalbaskraal road it felt like a totally different event .... the lightest of breezes from the front.  Almost a wiff of cool sea air.  By now it was only 23 degrees, and the cool air was very nice.  I never saw any more bunches, by now the race had broken the groups .... I was catching and passing lone riders that burnt too many matches too early .... while being passed by the odd rider making up time and trying to improve a seeding.

 

And then the light breeze became a dry light wind from the front .... every so often a roadie would find shelter next to me from the wind .... till the next hill.  Downhills they have the top end on me.  Uphill I have the e-torque to keep my speed in the mid to high 20's and they would fall off.

 

It was a long solo ride for me until Adderley road.  Large groups of short riders .... they were weaving all across the road.  At one spot a J-batch rider was on the line passing me, as we went past a short route rider, next moment this rider turns 45 degrees towards the mid line .... very nearly a 3-bike pile up. 

 

By now it was hovering just below 30 degrees (shortly after 9 in the morning).  You could see a lot of riders taking punishment up those Adderley hills ....

 

The lead group had one type of experience ..... SO many other dynamics playing out down the field.  Some trying to improve their seeding, with long solo sprint rides.  So many getting dropped by their groups and trying to latch onto the next group, for a km or two until they dropped off again ....

 

Couple of riders walking towards the end, one noted he was cramping up badly ....

 

 

LOTS of roadbikes lost serious time with punctures !!!  Surprised at just how many got stuck, then stand next to their bike until the motorcycle arives with a spare tube .....

 

 

RESPECT to those riders up front that managed those fast averages 

 

 

 

Still dont know how the seeding system had me starting in A-batch .... but it was an interesting experience all the same.  Racetech says I managed an average of 31.08 km/h and a 2:73 , which I am super happy with.  Improved my previous 40km record by 2 minutes !  And yet I am barely in the top half of my age group, and just missed out on the first half in the overall.  There clearly are MANY strong riders out there   But there are also MANY fun riders out there enjoying these events, and taking a LOT longer to get to the finish line, good for them.

 

 

 

Event and volunteers .... THANKS for all your hard work, and braving out on such a hot day.  Well run event.

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, avatar said:

Boring negative racing as usual in the $ group, funriders must get some! Now no one gets a good seeding because A group did a waaaay better time. Those complaining that it was a zone one ride or easy should have gone and made it a race then. 

 

RaceTec results tells an interesting story ....

 

Based on some of the previous posts the $ riders were playing a tactical game.  Allowing the A-batch riders to catch up on the clock.  Top 44 positions going to A-batch, not $ ......