Transbaviaans 2022

[Wil6]

25 minutes ago, Help.Me. said:

If I look at the weather forecast for the weekend it looks pretty much the same than the previous weekends weather...rain from Willowmore right through to Jbay....

We are riding this weekend and it really does not look good at all. Lots of widespread rain predicted for Willowmore right through to Jbay. With a maximum of 9 degrees predicted for Willowmore, 9 for Bergplaas and 12 degrees for Patensie with a chance of rain 70% throughout the day and 40% at night...

 

Hard to get motivation to do this event. 

[TyronLab]

7 minutes ago, Wil6 said:

We are riding this weekend and it really does not look good at all. Lots of widespread rain predicted for Willowmore right through to Jbay. With a maximum of 9 degrees predicted for Willowmore, 9 for Bergplaas and 12 degrees for Patensie with a chance of rain 70% throughout the day and 40% at night...

 

Hard to get motivation to do this event. 

Strangely I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum, the allure of the unknown is making me super excited for this. The whole weather debate and nervousness and our team trying to suss each other out and make a plan for getting kitted up has me pretty fired up.

Hell, I've only slept in a tent once before, now I get to sleep in a tent in (likely) pissing rain and cold, and maybe even start a "race" in those conditions? Adventure awaits! We're all prepping as best we can with the horror stories from last week as a gauge. Or at least we should be.

[pedal menace]

14 minutes ago, Wil6 said:

We are riding this weekend and it really does not look good at all. Lots of widespread rain predicted for Willowmore right through to Jbay. With a maximum of 9 degrees predicted for Willowmore, 9 for Bergplaas and 12 degrees for Patensie with a chance of rain 70% throughout the day and 40% at night...

 

Hard to get motivation to do this event. 

Still early-ish - but I must say last week's Tuesday prediction was spot on, on the day for Willowmore. I see right now it is 90% chance of rain, max 7 degrees. If it is the same as we had - you have my sympathy. Let it be your own choice at the end of the day. You have heard war stories from all sides of the spectrum - non starters, quick abandonments, half way and three quarters abandonments and actual finishers. If conditions will be the same - it is going to be one of the hardest things you have ever done - but that choice to do it or not - sits with you and only you. Tough call! 

Edited August 16, 2022 by pedal menace

[RobertWhitehead]

1 hour ago, Help.Me. said:

If I look at the weather forecast for the weekend it looks pretty much the same than the previous weekends weather...rain from Willowmore right through to Jbay....

Unless you're looking at AccuWeather, for some reason they're predicting sunshine 

Accuweather - sunshine and rainbows

Yr.no - rain

Windy.com - rain and snow

WeatherSA - 30% chance of rain in Willowmore which increases to 60% towards Patensie and J-Bay

WeaherToday - rain between 08:00 - 14:00

 

I think my bike will remain on the truck 🤪

 

[RobertWhitehead]

1 hour ago, TyronLab said:

So off the weather topic for a moment, any feedback on the tented accommodation at the start line (ablutions / facilities / hot showers etc)? We're planning on maybe braai-ing the night before for dinner (using leftovers for breakfast). I'd ideally like to get dressed under roof if at all possible that the interior of the Fortress of Sealed-atude (my current multi-layer clothing plan) can be as dry and cozy as possible. 

 

The tented accommodation does have like a hall with toilets and like an urn for coffee etc. We stayed in the tents last year, it is lekker chilly 

[Help.Me.]

6 minutes ago, RobertWhitehead said:

Unless you're looking at AccuWeather, for some reason they're predicting sunshine 

Accuweather - sunshine and rainbows

Yr.no - rain

Windy.com - rain and snow

WeatherSA - 30% chance of rain in Willowmore which increases to 60% towards Patensie and J-Bay

WeaherToday - rain between 08:00 - 14:00

 

I think my bike will remain on the truck 🤪

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Help.Me.
double post

[Help.Me.]

4 minutes ago, RobertWhitehead said:

Unless you're looking at AccuWeather, for some reason they're predicting sunshine 

Accuweather - sunshine and rainbows

Yr.no - rain

Windy.com - rain and snow

WeatherSA - 30% chance of rain in Willowmore which increases to 60% towards Patensie and J-Bay

WeaherToday - rain between 08:00 - 14:00

 

I think my bike will remain on the truck 🤪

 

Your last sentence makes more sense.......imagine the road conditions after all the heavy traffic from the previous weekend....read MUDFEST GALORE ..........etc etc etc

[RobertWhitehead]

Just now, Help.Me. said:

Your last sentence makes absolute sense........imagine the road after the high traffic of the the previous weekend....read MORE MUDFEST.......etc etc 

I've done the Baviaans a few times before and I've had the honour of riding in horizontal rain with 35km/h head winds in 2013 as well as some extreme cold snaps in 2015. 2016, 19 & 21 was very pleasant but ya, I have gotten the t-shirt on wet and cold and do not want to risk it, my first born is currently only 7 weeks old. No need to risk my health for this, I will be support driver 🤪

[milky4130]

My suggestion is that if it rains and you really want to do it then the organizers should move the start out to 10am like previous years at least the temperature will be double digits from then on.

[Stefan_29]

1 minute ago, milky4130 said:

My suggestion is that if it rains and you really want to do it then the organizers should move the start out to 10am like previous years at least the temperature will be double digits from then on.

Or move it to Sunday perhaps 😀 Doing my second one on Saturday and really worried about the weather, bought a proper rain jacket and also packing pretty much every piece of cycling kit that I own.

What are chances of the event being cancelled should the conditions be too extreme? 

[pedal menace]

11 minutes ago, milky4130 said:

My suggestion is that if it rains and you really want to do it then the organizers should move the start out to 10am like previous years at least the temperature will be double digits from then on.

I am about to possibly make a DANGEROUS statement - but I have absolutely no second thoughts or doubts in that - I PREFER THE 10AM START MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE THAN THE CURRENT 5AM - 7AM START!
 

I just loved the start and then going into the night and doing a lekker long night ride with cyclists and lights everywhere. Just created for me that special vibe, and a different sense of comradery with your partner. 

Edited August 16, 2022 by pedal menace

[pedal menace]

4 minutes ago, Stefan_29 said:

What are chances of the event being cancelled should the conditions be too extreme? 

I'd say slim to none - as it is classified as an extreme endurance event - not a social usual marathon ride. With this  classification it is up tp you to properly prepare - as impossible as it may seem  

Edited August 16, 2022 by pedal menace

[Jewbacca]

50% of the field finished last week? It was very possible.

The balance of kit, mentality, how prepared physically and to a degree managing your expectations all played a role.

The weather prediction predicted a massive kick to the groin, but a lot of people were still surprised when they got kicked in the groin.

Cold, wet, junk.... It's in front of you. It's up to you to decide how you want to play it. But very possible to finish the race 

[Dicky DQ]

1 hour ago, pedal menace said:

I'd say slim to none - as it is classified as an extreme endurance event - not a social usual marathon ride. With this  classification it is up tp you to properly prepare - as impossible as it may seem  

And in the early days there were not even route markers (before the days of GPS) They normally posted a sign about two to 5 km down the incorrect road saying wrong way. That was it. Don't dare try that today.

[WaldoZ]

2 hours ago, TyronLab said:

Strangely I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum, the allure of the unknown is making me super excited for this. The whole weather debate and nervousness and our team trying to suss each other out and make a plan for getting kitted up has me pretty fired up.

Hell, I've only slept in a tent once before, now I get to sleep in a tent in (likely) pissing rain and cold, and maybe even start a "race" in those conditions? Adventure awaits! We're all prepping as best we can with the horror stories from last week as a gauge. Or at least we should be.

What? Only once in a tent? No wonder I must come with to baby sit you oaks 🙈

I don't need to suss out the team, its very obvious... although I am trying to figure out who are the biggest idiots in the team... those that don't know what's coming and excited about or those that knows what is coming and still gonna go ahead 😨

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, TyronLab said:

Strangely I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum, the allure of the unknown is making me super excited for this. The whole weather debate and nervousness and our team trying to suss each other out and make a plan for getting kitted up has me pretty fired up.

Hell, I've only slept in a tent once before, now I get to sleep in a tent in (likely) pissing rain and cold, and maybe even start a "race" in those conditions? Adventure awaits! We're all prepping as best we can with the horror stories from last week as a gauge. Or at least we should be.

 

"You" have the benefit of learning from last weekends experiences ....

 

LAYER UP ...

 

Have some proper WARM clothing ...

 

Have a decent waterproof top layer .....

 

 

Go forth and make life long memories