[Event] Cape Town Cycle Tour 2023

[KingZA]

The short route is going to be the perfect way for me to introduce my kids to the Cycle Tour.

It's probably a bit late for me to get them riding now for the 2023 race so will look at them doing this in 2024. Best thing is that I can race the 109km and be back in time to ride the 40km option with them.

[Skubarra]

4 minutes ago, KingZA said:

The short route is going to be the perfect way for me to introduce my kids to the Cycle Tour.

It's probably a bit late for me to get them riding now for the 2023 race so will look at them doing this in 2024. Best thing is that I can race the 109km and be back in time to ride the 40km option with them.

Going to try that for the 2023 version...

Don't think the peeps doing the short version will be that fussed about the lack of scenery (it that is super important to someone do the long version) - think the opportunity to be part of the vibe but no need to do the long distance and the opportunity to ride relatively safe highways not normally accessible to bicycles will count for more.

Think this will mainly attract peeps who weren't going to do the long route anyway - so great idea imo.

Wonder if it will give more 3-hour riders the opportunity to do double laps? (if they can start with the short distance riders and catch the backmarkers of the long route?)

[splat]

20 minutes ago, babse said:

my thoughts exactly, Tour de M3 is worst possibly route for scenery... lo

The tailwind home should be quite pleasant though...

[Gr3mlin131]

I like the option of a short route being available, especially with my wife still starting out. However I do not think it is worth it to travel all the way to Cape Town just to go do the short route. So nice idea, but will rater do the short Herald tour instead with her, and get ready to do the full one eventually. 

[Johan A Marais]

I think it will work out quite well (the short route).  Anyone saying the view or scenery is awful, I guess it is your opinion. I think the view from a bicycle anywhere is pretty spectacular, and then given this entire route will be lined with spectators who will now have more to see to see, and more to cheer - it could be quite an awesome vibe - give it a chance.

The wife and I did a road trip on the CTCT route this weekend (in the car), and I just thought how awesome it is that these busy roads (and they are busy) are actually closed for the cyclists on the day. It is really something to behold, savor and enjoy.  I did not yet enter for the 2023 event, thinking, done that (to many times), and got the T-Shirt, but after this road trip, seeing and experiencing the route, the views, the climbs, so busy, but so spectacular, man, I am in it, not to win it, bit to ride it!! And we can do it without cars - imagine that - priceless!!

[Skubarra]

Just saw on another watsapp group the real reason for this change is to cater for e-bike riders during loadshedding....

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, KingZA said:

The short route is going to be the perfect way for me to introduce my kids to the Cycle Tour.

It's probably a bit late for me to get them riding now for the 2023 race so will look at them doing this in 2024. Best thing is that I can race the 109km and be back in time to ride the 40km option with them.

Was thinking the same thing. Will keep me motivated to remain fast enough to get back in time for the short route start.

Edited December 5, 2022 by DieselnDust

[Yyyy]

cant see what the issue is for a shorter route. 

Im guessing hubbers are not the target market for this and as mentioned by others, most other events have short route options.

Having a shorter option has no impact on you doing the full 109km so i dont understand the negativity behind it.

As far as I am concerned nothings changed that actually affects me and my race on the 109km route

[Oodles]

Don't know why all the resistance. And it doesn't even merge with the long route.  One tonner had 3 routes this year. 

['Dale]

Cool idea. Quite a bit of vert too over the shorter route. Can’t remember what my Garmie said in the shortened route a handful of summers ago.

[daveno7]

the short route will make the tour accessible and safe for plenty...there will be different vibe on this route I would think ...as the racers have long gone...

[Shebeen]

7 hours ago, daveno7 said:

the short route will make the tour accessible and safe for plenty...there will be different vibe on this route I would think ...as the racers have long gone...

A few things here.

* The short route is a doddle compared to the long. Just like the no oceans half marathon compared to the actual ultra (which is way harder than the argus btw). Does the achievement of someone finishing the lite version finish that is the full? Not really in my mind, assuming they don't give it the same medal. We've already had people doing Argus on ebikes, it's been fine generally.

*Change. People just don't like change. Tough luck, things change 

*Demand. It seems fairly obvious that the entry numbers for the full event are way down currently, so with the late entry fee coming it was likely to be a lower field again. I assume flight pricing that week is going to be crazy expensive too with no expectation of changes there either. So Argus people just had to make this move to get the entry numbers up.

* The real unknown for me is if this short route will attract new cyclists or people who would have done the full and struggled/toughed it out. Might find suikerbossie has a very quiet afternoon

[bleedToWin]

1 hour ago, Shebeen said:

(which is way harder than the argus btw)

Maybe that's the reason for the negative response... The Argus is already a short route and we were hoping for a long route to be announced.

[DieselnDust]

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

A few things here.

* The short route is a doddle compared to the long. Just like the no oceans half marathon compared to the actual ultra (which is way harder than the argus btw). Does the achievement of someone finishing the lite version finish that is the full? Not really in my mind, assuming they don't give it the same medal. We've already had people doing Argus on ebikes, it's been fine generally.

*Change. People just don't like change. Tough luck, things change 

*Demand. It seems fairly obvious that the entry numbers for the full event are way down currently, so with the late entry fee coming it was likely to be a lower field again. I assume flight pricing that week is going to be crazy expensive too with no expectation of changes there either. So Argus people just had to make this move to get the entry numbers up.

* The real unknown for me is if this short route will attract new cyclists or people who would have done the full and struggled/toughed it out. Might find suikerbossie has a very quiet afternoon

I don’t think it actually matters. You may find that grandparents would step down from 109km to ride the shirt with their grandkids. People who have developed health issues after covid have an option other than an ebike or will ride it  on their e-bikes.

kids 11-14 have an option other than a tandem. Overall it’s worth taking  the plunge to spice things up a bit, create new interest and spark debate. This thread will be longer than the route before Christmas and that’s free marketing 

[JacquesJ]

I dont understand all the negativity. People do get that no one is forcing you to enter the short, right? 

You dont like the idea, you just dont enter

[Meezo]

11 minutes ago, Jacques Joubert WC said:

I dont understand all the negativity. People do get that no one is forcing you to enter the short, right? 

You dont like the idea, you just dont enter

Imagine people didn't voice their opinions... no point of bikehub then 🤷🏽‍♂️