2022 Virgin Active Ride Joburg

[The Ouzo]

Just over 2 months to go. Lets build up some excitement.

 

I did a 3h23 last year after dropping out the bunch and riding solo from around Grayston offramp to the end. Hoping to stay in a bunch this year and do a sub 3, but if solo I'm hoping for a 3h10.

[Frosty]

Some hidden goals (for my eyes only). 

[Ispeed_V]

The cycling gods have not been kind to me the last few years with this event:

2019 - was recovering from an unplanned abdominal surgery

 2021 - messed up my Achilles on our JHB to DBN cycle for the Amashova so no Ride Joburg. Training partner did a 2.50 so really miffed that I missed out on riding.

Hopefully this year there wont be any issues and I get to at least sit on the start line.  

Anything around the 3hr mark will be most welcome.

[117]

I'm looking forward to the 1h30 again or less into Kyalami - on knobleys  😈

[Dexter-morgan]

Coaching or Trying to coach my wife, aiming for around a 4hr, always a lekker event to ride together.

[agilwolf]

Work permitting, I'll try and achieve a goal I set myself for the event.  Although I doubt that it is achievable taking into consideration that the route is a few km's longer than the route I last rode in 2019.  Being in the "Buffalo category" also does not help much in achieving the goal.

 

Out of  interest, how much "slower" are the times on the "new" route than the route of 2019?  (If at all)

[thebob]

I did a 3h24 last year on my first attempt. The cooler weather was a definite help last year, so I'd be more than happy to match my time if it is hot this year. Training hasn't gone as well as last year thanks to Covid and a bit of a lack of motivation at points, but I seem to be getting that right now.

[bleedToWin]

For a while I was confused why a thread was started specifically for the VA start group...

[The Ouzo]

39 minutes ago, agilwolf said:

Out of  interest, how much "slower" are the times on the "new" route than the route of 2019?  (If at all)

I havent checked the stats, but my feeling is that despite the longer distance its actually easier than previous iterations. And I think I've done every route iteration since 1998.

[Dexter-morgan]

36 minutes ago, ouzo said:

I havent checked the stats, but my feeling is that despite the longer distance its actually easier than previous iterations. And I think I've done every route iteration since 1998.

I felt the same but the cooler weather could be a influencing factor.

[The Ouzo]

8 minutes ago, Dexter-morgan said:

I felt the same but the cooler weather could be a influencing factor.

that or being much much fitter than before.

 

[Nico van Loggerenberg]

I definitely think the new way around is easier because it doesn't end on endless rolling hills. More of a climb, flat, climb, finish scenario which I found psychologically easier. 

[Frosty]

The closer one is to the pointy end of the race, the closer the times are to each event.

The exception was one year where the route finished on the R55 (2008, iirc)

[Ryan I]

I did a 4:01 in 2019 (started in the second last group) and then a 3:41 last year so hoping for 3:30 this year. I got into a nice group last year down the M1 with that terrible head wind and lost them at Kyalami so the tail wind was most appreciated for the trip back. Hoping its not too hot as well as that just drains energy. Had a really crap winter but picked up the twice a week spinning classes 3 weeks ago and long rides on the weekend so I can really feel the strength and fitness coming on.  

[s14phoenix]

So I entered an event for the first time in about 3years -this one. Lazy? - probably and other things. So my question is to those whom have continued through lockdown and etc. - has racing and events changed? Has the groups and the way people ride changed? 

Mtb has always been a solo thing so that is probably still the same as always but the road rides are they better or worse? Are there more experienced and disciplined riders in the slower groups and are the groups still at the same levels they where before or is B the new A or D the new F...

Edited October 4, 2022 by s14phoenix

[Dexter-morgan]

1 hour ago, s14phoenix said:

So I entered an event for the first time in about 3years -this one. Lazy? - probably and other things. So my question is to those whom have continued through lockdown and etc. - has racing and events changed? Has the groups and the way people ride changed? 

Mtb has always been a solo thing so that is probably still the same as always but the road rides are they better or worse? Are there more experienced and disciplined riders in the slower groups and are the groups still at the same levels they where before or is B the new A or D the new F...

I would say the groups/events got bigger, I did the Emperors race earlier his year and it was a big event.