SA Gravel Champs 2023

[Zebra]

8 hours ago, Shwetty said:

While I understand that racing is supposed to be challenging, I think all you lecturers and professors are missing the point I'm trying to make here.

I don’t think ‘they’ are missing the ‘point’ whatsoever, they are fundamentally DISAGREEING with your point; this is what happens on Forums….

they HEARD you, and disagreed.

maybe lay off the ‘lecturers and professors’ sarcasm; it degrades, rather than enhances, your argument.

I did not ride. The route looked uninteresting to me…

[DieselnDust]

On 8/14/2023 at 10:12 PM, Shwetty said:

As a silly thought experiment, I'd like to know how many entrants would choose to do that race again if they could go back in time and were, for example, offered their entry fee back if they chose to withdraw. No bike/gear changes allowed - you either race it again with the same setup, or pull out and get your money back...

What I'm getting at is; if the sport as a whole is to grow and be successful, we need people to *want* to race their bikes. For the pros, maybe this *want* fire isn't fueled by having a somewhat positive experience on race day. For the rest of us plebs, though, enjoyment (with maybe a smattering of masochistic suffering) is an important aspect to be considered by the powers that be. What I gathered from over-hearing many people during the race and afterwards around the country club, was that most of them thought that it was actually kind of a *** experience. Yes, they raced hard. Yes, they finished, and maybe got some sense of accomplishment from overcoming the day's challenges. But was it worth travelling from all over SA for this event? My guess is, probably not. And that's a pity. Especially given the fact that despite the almost infinite number of amazing gravel routes in the Karkloof/upper midlands, the race got taken on some of the worst roads in the region. 

And regarding that whole "know what to run" story, the route was released only a couple of days before the event. Not allowing much time at all to chop/change/test/buy the perfect setup. And besides, the marginal difference that a 45 mm tyre at 1,7 bar makes over a 40 mm at 2 bar (or whatever), is kinda detached from the big-picture point being made here. 

But then again, maybe all you hardcore okes are right, and I'm too much of a sissy for this gravel scene that is reserved exclusively for the real toughies among us. If you're not willing to risk life and limb, 'tsek. Right? 

I thought that by entering they want to be there....? It appears the problem is he expectation that the route will be what they expect it to be and not what the organiser has designed it to be. Happens over and over. I don't need o have entered this event to understand the mindset.

10 hours ago, Shwetty said:

You're aware that the race entries were open for a few months before it was chosen as the SA champs race as well, right? And you did read the website that quite clearly encourages mass participation (and has done so from the very beginning when the event was first announced on various social media platforms, right up until race day), right? 

While I understand that racing is supposed to be challenging, I think all you lecturers and professors are missing the point I'm trying to make here. I think it is possible to make a race difficult enough such that it selects for the best in the business, while still managing to avoid unnecessary dangers. These dangers also put the pros at risk. And yes, everyone has different risk appetites, and if you want to win you'll probably need a substantial risk appetite. But just because they can race over anything placed in front of them doesn't mean that race organisers should seek out the most hair-raising stuff to throw in the mix.

Take ATP this year, for example.. the race organisers canned the event only the day before because of the weather, citing safety concerns of all involved (see their FB posts). The race organisers of the GoGravel Midlands had months to find a few alternatives to the route that would have made it just as challenging and selective for the pros, but a bit safer for everyone. And I'm not calling for their heads on a chopping block either, just for them to be a bit more cognisant of these things for the next event. Pros, amateurs, and weekend warriors alike are surely allowed to raise safety concerns like this? I don't really understand why you all have such an issue with it. 
Just out of interest, how many of you guys actually rode last weekend?

what exactly where the safety concerns? Falling into a mine dump? can someone post a video or pics

[Scary Rider]

On 8/15/2023 at 2:11 PM, dave303e said:

Can you imagine the if the guys had been klapped with the mud section from unbound 200 this year. Dairy industry would see an uptick they would need so much cheese to go with all the 'whines'

Spoken like a true dairyfarmer!😉😂

[Shwetty]

Well, seems like the jury is in with a unanimous verdict of HTFU. 
Fair enough 😂 

Now on to the next race that I under-prepare for and complain about afterwards!

[Jewbacca]

This conversation plays out in ALL cycling disciplines.... The mid pack Enduro Bros all want MORE GNAR at the races and some ded. The top 10 are the same whether it's 'too easy' or 'too gnar'

The solid mid pack guys remain solid mid pack and those who go on the wrong bike for fun land up walking sections anyway 

Courses, conditions and preferences aside, you can eliminate risk by putting your ego aside and going slower. 

If you're uncomfortable going slower, go even slower.

Finishing in 4hrs 25 or 4hrs 40 isn't going to be the difference between beating Matt Beers and busting into the top 10.

Let's be fair, in most races, in most disciplines, most of us hacking away at our keyboards here aren't troubling the scorers there

[Flemish Lion]

I suppose in mtbiking they often have a chicken run which isn't really an option in Gravel. When my wife (mainly a roadie) did the Karkloof 60 km she stopped a few times before some crazy drops and asked herself WTF must we do here  and while she walked a few of them to avoid damage some women/men flew down past her! They had done those drops a few times the day before, but even then she still would have walked them given her technical skills 

In gravel one can slow right down / walk if it's above ones ability, no need to amend the route!

Combining a mass event with SAs isn't easy but given CSA budget... unavoidable!

[Linda mnguni]

This course was brutal. It really broke me but the views are great. I think one needs to prepare well in advance next time

[Robin]

This being my first gravel race and knowing I signed up into "SA Champs" I was expecting a brutal ride!

That was exactly what was delivered! A brutal course and an eye opener to gravel racing.

I wasn't expecting to be so close to the back of the field and I suspect a lot of "similar" paced riders went with the 100km option.

Will I be back? Most definitely!

Will I change anything? Most definitely: Ride more gravel!

[mecheng89]

3 minutes ago, Robin said:

This being my first gravel race and knowing I signed up into "SA Champs" I was expecting a brutal ride!

That was exactly what was delivered! A brutal course and an eye opener to gravel racing.

I wasn't expecting to be so close to the back of the field and I suspect a lot of "similar" paced riders went with the 100km option.

Will I be back? Most definitely!

Will I change anything? Most definitely: Ride more gravel!

I believe SA Champs, just like all disciplines, will change venue each time. Last year it coincided with the Race to  the Sea, which Beers also won.

Now that I've procured a gravel bike, again, I'm keen to restart the gravel journey.

[DieselnDust]

42 minutes ago, mecheng89 said:

I believe SA Champs, just like all disciplines, will change venue each time. Last year it coincided with the Race to  the Sea, which Beers also won.

Now that I've procured a gravel bike, again, I'm keen to restart the gravel journey.

Every journey starts with the first pedal stroke 

[Frosty]

1 hour ago, mecheng89 said:

I believe SA Champs, just like all disciplines, will change venue each time. Last year it coincided with the Race to  the Sea, which Beers also won.

Now that I've procured a gravel bike, again, I'm keen to restart the gravel journey.

I bought Ivan’s Kalahari Ferrari this week, so expect a few club rides to venture off-road; if you’re able to.

[LeftBhind]

Tough course was not the reason I had a bad ride. That was my legs. Course was tough, varied but fair for a gravel race and SAs.

Rode 134km - true gravel bike - 42mm tyres at 1.8 and nothing was unrideable. Places where MTBs were quicker and long stretches where I was happy on my GB.

I was broken at the end but never felt scared or out of control. Maybe because I'm old and slow and took the 2 sketchy descents cautiously.

I think the major reason for the high attrition rate was the route went back past the start at 70km making it so easy to pull the plug if you were no longer in contention or realised you had another 2-3 hours to suffer out there.

Things I have learnt from doing the 2 SAs and a number of 100+ gravel races.

Gravel races are much slower and far more attritional than road races. You seem to pedal every meter. The bikes are pretty forgiving on graded gravel and road but not as good as a MTB if its rough.

Few mountain bike races venture above 100ks and with the technical sections actually seem to offer more time for recovery so are not as attritional.

Racing gravel I think will require a change in ones established mindset.