[Event] Fedhealth MTB Challenge

[ChrisF]

2 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

Sadly I'm going to have to sit this one out now as we have a family wedding on the Saturday 😔

I'm so over this Cape winter.

 

For those that cant do Saturday, the organisers DO offer a refund option.

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, Yyyy said:

call me a grumpy old man but my biggest annoyance to this is sharing a trail with the kids and family riders.....Banhoek trailseekers all over again😒

 

So can the "Grumpy Old Man" help with some first hand knowledge for THIS EVENT ? 

 

To what extent are the routes overlapping ?  Are we talking about sharing the route for the last few km, or how much ? 

 

I dont know these trails, nor these routes ... but want to do the 60km.  I dont mind sharing short sections of the trail .... but we KNOW how inexperienced riders can swerve ....

 

 

Getting the starting times right does a LOT to avoid issues for the faster riders in the final section.  NO idea what they are planning for this one ....

[Yyyy]

1 hour ago, ChrisF said:

 

So can the "Grumpy Old Man" help with some first hand knowledge for THIS EVENT ? 

 

To what extent are the routes overlapping ?  Are we talking about sharing the route for the last few km, or how much ? 

 

I dont know these trails, nor these routes ... but want to do the 60km.  I dont mind sharing short sections of the trail .... but we KNOW how inexperienced riders can swerve ....

 

 

Getting the starting times right does a LOT to avoid issues for the faster riders in the final section.  NO idea what they are planning for this one ....

I dont have the answers you looking for. This is my first time doing this specific event and route.

The only reason I avoid trailseekers is because its over subscribed and has too many sections where routes are shared with "kids and family" riders.  

I entered this event because of they had the two separate days.

Lets just hope they did a brilliant job on the route planning 

Edited September 7, 2023 by Yyyy

[Skubarra]

2 hours ago, Zebra said:

When my Wife moved permanently down to the Cape 13 - 15 odd years ago, she would look out the window - expectantly - on the FIRST of SEPTMEMBER and - thinking JHB-style - proclaim SPRING was a-b-o-u-t to ... spring...

I would then patiently explain that:

1. theoretically, Spring is 21st September, and NOT the 01st September...

2. then,  I would explain THEORETICALLY and the CAPE weather do not know one-another...

3, then, I would explain buy the 01st November, she was GUARANTEED better weather, even Spring-like weather...

4. I would finish by telling her - factually - that our AUTUMN lasts longer than Jozi...so there IS that...

She now advises any/all newcomers to the Province, that Spring WILL have sprung by November 01!!!

Chris

 

 

Don't tell your wife but she was not wrong though...

She is referring to the meteorological spring which does start at 1 September, you are referring to the astronomical spring which starts on the 21st 😛

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, Yyyy said:

I dont have the answers you looking for. This is my first time doing this specific event and route.

The only reason I avoid trailseekers is because its over subscribed and has too many sections where routes are shared with "kids and family" riders.  

I entered this event because of they had the two separate days.

Lets just hope they did a brilliant job on the route planning 

 

Our initial planning was to do the short one on Saturday with our godson.  Then enjoy the 60km on Sunday.  So the split was good for us, even though for different reasons.

 

 

Trailseekers are alligned with the schools cycling series, thus the drastic increase in their numbers ....  Wont be an issue with the Fedhealth ride, not the schools series part, as their is another schools race at Redham this Saturday.

[JacobusMarais]

7 hours ago, ChrisF said:

DATE CHANGES ....

 

Noting the pending weather for Sunday, they moved the Sunday races to SATURDAY .....

 

 

with a couple of decent days this week, we can just hope for decent trail conditions .... or is this wishful thinking ?

 

Any guesses as to the trail conditions ??

Trail conditions at Dornier and Ernie Els is pretty muddy at the bottom.

[ChrisF]

21 minutes ago, JacobusMarais said:

Trail conditions at Dornier and Ernie Els is pretty muddy at the bottom.

 

Pretty much what one can expect for a year with record rainfall levels .... 🙃

 

 

Is a "walk around" an option .... (at Tygerberg trails it is sometimes possible to miss 90% of the mud by walking past a section) .....

 

 

My heart and my brain are on two different plains ..... really want to get out there .... but not in the mood for a mud-caked bike ....

[ChrisF]

Okayyyy .... either they are truly sold out .... or there is a glitch in the system.

 

@NicolaM any idea if there is a system issue ?

 

Event page shows entries are open until 7 September .... still very much 7 September ...

 

 

As soon as you try to register the platform shows "Sales Closed" -

 

 

PS - I checked the other distances, even the kiddies etc.  ALL closed for entries.

 

[ChrisF]

9 hours ago, Dappere said:

Does anybody have information regarding number collection?

 

Seems like this happens on Friday and from 6:00 on the morning of the event, based on the information on the entry page on their website.

 

 

Would appreciate it if those that have done this event can confirm.

Edited September 7, 2023 by ChrisF

[PhilipV]

5 hours ago, JacobusMarais said:

Trail conditions at Dornier and Ernie Els is pretty muddy at the bottom.

Dornier has never recovered from last year’s race, now this again. That trail bed is tired at the top. 

8 hours ago, Zebra said:

When my Wife moved permanently down to the Cape 13 - 15 odd years ago, she would look out the window - expectantly - on the FIRST of SEPTMEMBER and - thinking JHB-style - proclaim SPRING was a-b-o-u-t to ... spring...

I would then patiently explain that:

1. theoretically, Spring is 21st September, and NOT the 01st September...

2. then,  I would explain THEORETICALLY and the CAPE weather do not know one-another...

3, then, I would explain buy the 01st November, she was GUARANTEED better weather, even Spring-like weather...

4. I would finish by telling her - factually - that our AUTUMN lasts longer than Jozi...so there IS that...

She now advises any/all newcomers to the Province, that Spring WILL have sprung by November 01!!!

Chris

 

 

Tell your wife that Cape Town Spring only starts after the last snow in October.

[DieselnDust]

12 hours ago, PhilipV said:

Dornier has never recovered from last year’s race, now this again. That trail bed is tired at the top. 

Tell your wife that Cape Town Spring only starts after the last snow in October.

There is no Spring in Cape Town. We have two seasons , winter which is 1 June to 30 November, summer lasts 1 December through May 31

[Morne Veer]

Was a good outing in CL country today, and hats off to the organizers for thinking outside the box and combining a day of racing, which was scheduled for two days.   Yes the 60km front riders soon caught up to the 15km riders, but that was only for a very short part of the route, before the split happened.  The organizers did well to inform us on the start line that it may be the case and that we should act in kindness to any of the short distanced riders - for the most this seemed to have been the case.

A couple of folk missed some markers on route, but then again, most did not. Easy to just follow wheels ahead of you and when the loco ahead has his head down and misses the marker, chances are the others will follow.  I got the impression that most folk enjoyed the day, which was well hosted by organizers and sponsors, and had a great post race vibe.

Route was lovely and I expected a lot more mud than what we got served, and there surely are some great trails that side of the world. 

Very chilly in the start chute, with overcast conditions for most, but as we got going, I was more than okay with just my short sleeved shirt, and undervest.

What a revival of cycling in the greater Cape region today - think no less than 6 events today in various disciplines.

 

Edited September 9, 2023 by Morne Veer
spelling error

[ChrisF]

On 9/7/2023 at 7:59 AM, Mamil said:

I've opted for the Wellington trailseeker on the saturday. I hope the trails are ok.

 

My first Trailseeker event.

 

Turned out to be a very nice day.  Trails in better nick than I expected after this wet winter.

[Rouxenator]

Awesome day out! 

This reminded me how demanding Fedhealth can be, took me back to when it was on the other side of Simonsberg in 2018. 

Absolutely LOVED that all the races were on the Saturday. I like to be lazy on Sundays while others like to nurse their hangovers. Not a big fan of Sunday races. A lot of riders could do with lesson in being courteous to other trail users, so this was their chance. That said, the 15km back markers were very accommodating on the way out and 5km kiddies on the way back in. 

My only gripe is something seems to have gone wrong with early entries and names - they appear to have the emergency contact swapped with the entrant. A classic export-to-Excel type mistake. 

Came off fast and hard at Dornier trying to overtake a few 30KM riders and ended up with my foot up my arse. Yes - it is indeed slippery and muddy out there. Did not hurt that much while pedalling but walking is a pain now. Had a good chuckle at all the cleated riders pushing their bikes on perfectly ridable steep sections, even had one ask me if I was trying to proof a point in my tekkies. Well yes, I am, they are much more comfortable up ones rear in the event of a crash. 

This was also a chance to ride the sections they trimmed from last year's race in the rain, and I am very thankful they were not included last year, but happy they are back this year. Picked up someone's phone and was able to re-unite it with one of their friends, so that ended nicely. My daughter had a blast on the 5km, so maybe next year I'll be riding with her on the 15km. 

[Mamil]

12 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

My first Trailseeker event.

 

Turned out to be a very nice day.  Trails in better nick than I expected after this wet winter.

I started getting a cold on Friday. Woke up at 5am and out my shorts on ... took them off and got back into bed cos I felt cr@p. Went from a full weekend of MTB racing to listening to tidal under the duvet .... both are passions so it's ok. Zwift today with .... tidal.

Still, the FOMO is real

[Rouxenator]

3 minutes ago, Mamil said:

I started getting a cold on Friday. Woke up at 5am and out my shorts on ... took them off and got back into bed cos I felt cr@p. Went from a full weekend of MTB racing to listening to tidal under the duvet .... both are passions so it's ok. Zwift today with .... tidal.

Still, the FOMO is real

At least on the Fedhealth ride the trails were marked. No need to seek them - bonus.