[Event] Old Mutual Wealth Double Century

[Jbr]

4 minutes ago, Meezo said:

the rest of us with more expensive bikes and slightly (only slightly) less ego's can continue... 

🤣

[SSCC]

It’s a better event now than it was 20 years ago. The neutral zones make it more social and much safer. It used to be a pretty dangerous and at times out of control race. It’s easier than it was but it’s also better. 

Edited Monday at 01:17 PM by SSCC

[Skubarra]

4 hours ago, peetwindhoek said:

Honest no drafting question: How does one manage this with the number of teams and no full road closure? There’s only so much space, and when teams are fairly evenly matched, it becomes a real challenge without stopping.

At one point, we had three or four teams drafting off us. They were traveling at a very similar speed, so they couldn’t realistically overtake us. Eventually, it just turned into one massive bunch.

2021 they changed the starting order from fastest to slowest due to covid rules and the drafting problems were instantly solved. Event felt like an actual team TT, there was almost no drafting and where it happened occasionally it was easy for marshals to step in. Problem is that starting order was murderous on the social/corporate teams riding in the heat & wind later in the day and will kill off the event within a few years.

With the current format I don't really see the point of NOT drafting faster teams passing you, majority of teams do it, maybe something that can be policed for podium contenders but impossible to police otherwise so most people just go with it.

Just on the rest stops, I did the race when we only had the neutral zone in Ashton and then support cars were allowed between Robertson and the finish, traffic was absolutely chaos and how no one was killed in a car accident during that period is a minor miracle, the 2nd neutral zone was a great idea to ease the congestion.

Edited Monday at 01:44 PM by Skubarra

[Bub Marley]

I personally think 12 in a team is too much. If we drop it down to 8 or even 10 and keep the same number of teams it will open up a lot more space on the road. The stretch from Robertson to Bonnievale is a disaster waiting to happen as traffic is open on the oncoming side and at the point i noticed most of the elite teams coming through and every amateur team trying to jump on and score a free ride. That road is not very wide especially with oncoming traffic.

 

So yeah, my suggestion is make the teams smaller. And it should be safer all round. It’s also really hard to get 12 people in a team. So many headaches and last minute substitutions.

[DieselnDust]

A workable solution is a hybrid. 
non racing social teams ie those who ride the route in less than 5hr 15 start between 7;00 and 7:30 with the fastest seeded team leaving at 7:00 and the lowest seeding racing team at 7:30. This can accommodate up to 31 teams at 1 min intervals . And the drafting problem is hen greatly reduced. 
then apply first in first out principal at the enforced rest stops. 
no drafting should also be enforced and policed. 
we got warned twice by a motorbike Marshall for riding 3 abreast inside the yellow line while pushing a team mate up a hill 

[DieselnDust]

4 hours ago, Jbr said:

like I said earlier, my only reference is 2019, then it was covid year and fastest started first. There was a lot less ***, we did get a little bit because we were in top20 so obviously seeding wasn't perfect. This format is better for the 5 teams racing, but sucks big time for the 300 remaining teams that will start at 8am and finish a 6pm especially on a hot day.

Oh well, still a lekker day out with many many bicycles out on the road and not a lot of assholes in cars/trucks. That's enough to make it a perfect day.

2020 was the covid year with reversed starts

['Dale]

"The inaugural DC took place in 1993, with 385 starters. Milner remembered it fondly: “It was blisteringly hot on the day of our first race and even though I could almost see the tar melt while we rode, there was a tremendous team spirit amongst the cyclists. This same spirit is what makes the Old Mutual Wealth Double Century what it is today – a race of camaraderie and teamwork.”

Sauce: https://doublecentury.co.za/about-double-century/heritage-and-history/

Edited Monday at 04:22 PM by 'Dale

[MongooseMan]

My second DC, first time in the other @Pure Savage mixed team (ie, the one that didn't come 5th 😉)

I punctured out of Ashton, which meant a solo ride in the hurt box to Bonnievale. Tried to draft the ECC/3PO train that came through. Nothing like sitting 24th wheel and being absolutely on your limit for 20 minutes, 130km into a race 😆

Popped at Red Bridge, and rolled into Bonnievale neutral 8 mins after my team. Downed a litre of coke and shoved ice in all the places it would stick before rolling out.

At the right hand turn to the sisters I told the road captain I'd push a lady up the first one and then I was done. Did that, got to the top, somehow recovered on the down so did it again on the 2nd sister. 

Halfway up the third sister I realised there were only 7 of us left, so I kinda had to stick around.

And from the top it's just the most madcap descent in a 50km/h paceline, screaming at each other not to back off. Finished in 5:44 for 6th mixed team. 

100% recommended, would do it all again 😁

Edited Monday at 05:25 PM by MongooseMan

[Meezo]

1 minute ago, MongooseMan said:

My second DC, first time in the other @Pure Savage mixed team (ie, the one that didn't come 5th 😉)

I punctured out of Ashton, which meant a solo ride in the hurt box to Bonnievale. Tried to draft the ECC/3PO train that came through. Nothing like sitting 24th wheel and being absolutely on your limit for 20 minutes, 130km into a race 😆

Popped at Red Bridge, and rolled into Bonnievale neutral 8 mins after my team. Downed a litre of coke and shoved ice in all the places it would stick before rolling out.

At the right hand turn to the sisters I told the road captain I'd push a lady up the first one and then I was done. Did that, got to the top, somehow recovered on the down so did it again on the 2nd sister. 

Halfway up the third sister I realised there were only 7 of us left, so I kinda had to stick around.

And from the top it's just the most madcap descent in a 50km/h paceline, screaming at each other not to back off. Finished in 5:44 for 6th mixed team. 

100% recommended, would do it all again 😁

Quite a few savage mix teams out there?

Rode with Brendan and that team through the "purple flowers" till WP2 then out of WP2 with Renay and that team...

Had some good fun on the sisters with the team, those ladies in the team are flippen strong... mind blown 🤯 🤯 🤯 

Great time well done especially on only your 2nd one!

[MongooseMan]

Just now, Meezo said:

Quite a few savage mix teams out there?

Rode with Brendan and that team through the "purple flowers" till WP2 then out of WP2 with Renay and that team...

Had some good fun on the sisters with the team, those ladies in the team are flippen strong... mind blown 🤯 🤯 🤯 

Great time well done especially on only your 2nd one!

2: Pure Average and Pure Savage Mixed.

Renay was in Brendan's team (Pure Average). They were the ones in the "tri-colour" (red, white, blue).

We (PS Mixed) were in the black kit.

 

[Meezo]

Just now, MongooseMan said:

2: Pure Average and Pure Savage Mixed.

Renay was in Brendan's team (Pure Average). They were the ones in the "tri-colour" (red, white, blue).

We (PS Mixed) were in the black kit.

 

Ya i was probably hallucinating that far into the race... 🥴😵‍💫

[MongooseMan]

Just now, Meezo said:

Ya i was probably hallucinating that far into the race... 🥴😵‍💫

I had a moment after popping where I was quite happily drafting the remnants of team #33 (as a member of team #248). It was humbling moment 😂

[throttles]

My fourth DC, but by far my most memorable.

24 Man Charles Milner, our 2 teams started 30seconds apart. Rode for 202km as a unit, only losing 2 to a puncture but waiting for them before the 2nd feed zone.

It was the first DC for 16 of the 24 riders. 2 of my sibling included in the batch DC newcomers. 

We all finished together with a respectable 8:25 including my 69 year old uncle.

Well done to everyone that participated and especially to the support crews that brought the gees into the feeding zones.

[DieselnDust]

15 hours ago, Skubarra said:

2021 they changed the starting order from fastest to slowest due to covid rules and the drafting problems were instantly solved. Event felt like an actual team TT, there was almost no drafting and where it happened occasionally it was easy for marshals to step in. Problem is that starting order was murderous on the social/corporate teams riding in the heat & wind later in the day and will kill off the event within a few years.

With the current format I don't really see the point of NOT drafting faster teams passing you, majority of teams do it, maybe something that can be policed for podium contenders but impossible to police otherwise so most people just go with it.

Just on the rest stops, I did the race when we only had the neutral zone in Ashton and then support cars were allowed between Robertson and the finish, traffic was absolutely chaos and how no one was killed in a car accident during that period is a minor miracle, the 2nd neutral zone was a great idea to ease the congestion.

2020 matey, 2021 was cancelled due to bad weather

[mecheng89]

16 hours ago, Bub Marley said:

I personally think 12 in a team is too much. If we drop it down to 8 or even 10 and keep the same number of teams it will open up a lot more space on the road. The stretch from Robertson to Bonnievale is a disaster waiting to happen as traffic is open on the oncoming side and at the point i noticed most of the elite teams coming through and every amateur team trying to jump on and score a free ride. That road is not very wide especially with oncoming traffic.

 

So yeah, my suggestion is make the teams smaller. And it should be safer all round. It’s also really hard to get 12 people in a team. So many headaches and last minute substitutions.

Why 12? Why not 8, like in the pro peloton?

[bleedToWin]

16 hours ago, Skubarra said:

With the current format I don't really see the point of NOT drafting faster teams passing you, majority of teams do it

I think if the organisers had the will to do it they could, but not with a heavy handed approach with threats of DQ. Make it part of the spirit of the race. For most DC is about teamwork to survive and overcome a slew of challenges, from formulating a 12 rider squad, nursing the weaker riders early on, mechanical issues, and having your strongest rider start cramping on the first sister. All the organisers need to do is expand the list of what DC gees is to include "you and your team and no-one else".