[Event] 2024 Imbuko Big 5 MTB Challenge

[milky4130]

  On 12/4/2023 at 11:55 AM, Mayo916 said:

So the dropper seat post I bought specifically for that section is useless now.

Expand  

Nooit a waste. Comes pretty handy when you need to tuck on long descents and get that downhill KOM

[milky4130]

  On 12/4/2023 at 12:01 PM, Bub Marley said:

Is the cliffhanger open to use year round? I thought it was just open for this event?

Expand  

Not exactly but this lady has special landowner permission to ride it.

[Morne Veer]

  On 12/4/2023 at 3:03 PM, milky4130 said:

Nooit a waste. Comes pretty handy when you need to tuck on long descents and get that downhill KOM

Expand  

.....works a charm down Suikerbossie too 

[WaldoZ]

  On 12/4/2023 at 3:03 PM, milky4130 said:

Nooit a waste. Comes pretty handy when you need to tuck on long descents and get that downhill KOM

Expand  

I remember a few years ago when I spoke about dropper posts everyone laughed at me 🤪

[babse]

  On 12/5/2023 at 2:36 PM, WaldoZ said:

I remember a few years ago when I spoke about dropper posts everyone laughed at me 🤪

Expand  

now everyone laughing at okes not running them... 

[milky4130]

  On 12/5/2023 at 3:28 PM, babse said:

now everyone laughing at okes not running them... 

Expand  

or okes that don't run at all 👀 🏃‍♂️

[Morne Veer]

  On 12/5/2023 at 3:51 PM, milky4130 said:

or okes that don't run at all 👀 🏃‍♂️

Expand  

....I must still tri 

[milky4130]

Lessons Learned from previous editions to help guys that may feel intimidated with the challenge. Please feel free to add anything I may have missed.

1. Practice lots of climbing on various terrain, smooth gravel to rocky surfaces.

2. Ride plenty of single track, arm pump is reel once fatigue sets in.

3. Practice Switchbacks...plenty of switchbacks to the left & to the right

[Morne Veer]

  On 12/5/2023 at 5:13 PM, milky4130 said:

Lessons Learned from previous editions to help guys that may feel intimidated with the challenge. Please feel free to add anything I may have missed.

1. Practice lots of climbing on various terrain, smooth gravel to rocky surfaces.

2. Ride plenty of single track, arm pump is reel once fatigue sets in.

3. Practice Switchbacks...plenty of switchbacks to the left & to the right

Expand  

On race day, my suggestion will be to stop at each water point, bar perhaps waterpoint one.  This is of-course if you are not racing for a top 10 finish. 

I don't ride with hydration packs, and only use two bottles, and those would be 550ml only, but even if you manage to fit 750ml bottles in your bike, you will go through fluids rather quickly.  Once out of the early morning shaded comfort, the heat can really bake down on you, and finding yourself out on those lung busting mountains, without water or underhydrated, will add to your woes.....yip, I've got the T-shirt (printed on the front :  " I skipped Water-Points @ IB5 "

Edited December 5, 2023 by Morne Veer
Need to learn how to spell hydration correct the first time around

[milky4130]

  On 12/5/2023 at 5:22 PM, Morne Veer said:

On race day, my suggestion will be to stop at each water point, bar perhaps waterpoint one.  This is of-course if you are not racing for a top 10 finish. 

I don't ride with hydration packs, and only use two bottles, and those would be 550ml only, but even if you manage to fit 750ml bottles in your bike, you will go through fluids rather quickly.  Once out of the early morning shaded comfort, the heat can really bake down on you, and finding yourself out on those lung busting mountains, without water or underhydrated, will add to your woes.....yip, I've got the T-shirt (printed on the front :  " I skipped Water-Points @ IB5 "

Expand  

luckily there are enough streams to take a dip to keep cool and maybe higher up for drinking water.

[RustyHWR]

  On 12/5/2023 at 2:36 PM, WaldoZ said:

I remember a few years ago when I spoke about dropper posts everyone laughed at me 🤪

Expand  

Remember the same with gravel bikes. They could never understand the reason for a GB.  Now all the haters got one.

[WaldoZ]

  On 12/6/2023 at 6:37 AM, RustyHWR said:

Remember the same with gravel bikes. They could never understand the reason for a GB.  Now all the haters got one.

Expand  

haha, I still don't have one. But will soon change.

The dropper just made sense to me from the start. I'm a tall guy so getting lower helps a lot. I still battle on some of these uphill switchbacks though because of my XL MTB frame. The turning circle is a bit wider haha... that's my story and I am sticking to it 🤪

[Morne Veer]

  On 12/5/2023 at 6:06 PM, milky4130 said:

luckily there are enough streams to take a dip to keep cool and maybe higher up for drinking water.

Expand  

listen meneer, when I stop and get off my bike, it is to walk it back to the finish area....klaar en gedaan

[milky4130]

  On 12/6/2023 at 2:32 PM, Morne Veer said:

listen meneer, when I stop and get off my bike, it is to walk it back to the finish area....klaar en gedaan

Expand  

so you trying to tell me you will ride all those switchbacks up & down?

[babse]

  On 12/26/2023 at 7:33 PM, milky4130 said:

so you trying to tell me you will ride all those switchbacks up & down?

Expand  

🤘 

 

I'll wait for you on top and follow your wheel all the way down!? 😜

[Morne Veer]

....after spending a hour on the bike today in this heat, I reminded myself to stop feeling sorry for myself, as there is a strong possibility of having to do just that but 4 times as long ! (yes I said 4, as fortunately the first two hours should be shaded and not as warm with a 6h30 start).  

Gotta feel for the okes lining up tomorrow for the AK (read that any way you want) in Oudsthoorn