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[Event] 2024 Imbuko Big 5 MTB Challenge


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Any idea when the entry deadline is? (giving myself a few weeks to turn my fitness around  before entering haha)

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Email received just as I finished my second beer. Prefrontal cortex slightly inhibited so ....

Entered.

Perhaps i should have read this thread properly first.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 1/19/2024 at 2:56 PM, MaMc said:

Any idea when the entry deadline is? (giving myself a few weeks to turn my fitness around  before entering haha)

Surely you've entered by now already?Â đŸ¤”

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On 12/26/2023 at 10:33 PM, babse said:

đŸ¤˜

 

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

Dont underestimate a triathlete at this event, last year I ended it off with a few laps in that mountain pool.

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On 12/6/2023 at 8:43 AM, WaldoZ said:

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 itÂ đŸ¤ª

@WaldoZ on a gravel bike. This makes me scared when I already can’t hold your wheel on the HT………

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On 11/29/2023 at 5:42 PM, etienne_jordaan said:

I’m considering this event for the first time, the dates have just never worked out in the past. My current gearing on my dual sus is 36 x 10/51. I’ll keep on training on it as i’m used to it in the area i ride/train. Will probably not be a bad idea to go for a 34 chainring for the amount of climbing at this event?

well that depends on your power2weight ratio. Riding a 36T chainring around a relatively flat area at 3W/Kg will require a 32T chainring. Greater than 3.5W/kg to 4.0W /kg a 34T

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On 11/29/2023 at 5:42 PM, etienne_jordaan said:

I’m considering this event for the first time, the dates have just never worked out in the past. My current gearing on my dual sus is 36 x 10/51. I’ll keep on training on it as i’m used to it in the area i ride/train. Will probably not be a bad idea to go for a 34 chainring for the amount of climbing at this event?

I usually ride a 36 x 10/52. Previously, I've ridden a 34 and plan to ride a 34 again.

Edited by Dappere
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News just in, race entry capped reached (400) surpassing all previous years for this event.....actually believe a few UCI elites from Europe are making their way to the start-line too, so + 10 for good measure. 

This event started out as one that perhaps needed to first find its feet among the abundance of marathon events out there, and quickly did just that.  Still regarded as probably the toughest marathon event in SA, it is without a doubt not for the "fun rider" or weekend warrior.  Saffas love to suffer and take on a challenge and as result the event has grown to become the pinnacle of marathon challenges.  Surely is a feather in the cap of the organizers, and their full team of sponsors and landowners.

With the likes of Nino Schurter and his Cape Epic partner Andri Frischknect and a host of other top 20 UCI elites lining up against our boys, such as Alan Hatherly and our country's best marathon racers, the elite showdown should be about as hot at the temperatures come Saturday !  Elite ladies not standing back for the men, and boasts with the number 1 & 2 from recent World Champs on the line, and a number of European ladies around them. 

For me, having had my stomach bug a week earlier this year, I guess I do not have that excuse-card to play this time around, and now just pray for a finish line dismount, without my normal all-cramping-giraffe-stance !  

 

Edited by Morne Veer
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38 minutes ago, milky4130 said:

Absolutely amped for everyone that will be taking on the Cape Epic Queen Stage 4

Yeah rather them than me đŸ˜‚

 

5 hours ago, Morne Veer said:

News just in, race entry capped reached (400) surpassing all previous years for this event.....actually believe a few UCI elites from Europe are making their way to the start-line too, so + 10 for good measure. 

This event started out as one that perhaps needed to first find its feet among the abundance of marathon events out there, and quickly did just that.  Still regarded as probably the toughest marathon event in SA, it is without a doubt not for the "fun rider" or weekend warrior.  Saffas love to suffer and take on a challenge and as result the event has grown to become the pinnacle of marathon challenges.  Surely is a feather in the cap of the organizers, and their full team of sponsors and landowners.

With the likes of Nino Schurter and his Cape Epic partner Andri Frischknect and a host of other top 20 UCI elites lining up against our boys, such as Alan Hatherly and our country's best marathon racers, the elite showdown should be about as hot at the temperatures come Saturday !  Elite ladies not standing back for the men, and boasts with the number 1 & 2 from recent World Champs on the line, and a number of European ladies around them. 

For me, having had my stomach bug a week earlier this year, I guess I do not have that excuse-card to play this time around, and now just pray for a finish line dismount, without my normal all-cramping-giraffe-stance !  

 

Great to see entries have filled up. The sports needs these events. 

I have to agree on that it is probably the toughest ride for its distance. 

 

Should be a cracker!

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Having done the Attakwas and the Imbuko Big5 both more than once each, I can attest that I feel more broken after this than even the Atta!Â đŸ”¥

Toughest 1 day mountain bike race that I've ever ridden - why do we do this to ourselves? :stupid:

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"Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie !!!"   

Was amazing to listen to two post race interviews, one was the men's winner, Filipo Colombo (from Switzerland, and the other Mona Mitterwallner (the current marathon world champ)....where they both commented that it was probably the best marathon event they've ever done.  Now is that not music to one's ears.

For mere mortals, kudos to each lady and each gentleman who completed the event. Hardly anyone would disagree with the sentiment that it's the toughest one out there, but we thrive on challenges as I said before.

A cool morning at the start and the sun only really started to heat up on the last climb (Patatskloof), which was the the only real time I zipped down looking around for a dam....Not a tree in sight and the black Rawson Properties shirt did me no favors ! 

Will say by the time you hit Patatskloof Climb with 2500m of climbing done already, the legs started smelling like burnt toast, and you are constantly aware of those few little punchy steep mini-climbs still to come towards the finish venue.

The event remains one of those "must do ones" for a rider that likes a proper challenge and thrive on the endorphins of suffering.   Shout out to the organizers, and all their partners for another memorable day and well organized event - the pinnacle of marathon challenges for sure ! 

ps:  spare a thought for a good mate of mine, who sadly went down on the last downhill of the day and is currently in hospital, awaiting a physician and anesthetist to visit him at 10 am with a metal plate for his broken collarbone. Strongs Waldo, gutted for you....wishing you all the best for the recovery. 

Edited by Morne Veer
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Reading this and having had a twinge of fomo while I did a LSD road ride yesterday, I realise now that I made the correct decision selling my entry. 

Huge kudos to all the brave souls!

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Next year for me. Glad I never entered as I wouldn’t have been at the required level for this. But yeah hopefully next year with a few tweaks and upgrades to the bike as well And I’m in. Definitely a bucket list event for sure. 

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Gotta agree on the 

32 minutes ago, Mayo916 said:

 

Cool video. I enjoyed the race. Probably my favourite race at the moment.

I must agree with you - done a handful of them now, and it is right at the top for one day events done. It just ticks all the boxes, and then some ! 

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