Around the pot: participants of the cancelled 2023 only get 20% discount for 2024

[Skubarra]

6 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

I guess we can ignore the weather during those weeks because it was also on lockdown?

capetonians are hard work sometimes.

5 years of drought, and then they moan when it rains a bit in winter once the dams are fuller. I know some people still have PTSD from not having lubed their drivetrains in 2022 and crying at the LBS the next week, my gravel bike survived it totally fine.

 

 

 

Of course you can always wait and do a last minute entry once windguru is in the range and it is predicting goldilocks weather. You'll be in the category of people moaning that there's no goody bag and accomodation is hard to find. I hope Rohan takes the 20% discount at this stage away for apathy tax.

 

 

but looking quickly at some archive stuff,

2019 was indeed reported as muddy, looks ok in the pictures

https://fullsus.co.za/posthumus-and-webb-win-2019-chas-everitt-around-the-pot-overberg-100miler-presented-by-seesa/

 

https://www.velotales.com/2018/07/around-pot-2018.html

2018 has some nice little words that ring true, and why I'm defending this event, and even more ok if the flipfloppers don't enter

It's not often that a race comes along that has the ability to fill one with such emotion. Not the "Why-did-I-enter-this-race-I'm-going-to-die" sort of emotion - we'll get to that later - the "I-don't-want-to-tell-anyone-about-this-event-because-it's-amazing" selfishness that filled us after last year's race. This is a bike riding event run by people who get bike riding. Things just work. Everyone is a rock star. And there is a burger and beer at the finish.
 

Dane the Limpet

The selfishness comes in that with the inevitable growth of an event, the very things that make an event unique are lost as the event scales. So I tried not to tell anyone about The Around The Pot 100 Miler. But someone spoke, breaking the secret pact we'd all sworn to keep and come race day this year, registration was mass of race snakes, weekend warriors, endurance addicts and sufferfest seekers. And their families. And their friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the Pot is in the middle of the rain season and has a been affected by rain multiple times in the past, I don't quite get why stating there there is a risk of a mud fest is so controversial for you?

Yes I am ignoring the covid years because I cannot comment on the weather of events that never happened.

2018 I was there, muddy & wet conditions initially but got better later as the sun came out.

I might lose out on an entry or have to pay extra if I leave entering very late, no problem with that. 

 

[Bub Marley]

Any event happening between July-October has a risk of being rained out. And that’s probably 90% of the gravel and off-road events.

 

Nothing we can do about it though. 2023 was a terrible winter in terms of rain but we needed it as well. 

[ChrisF]

2 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

Around the Pot is in the middle of the rain season and has a been affected by rain multiple times in the past, I don't quite get why stating there there is a risk of a mud fest is so controversial for you?

Yes I am ignoring the covid years because I cannot comment on the weather of events that never happened.

2018 I was there, muddy & wet conditions initially but got better later as the sun came out.

I might lose out on an entry or have to pay extra if I leave entering very late, no problem with that. 

 

 

One might find the real challange with late entry is finding accomodation.... unless you are doing the tent thing.

[Shebeen]

23 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

 I don't quite get why stating there there is a risk of a mud fest is so controversial for you?

 

It's only controversial because you're cherrypicking anecdotal data.

Maybe I am putting you in that box of chops who say:"I'm not doing the argus because it was windy last year". Or capetonians who moan about the  terrible weather in general, it's flippen balmy where we live!

Winter rainfall here comes mainly in frontal systems, big storm for 2/3 days and then lovely sunshine for a week or longer.. So while July is "rainy season", you're much more likely to get a lovely day than not.

 

 

I don't have access to saws historical data, but this is probably satellite based with some local real world(CT airport) to tweak their algorithm.

https://weatherspark.com/y/85361/Average-Weather-in-Swellendam-South-Africa-Year-Round

 

 

 

Edited February 1 by Shebeen
dbl piksha

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, Shebeen said:

It's only controversial because you're cherrypicking anecdotal data.

Maybe I am putting you in that box of chops who say:"I'm not doing the argus because it was windy last year". Or capetonians who moan about the  terrible weather in general, it's flippen balmy where we live!

Winter rainfall here comes mainly in frontal systems, big storm for 2/3 days and then lovely sunshine for a week or longer.. So while July is "rainy season", you're much more likely to get a lovely day than not.

I don't have access to saws historical data, but this is probably satellite based with some local real world(CT airport) to tweak their algorithm.

https://weatherspark.com/y/85361/Average-Weather-in-Swellendam-South-Africa-Year-Round

Anecdotal, eish. Going to have to agree to disagree on this before we bore hubbers to death. If the bad weather trend turns around I am happy to change my mind on entering early.

[Shebeen]

so have people entered for this?

 

Considering taking up the 20% offer (assuming it's still valid!)

[Jackb]

I'm considering entering this for the first time on a gravel bike. I've done a alot of training so far and mad as it may seem keen on the 200miler. Has any one done it or know of someone who has? I'd like to know what they packed for the race, ie. gear, food and what challenges they had. Thanks

[Mamil]

3 hours ago, Shebeen said:

so have people entered for this?

 

Considering taking up the 20% offer (assuming it's still valid!)

I've entered the 200 miler although I'm definitely undercooked for the distance. If it rains though, I'm spending the weekend with gluvine and my kindle.

[olmec]

23 hours ago, Shebeen said:

so have people entered for this?

 

Considering taking up the 20% offer (assuming it's still valid!)

I really think that the message one sends by signing up is that its ok to lie to the good folks who make an effort to come to your event.  That its ok to make false promises and ultimately milk race participants.

I'm not ok with that, and am voting with my feet.  

(edited for precision)

Edited July 4 by olmec

[olmec]

19 hours ago, Mamil said:

I've entered the 200 miler although I'm definitely undercooked for the distance. If it rains though, I'm spending the weekend with gluvine and my kindle.

Good luck! I saw you at the Munga Grit and remember some of the challenges you're facing.

Its hard to support the race organisers and the folks who stole from us last year, but a fellow rider? Go go go and I hope you have the best time.

[ChrisF]

15 minutes ago, olmec said:

Its hard to support the race organisers and the folks who stole from us last year, .....

 

WOW !!!

 

Harsh statement .... 

[olmec]

4 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

WOW !!!

 

Harsh statement .... 

Yes; unfortunately true: The RD promised me a refund in person at the race village on the Sunday after the postponed race was cancelled.  I would have settled for a deferred entry, and grumbled lightly about a significant discount.

What we got was a discount less than the early-bird registration discounts typically offered.

The folks we were staying at for the weekend were a local supplier to the event.  The pr released shortly after the race said that they had to pay their suppliers in full, but the local supplier assures me that they weren't.

[Danger Dassie]

On 7/3/2024 at 10:35 AM, Shebeen said:

so have people entered for this?

 

Considering taking up the 20% offer (assuming it's still valid!)

In two minds, may have an opportunity to take on a friends entry. Just weighing up travel options in costs/logistics. 

Love the region, so regardless of weather it’d be a welcome escape.

[Rowl]

Will also be lining up, considering to just use a tent for the Friday evening. But looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather is good.

Edited July 4 by Rowl

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, olmec said:

Yes; unfortunately true: The RD promised me a refund in person at the race village on the Sunday after the postponed race was cancelled.  I would have settled for a deferred entry, and grumbled lightly about a significant discount.

What we got was a discount less than the early-bird registration discounts typically offered.

The folks we were staying at for the weekend were a local supplier to the event.  The pr released shortly after the race said that they had to pay their suppliers in full, but the local supplier assures me that they weren't.

If you feel strongly enough about this, then email him directly about what was offered and what has been delivered. I expected the discount to be larger, you might get some joy and it's win win for both parties.

I know it seems a bit redundant to mention this again, but the decision to postpone came from Disaster management. Cancelling the sunday seemed a bit soft from my side, we still rode the 100km route on the sunday. That was totally fine weather wise but on the bigger roads. I'm not going this year, mainly because I forgot I had already entered a trail run on the saturday!

 

[SSCC]

6 hours ago, olmec said:

Yes; unfortunately true: The RD promised me a refund in person at the race village on the Sunday after the postponed race was cancelled.  I would have settled for a deferred entry, and grumbled lightly about a significant discount.

What we got was a discount less than the early-bird registration discounts typically offered.

The folks we were staying at for the weekend were a local supplier to the event.  The pr released shortly after the race said that they had to pay their suppliers in full, but the local supplier assures me that they weren't.

You really need a reality check. If race directors were forced to refund all entries when a race is cancelled because of weather there would be no races. Zero. No events management company or individual would take that risk. They have expenses that they do not get back. Please stop thinking just of yourself and think of the broader bike community and all the people that make these events happen.