Johan A Marais Posted January 19 Posted January 19 18 minutes ago, Shebeen said: well spotted, Raymond very much mentioned as being a part of this. So it might be a victim of the PnP shakeup (which is extensive). https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4925044307562361 There is no title sponsor at all this year, not that long ago it was shared with Momentum too. https://www.capetowncycletour.com/our-sponsors/ (Ineos Grenadier are involved!) I'm very surprised that no one else has jumped in here, seems like a really good opportunity. For those who want to moan about entry fees and the affordability, the R1m (guessing) that a title sponsor throws in would mostly go indirectly to bottom line of the event, and then to the charities. No sponsors, and they will reduce this, increase entry fee or start cutting costs (or a combination of all three). Wow, I did not notice this. Huge implications and great opportunity. Maybe time for the Cape Argus to take it back. Imagine that, it will sommer sell out again...
Shebeen Posted January 19 Posted January 19 2 minutes ago, Johan A Marais said: Wow, I did not notice this. Huge implications and great opportunity. Maybe time for the Cape Argus to take it back. Imagine that, it will sommer sell out again... Good thinking, might as well do it before the newspaper shutsdown. Would be opportunity for some proper write offs too. I think dr Evil is too busy next to his phone waiting for Cyril to call and beg to stop suing him for Billions to worry about sponsoring the Argus. Johan A Marais and Mamil 1 1
NickGM Posted January 19 Posted January 19 24 minutes ago, Shebeen said: i've got that porno club21 shirt, and from the time i did my first one last century to now there have always been okes screaming HOLD YOUR LINE!! KEEP LEFT!! Yip, doesn't seem like a new thing, just not a fan of it. 26 minutes ago, Shebeen said: Now that I think about it, with a mere 50 odd days to go and goodie bag discussion done it's annual full circle, why are people not talking about the weather yet? There's no need. The weather is decided. Whenever I train for the argus, get a good seeding and aim for a fast time there have been: fires, pandemics, protest action, dangerous winds and torrential rain. Whenever I ride socially (2021) or skip (2017) the weather is perfect and they hand out sub-3s like the proverbial Oprah Winfrey "You get one and you get one..." meme. So you should all be happy to know that these days my argus mantra is very much in the George Strait mold: I ain't here for a fast time, I'm here for a good time. The weather will be great. And good luck getting the song out of your head. ChrisF, HdB, El Duderino and 1 other 4
ChrisF Posted January 19 Posted January 19 36 minutes ago, madmarc said: Reading this thread brings back many fond memories of the Argus - I'm the biggest whinger when it comes to entrance fees, but lets face it, the ARGUS is special. I did it on a MTB; a road bike; in the wind; in the rain & in the heat of 2002, managed to just get past the stoppage point on ou kaapse weg and finish. Did the normal route and the de-tour routes. One year i broke my hand 3 weeks before the start and asked the Doc to modify the plastic brace so i could hold my handle bar - He refused so i went home and did it myself - No way a broken hand was keeping me away from the Argus. Did my 10th in 2010 & got the special medal - Done 11 in total. first one i did was in 1999 when we had to post in our paper entries in from JHB. Sitting at the PC with my dial up modem waiting for the online entry portal to open. the system would crash like 20 times before it accepted your entry. Entries were full & closed within 2 hours. All the after parties at Camps Bay Glen country club. My best memory was doing it with my son, was his first cycle race at 14. The characters along the route - Remember getting boobs flashed at me my some hottie when i was coughing up a lung trying to get over Suikerbossie - And we cannot forget the Grim Reaper costume guy as you started up suikerbossie. Interesting read on Wikki here about the event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town_Cycle_Tour I see they Robbie Hunter as the record holder for the fastest time in 2008 on the 110km Chapmans peak route - For me this will always be the proper Argus route. I stopped doing it because the excitement got lost somewhere, I got bored fat and sassy and organizing the whole weekend logistics just became an expensive schlep when you living in JHB - Chasing that sub 3 (The holy grail of the Argus) & Club 21 membership became distant & forgotten dreams the older i got. A Pro cyclist once told me - winning the Argus has more prestige than winning the SA National Champs. I think this is one race where the entry fee is worth all the memories created My boss did it in those years as well. He says the chase for the sub-3 and the continual push to better your best time overshadowed the joy of the event after a few years. He, and most of his buddies at the time, stopped entering the Argus. Then again, they stopped being physically active ... so maybe dropping the Argus was just part of the life changes ... Back then I was not interested in doing the Argus. Though some 20 years ago I was part of the back-up motorcycle group. GLAD that I took the step in 2022 to do it, even if it was on an ebike. The VIBE dont care about the bike you ride, nor your time .... just having FUN on the day. Okay, much easier (and affordable) when you live in the Cape. Scary Rider, Milosh and El Duderino 3
dexterdent Posted January 19 Posted January 19 51 minutes ago, Shebeen said: well spotted, Raymond very much mentioned as being a part of this. So it might be a victim of the PnP shakeup (which is extensive). https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4925044307562361 There is no title sponsor at all this year, not that long ago it was shared with Momentum too. https://www.capetowncycletour.com/our-sponsors/ (Ineos Grenadier are involved!) I'm very surprised that no one else has jumped in here, seems like a really good opportunity. For those who want to moan about entry fees and the affordability, the R1m (guessing) that a title sponsor throws in would mostly go indirectly to bottom line of the event, and then to the charities. No sponsors, and they will reduce this, increase entry fee or start cutting costs (or a combination of all three). Doesn't help that we all keep calling it the Argus - title sponsor doesn't seem to be worth much then
Bub Marley Posted January 19 Posted January 19 You okes might have just solved the puzzle. It’s no co-incidence that the drop in numbers coincided with the Argus dropping the sponsorship.
Shebeen Posted January 19 Posted January 19 20 minutes ago, Bub Marley said: You okes might have just solved the puzzle. It’s no co-incidence that the drop in numbers coincided with the Argus dropping the sponsorship. Have you seen the actual paper recently? Costs about R15, and is, I kid you not 14 pages long (sometimes 12). https://capeargus.pressreader.com/cape-argus need to pay Dr Evil money to read it, but the thumbnails show me they have a grand total of 2 paid adverts today. circulation probably heavily supported by instituational and municipal entities that subscribe.
Bub Marley Posted January 19 Posted January 19 8 minutes ago, Shebeen said: Have you seen the actual paper recently? Costs about R15, and is, I kid you not 14 pages long (sometimes 12). https://capeargus.pressreader.com/cape-argus need to pay Dr Evil money to read it, but the thumbnails show me they have a grand total of 2 paid adverts today. circulation probably heavily supported by instituational and municipal entities that subscribe. I’m not actually sure when was the last time i held any newspaper tbh. Shebeen 1
NC_lurker Posted January 30 Posted January 30 (edited) Ok so it appears I'm riding the cycle tour with my SO. It'll be her first event, think it'll be my 18th or 19th. Roughly what time/group would someone with a previous 5hr result start? It's been awhile since I've ridden and have always had the benefit of starting fairly early. Just trying to manage some expectations here around what is most likely going to be a late start and post lunch finish! Edited January 30 by NC_lurker Clarity
The itch Posted January 30 Posted January 30 i can't remember if last year was my 30th or it will be this year and the PPA won't tell me. i've done a sub 3 , ridden with my son and then with my daughter and now it's just my Sunday ride that costs a buck or 2. i just ride to enjoy and survive the mad dash from Cape Point Gate to Soetwater. Small Chappies tells you straight away if Suikerbossie will be pleasant. BTW , i have avoided collecting my number from the Expo for about 10 years , i can't handle all those expectant stares from stall holders and i thought the GHC as a mental asylum with only 1 route to walk to get out.
Nick Posted January 30 Posted January 30 1 hour ago, NC_lurker said: Ok so it appears I'm riding the cycle tour with my SO. It'll be her first event, think it'll be my 18th or 19th. Roughly what time/group would someone with a previous 5hr result start? It's been awhile since I've ridden and have always had the benefit of starting fairly early. Just trying to manage some expectations here around what is most likely going to be a late start and post lunch finish! The back end gets going much earlier than years of old. You might be surprised. The final group leaves before 9 nowadays. Still post lunch finishes for many though. https://www.capetowncycletour.com/lifecycle-week/ctct/2023-cape-town-cycle-tour-start-times/
NC_lurker Posted January 30 Posted January 30 24 minutes ago, Nick said: The back end gets going much earlier than years of old. You might be surprised. The final group leaves before 9 nowadays. Still post lunch finishes for many though. https://www.capetowncycletour.com/lifecycle-week/ctct/2023-cape-town-cycle-tour-start-times/ Great, thanks. Well, actually not great potentially starting just before 9am but definitely better than 10am! I'd better pack lunch and extra sun cream! Nick 1
MORNE Posted January 30 Posted January 30 (edited) On 1/19/2024 at 9:36 AM, Robbie Stewart said: When I speak of survival, that is precisely what I mean. My best time at this event is just shy of 5 hours. I'm not built for this type of event, and most assuredly I will see how many beers can be consumed on the day. I'm not attending for a fast time. I'm there for a good time. Just build up to a comfy 50km ride. No need to try and build up to 100km. You wont now anyway lol. I always tell people if you can do 50km without dying, you can do CTCT. The stoke will carry you the rest of the way. When my wife still rode bikes she proved this every year i made her do it with me. One 50km warm up ride 2 weeks before CTCT…then just go do it. She always finished before the cutoff. Just have fun, i mean its basically downhill all the way to Simons Town😅 thats half the route right there. im using this same logic on myself this year. Im doing it single speed, and im just making sure im comfy doing 50km rides in SS mode without dying. The rest ill find next to the m3 or past noordhoek somewhere. Edited January 30 by MORNE Zebra, Robbie Stewart and ChrisF 1 2
Robbie Stewart Posted January 30 Posted January 30 35 minutes ago, MORNE said: Just build up to a comfy 50km ride. I'm doing 40km rides in the mornings and last Saturday I did 56 from Camps Bay to Sun Valley and back, so I think I'll be good for the distance. My main concern at the moment is my lower back that has decided to give me the finger. I popped some anti inflammatory meds the missus gave me earlier this evening, so I'll see what the morning holds. But I'm feeling stronger overall, and that is my main takeaway from this event. I'm really using it as an excuse and motivation to get back on the bike and ride other than on weekends where I just play. And because of that, I've managed to halve my total distance covered in 2023 in just the last three weeks. ChrisF 1
Robbie Stewart Posted January 30 Posted January 30 I'm curious what weather were in for on the day. Will the wind be howling, or might it be another scorcher, or would it possibly be raining? Maybe we get the trifecta. Or maybe we're lucky and it ends up being a jewel of an early autumn day with mild temperatures and light breezes to keep things cool. I'm starting to catch the fever. ChrisF 1
bebnin Posted January 31 Posted January 31 12 hours ago, MORNE said: Just build up to a comfy 50km ride. No need to try and build up to 100km. You wont now anyway lol. I always tell people if you can do 50km without dying, you can do CTCT. The stoke will carry you the rest of the way. When my wife still rode bikes she proved this every year i made her do it with me. One 50km warm up ride 2 weeks before CTCT…then just go do it. She always finished before the cutoff. Just have fun, i mean its basically downhill all the way to Simons Town😅 thats half the route right there. im using this same logic on myself this year. Im doing it single speed, and im just making sure im comfy doing 50km rides in SS mode without dying. The rest ill find next to the m3 or past noordhoek somewhere. Nice - I've done it single speed last two years and it was fun - just be ready to walk up Suikerbossie should you need to (i needed to, but it really depends on your ratio I guess). You'll get a lot of comments on the way which is always fun. ChrisF and MORNE 2
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