The ARGUS 2025 Thread (AKA CTCT)

[The Ouzo]

And now a small chance of rain on the day 

 

[Ed345]

16 hours ago, Craig D said:

A while ago there used to be a table which gave some guidance as to where you had to be if you wanted to finish in a certain time... I know it was only a guide but does anyone know where I could find that

I would add that there are different strategies to achieve the same time. I compared this split time calculator with my BestBikeSplit plan (both 3hr target), and there was 10 minutes difference after 1 hour!

If you’re lightweight, the later hills won’t take so much of your energy, and you can take it easier on the flat earlier section. 

Most(?) people would also be better served with a negative split. Hold yourself back in the first half and really push on in the second half when it’s easier to gauge how much you have in the legs.
 

There’s more time to be lost blowing up towards the end than there is to be gained blasting through the first 30km. 

[Titleist]

1 hour ago, Ed345 said:

 

There’s more time to be lost blowing up towards the end than there is to be gained blasting through the first 30km. 

This!

 

The race starts the first time at Smitswinkel and then the second time at Chappies. That's where the freeloaders actually have to work so the splits means nothing if your legs cannot keep up on the climbs....

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, Titleist said:

This!

 

The race starts the first time at Smitswinkel and then the second time at Chappies. That's where the freeloaders actually have to work so the splits means nothing if your legs cannot keep up on the climbs....

Yes, time splits mostly pointless other than to remind you that the difficult part of the route is in the 2nd half of the race. The rest will be determined by your group & weather on the day.

[Mamil]

For those around the 3:10 mark and who fill out their lycra in a less aerodynamic shape than is optimal, it's all moot if you can't hold on up Edinburgh. It's worth burning a match or 2 on the drag up to the top of hospital bend and on the deceptive little Edinburgh to hold on.

Plenty of time to recover before Smits

[Skubarra]

28 minutes ago, Mamil said:

For those around the 3:10 mark and who fill out their lycra in a less aerodynamic shape than is optimal, it's all moot if you can't hold on up Edinburgh. It's worth burning a match or 2 on the drag up to the top of hospital bend and on the deceptive little Edinburgh to hold on.

Plenty of time to recover before Smits

How is Tour de Cap going? Must have been an easy morning if you are hanging around on the hub 😀

[Mamil]

46 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

How is Tour de Cap going? Must have been an easy morning if you are hanging around on the hub 😀

Yoh - just posted a mid race update. Not for sissies this stage race mularkey

[coenraadj@gmail.com]

I've got an entry if anyone is looking for one.

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, Mamil said:

Yoh - just posted a mid race update. Not for sissies this stage race mularkey

My fastest time at the CTCT was when I was dead tired after a week of hard TdC racing, still don't get the logic of how that played out, but hopefully on Sunday you will also get to laugh at all the people who tapered this week...

[NGM]

3 hours ago, Skubarra said:

Yes, time splits mostly pointless other than to remind you that the difficult part of the route is in the 2nd half of the race. The rest will be determined by your group & weather on the day.

Exactly. If I'm with a starting group where I'm able to decide when to take it easy and when to go hard, irrespective of what everyone else is doing, then I'm either gifted (not the case unfortunately) or I'm in a social group and not concerned about split times anyway. If I'm in a very fast group capable of a competitive time, my strategy is simple: "Don't get dropped". Splits merely tell me if I should be getting excited or not, there isn't much I can do about it.

[ChrisF]

Big thumbs up to the Hubbers that will be doing this for 109km.

 

 

@Me rida my bicycle you guys are angels 👍

[Me rida my bicycle]

11 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

Big thumbs up to the Hubbers that will be doing this for 109km.

 

 

@Me rida my bicycle you guys are angels 👍

Thanks Chris, I think it's going to be a special day. Levi's face lit up the moment he saw me today he is definitely looking forward to the 109km, I'm praying so long 😁 anybody is welkom to drop by and say hi to him along the way as long as you push a little 😂

[cadenceblur]

Really special, a mate of mine has been doing the buggy for years , really touching to see the enjoyment on the kids’ faces . 
 

[Shebeen]

72hours out from raceday..conditions look partly cloudy and mild.

[The Ouzo]

[Dexter-morgan]

Looks like a near perfect day out - I am not even riding, and I am getting excited.