[Event] 99er Cycle Tour

[babse]

1 hour ago, Cycle1234 said:

CTCT 150 in $. If you ever raced in $ you will understand my concern. But this is just my opinion. 

I have the same view. 

Comparing apples with apples (racing on non closed roads), and last year's 99er and tour de ppa also had big numbers in $ and it was chaos. My view is not that okes can't handle their bikes (because they can) with these big racing bunches but because okes are willing to take crazy risks just to hold the wheel ahead. A big portion of the group also care nothing for the solid line.

I dont think its the most responsible idea having such numbers in racing bunch. Hopefully I'm wrong and all goes well without incident 🙏

 

[Skubarra]

Always a safe option to fall back a bunch or 2 and just do you own thing... Just don't let the hub critics find out... 🙃

[gerriemtb]

55 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

Always a safe option to fall back a bunch or 2

 

[NicholasH]

9 hours ago, babse said:

I have the same view. 

Comparing apples with apples (racing on non closed roads), and last year's 99er and tour de ppa also had big numbers in $ and it was chaos. My view is not that okes can't handle their bikes (because they can) with these big racing bunches but because okes are willing to take crazy risks just to hold the wheel ahead. A big portion of the group also care nothing for the solid line.

I dont think its the most responsible idea having such numbers in racing bunch. Hopefully I'm wrong and all goes well without incident 🙏

 

"Actually $ group has been 180 for 2020 race and prior and dropped down to 160 from 2022, based on David Clarke recommendation back in 2021 (no race).  I understand that this is still fitting the absolute max number of competitive elite cycles that we see entering our race.  Those cyclist have capability close to each other and fitting to compete in one "race / group".  The seeding number allowance is actually only 80 cyclists, with an buffer of 80 - this is not shown on the sheet.  David fills up to 80 and then use the other 80 for additional as required, as well as late entries.  Actual seeding will be lower than 160.  We did not have any issues with this for the last few races."

Feedback from the powers that be

Edited February 7 by NicholasH

[NicholasH]

Morning All

1 day to go. we are super excited! Some pics of the operations under way today. Looking forward to having you all at our race 🙂

 

Start/Finish VENUE

Finish LINE - it will be fully sanitized and barricaded tomorrow - 500m sprint finish 🙂

The bridge to get to the finish venue

Our "Sweep and Pray" team - they literally drove the entire route(s) yesterday with brooms to sweep the road of gravel and debris that may impact your ride - I don't think any other race does that...

The starting line

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NicholasH]

Maybe it is also time I introduce myself 🙂

Nicholas Haupt, "Chief cook and bottle washer" aka Head Of Operations

My role is to supervise teams that do route planning, route indicating, medical, sweeping, etc, etc.

I am also the "architect" of the Trilogy which debuted last year. IE I planned the route, cycled the route a number of times to ensure it was viable. I also put together the Trilogy training ride 2 weeks ago to give it a final test drive.

I am only one of 10 people on the main committee and 1 of 40 people on a larger operational  committee. I am a keen MTBer and roadie with average ability but I do have a passion for cycling

So, there we go. Hopefully I'll bump into you guys at the race venue after my duties on the road are done for the day.

[JeffK]

34 minutes ago, NicholasH said:

"Actually $ group has been 180 for 2020 race and prior and dropped down to 160 from 2022, based on David Clarke recommendation back in 2021 (no race).  I understand that this is still fitting the absolute max number of competitive elite cycles that we see entering our race.  Those cyclist have capability close to each other and fitting to compete in one "race / group".  The seeding number allowance is actually only 80 cyclists, with an buffer of 80 - this is not shown on the sheet.  David fills up to 80 and then use the other 80 for additional as required, as well as late entries.  Actual seeding will be lower than 160.  We did not have any issues with this for the last few races."

Feedback from the powers that be

Hi Nicholas

Thanks for the great work you are doing. If I may ask, what is the purpose of us men in the "%" category? As someone that want to get the most out of entering the event, wont it make more sense to just drop back to A or B, let the elite women do their thing and have fun with racing/riding in a bunch with similar goals/abiltiy and most likely get a better time?

[NicholasH]

Out of interest :

Who is the audience here in this particular forum: (If you don't mind responding)

A. Racing snake (%,$)

B. Racing snake (Trilogy)

C. Roadie - weekend warrior

D. Trilogy - weekend warrior

[NicholasH]

1 minute ago, JeffK said:

Hi Nicholas

Thanks for the great work you are doing. If I may ask, what is the purpose of us men in the "%" category? As someone that want to get the most out of entering the event, wont it make more sense to just drop back to A or B, let the elite women do their thing and have fun with racing/riding in a bunch with similar goals/ability and most likely get a better time?

Hi. Yeah, as I said before : seeding and the technical bits are out of our control. CSA/WP/PPA cycling determine all that. However, yes, fall back and have fun. You won't be penalized time wise if you start in a later group (as far as I know)

[andydude]

3 minutes ago, JeffK said:

Hi Nicholas

Thanks for the great work you are doing. If I may ask, what is the purpose of us men in the "%" category? As someone that want to get the most out of entering the event, wont it make more sense to just drop back to A or B, let the elite women do their thing and have fun with racing/riding in a bunch with similar goals/abiltiy and most likely get a better time?

I think the problem with the elite women is that there are too few. If they start on their own then they will be gobbled up quick by the next group. Same problem at the CTCT, hence they are starting them now much further up the road to have their own race without interference from other groups.

Regarding your question of falling back, there are still quite a few elites/vets racing in the % group so won't be no racing.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

22 minutes ago, NicholasH said:

Out of interest :

Who is the audience here in this particular forum: (If you don't mind responding)

A. Racing snake (%,$)

B. Racing snake (Trilogy)

C. Roadie - weekend warrior

D. Trilogy - weekend warrior

 

D. Trilogy - weekend warrior

[BuffsVintageBikes]

55 minutes ago, NicholasH said:

Our "Sweep and Pray" team - they literally drove the entire route(s) yesterday with brooms to sweep the road of gravel and debris that may impact your ride - I don't think any other race does that...

 

 

Must have been a helluva job on the Trilogy route, now that's going above & beyond 😉😊

Jokes aside, thanks to your Team for all their effort. If it's anything like last years event, we're in for a great day out on the bike at a very well organized event. I know I'm really looking forward to enjoying the Trilogy route with a few good mates 👍

[Johnny82]

32 minutes ago, NicholasH said:

Out of interest :

Who is the audience here in this particular forum: (If you don't mind responding)

A. Racing snake (%,$)

B. Racing snake (Trilogy)

C. Roadie - weekend warrior

D. Trilogy - weekend warrior

Very much "C. Roadie - weekend warrior" here 😂

[Mamil]

1 hour ago, NicholasH said:

Out of interest :

Who is the audience here in this particular forum: (If you don't mind responding)

A. Racing snake (%,$)

B. Racing snake (Trilogy)

C. Roadie - weekend warrior

D. Trilogy - weekend warrior

Roadie weekend warrior but I don't identify as a weekend warrior. I prefer to think of myself as a commited amateur, an enthusiastic hobbyist, a seriously competitive mamil .... the curve in the bell curve....

jlHowever, judging from the photos from the trailseeker a few weekends ago there is a serious discrepancy between my mental picture of what I look like on the bike and what I actually look like ... so what I identify as and what I actually am may not correspond.

[NicholasH]

1 minute ago, Mamil said:

Roadie weekend warrior but I don't identify as a weekend warrior. I prefer to think of myself as a commited amateur, an enthusiastic hobbyist, a seriously competitive mamil .... the curve in the bell curve....

jlHowever, judging from the photos from the trailseeker a few weekends ago there is a serious discrepancy between my mental picture of what I look like on the bike and what I actually look like ... so what I identify as and what I actually am may not correspond.

To be fair what we think we look like and what we ACTUALLY look like is a universal problem 😆

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, NicholasH said:

Out of interest :

Who is the audience here in this particular forum: (If you don't mind responding)

A. Racing snake (%,$)

B. Racing snake (Trilogy)

= Mamil😶‍🌫️

C. Roadie - weekend warrior

D. Trilogy - weekend warrior