[Event] Attakwas Extreme

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, dewaldsss said:

Congrats on the sub 7 👌

Taking Alan's time from 2025 vs 2026 he only went 25min faster this year

2025 - 04:50:16 vs 2026 - 04:25:10

I'll take the 25min as a mental note to self 

6h13 is an amazing performance  (even in perfect weather!) - well done! Next up the Sub-6?

[dewaldsss]

12 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

6h13 is an amazing performance  (even in perfect weather!) - well done! Next up the Sub-6?

indeed yes! That will be the plan for next year if health etc allows me.

Especially now that I know what to expect after Bonniedale one gat give it a bit more horns from the start.

[daveno7]

15 hours ago, MarcelGriff said:

The weather was as good as you could possibly get. Mid to high 20's ahead of KOM and and on the other side it was cooler with some light rain for a small patch.

As for the ride it self it was a different story for me and my brother. We did a slowish start per normal and with the first major climb before the 3rd water point we slowly started to it up increase the pace as we are able to ride the first climb and big parts of the KOM climb. This is our normal tactic and so we pass quite a few of the early gunners who burned to much and are now slowing down. On the first big climb getting in our grove passing quite a few guys already walking, I had to dodge some guys bailing mid track on both sides and forced me to go up the ridge in the middle between them. I managed to pass them but a my brother behind me flicked a rock and it hit his derailleur which then broke the hanger.  This was on km +-51.

Trying to figure out what and how we are going to deal with this, the plan initially was to get he derailleur of the bike and then get down to WP3 and see if the mechanics could assist in some way. I know you all will say why don't make it a single speed ..... he has an oval chain ring up front so single speed was not an option. As the bolt on the derailleur is a bigger T bolt than what we had on our multi tools we could not get the derailleur from the bike. Loosing trying to make a plan with the derailleur one of the support motorbikes came along and we could cut the cable and put the derailleur and chain in his hydration bag and start the big hike of 15km to WP3. 

As the terrain was very technical there was not many ways I could assist or support him. Downhills he jumped on the bike and flew down and tried to go as far as he could with momentum, up hill he walked as fast as he could. Eventually getting to Bonniedale hoping for a miracle at he tech station, but there was just no plan that could be made. Nothing could be done. Quit or run. My brother does not quit easily thus we resorted to math. 

Looking at the time still being before 12pm and doing some math it could still be possible to finish the race in the cutoff. Knowing that I would be able to assist with pulling / pushing on the roads after Bonniedale, as the track was not technical going forward, and in high spirits we decided to give this a go. So on the hills he walked and ran as much as his body allowed him and on the flats and low inclines he held on to my backpack so I could pull him. Some creative track hand Madison slings helped to get him over some of the rollers with momentum and on the flatter roads it was just pure old diesel tow. Slowly but surely we started to believe this ridiculous plan could work. Every few km we looked and saw we are getting closer and we are slowly getting ahead of some time plan made for ourselves. 

With lots encouragement from fellow riders and good amount of banter and jokes between us keeping our spirits high we managed to run / hop / skip / sling / tow our way to the end before the cutoff.

This will surely be something we both wont easily forget. Yesterday I completed my 4th and my brother his 8th and even with the high temps of the previous years and being super proud of being able to complete them, I am the most proud of this finish and that we were able to do it. Huge respect to Johan for his fighting spirit and not wanting to give up, when the odds was highly stacked against him. 

A big thanks to all the people along the route supporters and riders who encouraged and motivated us. 

P.S. Oh and by the way I told him to get a normal chain ring Monday morning first thing. 

thats a big win 

[Super Sywurm]

My 2027 entry is paid.

[milky4130]

23 hours ago, MarcelGriff said:

The weather was as good as you could possibly get. Mid to high 20's ahead of KOM and and on the other side it was cooler with some light rain for a small patch.

As for the ride it self it was a different story for me and my brother. We did a slowish start per normal and with the first major climb before the 3rd water point we slowly started to it up increase the pace as we are able to ride the first climb and big parts of the KOM climb. This is our normal tactic and so we pass quite a few of the early gunners who burned to much and are now slowing down. On the first big climb getting in our grove passing quite a few guys already walking, I had to dodge some guys bailing mid track on both sides and forced me to go up the ridge in the middle between them. I managed to pass them but a my brother behind me flicked a rock and it hit his derailleur which then broke the hanger.  This was on km +-51.

Trying to figure out what and how we are going to deal with this, the plan initially was to get he derailleur of the bike and then get down to WP3 and see if the mechanics could assist in some way. I know you all will say why don't make it a single speed ..... he has an oval chain ring up front so single speed was not an option. As the bolt on the derailleur is a bigger T bolt than what we had on our multi tools we could not get the derailleur from the bike. Loosing trying to make a plan with the derailleur one of the support motorbikes came along and we could cut the cable and put the derailleur and chain in his hydration bag and start the big hike of 15km to WP3. 

As the terrain was very technical there was not many ways I could assist or support him. Downhills he jumped on the bike and flew down and tried to go as far as he could with momentum, up hill he walked as fast as he could. Eventually getting to Bonniedale hoping for a miracle at he tech station, but there was just no plan that could be made. Nothing could be done. Quit or run. My brother does not quit easily thus we resorted to math. 

Looking at the time still being before 12pm and doing some math it could still be possible to finish the race in the cutoff. Knowing that I would be able to assist with pulling / pushing on the roads after Bonniedale, as the track was not technical going forward, and in high spirits we decided to give this a go. So on the hills he walked and ran as much as his body allowed him and on the flats and low inclines he held on to my backpack so I could pull him. Some creative track hand Madison slings helped to get him over some of the rollers with momentum and on the flatter roads it was just pure old diesel tow. Slowly but surely we started to believe this ridiculous plan could work. Every few km we looked and saw we are getting closer and we are slowly getting ahead of some time plan made for ourselves. 

With lots encouragement from fellow riders and good amount of banter and jokes between us keeping our spirits high we managed to run / hop / skip / sling / tow our way to the end before the cutoff.

This will surely be something we both wont easily forget. Yesterday I completed my 4th and my brother his 8th and even with the high temps of the previous years and being super proud of being able to complete them, I am the most proud of this finish and that we were able to do it. Huge respect to Johan for his fighting spirit and not wanting to give up, when the odds was highly stacked against him. 

A big thanks to all the people along the route supporters and riders who encouraged and motivated us. 

P.S. Oh and by the way I told him to get a normal chain ring Monday morning first thing. 

That’s proper grit & determination. Did your support crew hand over the running shoes?

[MarcelGriff]

Yes he packed in some running shoes for after the race so we managed to send a voice note ahead and he got them at the Ruiterbos school waterpoint. The mechanics there also could not make a plan with a spare hanger so he took the shoes swop.

[milky4130]

23 minutes ago, MarcelGriff said:

Yes he packed in some running shoes for after the race so we managed to send a voice note ahead and he got them at the Ruiterbos school waterpoint. The mechanics there also could not make a plan with a spare hanger so he took the shoes swop.

Quick thinking, that worked out well in the end, sounds like my type of adventure. On that note let it be a reminder for all of us to carry that backup hanger in our spares kit.

I use to do this years ago when I rode a chines carbon HT frame and the hanger was not standard and freely available, it was something you order extra when importing your frame.