Alberton _ JHB South Riders

[Guest agteros]

Yip, as said safe and fast for all.

Slave, I'll keep an eye open for a shout out, but cannot guarantee a stop and chat

[Guest agteros]

F for me Sir!

 

 

If you catch up with me in E, remember to offer you wheel!

[Andyr249]

So we have BigS in F chasing Agteros is E who is in turn chasing Kid in D.

[Zeps]

Andy who said anything about chasing dude

[Slave]

Indigo Kid, you falling back from D to E? I need a wheel to sit on.

 

Er, I thought saddles were designed for this purpose. Like I know they are lank uncomfortable, but sitting on someone's wheel is sure to be a lot less comfortable.

[Slave]

Andy who said anything about chasing dude

 

I do believe Sir, that this is the point at which I return to you, the Pink Blouse.

[Guest agteros]

Er, I thought saddles were designed for this purpose. Like I know they are lank uncomfortable, but sitting on someone's wheel is sure to be a lot less comfortable.

 

clever trevor! (not noah)

b-u-u-u-t..... .you did want to hurl abuse at the cyclists... now you have to pour water for them

[Trubie]

Well once again Joburg safest race was my downfall. No pun intended. No I didnt fall, but I fell dismally short of my "target time". Missed it by 9 mins, and struggled home in 2:49. Plenty times I wanted to get off the bike and just feel sorry for myself. Strange thing is that the cramps stayed away today which I'm elated about, and N14 was a breeze, but by that time I had lost sooo much time and my race was over for all practical reasons after 20 k's.

Bad experience and one to quickly forget. Pity its gotta happen in this race, but ya I suppose that's life.

 

Saw Slave doing duty on the N14 at the waterpoint

Andy rode a great race and a great time

Kid would say I was waiting for him again, but I didnt ,he just rode very well - again.

 

How was the rest's race/day. Glad I started early as I was very hot and bothered. Thinking of the poor souls who only started after I had finished as it was already 30 degr by that time.

People that start at that time should get 2 medals for finishing

[Guest agteros]

Did not see Indigo Kid, so I guess he did not wait up for me Did not see BigS come past me, but I was breathing through my nose and ears at some points, so was difficult to see anything. The bunch got rid of me towards the end of the N14, and I rode home in a mixed group of C-F riders. Felt strong on the initial stages of the hills for most parts of the race, so I'm quite happy with how the 2.5 months of real running, the 3 weeks of cycling and the spur of the moment late entry has gone.

Finished in a 2:53, which is the fastest of my three attempts at the race (and less than half of last years time)

[Cyclewizz]

I had a great race. Started nice & early and the pace was hot from the start. Guy crashed in front of me on the highway, thankfully i managed to avoid the dude. Got into a bunch just before the N14 which made the N14 bearable. Freak there were still more hills aftet the N14.

Completed the race in 2:51 or there abouts.

 

EDIT: Official time 2:51:59 (seems like the racetec watch needs new batteries)

 

Never saw Slave, hooked up with Andy afterwards for some water & a chicken burger.

Well done to all !!!!!

[Andyr249]

Well done to all!

 

Slave, I looked for you but didn't see you.

 

My race was a 97.7km sprint! The pace was high along the M1 and we took the M1 hill in big blade. After we turned off at St. Andrew's the hammer was put down. I managed to hang on but on the Joe Slovo climb I got unhitched along with two Lab Race Team guys. We worked together and managed to rejoin the front part of the bunch just before getting on the M2. The Ghandi Square bit was stupid, unneccesary and dangerous and I really hope they cut it out from the route next year! It is a freaking bus terminal with lanes separated by islands. At A bunch speed riders were diving left and right to avoid the islands. Afterwards the group somehow re-integrated safely as we went onto the M1. Down past the zoo we got up to speeds of 80kph. After that race was fairly controlled although the speed was still high. At the left turn off the N14 offramp we had a crash. Luckily I was on the outside of the turn and the crash happened on the inside. That hill on the R55 to the last waterpoint was taken at speed and the race to the finish was on. On the last little uphill towards the left turn into Waterfall Estate the riders who wanted to contest the sprint started their movements. I hang onto the back of that group and finished safely behind them. Racetec gave me 2:33:33 and 22nd position out of 137 in A. I am very happy with it. Then met with Kid and Hummy before riding home.

[Slave]

looking at the times I see here, I think it's probably a good thing I wasn't riding this year. I would definitely have been the slowest of the lot of you.

 

I did have some fun though. Got allocated with WP6 which was at the petroport on the N14. Got there at like 5h30in the morning, set up tables and junk, poured heaps of coke, powerade and water and then pretty much stood around like idiots waiting for our first victims to happen along. Just before the WP, was a sign showing 30Km to go.

 

It was a great experience because now I know how much the volunteers put into a water point at any race. It's quite a bit of work and I know now to appreciate it a lot more next time I am racing. I'm not looking for Noddy badges or accolades here. I want to pay them to the peeps who do it so often. Any thanks and gratitude must surely go to them. I'm just glad to have had the experience and to have had the opportunity to give something back to a great sport.

 

Of all of you riding, I saw Trubie who looked to be going strong from where I was standing, and Ha-Ha who was looking very ragged when he stopped for a drinks break. Trubie, it was very difficult to work out which groups came past me because of the speeds. Were you in the lead of your group? Sure looked like it to me. And your time was excelent.

 

I got a couple of semi-decent pictures of the earlier bunches coming past the water point since I knew that the serious racing snakes would not be stopping anywhere along the route.

 

Once we got busy, we got busy. The main rush was definitely duringthe heat of the day and I did feel for some of those peeps having to deal with that heat. We handed out hundreds of litres of Coke, Energade and water from about 10h30 until about 13h30. After that it got a bit quieter, but it seemed like every cyclist from about group s onwards stopped at out water point.

 

Then there were a few punctures to help out with as well. A few ladies who either had no idea of how to fix a flat, or had lost their tools to do the job. One such unfortunate lady found to her horror, that her tubby had split open and all her stuff bar one tube (which turned out to be useless anyway) had fallen out. All her bombs etc were gone.

 

Some of the peeps really amazed me. Especially as we got close to cutoff. One lady was in such a daze, she seemed to have no idea of where she was.Just sat on her bike staring into space as she drank her powerade. Cutoff was like only a couple of minutes away and she seemed like she had no concern about it at all. She did mozie along before they got to her but I couldn't help wondering how far down the road she might have got before they pulled her off.

 

And then of course, were the weekend warriors who just didn't put in enough time on their bikes to do the race confortably. They looked shocked when I told them they still had 30 Km to go.

 

One thing that did surprise the heck out of me was that no accidents happened at the water point. Sheesh, the way some folk pull in and out of them, I was very surprised that there were no injuries.

[Trubie]

looking at the times I see here, I think it's probably a good thing I wasn't riding this year. I would definitely have been the slowest of the lot of you.

 

I did have some fun though. Got allocated with WP6 which was at the petroport on the N14. Got there at like 5h30in the morning, set up tables and junk, poured heaps of coke, powerade and water and then pretty much stood around like idiots waiting for our first victims to happen along. Just before the WP, was a sign showing 30Km to go.

 

It was a great experience because now I know how much the volunteers put into a water point at any race. It's quite a bit of work and I know now to appreciate it a lot more next time I am racing. I'm not looking for Noddy badges or accolades here. I want to pay them to the peeps who do it so often. Any thanks and gratitude must surely go to them. I'm just glad to have had the experience and to have had the opportunity to give something back to a great sport.

 

Of all of you riding, I saw Trubie who looked to be going strong from where I was standing, and Ha-Ha who was looking very ragged when he stopped for a drinks break. Trubie, it was very difficult to work out which groups came past me because of the speeds. Were you in the lead of your group? Sure looked like it to me. And your time was excelent.

 

I got a couple of semi-decent pictures of the earlier bunches coming past the water point since I knew that the serious racing snakes would not be stopping anywhere along the route.

 

Once we got busy, we got busy. The main rush was definitely duringthe heat of the day and I did feel for some of those peeps having to deal with that heat. We handed out hundreds of litres of Coke, Energade and water from about 10h30 until about 13h30. After that it got a bit quieter, but it seemed like every cyclist from about group s onwards stopped at out water point.

 

Then there were a few punctures to help out with as well. A few ladies who either had no idea of how to fix a flat, or had lost their tools to do the job. One such unfortunate lady found to her horror, that her tubby had split open and all her stuff bar one tube (which turned out to be useless anyway) had fallen out. All her bombs etc were gone.

 

Some of the peeps really amazed me. Especially as we got close to cutoff. One lady was in such a daze, she seemed to have no idea of where she was.Just sat on her bike staring into space as she drank her powerade. Cutoff was like only a couple of minutes away and she seemed like she had no concern about it at all. She did mozie along before they got to her but I couldn't help wondering how far down the road she might have got before they pulled her off.

 

And then of course, were the weekend warriors who just didn't put in enough time on their bikes to do the race confortably. They looked shocked when I told them they still had 30 Km to go.

 

One thing that did surprise the heck out of me was that no accidents happened at the water point. Sheesh, the way some folk pull in and out of them, I was very surprised that there were no injuries.

 

 

As always Slave - looks can be deceiving. Thanks for the support though!

[Andyr249]

Well done Slave!

 

There was a water point at the Petroport??? Can't remember that one. How many water points were there in total. There seemed to be a water point everywhere.

[Slave]

Trubie. Andy, if you were in A bunch, they were very busy as they came past the N14 Petroport water point. Man, there was some serious racing going on.

 

In the Elites bunch, there was a breakway group being chased by the main bunch and the speed was awesome. "A bunch" looked to me to be pretty much together in one big happy family, but like I said they were busy. Looked like peeps were jockeying to get a decent position on the long downhill section to get an optimum spot for an attack on the long uphill section ahead. You guys went past so quickly It was impossible to see who was where.

 

There were 10 water points in all. WP1 was in Parktown on Joe Slovo (AKA Harrow Road)

 

'nother thing that amazed me was the number of peeps riding for charities. A number of teams dressed up as cows (must have been hot in that get-up) and each team had a tricycle with them that they had to get to the finish and up and down the hills.

 

Then I saw a fair number of peeps on Hand bikes, some low-slung, and some not so low-slung. Kudos to those who were getting them to the finish.

 

Tell you one thing though, a lot of people waste stuff. Some guys would stop at the water point, throw out a full bottle of powerade and ask for a cold refill. WTF??? Is that just because it's free?

 

Some peeps were very helpful by throwing their cups into the "bins" provided while yet others would drink and then drop the cup on the road in front of the tables.

 

Yet others would open their gels, goos and other gummy stuff, drink it down, toss the foil wrapper in the road, drink water and drop their cup in the road before rushing off again.

 

Yeah, I know,I volunteered to help, but like is it so much to ask people to dispose of the stuff properly? We had enough bins spread around for all the junk. I guess some peeps are just always going to be pigs.

 

Thanks must go to Ian, one of the race officials. There was a hole in the road just in front of the fist of the tables at the start of the water point. He got a spade,dug out some soil and filled the hole for us. I wanted to get it marked so participants would be able to see it before destroying their tyres.

 

I doubt whether local council will fix it by next year, so try to remember next year. What is now a relatively small hole in the road, will probably be a great big pothole next year.

[Zeps]

I do believe Sir, that this is the point at which I return to you, the Pink Blouse.

 

Touche dude

 

I am very happy with my 2:55 after a 2:28 at the MTB race Saturday ...... the red mist came up so the intended 'just take it easy' race was not quite as intended but had an absolute blast the weekend

 

Road bike covered with a sheet and hung up again till fast one ..... MTB now morning noon and night for 24hr next of next week