Emperors Palace MTB Gripe

[nolipoli]

Interesting that the MTB race on Saturday was also not great.

Not so much because of marshalling, but more because of poor organisation.

No sign posting at the venue, no clear instructions on start procedures (we missed the 40km start in spite of being on time and in the crowd with a fair number of other 40km competitors), and worst of all, NO WATER POINTS. 

Thanks Turtlek fo the correction.

My wife is cheesed that a race that cost R140, and was sponsored by MTN and Emperors Palace, had no goody bags, no water points, and couldn't offer more than some lukewarm blue powerade in a 100ml paper cup to those that finished.

 

Now maybe I am speaking out of turn, maybe I am spoilt by some of the other races out there, but I left Emperors on Saturday knowing that I would not be returning for next years race.

 

The course was muddy in parts, with some nice single track in the trees, and overall very cool. Its a shame that I won't ride it again...

nolipoli2009-02-09 10:35:25

[turtlek]

Dude what are you smoking i spent close to two hours at the waterpoint run by just fun cycling

[nolipoli]

Man, are you serious????

How is that possible?

Is that where there was some loud music and some dollies all cheering and stuff?

At least five people I know complained that there was no water point.

 

Sorry guys for missing that.

 

[turtlek]

yup hahahaha that was a waterpiont actually more like a safari because of the long grass and thos poppies were useless seeing as they never handed out anything and i saw maybe two people stop for the water

 

 

 

alsdo i think it was stupid to have it where they did they should have had it at the top of the hill instead of at the bottom!!!

[firebladeash]

Jip,very bad organized.It was my first race and was very dissapointed.Even the medalions looks bad.My wife did the road race on Sunday and they even got lost on the way.

WONDER WHO WE CAN COMPLAIN TO.This will put so many people of MTB racing.Looks like MTN is just as bad as their cell phone service.

[Daniel XTR]

Feck man,

 

i also passed the loud music, and thought, it was some tech support jol which the announcer mentioned at the start. whats the point of gary fisher flags at a water point,

 

the dollies seemed ok, i nearly wiped in the mud just after the water point cos i was looking at them.

[turtlek]

Dan the fisher flags were because just fun is the importer for the bikes and they sponsored the waterpoint

 

 

 

the dollies were a case of nice from far but far from nice

[Daniel XTR]

all good and well then,

 

thanks for the scoop on the dollies, so it was not worth my while to have have tried to impress them with my "extraordinary skillz"

Did some late braking into that right hander.

[Eldron]

Interesting that the MTB race on Saturday was also not great.

Not so much because of marshalling' date=' but more because of poor organisation.

No sign posting at the venue, no clear instructions on start procedures (we missed the 40km start in spite of being on time and in the crowd with a fair number of other 40km competitors), and worst of all, NO WATER POINTS. 

Thanks Turtlek fo the correction.

My wife is cheesed that a race that cost R140, and was sponsored by MTN and Emperors Palace, had no goody bags, no water points, and couldn't offer more than some lukewarm blue powerade in a 100ml paper cup to those that finished.

 

Now maybe I am speaking out of turn, maybe I am spoilt by some of the other races out there, but I left Emperors on Saturday knowing that I would not be returning for next years race.

 

The course was muddy in parts, with some nice single track in the trees, and overall very cool. Its a shame that I won't ride it again...

[/quote']

 

I'm not sure we were at the right race....

 

I picked up my number on Wednesday from Sweat and Gears and got a goodie bag (water bottle, raisins, energy bar, tissues, bitters etc).

I got to the start early - started right up front and managed to get going with the right group (admittedly the start was a bit "casual"). Johnny was giving updates on the start and doing his usual slapstick banter.

I can't comment on the water points - didn't use any as I carry my own water.

 

All in all I was very impressed - the course was well marked - a few novelties were thrown in (the concrete pipe slalom), what could have been a total mud bath was salvaged by Lee and the team putting planks/grates etc over the worst of the mud etc. Overtaking backmarkers was a real problem but it's something that happens at most races and you just need to deal with it.

 

There was ample parking - took me less than 2 mins from highway offramp to being parked.

 

My only gripe would be the distance - 30km instead of 40km? Perhaps a really bad mud section was skipped?

 

Nice hospitality tent with over priced beverages (ok one more gripe), a few tables sit around, bike shop to buy bits and bobs, good food - what was not to like? I'll be back next year...

[nolipoli]

I just wonder about the wisdom of having an underground parking for a bike race given the popularity of rooftop bike carriers...

The course was muddy, but that is what mountain biking is supposed to be about. The planks were a stroke of genius. Lots of dirty fun.I would have preferred to have had the extra 10kms, even if it was crazy mud.

 

My wife picked up our race packs from Cycle Lab in Fourways. We got a yellow bottle and one of those A3 sized magazines. I am even more disappointed now that I hear that some people got more than others.

 

You know maybe I am just suffering from high expectations. But maybe when you pay R140 for a big name (MTN, Emperors)sponsored event you should have high expectations?

 

 

[Li Mu Bai]

pfft, mtb race thats the standard price nowadays. Expect mud, thats what you are there for. Goodie bags are not really meant to be anything exciting - be happy you got one, there was nothing but a newspaper for the Fast One haha.

I do agree that shorter distances are annoying - cant race properly and get your final kick right.

 

Best stick to the MTN Miway series, much more interesting races and surroundings...

[Kaaskyker]

 

 

I pre entered and got my goodie bag that Saturday morning.

 

We were at the back of the start and they announced a few times for the 40km?rs to come to the front. Maybe some should stop chit chatting and open their ears and pay attention.

Race wise it was nice.... very muddy, the forest section was tricky with all the back markers but no complaints there. It was much better than last year imo.

 

No complaints from my side, just a bit short. 

 

 

Kaaskyker2009-02-11 03:33:44

[idrive]

I hated it, but I crashed, right in the middle of the huge sewer swamp, my head went under the water and it tasted disgusting. My gels popped in my shorts and I was totally soaked, caked in mud and Energy Dynamic gooyey sludge.

 

I suppose it also didn't help that someone landed on top of me either.

 

Anyway, I rode back to the finish like a good boy and didn't go over the mats or collect a medal despite them thinking I was a top finisher.

 

What a *** race. The organisers should have dried the route a bit before they made us ride it.

 

Even better, seeing as though they land airplanes in rivers in america why not make the airplanes land in the river so we could ride on the runway ...?

[svenm]

maybe its the spirit of a race riding alongside other riders that makes me enjoy an event, better then waking up at 10am with a screaming hangover is how i always feel.

i can understand that a goodie bag makes one feel special, it bring out the kid in us to see whats inside, and yes a newspaper goodiebag was a bit of an anticlimax, however i did read through it, and i did eat my raising and drank my bottle of water.

but if i hear the news today about the flooding in the kempton/boksburg area i can only say im glad the event isnt this weekend.

i heard a pre-race briefing at the start.

it was pretty technical mud which was good training for us all. he he.

forest section was OK, if it was a one lap race with no crowding i would have enjoyed it a bit more. got a medal although it looks a bit odd next to the road event medal from the next day, but its more then i recieved from some triathlons. As i said, good or bad, we rode it alongside each other and went through the same sludge, nobody had it any better. will be there next year, work permitting.

[knievel]

I thought last years one was crap as well and so didn't even consider riding this year!

[Mountie]

I gave up a ride in Groenkloof for this event (for some plane gazing), and in retrospect should've stayed with original plan of action.

 

I was one of the guys missing the 40km start (according to some 'chit chatting'), and my first round went much like most of the others' second round.  No more boards in the muddiest of sections, people walking and pushing bikes two-two or three-three, making passing almost impossible.

 

Maybe I was expecting more planes, who knows?  The single track through the small trees were nice, but I did not think the cement pipes were anything special.  But then again, certain strokes for certain folks.  My slow puncture limited the enjoyment of the race, and I limited myself to one lap, as I felt I was stuffing up my bike...

 

Tried to dodge the timing mats, but did not succeed.  I have requested Winning Time to remove me from the 40km results, as the results showed that I finished in the 'top 20' (not their fault).  So hopefully a few guys would have moved up the results ladder...

 

Bottom line, you can't beat tracks in nature!

 

Safe Cycling!