94.7 MTB - Joburg's k@kest race?

[JarradVZ]

Okay, let's give credit where it is due:

 

They had to cater for like half a million cyclists. This considered, the organisation, registration, parking, marshalling etc were all pretty efficient. I didn't stop at any water tables but they looked decent. They catered for the whole family with different distances and a nice "race village" setup.

There was also a jail-bait little bike washer with some glorious (fake) D-cups in a bikini that was slightly too small.

 

All much appreciated.

 

BUT...

 

When I enter a MTB race all of these things are secondary to one thing: The route itself.

Quoted from the 94.7 website:

"Single track, some long slow drags, some river crossings (now with awesome new bridges courtesy of Century Properies) and some breathtaking scenery and abundant bird lifemake up the 50km event".

 

Umm... What single-track? Did anyone see any? (500m does not count)

The only time the scenery took my breath away was when I rode through sewerage water (several times). What scenery are they actually referring to? The prison? The polluted river? The highway? The endless grassy, tufty building site wasteland?

53km they promised at the start. 48km on my Garmin.

 

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh? But when I enter Joburg's biggest MTB race at a considerable price then I expect some work to have gone into the route. Not a single section of purpose-cut trail in sight.

 

Batch starts? Great idea. But it looked like A1 had about a hundred riders in it! I had to fight through hackers for the first 15km. Hang on, why are there hackers in A1?

 

Okay, okay, rant off.

 

It was at least decent training, rode nice and hard and just missed a sub-2hr. Oh well, there's always next year. Oops, I forgot, I definitely won't be entering next year.

 

Feel free to disagree...

[Guest Big H]

You answered it for yourself trying to justify your actions, but had to rant for what seemed like episode 1 of a book....... read your second last paragraph of many again!!!!!!

Edited November 20, 2010 by Big H

[JarradVZ]

Umm... Books come in chapters, not episodes. There was nothing to answer, I was just expressing my frustrations. Anyone is welcome to disagree.

 

PS. Nice work there with the multiple exclamation marks.

[Ovenboi]

That is the reason I'm not there this year. Too many push a bike sections last time I did it and too many Sewage for my liking.

Went out for a lovely time overdue breakfast with the family

[BGS]

I was there doing the 10km. Being my first ever official race, i have nothing to compare it to

 

I do think the massive piece of hidden wire in the bush on the way out should be sorted out as i almost broke my toe on it and the guy behind me also got his foot caught and could have had a nasty fall.

 

Overall it was a good day out for me except for the kids doing the gung ho thing.

[Puncture Girl]

I was there doing the 10km. Being my first ever official race, i have nothing to compare it to

 

I do think the massive piece of hidden wire in the bush on the way out should be sorted out as i almost broke my toe on it and the guy behind me also got his foot caught and could have had a nasty fall.

 

Overall it was a good day out for me except for the kids doing the gung ho thing.

 

Well done!! :clap: Sorry to hear about the wire and kidlets - hope you had tons of fun anyway.

[JarradVZ]

I was there doing the 10km. Being my first ever official race, i have nothing to compare it to

 

I do think the massive piece of hidden wire in the bush on the way out should be sorted out as i almost broke my toe on it and the guy behind me also got his foot caught and could have had a nasty fall.

 

Overall it was a good day out for me except for the kids doing the gung ho thing.

Nice! That is where they have done well, exposing new people to the sport. I just hope people realize that there is far better riding to be had.

Edited November 20, 2010 by TimHenman

[Guest Big H]

Umm... Books come in chapters, not episodes. There was nothing to answer, I was just expressing my frustrations. Anyone is welcome to disagree.

 

PS. Nice work there with the multiple exclamation marks.

 

Six love ..... six love..... game set and match..... congratulation you won at last!!!!!!!

[Don1]

Always unfortunately got to have some tjops who criticize everything.

Great race. If you did it last year, you would appreciate all the improvements and changes this year. Many problems were encountered last year with bottlenecks and the infamous Jukskei sewege. Today, vastly improved - well done to the organisers for listening to our concerns of last year and making the event enjoyable. Good job.

[BGS]

Well done!! :clap: Sorry to hear about the wire and kidlets - hope you had tons of fun anyway.

 

Thanks PG

[BGS]

Nice! That is where they have done well, exposing new people to the sport. I just hope people realize that there is far better riding to be had.

 

Thanks

 

Yeah, i will continue to enter small races... i think in hindsight that entering such a huge event on my first time ever was perhaps not the brightest of sparks i have had. Only been on a bike for four months so im really new...

 

Edit: When you say there is better riding to be had, what do you mean? How would you compare? This being my first time in a race, and being brand new to the sport, im curious to know what i should look for etc? Bearing in mind that i dont want to go jumping off cliftops, i like the trails.

Edited November 20, 2010 by BGS

[BigGuy]

Considering that I have not touched the bike since 3 Towers it went fairly well, except for the cramps, which set in at around 35km. The mind was willing but the flesh could not respond, except at the bike wash! Yes, that was the best part of the day for me. I ventured over there after failing to find the CycleLab hospitality zone. Did anyone else find it?

 

Two small complaints only (regarding the water points): I need to drink a bottle every 30 minutes or else I dehydrate. The 50ml (or was it 100ml) water saches did not do it for me when trying to mix the bottle. Took ages to carefully open and pour. No water jugs or containers. The other thing was that there was no Coke. I only mention this as it is printed on the race briefing that there would be some at every water point. It would have helped for the cramping, at least mentally.

 

Actually I wonder why they cannot put 4 water stops in place that would rival tomorrow's? I am sure with the amount of entries funds should not be the deciding factor. If only they will visit Forest2Falls to see what a water point should be like!

 

 

[Daniel XTR]

I did the 50k MTB, and i was pleasantly surprised, after everyone said how rubbish the MTB race is. You are not going to find a scenic route in JHB, so take it for what it is, not what it isnt. A bit out of JHB there are tons of good routes.

Cant complain, was fun. Onto tomorrow!

[levett]

I did the 25km (after the 45km last year), and thought that the route was 'much improved' and tougher than I thought it would be. There was few 'hold ups' - mainly riders starting through an obsticle (mud or sand) and stopping half way through, causing everyone else to 'get off'.

 

The starting pens worked well (unlike the kids races last weekend!) - the usual 'jokers' who 'wait at the side' and then join the front of the group - obviously feel that they've been seeded incorrectly, and are much 'stronger' than the rest of the group!

 

Overall, bearing in mind that it tries to cater for everyone, I think it was much improved over last year - not the best race I agree, but quite and 'event'!

[JarradVZ]

Edit: When you say there is better riding to be had, what do you mean? How would you compare? This being my first time in a race, and being brand new to the sport, im curious to know what i should look for etc? Bearing in mind that i dont want to go jumping off cliftops, i like the trails.

You'll know when you find it. Keep on riding, it gets better and better.

About the clifftops thing: A route doesn't have to be overly technical or difficult to be enjoyable. I just feel that with a budget as big as theirs they could easily have employed some workers to cut trails for a few months. Riding on tufty grass is just not fun. They will never compete with the scenery and settings of some other races, but that is why they should work extra hard on the trails.

[Capcha]

Well, I was one of those hackers and no fault of mine. Let me explain...So I get to the Sandton Convention Centre and look for my name on the list and HUH? I am not on it. Go to enquiries and they say the reason I am not on it is because I have not paid yet. What? I paid months ago. Now I have to phone my Fiancé to look for the page I printed out from my bank showing the payment and get her to scan it and send to my BB. OK, so I get and show the lady. She is now happy and gets my number, just the number, no goody bag, just the number (my kids love the goody bag). So I see the have just decided to put me in the 50km race(I have only ever done three 25km races)and I am in group A1.I tell the lady this is not right how can you put me in group A1 and the 50km race, please change. By this time I am wondering if I should do this race at all as it has started off a bit shaky. She tells me the system told her what number to give me...Eish!!!!And she cannot change it.

 

So there I was in group A1 today with Burry and Robbie feeling way out of place. So to all the guys in this group, sorry if I got in your way but I stayed as far left as possible. If you saw a chubby guy in blue and grey riding a Bianchi that would be me. As far as the race went, they could have cleaned up a bit better. Lots of barbwire, broken glass. Saw many guys with punctures. First impressions, not very good. I know of many other routes I have done in my limited time in the saddle that are far better. However, Century being one of the sponsors I doubt the routes for the years to come would change much. Other than that, it will do but not up there with the top 10 rides I have on my to ride list.