What's up with compulsory team races?

[MeridaV]

Just a thought, but am I alone in being irritated by races that you can only enter as a team? Don't get me wrong, I fully support the notion of having the option of entering teams, but how about allowing solo riders to do their own thing?

[Guest agteros]

Me too! I'd love to do a few solo multi-stage races

[DawieO]

Team races operate under the premise that they need less support because the teams are more self-sufficient and hence save a bit of cost on the crews etc.

 

SabieX Lite offered a Solo option this year, but that ws piggy-backed off the 2 team events.

[Daniel XTR]

Yeah, I dont know. I'd have loved to do Sabie Full Solo. Settled on Lite Solo.

 

I guess its a safety (medical mostly) on a longer stage race? And admittedly, from time to time it does get a bit boring.

 

On the plus side, you can put the hammer down when you want and tap off equally. Give me Sabie Full Solo, i'd probably take it, but then 4 hours on a bike solo does get a bit tedious.

 

They should allow it to sufficiently "qualified" individuals who've done distance stage races before, you dont want a novice on his own somewhere in the forest, do you?

[Guest agteros]

Yeah, I dont know. I'd have loved to do Sabie Full Solo. Settled on Lite Solo.

 

I guess its a safety (medical mostly) on a longer stage race? And admittedly, from time to time it does get a bit boring.

 

On the plus side, you can put the hammer down when you want and tap off equally. Give me Sabie Full Solo, i'd probably take it, but then 4 hours on a bike solo does get a bit tedious.

 

They should allow it to sufficiently "qualified" individuals who've done distance stage races before, you dont want a novice on his own somewhere in the forest, do you?

 

Two novices ain't better!

[Wyatt Earp]

Me too! I'd love to do a few solo multi-stage races

+1, partners are very hard to find.

[Daniel XTR]

Yeah, but at least, or you should hope, one novice can identify when his team mate is in trouble.

 

For one, i know, my ride partner and I always remind each other to drink, eat, etc, and we can tell where each of us are in a bit of trouble. You dont have to admit these things when you're good team mates, you just know these things.

So two novices should sort themselves out, I dunno, eat each other if things get heavy lol

[Daniel XTR]

+1, partners are very hard to find.

 

Ya but dangle, not everyone has the most bling 9r out. Makes most bikes look like a dunlop special, so I wouldnt ride my Zaskar with you 'cos of that.

 

But seriously, you're really right there. Finding a good team mate ain't easy.

[Mats]

I also dont like team races.

[MeridaV]

Ja, I don't buy the safety argument - it might be valid for something like the Transbaviaans, but not so much for most of the multi-stage races that are popping up these days.

[Daniel XTR]

Hows about an Answer from one of the organizers?

We know there are a few of you on thehub.

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