i have only ridden days 3 and 4 ... day 3 is roughly what we did as day 2 in previous years, except that you come down into sabie from a different direction - being navigationally challenged, i won't be able to tell you where we went
the last day is 'only' around 60 - but that will certainly be no woozie day. at some stage we went through a forest in a dip that felt like we were in a microwave ... the climbs are really steep - the downhills matches, though :) 2009/11/26 Roberto Ambrosio <[email protected]> > Well... talking about the main race, have you read the detail behind each > stage? The entire format has been switched around and the distances have > been reduced... from the sounds of it, 2009 is SabieX light anyway. > Regardless though, the wear and damage the main race does to your equipment > (as much fun as it is), just does not seem to be worth it. Truth be told a > mate of mine who did the Cape Epic reckoned the Epic was actually easier > than the old format SabieX, simply because of the lack of mud pools that are > knee deep and the fact that you don't need to replace you cabling / brake > pads / chain / etc after each stage if you actually want to to complete the > race with a working bike. > > Anyways... the pre-ride sounds fun and worth it. The idea of riding as a > social group with a back-up vehicle that actually has supplies (Being a > back-marker there have been numerous times that I've gotten to water points > that are practically empty) is VERY appealing. Also, not having to wait for > a single track and not getting stuck in a queue when you finally get on > it is a serious bonus > > Thanks for the report :) > > On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 6:47 PM, Carine <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I've done 2 extremely muddy Sabie Xtremes, and kind of decided to not do >> it again because of the damage to the bike. >> >> But when Fiona and Doug and Gadget (my freedom Challenge riding buddies in >> Joberg) all said they're gonna be at the Sabie X preride, and with Dawn and >> Dave unavailable for playing, I realised I could either go with, or have no >> riding buddies for that weekend. >> >> I have been tempted to do the preride before, but intimidated by my own >> (lack of) ability and what i've read from other people about the speeds that >> they do these rides at >> >> Couldn't get leave for the Friday (due to a new product launch that didn't >> seem to fit in with my riding plans) >> >> Left the office at 2-ish on Friday afternoon, only to be prevented from >> going anywhere by William-Nicol Traffic. Left Gadget's place at 5-ish. More >> traffic-woes, and we were free. Quick phone-call to Fiona confirmed that the >> day's ride was muddy and wet and long and awesome. Doug was battling with a >> cold, though, and didn't ride Another phone call to Steve (Honey) whe is >> lucky enough to stay in that area nowadays - also looking forward to the >> next day's ride. >> >> We checked in and found the house-mates to be Colin and Graham - Colin, >> with whom i shared a downhill or two in Waterval-boven and a few other >> places - but more importantly, who has cycled events like La ruta de los >> Conquistadores and Trans Rockies - a LEGEND. and Graham, who has toured lots >> of the freedom trail SOLO. another legend. >> >> It promised to become another weekend of cycling with legends, listining >> to their stories and admiring their bikes. >> >> Woke up Saturday morning with the smell of freshly brewed coffee - Graham >> came prepared! We lubed the bikes, got our wind jammers out, and off we >> went. Doug was not looking well at all, but who can blame him for wanting to >> come with? >> >> Out into the fog and through the pine plantations and through the fog. >> Admiring wooden specialized bikes, listening to stories, dodging >> mud-puddles, and just generally being alive. >> >> Stopping for water, junglebars and bananas - then climb some more. A flat >> tyre, a cold that got the better of Doug, who opted to get into the >> ambulance - then climb some more. Wait at the top. On rare singletrackies, >> send the fast people first- partly so that you can see where the dangers >> are, but mostly for the enjoyment factor of all. >> >> Up on to the reserve, and then on the level before the descent started. We >> had an ambulance, so >> >> No mud-baths where 1000 cyclists went before you. >> No queues on singletracks, and therefor no-one who jumps queues, and >> no-one walking perfectly ridable obstacles. >> >> Some downhill at last, release the breaks and just go. The Trance's shocks >> were pumped a little too hard (due to the 6-hour-event the week before) and >> it handled even more unstable than i remember the hardtail - probably only >> because i haevn't been on the hardtail for a while! >> >> Anyway - so we bomb down this hill and that - up that little climbie, then >> down again, and too soon the ride was over. >> >> Washed the bikes, had an humungous chelsea bun (the size of a chocolate >> cake, really!), and then got clean to go watch the rugby in a pub. >> >> >> Gadget organised some chicken liver pasta for supper - yummie!!!! >> >> Then Sunday morning, more riding! >> >> Doug looked a lot better, but wisely decided not to ride. >> So we bid him farewell, and off we went - 'n climb on tar, some downhill, >> a wicked steep long breathtaking climb - and what a pleasure that it was >> ridable - mostly because there was no mud-bath where 1000 bicycle have gone >> before you, and the pathe was not full of people hiking up the mountain with >> their bikes. >> >> Breathtaking climb, breathtaking views, awesome people. I wanted to be >> nowhere else. >> >> More singletrack, more climbs, more downhills, a little mis-happie on a >> slippery climb that left a big gash on my knee, some attention from the >> medical team, more singletrack, more general feel-good-ness and alive-ness. >> >> Too soon the ride ends. >> Get clean, and head for Dullstroom for some pizza ans other fatty >> unhealthy foodstuffs and beer and hot chocolate. >> >> Part of the reason for the ride is that the medical team can see where >> accidents are most likely to happen - and to work out their evacuation plans >> for the main event. There are 3 vehicles, so depending on the number of >> people who wants to ride on the day, there can be a maximum of 3 groups. >> People falling off from the fast group gets picked up by the slower groups. >> Your R100 per day's riding includes permits and a medical team that follows >> you in a car wherever possible (and who carries water and some energy >> drinks, junglebars and bananas. And priceless, the AWESOME riding buddies in >> what is one of South Africa's greatest mountain bike destinations ..... I'm >> afraid the Sabie Xperience 'main race' won't see me again. >> >> But the preride .... i will be there next year. And i'll get leave for ALL >> the days of the preride. >> >> THIS is the ride to do. >> THIS is what mountainbiking is about (for me, anyway). >> >> >> -- >> >> http://cyclingwith.blogspot.com >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "DarkAndDirty" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<darkanddirty%[email protected]> >> . >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/darkanddirty?hl=. >> > > > > -- > Kind regards, > Roberto Ambrosio > > ... Running hurts, it always has. Woolly mammoths didn't just roll over > onto a plate and serve themselves up to prehistoric man with fries and a > shake. They had to be caught - and running down woolly mammoths was hard. - > www.teamcyanosis.co.za > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "DarkAndDirty" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<darkanddirty%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/darkanddirty?hl=en. > -- http://cyclingwith.blogspot.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DarkAndDirty" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/darkanddirty?hl=en.
