Alot of words for such a simple concept "SabieX" Light. People are getting soft, what is this world coming to?
On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM, Roberto Ambrosio <[email protected]> wrote: > lol ... well day 2 was the LONG 80km day ... which I've heard quite a few > people complained about because it was "too tough", hence why it is now a > shorter day. > > Not saying a short 60km is not going to be tough, this is Sabie after all, > but 60km of mostly inclined hill is not as tough at 75km of mostly inclined > hill. The extra 15km usually makes quite a different, not to mention the > cumulative distance a long day has on the body. That extra 15km could take > you anywhere from 1h to 1h 30min to complete. That means you have more > saddle time and less recovery time. > > Also, hence moving the "sprit" race to day 1 instead of day 4 changes the > whole race entirely. If past experience is anything to go by, day 1 was for > me the toughest, not because of distance and terrain, but because my legs > are going "oh k...@k, WTF have you done to us this time ... again". After day > 1 > they are to buggered to argue and don't offer much resistance for the > remaining days. So moving the sprint to day 1 kind-a helps "ease" you into > it instead of pushing you into the deep end with a couple of diving weights. > > Just saying that new format allows for more recovery time & less saddle time > sloggin time and hence the cumulative effects are a lot friendlier on the > rider. So, I'll still maintain that the new format makes the race SabieX > light. > > On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 10:25 AM, Carine <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> 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]. >>>> 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]. >>> 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. > > > > -- > 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]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/darkanddirty?hl=en. > -- 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.
