Well done, Leon, I'm sorry I missed that one, seriously enjoyed it last year and promised I'd do it again this year, although I still prefer the longer one. Might be something to do with my legs only starting to work after about 2-3 hours.
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Leon van der Westhuizen Sent: 31 May 2010 12:56 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: [D&D-chat] Magalies Monster For those who can't, or couldn't be bothered to follow my blog :-) vortexe.blogspot.com What a race. I am reminded why this race is my favorite one of all. It has more technical singletrack and seriaas rocky descents than any other single stage of any MTB race I have ever done, bar none. It really does. >From a ride over a cement pipe, to large fixed rocks round Bufflespoort dam, to smooth flowing singletrack on the hiking trails in Mountain Sanctuary Park, to hectic smaller loose rocky descent to a portage river crossing and up a to the top of an almost-cliff, followed by a long technical climb on cut grass with loose rocks interspersed and a downhill of the same, to purpose built flowing singletrack along the Sterkstroom river, with bridges to cross over, and sometimes not, to technical rocky jeep tracks, and awesome rocky descents... Man, I'm outta breath now :-) This race is, to me, what epitomises what a mountainbike race should be. It has every aspect, with a definite lean to the technical, where a longer travel light all-mountain bike is not penalised like on virtually every other race I can think of, with their long miles of smooth dirt road. The distance of 42km this year, may seem paltry, but it is surely the toughest 42km race this side of Alpine Heath (which I hear is, or rather was, no pushover ;-) ). It left me with just enough in the tank to be able to sprint the last 5km for a not too bad 2:30 finish, good enough for 32nd overall. The winning time was 1:57, which is flabbergasting. In comparison with the long route which I did last year, the 42km has everything except the actual monster climb up Breedtsnek from the north along the 4X4 tracks and down on the dirt. Almost everything else on the long route is dirt road... I firmly believe that in this case the half marathon is a better route than the full marathon. Thanks to all for a wonderful day out. **************************************************************************** *************************** Disclaimer: Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation (Denel Aviation) Registration number: 1992/001337/07 This message and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the addressee. If you have received this message in error, please notify Denel Aviation immediately, telephone number +27 11 927 2122 and by Reply email to sender. Any unauthorised use, alteration or dissemination of the contents of this email is strictly prohibited.In no event will Denel Aviation or the sender be liable in any manner whatsoever to any person for any loss or any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages arising from use of this email or any linked website, including, without limitation, from any lost profits, business interruption, loss of programmes or other data that may be stored on any information handling system or otherwise from any assurance that this email is virus free even if Denel Aviation is expressly advised of the possibility of such damages.. **************************************************************************** *************************** -- 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.
