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First OZ race
Re: This ride meeting:
Dirtworks Classic 2009
Status:
Finished
Time:
05:46:23
Position (Overall):
173
Race Category:
100Km/Male/Super Masters
Position (Category):
8 It was tough. Tougher than most of the races back in South Africa. Battled to keep cramps under control which slowed me down a bit. Nevertheless, satisfied with my time.
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I'd agree, but then again, bugger all training always makes me feel like the last was the hardest. I would rate this as slightly harder than the Magalies Monster, just because of the extra 25km. The Magalies Monster is known as a technical beast with a nasty mountain, and it's the only real technical race i have ridden there. Reminds me....they used to have boiled potatoes covered in salt after the mountain....officially the best tasting food on the planet ever!
OzMoT
Ex-Saffa
But if you compare profile, terrain etc. in conjunction with race length then you'll find that DW isn't as difficult as you think...
There are a few SA races that still haunt me!
It's interesting that the first DW had 3 climbs to the ridge and 3 descents of course. Think that year we went up Jack's track and down a very technical sniggle half way along Woomerah. Since then it's only had 2 'big' climbs, which may or may not be a blessing?
First year I did both DW and the Fling thought the later was much easier. Think now the tables have turned and DW is probably the easiest 100 here (if there is such a thing as an 'easy' 100Km ride!).
Last races I did in South Africa were Magoebaskloof Classic, Baberton Classic, and Giants Castle Challenge back in 2001 (do they still exist?) and I had always ridden a hardtail. When I arrived in Sydney and found Manly Dam...whoooo I love the Dam....my ageing body (34) told me it was tile to try these fancy dual suspension bikes, and I have never looked back.
This was my 2nd DW and I did it in 5:30 which I was very happy with
I had planned to aim for an average heart rate of around 160bpm throughout the race with peaks of around 168bpm. I had also decided I was going to stick with Nick R (my riding buddy who I trained with). Unfortunately he went off like there was no tomorrow and my heart rate was around 178bpm before I knew it..... strategy over and by 35km I had muscle spasms every time I stood up. Fortunately, dropping the HR to 160bmp stopped the spasms after about an hour.
yep, those races are all still around, and are all great races
Sani 2 C(3days) is now everybody's favourite, along with Sabie Experience(4days), Cape Epic, and Trans baviaans (230km, 24 hr cut off, i think)
yep, hardening up would be a good idea. Don't really care about the time fr DW,just enjoyed the ride.
OzMoT
Tell that to Lieb Loots from South Africa. 1st Super Master, 24 minutes ahead of second super master. 52 years old, he kicked the butt of all the veterans, all the masters and all but 7 of the elites.
Wonder what he eats for breakfast.
....Poetjiekos
GE potjiekos?
Another favourite on long events (8 hrs+) is biltong...
reminds me of a dude i met at the Cape Epic. Linus Van Onselen, legendendary racer, and nice guy too. Has never finished a Argus over 3 hours, so far he has done over 20 of them.
For those who don't know..the Cape Argus is a scummer (tar head) race 112km, with wind and a few proper mountains. His partner Doug Brown won the masters divison at Epic again this year, also great dude, and deadly on a MTB.
OzMoT