Bicycling

I'm totally new to cycling and I am glad to have read your posts. What seems interesting is that one of the few positive perspectives on this particular race comes from a NON-NOVICE, which leads me to think that this race does not cater for novices at all.... in short, I won't be attending.

The only problem with events not accomodating the novices is the simple fact that there are not enough professional cyclists to cover the events costs for a reasonable fee. Maybe 2011's race will be better ?!?!

I'm relatively new to the race scene, only having ridden three previous races and this was my first Dome2Dome; a race that I had planned to do for well over a year.
While I accept that changing a route at the last minute is never a good thing, and can lead to unforseen problems, I was very surprised to be faced with a massive traffic jam in the vicinity of the Silverstar Casino, which was made worse by a lack of effective traffic control by the organisers. From there on things just got worse; no obvious entry into the Casino start area (except to cut across the main exit chute) and then left to wonder around to find my start pen, which had no marshals manning them.
As to the race itself, I too was one of those who experienced the dry second watering point (two 50l? containers per station serviced by a bakkie is unacceptable to say the least) and think that for the route, and heat on the day, that there were far too few watering points on the day.
Marshalling wise, I think I was one of the last, if not the last, to cross the finishing line and have to admit that once up that godforsaken hill into Krugersdorp, I was pretty much on my own - no marshals in sight. In fact, at one point I proceeded straight, only to be directed in the right direction by a kindly motorist.
As for cut off times, I guess I was within the stipulated time period, as at no point was I approached by any sweeper vechile (which were less and less obvious as the race progressed) and told to stop.
When I approached the finish, a line of metal fences that were in the process of being packed into a bakkie, I had absolutely no idea that that was the finishing line - there was just one vehicle parked on the side of the road, manned by two people, manually taking down the number and times of riders (the timing mats were long gone), of which I was the only one in sight. Upon entering Siverstar Casino, everyone was busy packing up; nobody seemed too concerned with the backmarkers - for all intent and purposes the event was finished; and this was even before the sweeper vehicles had arrived.
Reading the comment of the 20+ riders who were abandoned to their lot, I get the feeling that perhaps I actually wasn't the last person to finish - cold comfort for an event that was poorly organised and executed.
While I admit that I was under-trained for the event, I have serious problems with the 90km route (having a series of 10+ Harley fun run bikers roar past you at speed is interesting) especially the last 15-odd k's. The organisers need to keep in mind that races are for all levels of cyclists, not just the elite, and in including such an ardous climb at the end of such an event, which offered little respite to us ordinary riders, and then to cap it all off by ending the race half-way up a hill is not creative, but just plain dumb!!!!!

I thought it was an excellent race with a brilliant route. It was hard enough to break up the bunch and make it safe with no novices to interfere when the going got tough. I did however, get there early and finish early, so parking and logistics was not a problem. Make it longer but with the same finish and give them another chance. Silver Star hosted Berge en Dale earlier in the year and with fewer numbers managed to cope. Personally I think they where overwhelmed by the amount of cyclists.
Where else in SA can you get a long uphill finish like that? It was classic and every attempt must be made to keep that in.
G

I have read all these comments with interest. I also did the race and loved it. It's amazing how someone can have such a different race experience!

this is very sad to hear but organisers must listen up..

As a person passionate about cycling (MTB and a little on the road) I'll try and keep this short and to the point...........

To say the least, this race was a shocking and a very dangerous experience!!!!
1) Bad traffic flow with only one entrance to the parking
2) NO road closure for this size race and for that entry fee
3) Only three very badly run "water table" except the second water table had no water and therefore it was just a table with Powerade samples (50 mil per cup)?!
4) Motorbikes passing cyclists at 18okph + on sections of the road and that includes trucks etc etc etc....the most dangerous race I have ever taken part in.
5) Marshalls, especially in Krugersdorp had no say/effort in traffic and cars just did whatever they wanted...cyclists had to stop at intersections and 4 ways stops otherwise it would have ended in hectic accidents

In future I will have a much safer ride just doing this route by myself and then go for a HUGE breakfast with friends and still have money left....What was the entry fee for?!

I will never do this race again and I will also inform all my friends to do the same. Thanks to this race my friends that just strated cycling on the road a year ago, have now decided to sell their road bikes and move over to mountainbiking for safety and enjoyment reasons!

This race was an insult to SA road cycling envents and also to sponsors!

ITEC must rather stick with the Joberg2c where they get great exposure from an awesome and professionaly organised race.

I agree with both riders!

Hi Anon, I was part of that 20+ man group at the end that missed the last turn off.

I have a list of other gripes with this race too:
- Terrible parking arrangement. Only a single lane entry into Silverstar Casino meant I was stuck on the road parking my car whereas I could have been waiting with my starting group
- Sharing the road for 90km with cars. Not a single part of the road was blocked off for cyclists. Did you see those motorbikes passing us at 180km/h at Teak Place ?!
- 2 Waterpoints, not the 4 as advertised. Some of us planned our liquid intake around the fact that there would be 4 waterpoints. I ran dry trying to get to the first and second waterpoint.
- I've heard of people doing the 90km race being diverted to the 40km route because they were to far behind and wouldn't make the cutoff. No problem with that you think right ? Except that they cycled about 50-55km and still got registered with an official ending time for the 90km race!
- And lastly, as you mentioned the marshals withdrawing (in my opinion earlier than the promised 5 hours). Also the non-existence of the last crucial turn off to get to the end line.

From this point on forwards I WILL recommend all my cycling friends and my cycling club to never do the Dome2Dome race (or whatever the name might change to).

Thanks to the organisers, not for a great race, but for deserting us. When the marshalls withdrew off the course, it seems the took directional sinage with them, Very clever, this meant that a bif group of us, some 20 plus riders missed the last CRUCIAL turn on to the R28 and th the finish line. As a result we rode an additional 10 km to get back to the finish. WHen we got back to Silverstar, there was not a soul to be found. Surely the marshalls should only withdraw after the sweeoer vehicle has passed with the last rider. It seems the race organisers are onl;y concerned to get the front runners home and could not give a stuff about the rest of us. Not concerned for the safety or welfare of the rest of the riders. I think your organisation was up to S@*! and you should feel ashamed of yourselves!!