Argus 2003 - Results and Discussions

RalleighOke

First of all I would like to say WELL DONE to everyone that completed the race. It seemed like a difficult one again this year.

So, that being said, how did you guys and girls do? How was the famous "Ou Kaapse Weg". Did not look that tough to me

I noticed on the news last night that 2 new faces in cycling won it, Malcolm Langer and Auriette Schoeman I must say that I have come to expect that from our Local Channel. They do not support any cycling events and when they have to do a report they get our top riders names wrong!!

In any case : post your results, I eagerly await to see what is waiting for me next year.

__________________
"pain is temporary, pride is forever"

RalleighOke

The unfortunate side of cycling in such a big event, never seeming to fail each year.

My condolences to the family.

__________________
"pain is temporary, pride is forever"

RalleighOke

I will excuse everybody who rode the Argus for not posting their times here.

Seems that WinningTime has #($* up again. There overall winner's time is not even showing. The times keep on changing.

Ladies were off the record time of the men with 5 minutes. Cyclist in group LL (that is waaaayyy back in the starting times) have done times that is 4 hours better then it ever was.

Hopefully you guys (and girls) will have your correct times in lets say 2 years ???

__________________
"pain is temporary, pride is forever"

Lazy legs

Hi all, back at work again!

RO I got my time off the cycletour site and it seems to be right, I also got SMS updates which gave me the same times as the site.
My race started badly with a puncture about 7km into the race, but from then on it went very well. I was hoping to do sub 4:30 after last yars 4:53 but I only put in about 600km of training before the race so wasn't expecting to much. I felt exelent throughout the race, went up OKW in granny and was still able to smile wen I got to the top.
Started cramping a bit at the end of the blue route, and found that its better if I stand up and work, so those last cuople off hills was not to bad.
Got to the end and finnished with a 4:15 On my Cateye I did 4:05, so the puncture didn't set me back too much.
Next year = sub 4:00

__________________
Mike

FAILURE
It lies in the perception
Not in the situation.

RalleighOke

Excellent Lazy Legs, that's an improvement of over 38 minutes. well done.

__________________
"pain is temporary, pride is forever"

steve

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Steve

CyclingForums.com

ouzo

Did a 4:03 according to my watch, but 4:06 according to winningtime. Race was good and I felt strong until the 60km mark. OKW onwards was a bit of a problem for me with my legs taking strain and eventually cramping on hospital bend.

I missed the elusive sub 4 but just a few minutes and by the sounds of things I wont be able to compare next year as we will be doing the old route again.

I was happy with my result though in light of the fact that I threw my back out on Friday and was unable to even move.

__________________
Passion is everything. without passion cycling is just exercise
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Road Bike : Cannondale
MTB Bike : Giant Boulder se

peterwright

I did a 3.07 and was very pleased as my target had been 3.15. I was actually only two minutes behind a 3 hour time at the top of OKW but managed to lose 5 more minutes on the blue route back in ! I have to say that I consistently find those last hills to be very difficult to maintain pace over and will need to work on that for next year. Having come that close I am a little disappointed not to have managed a sub 3 on my last chance over the detour route.

Black_Knight

I wonder if I would do the Argus again.
The day started off with me doing a warm up on the road to cyclelab and back. I was feeling strong. Then headed to the start I had a blow out. Checked the tyre to see if there were debris. None. Put in a new tube and used a bomb to pump it (I don't carry pumps in races). Just hard enough and the tube blew again. The same thing happened on the next tube. Then I discovered the reason - the tyre had a hole in it. I had to get a friend who was already in his pen to bring me a tyre.
Eventually I start in M rather than G. I was cruising and having a great ride when close to misty hills I saw a riding partner on the road in pain. So I stopped to help. Took the paras almost 20 mins to get to us. Then I continued with the race, but something was missing. the ride just was not the same anymore.
Eventually finished on 3:38 - not bad considering that included the 20 min stop midway, but up to Misty Hills, I thought that a 3.05 at least was a possibility.

big_h

Enjoyed my ARGUS...slayed a few dragons on the way but OU KAAPSE BLIKSEM got the better of me again. Was 15 minutes up on a sub 4 hour and lost it all on OKW, cramped near the top as well as at Hospital Hell. (NO correct spelling!!!!!!) The tandem went extremely well. Will mow never know if a sub 4 was within my reach. Organisation on the whole was good. Liked the km distance boards. Never saw the fancy flags though.

Winningtime was up to their old *(&!@#$%!@#$@$# again.... that chicane at the start and the "drukgang" (narrow space where cattle go trought to be loaded for the abbatoir) at the end. I think it was dangerous and unnecesary. Does Shumacher do another lap and end in the pits after a grand prix!!!!!!! My times are also not complete. Only my finish time and ave speed. Our two computers on the tandem gave me that infor and my HRM also confirmed the time. Do we really need this type of low standard crap.

Vo2

Just like my cycling buddies on this website, I ride every race as hard as possible. The aim: a good time.
However, this year's Argus was different for me. I rode the entire race at "base pace" speed! I had no intention or desire to sit in any bunch and race the distance. I took in the scenery along Simonstown and Smitswinkel, I took deep breaths of fresh sea air along Misty Cliffs and stopped just before Ou Kaapse and phoned my wife to notify her of my whereabouts. I've never stopped and phoned anyone before during a race, even if I had bailed, and she is still perplexed by it.
My trip up Ou Kaapse was great, and even after 80 kliks my legs were in good shape. The ever constant cyclist urge was there to kick back and ride that hill as fast as possible, but I didn't. I was amazed to find that my average heart rate for the distance was 153, true base pace!
I crossed the line in 3:45, altho my time is indicated as 3:48. I'm almost sure that your start time is taken as the start time of your seeded bunch, and not the time when you cross the timing mats at the start. But whatever the case, I enjoyed the race this year.
Had I raced for time, I'm sure that I would of done 3:30, but I have no regrets or if's and but's. I enjoyed myself and had a great time speaking and motivating some of the guys and gals that were finding it difficult along the way.

Well done to everyone! C ya all next year on the old route.

__________________
Pain is inevitable...suffering is optional

Leon

I enjoyed my (first) Argus very much. Unfortunately I had a very upset stomach the day before. I missed my four hour target by four minutes and my time is within 2 seconds of the "official" time.

Next year it WILL be below four.

I found the pacing times to be realistic untill OKW but after that I lost time.

I see the positions are not yet updated on the Website. Are they still busy or am I missing something ?

Some other interesting Stats:

Average HR : 166
Max HR : 188
Calories : 3622
Total Ascent :1200m

See you all next year !

Leon

RalleighOke

Sounds like you guys had some serious fun. D@#$ I wish I was there.

I'll definetly be there next year, It's just a shame that OKW will not, I read in this months Ride Magazine that they have handed Chapmans Peak to a subcontractor to maintain the road. So it should be safe to ride next year....and that means no OKW :sad:

Oh well, maybe I'll go there a week earlier and take on OKW in my solo capacity

__________________
"pain is temporary, pride is forever"

ouzo

Next year I will be doing the Argus with my wife. It will be her first ride. I will use my mountian bike and ride slowly with her and have as much fun as possible. I'll carry extra drinks and other goodies to keep the wife smiling.

__________________
Passion is everything. without passion cycling is just exercise
---------------------------
Road Bike : Cannondale
MTB Bike : Giant Boulder se