Hi Ray

I was initially quite sceptical about this seeding process.  This was my 1st Sani2C and when we saw our seeding, we thought they had got it wrong because they only had one ROAG event between my partner and I.  We sent in our other race times and they re-seeded us.  We stayed in the same group for all 3 days, so the re-seeding turned out to be pretty accurate. 

I think the big benefit was spreading the field so that people could overtake with relative ease without needing to beg, plead and swear to get slower riders out of the way. 

The reason I asked you about this was really because I was trying to picture the benefits of a batch start at the Dusi Mfula.  I think that batch starts would have an even bigger impact at the Mfula than they did at the Sani2C as the Mfula doesn't have nearly as much wide district road in the 1st couple of km's as the Sani2C which really helps to stretch out the field.  I've found that even when you are still on the road, the up-hills close to the start are just so clogged with slower riders that have started at the front and stayed with the bunch on the downhill.  I think that going the batch start approach (not necessarily ROAG - but why re-invent the wheel) would really lift the Dusi Mfula experience to another level.  For a mountain biker, I think that there is nothing worse than having to walk single track that you know you are capable of riding - all because you got stuck behind a bunch of slower riders at the start of the day.

From another perspective, I doubt that anyone would complain about batch starts.  Certainly the bunch of guys I ride with (many of whom are riding their 1st Mfula this year) with all very happy with the batch starts at Sani and most of them have done the race before without the batch starts. Even those that got poor seedings and didn't request a review said that it was easy enough to pass and apart from one

exception, there were no time wasting queues.     

Well - that's my 2 cents.  Good luck with the final preparations and see you in Maritzburg.

Regards

Dave

Dave Farrer