HERALD MTB AND ROAD RACES
ADDO MTB EVENT
HOBIE BEACH START OF THE ROAD BIKE EVENT
HERALD MTB RACE 2 February 2013
When I take part in these events -- I look for the shorter distance and opt for that.
For myself -- I enjoy being part of the event but I no longer feel the need to push myself to the limit as I would have done some years ago.
Also -- Training or lack of training on a Bike makes a difference.
Andre and I had done One training ride for the MTB event. We cycled around circular drive on that one occasion and felt up to the 30kay MTB event.
Friday we went down to the Boardwalk to register. It is some time since I was last at the Boardwalk and I was impressed to see the improvements and changes that have taken place.
Friday evening I added some more green stuff to the tyres and set myself up for an early morning start. There are quite a number of things that you need to arrange: cycling clothes, Gloves, Helmet, Sun glasses Neccessary to keep muggies and dust out of your eyes.
Saturday morning at 4;45 I walk over to Andre's house. We load the two bikes into the back of his bakkie with a mattress separating them. We take an easy drive to the Addo Polo club. Here there is a bit of a traffic jam as we find parking. Off load the bikes and get ourselves ready for the cycle. There are three distances: 80, 60 and 30. I choose the easier distance where I am confident that I will finish but still have two hours in the saddle. Darryl and Avril Smith are there, Trevor Hawkins, Ronel, Pat and Marilyn, Rob Howlett, my Neighbour Marshall,
Andre and I line up in the starting chute. There is an electric vibe with rock music playing and nervous tension. Blaaap! Antoinette gets on the mike and gives a "headmistress" type of lecture. Turns off the music, lecturs us on behavior and dampens the whole atmosphere. I suppose that she is doing the best that she can and I should not be critical.
The riders are off. I am not in a hurry and we start off at a reasonable pace. Across the tar road and along a series of dirt and farm roads. Through citrus farms and along a Jeep track. It is here that we first come across cyclists with punctures. Across the aqueduct and up the first bit of a hill. It is not a tough hill but this reminds me of 2012 TDF where someone have thrown tacks on the road. Cyclists changing tyres as tubes are punctured. Even those with Tubeless are having trouble. I am glad that I put an extra dose of green stuff in my tyres the night before.
Over the top of the hill. Oooops! More uphill. Finally there is relief and we swish down on the other side. Andre and I stop for a cold drink at the table where longer distance riders would have to turn right. We turn left, past some tobacco fields. Andre has a puncture. Back wheel. We strip it off, change the tube and put some slime into the tube. All of this takes time and our fellow cyclists come whizzing past us. Including Pat, Ronel and Marilyn. Darryl Smith had stopped to help someone and passed us. My Neighbour, Marshall needed a pump but mine was the wrong fitting.
Lots of people needing assistance. You have to prepare for these events. It is not nice to have a puncture and then to not have the correct gear to sort the problem out.
Once we get going again we have an easy second half to the next table where I have a swim in the portapool. There are a number of locals supporting the riders. At a short hill a young boy gives me a push. I have a packet of jub jubs so toss it across to him.
We ride into the finish together. Not last as there are still riders and pushers coming in behind us. We had a good morning. I will be back next year. We down a Powerade, chat briefly to Antoinette (who I have since forgiven for her stern address) and load up the bikes.
Andre drops me at home, quick shower and drive to Woodridge where Ally is playing Water Polo. Barbara is still"man down" since falling last Monday and fracturing a rib. Ally is in the Pearson second team. They won their first two games this morning and lose the last game of the day. They do not have a Captain nor a coach and play a disjointed game. Poor passing and lack of coordination give the opposition a reasonably easy win. Ally play well, snatching the ball from opposition players and swimming the ball to the goals.
Ally and I drive back, I drink a Red Bull to stay awake, Ally sleeps. Later this afternoon I do some house stuff, take rubbish to the tip and then drop Ally off at her friend Meldon.
HERALD ROAD RACE Sunday 3rd February 2013
Sunday morning I was up early, packed the last few things and drove down to Summerstrand. Parked my car at the LIFESAVING club and then cycled to the start at Hobie beach. The bike ride starts at around 6 or 6:30 for the longer distance. Leaving in 5 or 10 minute intervals. The 55 Kay event starts at 7am. The group that I was in was the second last group to leave this morning and we left at 7:15. At the start I met up with some people that I recognized. Pat and Ronel. Marilyn. Helouise doing her first bike ride event. Neil Calder. Daryl Smith and Mike Burmeister. Kevin Campbell. Wayne Pieterse and Carmen. I don't often see Wayne. He is looking healthy and extremely happy. Sean whose son Bryce used to practice hockey on a Sunday afternoon at Clarendon.
Sean and kicked off together. We cycled up Walmer Boulevard before he realised that I am far too slow for him and he pressed on. My bike had recently been serviced by Richard at Augustine's and I was confident to cycle. Everything was working. I met up with Charmaine. Earlier in the week, Ron and I were cycling around the Moffat. We had greeted this lady running and it turned out to be Charmaine who works at NMMU sports Dept. I would see Charmaine on and off during the ride as she passed me on the up hills.
We rode in a small group up Buffelsfontein Road and into s west wind. I was feeling good and enjoying the cycle. Achilles were doing marshalling and I was able to greet the Runners as I rode past. The problem is that they have no clue who is saying hello. We shoot past in our helmets and Glasses, completely unrecognisable.
We turned left just past Boundary road along the old Seaview rd. up the Longbarn hill where a number of riders seemed to get into trouble. Struggling to change to the easiest gear, foot stuck in toe clips and cleats. Wobbling and touching wheels causing small pile ups. I was lucky and had an easy ride to the top. Ally had stayed over at Meldon's house on this road but I never saw her.
Down the old Seaveiw rd, up the short hills and the past the Lake Farm turn off and back to the new Seaveiw rd. Here we turned left while the longer distance cyclists would have made right turn towards Seaveiw. Garth and I rode up to the go.f course turn off towards Sardinia Bay. Then swing left again. At this stage the wind was on our backs. Down to Schoenies and the the last 20 Kay along the Marine drive. This is a flat piece of road but has a few undulations so you have to work all the time.
By now my bum, neck and legs were tiring. The smell of the ocean and the tail wind made the final few kays quite doable. The 106k cyclist come surging past us in bunches of 10 to 20 riders and make it look so easy. I had to plod along on my own. At my level it is difficult to maintain any sort of bunch.
At last we cycle past the back entrance to the University and the final five kays to the finish. There is a bit of a head wind as we finish but nothing to worry about. I have had a good 2:20 hour of exersize but happy to be back. I ride to Summerstrand, greet some of the cyclists as the come past and the back to Lifesaving and Nippers where I spend the rest of the morning. I enjoy an icy cold swim to wash and to cool off.
Nippers at Summies is growing and is currently Ina really good state. We have around 30 or more Nippers and each week are receiving more applications. Today I assist with coaching of the U10 group. Later I collect Ally and have a relaxed afternoon before church.
START OF THE MTB EVENT AT ADDO
ALLY PLAYS WATER POLO FOR THE PEARSON SECOND TEAM AT WOODRIDGE. THEY WIN THE FIRST TWO GAMES AND THEN LOSE THIS ONE AGAINST DSG DUE TO SOME ILL DISCIPLINED PLAY AND LACK OF LEADERSHIP. THE COACH DID NOT PITCH UP AND THE TEAM HAD NO CAPTAIN.
I am now really determined to start cycling a bit more. I have joined the Fat Tracks MTB club and plan to ride with the group in the evenings on Tuesday if poaaible.
G
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