Marathon weekend rides....

What a great weekend of riding - yesterday we had a great ride out to Irene (95km) and today we rode out to Heidelberg (68km). Fantastic riding with some good company - Greg, Adam and Mark. Today was Greg's birthday and what better way then to celebrate then have an awesome ride in the countryside with mates. That makes it over 300km of riding in the last 7 days - not sure I could have done more for my preparation for Sani2C next week - lets hope those hills will be forgiving....

A TEAM

B TEAM

Breather at the top of the TV Tower hill at Heidelberg.

Your truly with Heidelberg in the background

Adam rising to Greg's challenge and riding rough shot...

Yes that is a staple in my rear tyre and 2 side wall cuts in one ride....

Father's Day 19th June

What better way then to spend father's day riding than on my mountain bike. I was woken up at 05:00 with the dog chunking next my bed just to remind me that being a father does not stop with my 4 kids. Got up and made a fire to take off the chill while I waited until it was time to hit the road.

Needed to take this with me on the bike this morning.

After receiving a message from Clint that the flu had chained him to his bed, I met Greg at the gym and then Jaques, Hennie and Karen at the BP. The weather was slightly nippy but warmed up as we rode, we did a pleasant ride, a little slower and shorter than expected but it was awesome to be out in the great outdoors. We split up from Jaques and Karen at one stage, but got called back as Karen had a flat and did not have a spare tube. Below are the knights in shining armour quickly putting the new tube in her wheel.

Nice ride and back home in time for a breakfast with the kids and braai for lunch. Did 50km exactly at just under 20km/h, ave heart rate a low 130. Think I am ready for the Nissan Hazeldean race next weekend - can't wait.

Guess I will have to ride a bit harder to work off some of these father day presents....

Mitsubishi Valentines MTB Dirt Ride





At 04:30 on Saturday the 12th of Feb 2011 the alarm buzzed and I sprang into action ready for my next challenge - the 67km Mitsubishi Valentines MTB Dirt Ride. Greg and me were joined by Gerry to experience this race in a game reserve outside Pretoria.   We met at my place at 05:00 and Gerry followed Greg and me to the Blue Moonlight Lodge 30 clicks outside of Pretoria. Greg and me were doing the 67km (our longest MTB race yet) and Gerry the 30km.



Greg and Gerry before the race

The race itself was pretty neat, not too hilly, plenty of jeep track with a sprinkle of mud and water thrown in. I had a few falls - once after hitting a hole in a water crossing (complete dunk and messing up yet another BlackBerry) and other times after tredging through muddy patches and not being able to uncleat in time.  There was a nasty little hill right at the end (about 150m in altitude) that punished the legs (I was fortunate to see the profile n the Hub before the race and was prepared for it).  Greg kicked my arse again and was relaxing in a camping chair under a tree when I trundled in (#competitive).

After returning back to the start/finish we found that (Dr) Gerry had already left (we thought because he was doing the shorter distance and had to leave to go back to the hospital etc as he is an Intensive Care Specialist). I only found out later in the day that he had actually had a very bad fall and had broken his scapula and fractured 2 ribs - so his visit to hospital was as a patient this time. He had managed to push his bike to the nearest help and then after seeing the medics, to push his shoulder back in place, he got in his car and drove home - my phone was now water logged so he could not contact me. Gerry we have a new respect for you and wish you all the best in your recovery. 

Cleaner version of yours truly before the layer of mud was applied in the race



Bikes have seen cleaner days....

To Heildelberg and back

Saturday 29th Jan 2011 - I had a great ride with the Procyles group on Saturday morning early (a good 50km dash to the plots and back). Ok with the exception of a puncture that had to be plugged near the end and the overflowing sewer that only the brave rode through (me not being one of them).

Sunday 30th Jan 2011 was another turning point in my short mountain biking experience. I got to do 2 decent rides in a row, my longest MTB ride and first trip up decent hill (without stopping that is).

Greg and me were fortunate enough to join the seasoned professional Ian from Procyles to take us out to Heidelberg and back. It was very misty on the way there so my bearings were totally whacked but we made it there in no time. Ian put the challenge out to go up the hill at Heidelberg where the TV masts and water reserves are. Hesitantly I took up the challenge and found it wasn't too bad spinning up to the top in granny gear. We raced back down for a well deserved coffee and muffin at the Wimpy at Heidelberg before making our way back to where we parked our cars in Boksburg - 72km distance, ascent 541m, 3hour 33min, ave speed 20.6km/h.

Awesome ride thanks Ian it was incredible.

The route we took from Boksburg to Heilderburg and back

 

Naah! Ian the machine doesn't need to rest

 

Picture is diceptive it was pretty steep

 

The view would have been better if there was no mist



I am trying out my new head camera and managed to edit a few shots of the ride in the video below - excuse the quality (its my first one ok).



Sunday Ride 16th Jan

Wet ride on Sunday. Andrew, Greg and me were joined by Steven - a roadie for the last 17 years and taking his first try out on a mountain bike. We did a similar route to last Sunday except with a bit more mud, water and uneven ground. Except for Greg we all took a few falls (this is not unusual for me) and rode the last 20 kms in a light refreshing drizzle. I am sure this was a different experience for Steve and hopefully we will get him out there again on a mountain bike....

Steve grinding through the mud

 

Greg showing Steve how it should be done



Andrew not impressed with the mud and water that I led them through



Mud was so thick there was no way of riding through




Andrew as if the plants really need watering after all this rain....



In the Dumps - Saturday 15th Jan

I had an incredible ride with the Procycle guys on Saturday morning. We met outside the shop at 05:30 and headed to the mine dumps between Benoni and Brakpan. Paul took us on a great route (besides the bundu bashing near the end), lots of single track, a few drop offs and of course loads of water. It was fantastic to ride through the mine dumps - mostly deserted (except for a few 'illegal' miners panning for gold). Great bunch of guys (9 of us in total) and the riding was slow enough to take in the beautiful surroundings.



There were a few obstacles in the way



Beginning when the legs were still fresh



Big machines...

  

Paul a real man would have bunny hopped that ditch....



Alistair still smiling near the end

 



Ian passing on some of his wisdom



Yours truly

Sunday MTB ride - 9th Jan 2011

Last ride on leave for Greg and myself, Andrew also joined us and now really looks like a seasoned mountain biker with his new bike, gloves, Camel Bak etc.

We did the same 60km route that Greg and me did on Friday. The weather was overcast almost threatening to rain at any minute. It was really awesome to be out in the open space and this new route is really incredible, challenging at times but as always in the East Rand not too difficult because of the lack of hills (only 300m ascent over 60km's).

This was supposed to be Andrew's first (slow) long ride, but he was stronger then he let on and we ended up averaging 20km per hour which is pretty quick for  us old timers.  

Half way snack

Greg and Andrew tackling urban single track

Ride of numbers - Friday 7th Jan 2011

First ride of the new year with Greg after his annual sabbatical to the beach.

This 3 hour ride turned into a 4 hour ride because of 3 punctures (only on my bike), which needed 3 bombs and 1 visit to a petrol station, 5 plugs to fix the punctures, 2 horse fly bites whilst fixing the puncture no 3.

Also on this ride we saw some "wildlife' - 1 running hare, 1 angry crab and 1 lazy rat.

Andrew comes of age

Great to get Andrew out in the early morning (his second ride this week). We did just over 31km off road, before my last day of work. After loads of rain the past week the route was very very wet and in some places overgrown. This was ended up being Andrew's initiation ride into real mountain biking where you come home looking like you have been standing in front of a big fan and some has thrown mud, water and other s**t into it.  It was good to ride with Andrew and he handled the stinky water that we rode through ok, hopefully the next pic of him he will be in new kit (as I am sure what he is wearing will smell a bit ripe).