Realising how flat the East Rand is..

I was fortunate enough to be able to do the Eqstra Spring Classic MTB race last weekend with Sean and Rebecca. Wow what a tough race and it made me realise once again that all the training that I do on the flatlands of the East Rand is not enough because you get a big reality check when you hit a proper mountain bike route. I thought I was pretty fit after averaging 24km/h in the Nigel AutoAlpina MTB race last month, but that was a flat non technical route next to the mielie fields. The Eqstra race was loads of single track and plenty of hills, my average was under 15km/h for the 44km route. An hour slower then the Nigel route for the same distance!!!! It really was a great race though, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was special sharing the experience with Sean and Becky. 

The three of us after the race, all a bit tired. 

The 24th of September was a public holiday in South Africa - Heritage Day and what better way to celebrate then do a 100km MTB ride. The ride started out as being The Apricot Tree charity MTB outride but we had a lot of other riders join us also (we were 25 in all). We had a fantastic ride out to Heidelberg from Benoni and back, with a climb up to the Telkom radio mast. Awesome ride and a fantastic route with great people. It was great doing a new route, as this was different to our normal Heidelberg radio mast rides (different tower and way to get there). We were all pretty thirsty by the time we got back, as it was very hot and most of us had run out of water with there being no water/coffee stops on the way back. Unfortunately, this ride was a game changer for Sean as he had a mild heart attack on the ride and got his son to pick him up half way before going to the hospital in the afternoon. He had a stomach virus earlier in the week and on the long ride his heart took strain. Fortunately he was wise enough to call it quits when he was not feeling too well. He is ok now and just needs a month off the bike before reassessment by the cardiologist. Wishing you all the best Sean on your speedy recovery. 

The group at the start of the ride (taken by Sean) Becky and me in the front in our Apricot Tree colours...

Group photo on the top of the Telkom tower hill

Quick stop to wait for stragglers (Telkom tower in the distant background)

Yes we did the bridge again, Wayne showing us how it is done.

Becky finishing the climb up to the tower

This morning we did a great ride out to the cell tower, brickyard, Serengeti and back via Monument hill before stopping for coffee at Mug & Bean on Atlas road. I was feeling strong and really enjoyed the ride. It makes such a difference if all your cylinders are firing. Nice group consisting of Becky, Greg, Paul, Alistair, Juan, Wayne and Mark. I finished on 80km and managed to sneak in to share Greg's KOM with Paul on the Atlas drop off single track segment. 

Stop to admire the view 

Racing against time.......

There are 2 meanings to the heading of this post: Firstly I am running out of time before my Berg & Bush stage race next month (need to up the training intensity) and secondly I have been riding with a younger version of me (my son Caiden). It has been a very diffferent month of riding as I have managed to spark some interest in my 13 year old son to ride with me on the weekends. We would ride out to the Benoni plots and stop for a coffee and a muffin before returning home (28km round trip). Awesome bonding time to spend with my son (with having 4 children it is sometimes difficult to spend individual time with one sibling). He even did a couple of races - the first was a 15km race which he did with his friend - whilst I did the 44km race (I came 22nd out of 90 riders) and the second was a 20km race which we did together. The latter was an awesome experience, we did the Witpoort Primary School MTB race out in the miellie fields near Bapsfontein. Really awesome to share the great outdoor experience with my son. Also it was an interesting start as it had to be delayed by 10 minutes so a herd of cows could pass down the road (and we had to pass the herd twice in the race). 

Caiden on our coffee ride

Caiden and his mate at the finish of the 15km race. 

The herd of cows obstacle that we encountered in our 20km race

Tired young man but still smiling

The idea was to then do a 35km race with my son but unfortunately we had our first summer rains and the route was extremely muddy so I did the race alone - Transvaal Galvanisers MTB race. It was a great race despite the conditions and it even had a floating bridge. I managed a respectable 23rd out of 85 entrants for the 50km race which was shortened to 37km because some of the route was unrideable. Few more weeks until my stage race experience in the Berg so time to bite the bullet and do some longer, harder and more technical rides. 

So there was water as well as mud...

Apricot Tree MTB training ride

Once again this year I am riding for a charity during the 94.7 mountain bike and road races that will happen in November. The charity is the Apricot Tree that is an organisation that committed to the stimulation and development of children with intellectual and development disabilities. There are a number of riders that are also riding for the Apricot Tree and a few group rides have been organised by Rebecca Sands. We did a road bike group ride a few weeks ago and last Sunday we did a MTB outride arranged by Athol. It was a great ride with some awesome people. Really nice to do other routes besides what we have been doing out by Dunblane/Serengeti the last few years. 

Group photo taken by Rebecca. 

Sean going over the floating bridge. 

Marc and Jess on their single speed bikes 

Had to walk my bike home after I slashed my rear tyre near the end... 

So I had to throw away my new Racing Ralph tyre after getting a few large cuts during this ride. Fortunately I could get a lift home with Sean and Becky and Sean very kindly took my wheel home and replaced my tyre with a Continental Race King. Awesome stuff thank you Sean!!!!!

As luck would have it...

I has been an exciting few weeks, I won a fabulous prize from Schwalbe (‏@SchwalbeZA) of 2 MTB tyres just by following them on Twitter and to be the lucky one to be picked as the winner!!!! The arrival of these tyres could not have come at a better time as the next ride after they arrived I slashed my tyre on some glass on our morning ride. Fortunately Wayne had a tube for me so I could put in a gator and the tube and finish the ride in one piece. My bike went in for a well deserved service and I had the components changed and front and rear shocks serviced. This cost more then my car service in the same week, but please don't tell my wife :-) 

My awesome winnings 

I have had a few great rides with my son and he is starting to love this sport and is always eager to go and ride on the weekends. I have entered him in for a 35km Transvaal Galvanisers MTB race in September so we have a goal to work towards to. 

Caiden at the Country Club riding under a peacock

Last weekend we join the Cycle Lab group for a fantastic ride out in south of Boksburg and doing part of the route for the race mentioned above in September. It was really awesome doing a new route for a change after slogging through our normal routes North East of Benoni for many years. There was a floating bridge that added a bit of adrenalin in the middle of the route also. Unfortunately Marco broke his rear derailer during the ride and we could not convert his bike to a single speed as the chain was twisted. We were about 15km away from home and took turns pushing/pulling him (Mark doing the majority of the work). Click here are the Strava stats of the ride... and click here for the Youtube video of the ride curtesy of Hanise. 

Hansie flying over the bridge

Sean breaking Marco's chain in an attempt to make it a single speed...

Marco walking through the ice cold water as his single speed was not working... 

4th of July 2015 - Irene Market ride

I arranged a ride out to Irene Market and back and was presently surprised by the turnout for the ride with a total of 23 people rocking up for this memorable experience. It was really great to see some friends I had not seen/ridden with for sometime like Roy, Mandi, Clint, Kathy, Ashley, Ross, Bevan etc... There were the usual Rough Rider suspects like Becky, Sean, Greg, Michael and Ian that joined us, my mate Pierre from Northcliffe and then some of Ash's mates that are training for Trans Baviaans.  It was a great bunch of people and it was a fantastic ride out to Irene Market - we changed the route slightly from the last time we rode and found a new 'technical' hill just before we hit the market. There were a few falls in the group during the whole ride and fortunately nothing too serious. 

Irene Market is special, there is a nice vibe, great coffee and the best home made muffins that one could ever taste. We went back home a different way (which is always my preferred option) and unfortunately the group split up with the racing snakes not waiting for the second group. This ride is one of my favourite rides and I finished on 102km - click here for the Strava stats of the ride. 

Group photo after coffee and muffin's at Irene Market 

Phew….some fresh and hard riding

It has been some fresh riding the past few weeks. Early morning temps plummeting well below 0 degrees Celsius. But we will soldier on and slay this small obstacle they call winter. The past few weekends I have had some great rides with some fantastic people. 

Rebecca, Sean and I went out past Serengetti and the brick yard for a loverly 70km leg stretch followed by great coffee at our regular spot - Have Java for coffee (with Penny as our waitress). Seems they have our order ready and waiting by the time we get there - big jugs of water and a few Plat Kops or Cappuccinos with an extra shot of espresso. 

We also had a great ride out to Sentrarand last Sunday, a good bunch at a fast pace. 

Sentrarand

Some wild life on our ride

Rebecca and Sean

Today June the 16th was a tough ride out to Heidelberg radio mast and back. The group was made up of Rebecca, Sean, Billy, Juan, Ian and of course me. The pace was insane in the beginning - Ian was showing us that even though it was Youth Day he was going to teach us a lesson on how to toughen up (or maybe it was my comment about Alzheimer's because he forgot his helmet that he decided to put the hammer down). Also it was really cold the temp was at -5 degrees Celsius when Sean had to stop and fix a puncture. 

The route was great, Ian took us back a different way along the train tracks to Brakpan. I don't really want to see some train track stones for a while as we rode through plenty of them…was a really tough ride and I am pretty broken now. 

Sean, Juan, Rebecca and Billy

Ian waiting patiently at the bottom of the mast climb for us..

Anybody know a good bike mechanic?

Top of the radio mast climb - time to catch our breath

Still pedalling...

So it has been a few weeks since my last Blog post and yes I have been riding and not succumbed to an early winter slumber like some people. The early morning rides before work are getting difficult I must admit, it is starting to get really cold and is dark for most of the ride. I have been doing a few spins out to the Broodblik on Saturday morning with the CycleLab group. Below is a picture courtesy of Hansie from one of the rides:

In the same breath I have also had a few longer rides on a Sunday that have been incredible routes with good company. Below is a sunrise from 2 Sundays ago when I went out with Greg and Paul.

I have also entered a new era in my life and have the absolute joy of having my 13 year old son ride with me at the Benoni Country Club mountain bike trails. It is awesome to be able to share this experience with him and see his eagerness to ride and then we can share a coke and have a chat after the ride. Below is a pic that I took last Saturday of some of the wildlife we encountered on the route - and I am not talking about the golfer in the background ;-)

And just to remind me that mountain biking is not for sissies below is a graphic picture (apologies) of my run in with a fence a few weeks ago, leaving a nice cut on my leg. Yes I was late for a ride and should have been more careful but hey s*^t happens.

Modders and more

I joined the strong Joburg to Sea boys at 'Modders' bike park today for a short but hard ride. Greg and Paul are embarking on their 9 day, 900km journey in a few days from Heidelberg to Scott-borough. They have been putting in lots of kilometres in training and are ready to take on this amazing feat. Part of their training was to do a double lap at 'Modders' as you can get a fair amount of climbing in 80 odd km. Today we did just one lap (mostly red route) and I struggled to keep up with them as these boys are nice and strong now. It was however a very nice ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it. They have done a lot of work at 'Modders' since I was last there and the tracks now are really awesome with few new bridges etc... 

Wishing the boys best of luck for their race to the sea, this is definitely on my wish list and I would love to do it one year. 

Paul lean and mean

Greg and Dale

Last Sunday Paul, Mark, Michael and I went on a great ride out to SentraRand train switching yard and back. This was the second time I have been there (it was really misty the previous time so I couldn't see much). Incredible to see this place out in the middle of the countryside. Pretty eerie as you don't see many people around, there are hundreds of tracks and train carriages and also 2 big control big towers.  I am still reminded about this ride on a daily basis as I am still treating a nasty gash/roastie on my knee from a fall that I had. I ran out of talent when trying to avoid some water on the jeep track and the middle island collapsed sending me flying (and Paul crashing into to me as he couldn't stop in time). Mark also had a spectacular fall later in the ride after hitting a muddy patch and his from tyre slipped out, sending him into the mealies.  

SentraRand train switching station

Mark, (bloody) me and Michael 

and on the third day he rode again...

Nothing better then to have a few great rides over Easter weekend. Good Friday must be changed to Great Friday as it was an incredible ride out from Benoni to Big Red Barn MTB park and back. Nice big strong group, all very nice guys with the same desire and love for mountain biking. The route there and back was fantastic and the track at the Red Barn was amazing. I finished on 108km for this ride, here are my Strava stats. 

The gang at the Big Red Barn

Saturday I had another coffee ride with Linda, I am really enjoying our Saturday coffee rides - we average about 35km a ride and have a stop for a nice coffee/breakfast. Loverly spending time with her.

Linda waiting for the sheep and goats to finish crossing. 

And on the third riding day of the weekend, we had a great group ride out to Sentrarand and then to the Broodblik for coffee and pancakes. Nice big group of about 16. The pace was great and I finally went through Sentrarand which I have heard a lot about over the years. This a large train switching junction with loads of trains and tracks. Unfortunately it was really misty when we went through so the view was a bit dampened. Fast ride with an average of 23.4km/h for the 84km, here are the Strava stats of the ride.  

Broodblik coffee and pancakes

Group photo outside the Broodblik

Awesomeness

It has been a great week of riding, few great early morning rides witnessing some incredible sunrises, coffee ride with my wife and a awesome ride today with Garth. 

My wife Linda on our 33km coffee ride 

Coffee and sunrise at the Mug & Bean

This week I was fortunate to have a new member (Garth) join our MTB group 'Benoni Rough Riders'. Fantastic to meet new people and especially people that are passionate about this wonderful sport of mountain biking. Due to various reasons (most of them sickness related) my fellow Rough Riders pulled out of our Sunday ride, leaving only myself and Garth. We went on a great ride out to the quarry, brick yard, part of the Nissan Irene route and then back via Serengetti. So nice to experience the ride through new eyes, Garth really enjoyed the route and it reminded my of why I love this sport so much - the wide open spaces and the physical exertion whilst enjoying the view. Garth was strong and kept me honest trying to keep up with his younger legs. Here are the Strava stats of our ride. 

Garth admiring the beautiful wide open space

Garth after he watered the Cosmos flowers 

(Mud)blane March Hare

Sunday the 22nd of March 2015, is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life. This was the day that I did my first MTB race with my loverly wife, Linda. We have been having a few social weekend rides that normally entail breakfast and coffee but never any serious cycling. We woke up early on Sunday, contemplating whether or not we should ride because of the overnight rain and the possible mud on the route. I did a 75km ride, the day before on most of the route and it was pretty dry - but the overnight showers would change things dramatically. Linda was pretty nervous doing the distance of 35km (ended up being 40km), as she had never ridden that far and was also a bit wary of riding in cleats with her new shoes. 

Well, we made up our minds and got in the car knowing that there would be a bit of mud but most of the route should be ok. It was a really nice race organised by the Rotary club in Benoni, so the proceeds go to a worthy cause. We lined up at the start, all eager for our first real experience of racing together. Linda was awesome she managed the whole route and really enjoyed herself. I am so proud of her!!! 

At WP 2 after walking in mud for a few hundred meters 

The route was not too bad until we got to water point 2, at about the 15km mark. Here we were greeted with a very muddy road next to the miellies that was unridable. In fact, just pushing the bikes was hard as the wheels clogged up totally.

Never the less we cleaned our bikes as best we could and carried on the the railway tracks to ride in some beautiful Cosmos flower tunnels.

The track did get better in places and we realised that the race would be longer then anticipated but this did not phase Linda, as she soldiered on. 

Linda at the 28km mark 

Unfortunately with a few kms to go Linda got a rear flat tyre, I stopped and bombed it a few times and we limped into Dunblane Horse Estate where the start and finish was held.  Inside the estate there was still a good km to go to the finish, so we had no option but to put in a new tube. Very disappointing as loads of stragglers at the end of the race overtook us, so we pretty much ended up last. 

Wish she was riding tubeless!!!

At the finish she did create a bit of a spectacle by not uncleating and falling right on the finish line :-)

Incredible for Linda to finish she was so brave and determined. What an incredible experience it was for me to share my passion for mountain biking with someone that I love…. I was in my element.

What a champion my beautiful love is!!!