joberg2c Day 8

Our second last day of riding. Starting at Mackenzie Club the weather was in our favour and we could race down the Yankey Doodle single track. It was fast, on the edge of the Umkomaas valley, downhill, steep.
Racing along the river and the dreaded hill out of the valley. Jockey wheels decidwd they had enough and ......lame legs. By the time we reached waterpoint 1, we decided ro rather make use of Subaru power. Whattacar!
So here we are, relaxed and rested for the last day of cycling.

joberg2c Day 6 and 7

Yesterdays ride was brutal and was 90% uphill and 10% technical downhill. We were catered for by the polo club of Underberg and was absolutely spoiled. The tented camp was spread out on the polo field. Such stunning surroundings. Body and bike are doing fine.
We did today the first part of the Sani2c and the single track is just awesome. Took a tumble when my backpack decided to go one way and the tree on the otherside said this way. Not serious damage but annoying.
We are celebrating day 7 s end-77km. 2 more days to the sea!
Living in a tent lost it s novelty and so has wet washing, bungled bags and finding the loos. We areucky and has so far missed the tummy runs.
Enjoying a wine @ Mackanzie club

joberg2c Day 5

we are now in Glengarry near Kamberg. Today took us through 40 km of single track through some farmlands. A mountain pass followed and then the forests.
While the Captain took a rest day the Underling cycled and took lots of photos which I will put on the blog once I m back.
This is a tough ride and you need to be able to average at least 15k/h to finish in the cut off time. Considering eating time at water tables and any mechanicals you might encounter on the way.
My right shifter is playing up and the gear cable is getting replaced right now. All happening now so I can cyclw again tomorrow.
Food is great and making new friends along the way

joberg2c Day 4

it is very difficult to remember which day of riding it is. It is bike wash, eat, pack bags, lube bike, eat again, shower, dry your clothes, desperately sorting through bags to find clothes.
The cut off for Day 4 has been extended because of difficulty and distance. Needless to say, we didn t make cut off. Rodney decided to have a rest day tomorrow and Ill do some more cycling.
Now I see, now I don t, now I see.....this is when my bifocals are jumping around on my nose on the downhills.
Tough but we are having fun

Joberg2c Day 3

Today started cold and misty. Up and down farms roads and tufty grass through the mealie fields. It was tougher than what we thought it qould be. 125km in 10 hrs. Lots of mud slowed us down. Waterpoint 1 was absoluutely brilliant even hot chocolate to drink.
Unfortunately we didn t make the cut off time. We got swept but because of fantastic race rules we can keep on cycling but will not get a medal at the finish.
So here we are now in the tented camp, doing washing, washing bikes and eating. Sounds all good to me.
We are at the sterkfontein dam and what a fantastic view . Yesterday evening a fantastic spit braai and hospitality at Reitz

joberg 2c Day 1 n 2

after a hick up with the taxis not arrivi g to take us to the startline, luckily hotel manager jumped in to save the day. Tufty grass is a no-no and very difficult to ride. About 24km of it. Tough Day 1 but made cut off. Highlight was dragon boat crossing of Vaal dam,
Day 2. Started with rai and icey cold. Rain stopped later but stayed cloudyand cold. Highlight was the farmers giving put coffee at waterpoint and washing our bikes and lubing it. Fantastic! Long day in the saddle bit madw cut off time. Had a glass of wine and feeling a lot better........I know where my arse is.......

Joberg2c- before the race

Just heard that we will have to cross the Vaaldam, rowing.....eish! Bicycles crossing over in Speed boat. Mmmm how to make myself look like a bike in seven easy steps. Sigh! Left stroke, right stroke, ....capsize the boat?

Joberg2c

So, our bags are packed and we are ready to go, or are we?

Our preparations for Joberg2c

I don't quite know how we got ourselves into this one, the Joberg2c. It started off with a nice evening at a famous restaurant talking about mountain bike rides and how difficult it is to get into them, as they get filled up so quickly. After many a glass of wine and a captain or two we decided we want to enter this new event, Joberg2c. Got home quite excited, BUT, entries closed, all spaces filled up. So we put our names on the waiting list but because some people are more impatient than others, the organisers got their arms twisted in all directions and emails were sent and just before end of last year, we got in! Yaaayyy!

So our training started. Long rides in the saddle. A few climbs. More dirt road. Riding in the rain. Riding in all sorts of conditions. Testing ourselves. Testing each other. Convincing friends to ride with us, to make it easier to go out for the rides. Cleaning bikes. Packing bags. Servicing bikes. Getting new tyres. Getting a new phone with all the gadgets to make and keep contact with the gym and friends. Muddy rides. Dirty, hot and dusty rides. I got a permanent cycling short tan. The tan is getting darker and darker. Hooking and unhooking the bike rack. Pumping tyres. More riding. Did a maintenance course to gain a bit of knowledge of the thing I'm riding all the time. No saddle sores yet. Charging Garmins. I can cycle our route with eyes closed.

One more week before we're off to do the Joberg2c. Please keep in touch and follow our progress here on the blog as well as on Facebook.

I'm adding all the photos of the recent months' riding. Some are on the farm roads between Bronkhorstspruit and Bapsfontein and some on the road to Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape. All beautiful. Starting off during summer, riding right into autumn. It was really beautiful to see the landscape changing, the different crops growing, the condition of the roads changing.

April 2010 Newsletter

APRIL!

Yes, I know, time flies. Well the Argus is gone. Well done to all the riders. I’m sure you’ve enjoyed it tremendously, and that you will go back next year. Hopefully the Capetonians will have learned to control their wind by next year. Haha.

JOBERG2C.
Rodney and I will be attempting the Joberg2c race, except we see it as an adventure and not a race. We leave the racing to the pros. It is taking place from 23 April – 1 May all the way from Suikerbosrand to Scottburgh.

Total Distance 923km
Total Ascent 12 875m
To see more of the route and to read more about the event check out www.joberg2c.co.za The gym will be closed from 12:00 on Thursday 22 April and will reopen on Monday 3 May at 6:00.

KREMETART
This is a must do on any cyclist’s list of rides to do. It is a road event and can be called, The Argus of the North because of popularity and organisation. It is also nicely warm up North during winter when all of us further South, want to cocoon ourselves in winter woollies. The event takes the form of a 4-stage race except all the stages are happening on one day, starting at 7:00 and the last stage starting at 16:00. You will be provided with lovely food after each stage and they even provide a spectators bus following the cyclists on the 175km route. There is a shorter route of 70km that sounds a whole 100km less daunting. More info on www.kremetartcycling.co.za

Saturday 5 June 2010.

BAVIAANS
Some serious training is already taking place for this event. All the teams haven’t been finalised yet, so please don’t feel you don’t have a team to ride with. Please speak to me so we can start finalising the teams. It is very important that you do train with your teammates, as you do need to get to know them better before attempting the 230km Mtb marathon. I know, August, sounds like a far off month, but believe me, it is not!

I would also like to finalise accommodation in Willowmore, which I’ve explained in a previous newsletter, is a small little Karoo town. All this excitement is taking place on 14 August.

TRAINING RIDES
We do training rides over weekends. Please keep in touch for details of planned rides.

I am in training for The Freedom Challenge later this year and will appreciate any riders coming out to ride with me.

YOUR TRAINING

Although this might sound like only cycling and nothing else, it is eventually about the individual and his/her training. How are you doing? In a rut? Keep your training fresh by adding another day, another time, maybe a run in between spinning days.

Keep fit! Have fun!

Forever Bulla Team