The Argus and the Baviaans

Goodness Gracious! It is March already. I hope that you have by now slotted yourself into a nice training programme.

Lots have been happening here at the gym. The bike workshop with Gert was a huge success as was the Urban Assault. We’ve also done a couple of good training rides as well as some racing, road and dirt. The most successful was the Ride for Sight with many participants from the gym.

Argus 2010

We wish all the riders taking part in this year’s Cape Argus, a wonderful ride with a lot less wind than last year. Go fast, but go safe!

The gym will be closed from Fri. 12/3 – Mon. 15/3. Classes will run normally again from Tues 16/3. Just a reminder that Mon 22/3 is a public holiday and that the gym will be closed. And then in April, the gym will also be closed during the Easter long weekend Fri 2/4-Mon 5/4.

Baviaans MTB Challenge: 14/15 August.

I’ve received a lot of interest for the Baviaans this year. It is a mountain bike marathon starting in Willowmore to Jeffrey’s Bay. 230km in 24hrs! Willowmore is a tiny little town in the Karoo and accommodation is scarce. I’m busy organising accommodation and if you are definitely sure you want to do this, speak to me URGENTLY otherwise I’ll have to leave you to find your own accommodation. Accommodation in the school hostel is available with thin mattresses and rickety beds and 2-drip showers. I’m looking for something a little more comfortable. I’ve put a list of sorts together. If you don’t understand all the technical talk, please ask.

You will need:
Gear
A Mountain Bike with shocks. (Dual suspension an added bonus).
Bike lights- Rodney is the man to talk to.
Headlamp
Slime
Squirt
Chain links
Spare Batteries/ Battery packs
Tubes/pump/CO2 bommers
Backlight
Cable Ties
Duct tape
Camel bag /Bottles
First Aid Pack
Whistle
Multi tool
Chain breaker

Clothes
Rain jacket
Extra cold jacket
Leg warmers/ long cycling pants
Toasties socks
Gloves: short/long/rain
Undergarments: Nike/Canterbury/second skin
Cycling shoes, maybe extra pair for wet weather.
Buff/winter buff/balaclava
Extra set of riding clothes for change over.


Food
Energy bars
Biltong/Dry wors
Bananas
Nuts
Energy drinks.
Lots of food and drink are available at all the checkpoints. You just need extra for in between checkpoints.

Remember: It is not what you’ve got, but how you train, that counts.

The Argus Cycle Tour 2008

I just have to call it a tour, because once you arrive in Cape Town you have to tour around to see everything and go everywhere. Here then follows a little bit of what we got up to while down under.

Of course Cape Town was steaming, so we were looking at all sorts of watering holes to keep us cool, starting off with a picnic at Spier. Next time you travel that far, do yourself a favour and visit Spier. Beautiful picnic spots and the shop selling all the delicatessen and most devourable edibles are just super stunning. So much to choose from and so small a stomach-of course we changed that very quickly into a big stomach.

Back into Cape Town we went off to register and worked our way through the expo, making sure not to miss any of the many true bargains, like cycling gloves for R20! Howz that! Bought two pairs! Also got myself the teddy bear with the biggest smile ever wearing a Argus t-shirt, who became my newest mascot for the Argus ride.

Once we had our race numbers, we went off to Green Point to collect our bikes. Honestly, we had to marvel at the cool and collected way JH Retief handled the off loading of the bikes. We rented a Corsa Lite in Cape Town and were doubting the little car's ability to load two road bikes in the boot at the same time. Surprise! Surprise! No problem at all. It was of course a total different story when we had to pick up Andre and his bike and of course the two of us. Three passengers and a bike! Again, no problem! Corsa Lite did it again! (hopefully the Opel Managers are reading this and will offer me a new Corsa Lite for all the free advertising!)

Once Andre was sorted, we went in search of the watering holes. We needed that. The heat in Cape Town was not what we expected. We were used to having cool breezes coming from the sea, but not this year. We were dreading the heat on Sunday's ride but tried not to voice our concerns.

Most of the restaurants in Cape Town made sure that they made the most of the influx of Gautengers and take their money in change for beers, cold wines and other cooling down drinks combining it with carboloading meals etc. This menu was displayed at the very well-known Foresters Arms drinking hole in Rondebosch, near the University. It was absolutely packed with students and lecturers and ........ no didn't see any cyclists ........ but very interesting pub with an arm long history........Since 1880!

At last the big day dawned, no wind! Unbelievable! Needless to say, most of us did our personal bests. I was over the moon and was sure my mascot attached to my bike helped with the pedalling. The big bet of Corne beating me by 20 min was always in the back of my mind. But at the end he did manage to beat me by 5 min. Well done Corne! The best thing about this is that Corne previously sort of trained for the Argus with a ride here and there, spinning once a week. This year he put in a little bit of effort and came up with hugely new result. And so can you when you put your mind to it. I have to mention Susan as a first Argus rider. We were all inspired by your face at the end. It said it all: " It was fantastic". Well done to you!

And so the Argus came to an end, and with the ride behind us we could go out the next day and just relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.We spent the day driving the Argus route from Muizenberg to Simon's Town where we stopped for breakfast, watching the manoeuvres of the frigates and other military boats.

From there we made our way to Cape Point. What a beautiful site! I have to mention though, that on the way there, we encountered baboons trying to scratch off the tar our dropped Bar Ones from the previous day's race (which was by now squashed into a very thin Bar One!) as well as the Goo, Active-Gel, Vooma, gel sachets dropped by cyclists on their ride. The baboons caused a major traffic jam as they didn't want to let go of their new food source! So please next time, make sure that your used sachet does in fact reached your back pocket and not the road.

We did encounter another kind of baboon at Cape Point itself. Stealing handbags, not afraid of people, eating anything and everything. King of the cars, people and the beach.

Be there next year! It is just so much fun. How can you miss it ........again?!

The Argus Line Up

Well, after lots of training and preparations, the big day is almost here. Here is the line up of riders from the gym. Wish them well and be there next year!

Albert: Has done 21 Argus Cycle Tour rides and is now on nr 22! Well done! His advice to me for when I'm doing a standing climb is: It is only painly for the first 21 sec, after that you're on a roll.......

Lotte: Thanks for the call and telling me of the other gym's training....... gggrrrrrr. Hope it'll go well

Talitha: Joining us as a spectator this year. Thanks for that Talitha! We'll see you at the beer tent

Christo: The Fast One! Hope you'll break the Sub 3 mark this year. Good Luck!

Andre: Second Argus Ride and hopefully under 4hours. Hope this is ssso good that you don't want to miss the next one

Corne: This is a man with a challenge. He is sure he is going to beat me this year by 20min. The bet is R400's worth of alcoholic beverages. I told him I like Chenin Blanc, Merlot and Absolut Vodka. Keep your fingers crossed people, for the winner....... we will see by next week Sunday.

Zoe: You know what, every year is different. When it's windy it is more difficult ...........

Francois: Very quiet this year..... expect a good time

Rodney: It's just my legs...... they don't seem to go faster.........busy doing a scientific study of wind conditions on the coast of Cape of Good Hope! Is it now 7km/h or 7m/h or 7sec/h NNW turning SSE and by the halfway mark ..........

Hano: Has done the Sabie Subaru recently and declared the mountains in the Cape as flat...A little hill, maybe just a koppie, like in the Free State.........

Thys and Michelle: Always cycling together

Gerda: Done 11 Argus Rides. Wonder if I'll be able to stay 20min ahead of Corne. And the glasses?........ so I can see better my dear........from the 3 pigs and a wolf

Pauline: Third Argus or is it the 4th. But very well prepared. Watch this time.......First time riding for the Bulla Team and she might form part of the Bulla Baviaans team this year. Taking great strides, or is it pedal strokes....

Etienne: for ever travelling but such a bike fixer if ever needed one. Very fast and consistent times this year. Will see what the Argus holds for him

Jacques Gryzenhout, Jacques Rossouw, Susan Rossouw, Albert Jacobs, Georgine Jacobs, Carl Trieloff, Jason Rose who once again has been called to duties: I don't have pics of you, but sure you will have a fun time. Have an Absolute fun ride. See you at the end at the beer tent! We are honestly waiting till the last guy is in. Enjoy! See you in Cape Town.
For all the sorry souls staying behind... the gym will be closed as all instructors are down there, where it is happening... Cape Town. Closed on Thursday 6 March-opening again 11 March at 6am.