The maps are UPside down

Preparing for the Freedom Challenge is far more than just getting on your bicycle and pedaling for hours on end. Lots of time is spend on reading and understanding the narratives which accompanied the maps as well as searching through Google Earth trying to locate certain towns in rural areas as well as the tiniest of track or trail.

So, when at last we received an email stating that the maps were up, we were relieved because the real training has started. In our household it happened more or less like this.

The maps, the maps! I want to see, no, let me see... let me see first. I want to see first...

And of course because Rodney was going to change my maps into an understandable language, decipher hieroglyphics so to speak, we all had to wait our turn. No matter how excited we were, we had to wait!

At last, we settled and calmly opened the files

Uhm....excuse me....I'm riding the Freedom Challenge, so may I now have a chance to see what's going on? Hello! ....Excuse me!....

What?..... What?..... What is she babbling on about? We are looking!

Oh Nooo.....Does she have to go there? ....Better just close my eyes and bury my face! Is she going to come back? Who will feed me?...

...there!...there! There it is! On Google Earth...I can see the track

Wow! How did you find it? 

Mmm,....not difficult....I used my nose

 Is that it? Have we got it all? ...Ok.... Click print

I'll take a nap in the meantime.....sigh...exhausting work

And so,  at last all the maps are ready, printed and in my 2l ice cream containers, ready for Cape Town and then to be shipped to the different support stations.

Watch this space for the physical training part in preparation for the Freedom Challenge, Race across SA.

The Tank on her Maiden Voyage

And so it is that we got ourselves "the tank" to help us "go faster" and "ride more together" and all the other wonderful things you envisage yourself and partner doing with "the tank". We did some training and practiced hopping on and off the bike. Firstly the stoker had to sit tight and then the captain got on and zooom we're off! We even got so good that we both had one foot clipped in the pedal and then our traditional 1-2-3 count and zooom we're off! We even got better and started to pull away on a little hill, or steep incline...the same 1-2-3 count and zooom we're off! 

So, we were ready, or sort of ready.

The big day dawned and we had a fantastic seeding, first social tandems. Lots of talking but the nerves were starting to show...hundreds of butterflies turning, swooping, and doing as many tricks they could. 

At last we could move forward and we could get to the start line.

Everybody said Whoopla! And away we went! Edinburgh drive was steep......the first of the hundreds of butterflies wanted out, and at about 16km we had to make our first stop....We pulled out all the stops and had a fantastic downhill past the University going at 74km/h......Things were looking up, yes up to Boyes Drive......constant peddling and some reminders from the back that we do have a granny gear as well....Catching our breath.... into Main Road and on our way to Smitswinkel......More of those nervous butterflies wanted to make an escape and so we pulled in at the loos with the views.....

Cramps or butterflies......we had to make a quickie stop again just to adjust the...all the things....We arrived at Chapman's Peak, climbing steadily, until we had to stop. Now, if you want to pull away on the uphill with cramping and half cramping muscles, be my guest. The stoker decided he has done enough stoking and off he hopped, leaving me with the tank. Two choices, peddle or push. I decided to peddle, so off I went to the top with no stoker. You just have to keep a deaf ear to all the shouting " you lost your partner" or "hey, lady, he really is not peddling" etc. The marshals were very good and went down to meet the stoker to tell him, that the captain is OK and has made it and is waiting at the top....Downhill was a breeze and then the last dreaded Suikerbossie climb. Surprise, or no surprise we repeated the Chapman's Peak manoeuvre, except we added a flat tyre. Being a MTB tandem it wasn't a problem except when I removed my finger off the hole to be plugged and the tyre sealant squirted across my face and sealed my one eye shut......luckily mostly downhill from there.......

It was hot, it was a voyage but we've made it......and we're still friends.

March News

Almost March!

March is jam packed with all sorts of fitness things happening. Firstly, on Saturday 3 March 2012 is our Quick Fit Workshop starting at 6am. Here follows the full programme, but do remember that you can do the full programme, half a programme or just one class.  

 Programme

Morning session:

6:00-6:45 sprint class on spinning bikes

7:00-7:45 upper body boot camp ball class

8:00-8:45 hill climbing/sprints spinning

Tea Break 9:00-9:30

Late Morning session:

9:30-10:15 one-movement class spinning

10:30-11:15 lower body boot camp class

11:30-12:15 introductory heavy weights class 

                    and rope class

Option 1: R250 for full day programme, including lunch, a variety of Woollies sandwiches and cold drinks.

Option 2:  R150 for morning/afternoon session including lunch, a variety of Woollies sandwiches and cold drinks.

Option 3:  R100 for morning/afternoon session without lunch.

Option 4: R50 for one class only.

                  

Only 12 places per class. So book ASAP.

 Argus

Secondly, the Cape Argus Road Race is taking place on 11 March 2012. We wish all our Roadies a wonderful journey and a fun experience. May all the winds this time, be from behind.

Please note that the gym will be closed from Fri. 9/3- Mon 12/3.

All classes will run as usual from Tuesday 13 March.

February news

We did the first of our Quickfit Workout Workshop and we got blasted! Legs burning, lungs burning but a glowing satisfaction of a good workout had by all. And, the best, we are doing it again. Saturday 4 Feb here at the gym. We will be starting at 6am to avoid the heat of the day and to just pack more hours into your day. Sign up and join in the workout!

The programme will be exactly the same as the previous programme in January, the only difference is the start time of 6am and not 8am. The lunch break will now be a tea break, seeing that it is 2 hours earlier but it will again be Woollies sandwiches with cold drinks, and will only be half an hour instead of the previous hour break. We all felt rested enough to start with the second half of the programme after half an hour. You don't want your muscles to stiffen up. The programme ends about 12 midday. 

Just a reminder to enter for the Ride for Sight road event on 12 Feb. It is a qualifier for Argus 2013 and 94.7 2012. So don't miss out if you would like to improve your seeding.

It is time to start some serious training!

January 2012

 Welcome back, and like always, I had some time to think during the holidays and came up with some new and exciting classes and workouts.  

Quick Fit Workout

An all day workout for Saturday 14 January 2012, starting at 8:00 and ending at 15:00. Phew! Ok, you could also enter for half a day.

Programme

Morning session:

8:00-8:45 sprint class on spinning bikes

9:00-9:45 upper body boot camp ball class

10:00-10:45 hill climbing/sprints spinning

Lunch 11:00-12:00

Afternoon session:

12:00-12:45 one-movement class spinning

13:00-13:45 lower body boot camp class

14:00-14:45 introductory heavy weights class 

                    and rope class

Option 1: R250 for full day programme, including lunch, a variety of Woollies sandwiches and cold drinks.

Option 2:  R150 for morning/afternoon session including lunch, a variety of Woollies sandwiches and cold drinks.

Option 3:  R100 for morning/afternoon session without lunch.

Option 4: R50 for one class only.

Limited space available, so please book ASAP!

 New Classes

Introducing heavy weights to the gym in the form of the medicine ball. These will be exercises with movement and not just lifting dead weights.

Introducing rope classes done with a skipping rope. These classes will be cardio workouts including fast skipping, power jumps and more.

Classes will start on Monday 16 January at 7:00 for heavy weights and 16:30 for rope classes and will be alternated on consecutive days.

Monday:      7:00 heavy weights

                    16:30 rope class

Tuesday:     7:00 rope class

                    16:30 heavy weights

Wednesday: 7:00 heavy weights

                    16:30 rope class

Thursday:    7:00 rope class

                    16:30 heavy weights

Friday: No heavy weights or rope classes

We will also add another spin class on Friday mornings at 7:00 to the existing spin classes, which are at 6:00 and 8:00.                          

That is a good way to start a new year and to help those who have set fitness goals for 2012.

Remember, having a muffin top is not a fashion J

Riding in 2012

All the new rides and dates are out. Just have a look at the new Ride Mag and you'll start drooling. From Trans Baviaans to Trans Draak ( www.transdrakensberg.co.za ) to Stormsriver Traverse to Karoo to Coast to Argus and the Kremetart and...and....and....the Freedom Challenge and the Lesotho ride and the Cape Pioneer, to name but a few! I want to name a few, Joberg2c, Sani2c, Berg and bush, Desert Dash. Now you can name a few more. Add your favourites.


It is not so much the training which is the problem, because we are continuously doing some rides, it is more the cost of riding. Don't get me wrong, I know it does cost a fair amount to organise an event and get sponsors and water tables and a shirt and a goodie bag etc but the problem is which race to ride...or is it which ride to race...? Entry fee, driving or flying to the event, accommodation at the event if it is a bit of a distance, food and drinks, and numerous other little costs which eventually add up and will cause the minister of home finances a huge headache. The solution? I think work harder so we can ride more? 


Fantastic to have the Transdraak but it is a week before the Argus. I'm trying to get to number 21 so I can get a shirt or medal saying " She has done 21". Then, how must I make a choice between The Trans Baviaans or the Stormsriver Traverse? It is nice to take part in a new event but what about teammates who would have liked to have done their 5th Baviaans? The two events are only a few days apart. We've entered for the Stormsriver. 


I think what I need to do, is to ride as many as possible! 
Hope you have come to the same conclusion.
Ride them all!

Year-end 2011

 So the year nose dived to an end. The pirates seemed to be all very happy about that. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful support throughout the year and coming out to celebrate.