Pete Smith - Team Jeep South Africa

July 2010 - Imana Wild Ride

2010-08-08T14:42:00.008+02:00

After a rather sporadic training regime in Europe, I was a little bit nervous about my form approaching Imana 2010. Nick and I, now in competing teams in the event, drove down the weekend before, as we have done for the past 4 years. After all the stress of getting down to Kei Mouth, it was awesome to relax and just enjoy being back on the Wild Coast. Nick and I stayed at our normal accommodation, Whispering Waves, and rode the first day backwards on Sunday after dropping a car at Kobb Inn. Iain, Nick’s partner, and Willie, my new partner, joined us on Monday evening before the race start on Tuesday.

There are a million stories, beautiful moments and small battles I could write about describing the week – so it is probably best to just give a brief summary, rather than write a book! I felt surprisingly strong up the first few hills on day 1 and Willie was right there with me. With a 30 second gap on the first beach, Willie’s hanger snapped. After putting a new one on and many kilometres of jumping gears, Willie’s derailleur then broke, and we spent the rest of the day running and towing. 1h15 down on the first day, and we knew we had to change our mindset and focus on stage wins, with an overall win now out of reach.

Willie and I had a strong day 2 and managed to win the day. It was also a different and special experience to start amongst the backmarkers (after losing so much time on day 1) and get a feel of what the race is like for them. More disaster struck on day 3 though, and after making up substantial time on the leaders during the first half of the stage, we were left running and towing after Willie’s bike’s freebody gave up. We seemed to have used up all our bad luck by day 4 though, and we had a great day on my favourite stage (the terrain is absolutely desolate, epic, wild and beautiful on the stage). We managed to beat Nick and Iain, who deservingly took the overall win, to the fastest time on the stage.

Despite the mechanical drama, the race was another unforgettable week. The race was my first navigating the unmarked route without a Garmin 9000 (i.e. Nick Floros), and I was happy that I was competent, well at least moderately so, at finding my way by myself. It’s also always great initiating and introducing someone new to the best race in the world, and Willie coped really well with the difficult terrain and with my “looks of judgment” when stuff went wrong! The 2010 edition was also the first time my parents were able to get involved in the race as part of the organising team (thanks Bex!) and it was awesome to be able to finally share the magic of the event with them.

Back in the real world now I am suffering from the post-Imana Blues (the realisation that life is not all riding down a beach into the sunrise with the taste of salt on your lips!), and looking forward to being down the coast again sometime soon.

Riding day 1 backwards - Nick near Mazeppa Bay

Kobb Inn Sunrise

Towing on day 1 after a broken hanger and derailleur

Crossing the Mbashi River at the end of day 2

Pushing Willie's bike, while he ran, up the Col de la Coffee Bay near the end of Day 3

Climbing up a rock shelf on the last beach of day 4

The coolest finish line ever

For more photos go to http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=473661&id=535170787

9th June - 15th July 2010 - Europe

2010-07-22T08:31:00.011+02:00

I’ve been away from the racing scene for the last 5 weeks, holidaying in Europe. My friend Alistair and I (meeting up with my brother and his girlfriend, Lauren, along the way) had quite a rollercoaster 5 weeks, spending time in London, the Lake District, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Florence and Tuscany, Provence, and catching a stage of the Tour in the Alps. With Imana coming up, I had to try fit some training in our travelling, sightseeing and wine drinking schedule (let us not forget that red wine is full of beneficial antioxidants and reversatol, which is important for sportsmen). If I am honest with myself, I never been very good with the blogging thing, so going to post some pictures rather – I feel this will be easier for all involved, and more entertaining. So here goes...

I was confined to running the week I was in London, and I did more mileage than I've ever done before. I found an awesome path by the Thames which I used every morning.

I did more running in the Lake District - the place is full of beautiful public paths through the mountains and countryside.

Riding a bike is the way to get around Amsterdam - there bikes everywhere, and the cycling paths are super organised.

That said, the Dutch have pretty rubbish bikes. Sasha here, my bike while I was there, weighed about 30kg and rode like a Harley Davidson - good thing there are no hills in the Netherlands.

It was hard to live with the scenery in Tuscany.

The front porch.

The top end bike I borrowed ;)

The roads were awesome, winding and hilly - lots of cyclists.

I went for an 18km run up and down the mountain we stayed on - broke my body, and couldn't run for a few days after that!

Italian ice cream, or Gelato, will probably change your life (actually, Italian food in general will). Unfortunately, I will also probably add a few kilograms to your waistline (don't judge an Italian for being fat!).

The dinner table in the South of France, where much time was spent.

An awesome little mountain road through a Ceder Forest in the Luberon Mountains.

The roads in Provence are spectacular, narrow and quiet - and, unlike in South Africa, the local French actually care more about your safety than getting to the shops 5 minutes earlier.

An amazing mountain pass I came upon unexpectedly - cycling is the best way to see the region.

Coffee and croissant rides in the morning are obligatory.

The beautiful lavender fields around Sault, a little village near the base of Mont Ventoux.

The hired bike I rode around on.

Riding up Mont Ventoux - I may have had to go onto the small chainring of my triple chainring road bike!

Super-supporters - Al and Lol.

It is always important to maintain a sense of style while suffering.

The radio beacon on the summit.

Mike and I near the top.

The sweet store at the top was too much for me - I felt sick for days after.

Lol, Mike, Al and I at the top.

With my Top Shop glasses I bought in London - probably the coolest cyclist on Mont Ventoux.

Did some intense Kayak training (actually probably better described at floating down the river on a boat)

The Sourge River we kayaked down was crystal clear and freezing cold in high summer - it bubbles straight out of the mountain up stream.

The Col de la Madeliene.

Every spot possible on the road is taken by tents and campervans. The first spot available to us was 5 km from the summit.

I took a run to the summit early in the morning - spectacular scenery.

The spot we camped out on - 1 km from the summit. The atmosphere is unreal - the caravan comes through before the race with endless freebies, people are everywhere - by the time the cyclists come through, you've kinda forgotten they're the reason you there!

18th April 2010 - Cumberland Super Classic

2010-06-06T21:08:00.005+02:00

The Cumberland Classic is one of the foremost super classics on the KZN calendar, and the 2010 edition lived up to its reputation. The organisers always put on a great event with an awesome mix of fast jeep track and singletrack.

The Cumberland course is always conducive to fast racing, and 2010 was no different. I lagged from the start after minimal training and few too many long nights of studying, but managed to fight back to fourth by the finish.

Brendon

Matt

Brendon and Matt

Matt and I

Brendon

July-August 2009 - Imana Wild Ride

2010-03-22T16:18:00.006+02:00

Well, this is about 8 months too late - but found it on my computer - and here it is:
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The Imana Wild Ride started at 3am on Saturday 18th July 2009 in Ixopo when we left to drive down to Kei Mouth. Craig, Mike and I left in one vehicle, with Nick and Nikki in the other. We were certain we were leading – we got a call from Nick at 5am saying that they had over slept and were just leaving Ixopo. With this in mind, we were very surprised to pass Nick and Nikki’s Subaru at a petrol station at Idutchwa in the Transkei, and now we knew the race was on. Nick, realising he had lost the lead, took a coastal sneak down to the ferry crossing at Kei Mouth. His move would have led to victory but for an elementary navigation error, which saw him going to Trennerys rather than Kei Mouth – forcing him to take a slow drive on a hectically rocky jeep track. Craig, Mike and I cruised in with a comfortable lead.

Whispering Waves chalet 19 (our traditional accommodation at Kei Mouth) never fails to disappoint. Craig asked on arrival what the compound was on our left. Mike and I informed him that this was our lovely accommodation. Craig soon came round though. He was initiated by No.19 on his first toilet visit, returning with wet pants after an experience with our projectile-flushing toilet. Our stay at Kei Mouth was what we’ve come to expect over the past few years – great food and hospitality at the Green Lantern, Tour de France and drinks at the Bush Pig Pub, a warm-up and Day 1 route ride on Sunday, and a slow influx of people and build up of excitement the weekend before the race.

Pre-race briefing on Monday was a special one with the 2009 edition of the race being the 10th anniversary. It was great to be given an insight into the history of the race, the races charity WREC (Wild Ride Education), and a reminder of the great characters which give the race its unique feel. Spider Clark, back after missing last year’s edition, didn’t disappoint with his unique brand of super-crude “no-he-couldn’t-have-said-that” humour. His speech got the Wild Ride veterans laughing, and the new initiates gasping in horror (and mothers leading their children out the room, hands over their ears).

Day 1 started with the normal ferry crossing over the Great Kei River and a start at the base of the legendary Sunrise Surprise Hill. I expected some sort of attack from Craig and Mike on the first hill, but was surprised to see my partner setting the tempo up the first climb. At the top it was already clear who would contest the race at the front – Nick and I, Mike and Craig and Dan Hugo and Bobby Behan had a gap on the rest of the field. After the first hilly inland section, Nick and I and Mike and Craig had a small gap over Dan and Bobby, and we consolidated the lead over the next 10km or so. The “golf-course” before Wavecrest Hotel, where our race was made the year before, was again where we got a lead. By the top of the hill we had about 25 seconds on Mike and Craig, and over the predominantly flat remainder of the stage, we increased the gap as Nick’s piston-legs kicked into top gear.

Being back on the beaches reminded me what elevates the Wild Ride above any other race – the strange mixture of burning legs, the rising sun, glistening beaches and the taste of salt spray in your mouth. It’s one of the best feeling I know to cross the Qora River before Kobb Inn and the finish line. There’s no cleaner feeling on earth.

Nick and I pulled just over 4 minutes on Mike and Craig, who finished only seconds ahead of Dan and Bobby. The Kobb Inn lawns, which roll down to a rocky coastline, must be the best finish line on earth. It’s hard to get up to go and clean your bike and shower when you can lie there drinking coffee and eating snacks, chatting to all the competitors about their story for the day.

Stage 2 dawned with another immaculate Wild Coast sunrise. The predominantly flat second stage always starts fast, and Nick made my lungs burn over the opening few kilometres. With his beach riding skill and technical prowess, the second stage is his day. He rode lines through the rocks I would never have considered, and this helped us pull the gap out to Mike and Craig who started 2 minutes back (due to the condensed elapsed time format). The Nqabara River was a sizeable swim as usual, and before me knew it, we were approaching the first “Mother” (in layman’s terms, a flippin’ huge hill).

As we portaged up the mother, calf burn was today accompanied with spectacular views off the cliffs down to the blue green of the Indian Ocean, dolphins diving in the waves. We rode past some fresh rhino dung – it an awesome and rather scary privilege to be able to ride on rhino stamping grounds. From there it was down the path through rhino valley (a path crafted by rhino feet) and onto the last beaches of the day. We mercifully crossed the Mbashe River at low tide and were spared a scary swim in the brown torrent.

The staff at the Haven Hotel were welcoming as usual, and Nick and I were pleased to find we had pulled an additional three or so minutes on Mike and Craig. Our lead was now at about 7.30. Nick, Nikki, Craig, Mike and I were again all put in the same room, with a group of guys next door. We all spent time together laughing, recounting war stories and watching the tour on the pub TV. In the evening we went through the standard procedure of race admin and prize-giving, capped off as usual by awesome pictures from Jon Ivins and tv-coverage from BigShot media, always a special reminder of the day.

Stage three started the next morning with a gale-force tailwind behind us, strong enough to ground the helicopter for the day. On the beach for the first half on the day we reached 50-60km/h – riding with the wind all you can hear is the hum of your tires on the sand. After the first half, which is mostly beach riding, the weather started to get ugly just before the second inland section, almost on cue as our race turned. Mike and Craig had pulled back to within a minute on the next uphill section called Bex’s sneak, and on the treacherous downhill that followed, Nick and I, and Mike, were all blown off the road. I was left cursing in the middle of the road and looking for my partner who, as it turned out, had ridden down a grass bank after the wind pushed him off the road.

We were finally caught on Mission Mother (a Mother which it is my personal mission to ride without putting a foot down – I failed again this year, right near the top). From there, we all knew the battle was on – Mike and Craig had already gained two minutes on us, and Nick was battling with three mothers still to go between Hole in the Wall and Coffee Bay. Mike and Craig gapped us on the first mother, and from there on, it was just damage control. The wind was driving rain into our faces up the granny gear climbs, and although there weren’t sunny skies we have become accustomed to during the race, it was what Imana is all about – racing and fighting against the elements. Nick dug deep over the last few climbs and we limited our losses to four minutes on Mike and Craig, arriving drenched and freezing. Our hands were so cold we could barely change gears by the finish.

The rest of the field struggled in as we had, fighting what must have been one of the more epic days in the races 10 year history. The race always pushes everyone’s upper limits, as bailing is not an option – unless you want to try catch a rural taxi (or boat!) to the end. Everyone rose to the occasion, all but one injured rider finishing.

That afternoon we went and check out the beaches at Mtata Mouth where we would catch a ferry the next morning. From our awe inspiring vantage point on a nearby hill, we looked onto the endless beaches and rolling hills – the best race route I know.

Fines evening was held at Coffee Bay Hotel and was entertaining as usual – Spider Clark at his obscene best. The evening produced a record donation of over R300 000, enough to see a few more classrooms built in very needy communities.

The evening was probably the most nervous one Nick and I have had over our four years of racing. Mike and Craig had cut the gap down to 3.30, and the long hilly last day was more their type of terrain. They were starting 2 minutes behind us, and therefore, would have to catch us and drop us by 1.30 to take the win. We knew that we had stay in front at least till the foot of the last big climb, Stimela Hill.

We set off into the cold at 7am the next morning, up the first lung-bustingly steep hill. I knew it was going to be a big battle when I looked back just before the first ferry at Mtata Mouth and saw Mike and Craig less than 30 seconds back – they had gained 1.30 in the first 10 kilometres. The soggy, high tide first beaches saved us a bit, and we used some of our experience from the past 3 years to stay ahead, riding up and down the beaches, following the waves. Mike also made a navigation error just before the second ferry at the Mtakagagie River which helped the gap back out to 2.20.

I love the race route on stage 4. It’s the Wild Coast at its wildest. Unreal, isolated beaches, massive climbs and unobvious trails through mangroves and coastal bush – trails where you can get lost in a second. The Wild Ride may not be biggest, most publicised or most competitive race – but in my opinion, it’s still the best. It’s racing at its most primal – you and your partner alone against the terrain, weather and tides.

The grey weather as Nick and I approached Stimela Hill, barely in front of Mike and Craig, was almost fitting. Nick, who had been struggling on the climbs, dug really deep to maintain the gap. I know he hated me continually telling him to “push it”, but he did push it as hard as he could. Mike and Craig finally caught us down the other side of the hill, and we took ferries across the Umgazane River together (Mike and Craig graciously played “gentleman’s rules”, waiting for us on the other side after they got the faster boat). We rode the last few beaches together, with no one able to forge a gap. Banging the gong at Umgazi Lagoon was an incredible relief after a tense day, Mike and Craig just on our tail. The close 1.30 gap between us on the overall standings seemed fitting after an epic race.

Umgazi River bungalows was welcoming as usual, and a boat of staff were sent out across the lagoon to welcome us with song and dance (yes, we did join in). Prize-giving and dinner were huge, commemorating 10 years of the race. Unfortunately, stage 5 at the bar failed to beat the bar tab from the preceding year (I personally blame the fact that there were no brooms as dance props for me this year), but we again left with no hair – a good memento of another special 4 days.

1st-3rd March 2010 – Sani2C

2010-03-13T18:10:00.006+02:00

Craig and I had our best Sani2C result this year. We finished 4th on the first stage, and 7th and 8th respectively on days 2 and 3. In the overall standings after the three days we ended 5th, which we were pretty happy with. 2010 was another great event with endless stories and memories. There is way too much to record here, and I have way too little time to write it (and you probably have way too little time to read it) – so here so photos instead (thanks Brian.)

Start line

Day 1 - Floating Bridge

Day 1 - Last Waterpoint

Day 1 - Finish

Day 1 - Finish (CP)

Day 1 - Finish - Willie Blown!

Day 1 - Nick "Bull of a Man" Floros suffering up the last climb

Day 2 - Muddy front group

Day 2 - Covered in mud after the most crazy-muddy-misty-can't see a thing- death descent

Day 2 - CP

Day 2 - Dave and Roan

Day 2 - Going aero

Day 2 - Ya, it was muddy like that

Day 2 - Mike looking cool at the compulsory halfway stop

Day 2 - Mike and Nick's arrival at the finish

Day 3 - Front group

Day 3 - Our group

Day 3 - Midway

Day 3 - Midway (CP)

Day 3 - Finish - Our super-supporter crew - Al (not pictured), De and Philli (behind me)

27th February 2010 – SA Marathon Championships – Sabie Classic

2010-03-13T18:08:00.000+02:00

Craig, Brendon, Ryan, Candice Neethling left at 6 in the morning to drive up to Sabie the day before the race. After an epic 8 hours of driving, inefficient registration and a short ride, we arrived at our accommodation at 5:20pm – completely shattered. Not ideal preparation for a 110km race ascending over 3000 meters!

The following day we set off at about 8am. Everyone possible was there, and the start line looked like a who’s who of SA mountain biking. The pace was frenetic as usual off the line – something I can never quite understanding knowing that 5 or so hours lie in store! I battled up the start of the first 15km climb, but by the top I had found my legs, and was riding in around tenth place or so. I was careful to ride at a comfortable pace for the first 70kms and was feeling strong when a caught Oliver Munnik, Rourke Crouser and Mannie Heymans by the feedzone preceding the last loop.

After expert assistance by Charles Stander, Candice, Brendon and James Reid, I set off in the group for the final hilly 40km. I moved to the front on the climb and just set my own tempo, and was surprised to see everyone fall off my wheel. I then passed Max Know, who looked pretty shattered, Adrian Neoshute, who had a puncture, and finally Paul Cordes in the last 10 kms.

At the end I was still feeling pretty strong and ended up in 7th place. I was stoked to get a top 10 in SA Marathon Champ and the race was a good confidence boost for Sani2C.

13th – 14th February 2010: Wartburg and Blythdale Super Classics

2010-02-16T15:15:00.003+02:00

The weekend promised to be a busy one, with Wartburg and Blythdale Super Classics back to back on Saturday and Sunday. It was going to be a tough weekend, but also a good opportunity to get some racing into my legs before Sani2C (in an attempt to limit the suffering Craig is going to inflict on me!).

Wartburg had a good turnout of over a thousand entries, and a good Jeep presence on the start line, with Ryan, Matt Craig and I. The pace was furious from the line, with Matt demonstrating some of his residual road racing speed and power, heading up the pack. A group of about 7 of us stayed together for the first rolling 10kms or so, before Craig got serious. I had obviously gone far too far over redline on one of the short steep hills when the group split up, and found myself off the back – breathing blood. I was left in an unexceptional 6th, behind CP, David Lieman, Carl Calverly, Matt and Ryan respectively, and slightly worried that my Sani partner was setting the pace!

Over the next few kms I managed to get into a rhythm and reeled back Ryan, and then Matt on the only notable hill on the course. I could see Dave and Carl about a minute ahead with 5kms to go, and took a few risks on the epic final dual singletracks. I managed to bridge the gap to Carl by the line, but was spent from the chase, and had to resign to 4th in the dice to the line. Dave was about 20 seconds ahead in second, and CP about 1.30 up the road, taking the win.

Getting out of bed on Sunday morning at 5.30 was a bit of a mission after the long day on Saturday, but managed to pull myself out and get on the way down the coast to Blythdale. The event was a first timer on the calendar, but looks like it will be a regular feature in years to come with a special and diverse course, and Max and the A-Team in control of organisation.

Craig, Ryan and I were the only ones who had made it to the start line from the day before. Andrew Warr, Roan Exelby, Shaun Merridew, and juniors Brendon Davids and Luke Roberts shored up the compo. The pace was hot from the start, with Brendon making the rest of us slow starters hate him. After the first 10kms Andrew and Brendon were off the front, with CP a bit back – in Shaun and my sights. Shaun is always is always a good guy to be around in fast rolling classics with his huge power on the flats, an unselfish work ethic. We combined well together and reeled in Craig with 15kms to go. Quite surprisingly, Luke and Roan also popped into the group out of nowhere with 10kms to go. With their inclusion, the racing started in earnest, with attack after attack launched off the front.

Craig and I managed to forge a small gap off the front of the group in the hill last 5kms, which we held to the line. I finished 3rd, with CP 5 ticks back in 4th, and Shaun just behind in 5th. The high paced ending had brought Brendon into our sights, and he was 10 seconds ahead in 2nd on the line after a solid performance. Andrew Warr was the well deserved victor by about 2 minutes.

I was quite encouraged by my form on the second race of the weekend after a bit of a lacklustre performance at Wartburg, and a little less scared (stress on a little!) of the prospect of CP burning me at Sani2C. Next up is Sabie Ultra-Marathon Champs after a free weekend, which should be the next big test.

30th January - Barberton Ultra-Marathon

2010-02-07T22:56:00.000+02:00

Craig, Brendon, Carl Calverly, Ryan Ellis up and I drove up to Barberton on the 29th of January for our first race of the season. We found our accommodation just outside Barberton at about midday and went off for a ride to loosen up our legs. For the rest of the day carbo-loaded commenced, and we ate huge quantities of food, always a bonus of doing 120kms the next day. The absence of any mothers or girlfriends was felt though, as Carl and I managed to grill the premade lasagne, making it a mix of plastic lasagne container and mince. We managed to salvage what we could, and topped up on anything else we could find.

For the first time Barberton wasn’t the opening round of the MTN National Marathon season, with the Attakwas in Oudtshourn being held 2 weeks earlier. Nevertheless, the race still seemed to have all the pressure and competition it’s had in previous years. All the big teams were present, and MTN and DCM’s numbers were even boosted by some of their best road riders. We were off at 7am at the usual furious pace ultra-marathons start at – always tough to hang in when you know you’ve got over a 100kms of hills to come! Craig and I managed to start the first hill (which is a mammoth 15km-1000m ascent bleed) with the front group, but were out the back about 200 meters up! With about 7 guys up front, we rode a steady pace up the hill.

Up the hill, our group’s numbers swelled as we caught some stragglers from the front group and other joined from behind. After what seemed like endless climbing, we hit the 15km technical downhill that took us to the 75km mark and feed zone. Craig decided to put the pressure on down the hill, making full use of his full suspension Epic. I followed him as best as I could, relying heavily on my full-sus, which gave me a competitive advantage, and a bit of misplaced bravery! Craig and I came through the feedzone with Rourke Crouser and Paul Cordes, and I think the four of us filled positions 6-10. Unfortunately we had arrived a bit earlier than expected, missing Ryan and Brendon whose race had just finished, who had planned to give us more juice and water.

Ride through the backroads of Barberton to the final 45kms, Craig popped of the group, closely followed by me. The murderous 15km hill (which really doesn’t end!) then finished us off, both of us hitting the wall. About 2 minutes in front of Craig, I just limited the damage, trying to find a steady tempo. On the hill the compo streamed past, and I was very relieved when I finally reached the summit. On the last undulating 30kms, every little drag seemed like a mountain, and it good to reach the finish line after 5h36 minutes. After the blow up on the climb on the final loop, Craig and I ended in 16th and 17th. Carl was just back in 18th, finishing strong. Upfront, Max Know destroyed the field, finishing 7 minutes ahead of Burry, who edged in front of Kevin in the final sprint.

15th March – Jowetts Super Classic (40km)

2009-03-16T08:39:00.004+02:00

Two weeks from the end of Sani – and after multiple physio appointments for completely broken legs (crashing and stage racing are a bad combination apparently) – it was time for my first Super Classic of the season. Jowetts is one of my favourite super classics as its on home turf and has some of the most awesome singletrack in the province. Credit must go to Chris Brand who organises the singletrack laden course almost single handedly – no small feat.

I continued the crashing and injury theme of my early season the day before the race while warming up on one of the singletracks. I just go far to fast on my new full suspension Specialized Epic. The bike gives me a new level of confidence over rough terrain and rocky sections – evidently way more confidence than I should have. I planted my upper leg on a rather large tree stump adding ITB woes to my already shot legs. Nevertheless, after some serious stretching I made it to the start line the next morning.

The start again made me consider giving up the sport, but once I recovered I had an awesome days riding. I caught back up to and overtook David Lieman and Andrew Hill in the first extended singletrack, making a bit of a gap. David came back past and put 30 seconds into me on the first big hill, a time gap which stayed pretty much constant for the rest of the race. The course was sublime – flowing singletrack interspersed the hills and the flat grinds, helping you forget all the hard sections.

After 1:38, which felt like a sprint race after my early season diet of ultra-marathons and stage races, I came to the finish under a minute behind David. Andrew Hill was 2 minutes back in third. Mike had an awesome race, sprinting it out with Jedson Tombs and unfortunately coming off second best in 5^th place, a further minute behind Andrew.

Riding some of the flowing singletrack

Dicing it out with a 10km rider

Recovering after the race

26th – 28th February – Sani2C (204km)

2009-03-02T08:33:00.006+02:00

Sani seemed to sneak up on us this year and it seems like no time has passed since December base training and the race has come and gone. My Dad, Mum, Mike and I left for Underberg just after lunch, and the usual pre-race rush to get everything packed and ready (I usually manage to escape all the hard work though!). After sorting out registration we spent the first evening in an awesome little cottage on the Drak Garden’s Road, carbo-loading (dutifully – I always find it tough work to eat a lot of food) for the long three days ahead. I really enjoyed my warm-up ride on the Drak Road – I felt like I was back on home turf, the site of some of my December training.

Day 1 started early at 6, which meant a 2.30 start and eating breakfast in bed – seriously unpleasant. All the competition was out in force on the start line (DCM Chrome x2, Specialized, MTN Energade x2, Garmin x2, Fullimput, Cyclelab/Toyota, etc – it was huge) and the pace slowly wound up on the opening stretch of district road. I was popped off the back on one of the rolling climbs and alone in no-mans-land, suffering. I knew then it was going to be a long day. Thankfully, Mike and Craig Stone caught me and we worked together to get back into the group. A crash in the main bunch brought us back, but unfortunately Ben Melt Swanepoel (DCM) ended his race with a broken elbow.

I was completely blown in the first singletrack from my redline effort on the open roads and was going backwards. Fortunately, Craig was a brilliant partner and let me pace myself and ride back into the race. By the arching floating bridge, which was epic fun, we had worked our way back into about 5^th position. We formed a group with Andrew Maclean, Shan Wilson, Burry Stander and Conrad Stoltz for the middle section of the course and Craig was very patient of my general slow pace. We managed to shake the group by the end of the day and I was incredibly relieved to reach the crest of the hill (where my life felt at about its end) at Mackenzie Club for the Day 1 finish. I was pretty surprised and pleased to finish in 6^th after what had felt like a really bad day.

Mackenzie was a bit muddy, but awesome as usual, my favourite of the overnight stops. War stories were traded and vast amounts of banana bread (Ixopo trademarked, and of unlimited supply) was consumed and coffee drunk.

Day 2 started at sunrise (5.35am) which meant another ludicrously early breakfast at 3.00. Murry’s Menander (a trail cut into an almost vertical slope above the Umkomaas Valley – Nick’s new engineering feat) was unreal with the sun rising in front of us. The track to the bottom of the Valley was treacherous and Craig and I (mostly me, actually) managed to make it a serious effort, getting lost and stuck in heavy mud. At the bottom we found ourselves in 7^th place and rode at a steady tempo out of the valley to the compulsory halfway stop. I was relieved to find I had far better legs than the day before, especially as the 2^nd is the hardest day of the three at 100km with over 2000 vertical meters of ascent.

At the compulsory 10 minute halfway stop we gathered ourselves and were happy to find ourselves in 5^th. Unfortunately, Brandon Stewart and Max Knox (DCM) had to pull out due to illness and Renay Goustra and Arno Viljoen (GT) suffered a puncture. We set off on the last 40km of flatter more open road with Francios Theron and Philip Buys (Garmin) 2 minutes ahead of us and Burry and Conrad (Specialized) were 5 minutes behind us, and coming back fast. Craig battled like a hero on the second half of the day, suffering with cramp but hanging in there and maintaining a pretty high pace. We ended another day very relieved at Jolivet Farm, holding onto 5^th (1 minute or so ahead of Burry and Conrad) and moving into 5^th overall for the race.

At the overnight stop we went through the usual routine – tents, boxes, shower, massage, 1.2 litres of yogi sip, vast quantities of food and a doze under a tree. There was some stress in the darkness after supper fixing a tire, but then it was lights out after a long day. Mercifully day 3 started a little later, at 7, so we had a relaxed and lovely sleep in till 4.30! Then it was queuing for the toilets as per usual (all cyclists stomachs work precisely 30 minutes before the start of a race), and off to the start line.

Day 3 has always been my nemesis and nightmare, a roadie and power cyclists stage of flats and downhill (the hills were recovery for me! no lie). I was very nervous for the false flat district road start where I popped last year, but thankfully the pace was a bit more relaxed this year and I managed to stay in the group. I also felt strong on the first climb and Craig and I found ourselves just behind the main group riding in a bunch with Francios and Philip (Garmin) and Burry and Conrad (Specialized). For me the racing consisted on suffering and focussing on Burry or Philip’s wheel on the flats, and trying to recover on the hills. I started feeling strong as we approached a steep technical climb in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve and the front group came into sight about 40sec up the road.

Then disaster struck and I hit the deck hard after getting stuck in a rut on a rocky downhill, taking down Francios as well. I spent about a minute trying to recover myself, and entered a cursing fit after finding an oval shaped front wheel, bent handlebar and generally sore left side of my body (cheek to shin). Craig was a legend as usual and was very philosophical, even laughing at my small hissie fit. After a bit of running repairs (straightening my off centre stem) it was an unpleasant ride for the last 35km, the downhills were pretty sketchy on a wobbly front wheel. The last hill was my limit again and I ended in an untalkative pile on the finish line.

After a post mortem we found that the crash had cost us two places – we went down to 7^th, 30 seconds behind 6^th (GT – Renay and Arno) and 1.09 behind fifth (Specialized – Burry and Conrad). We consoled ourselves on stage 4 at the after-party following the prizing giving in the marquee at Scotbrugh High, and despite the disappointment of the last stage, we ended another memorable Sani2C week. The effort Glen, Mandy, Nick, Sloth and Max put into the course, accommodation and organisation put it in its own league – no other mainstream race comes anywhere close in terms of the quality of experience.

The new arching floating bridge

Day 2 always starts super early, but the sunrise over the Umkomaas Valley makes it absolutely worth it.

Craig leading me just out of the Umkomaas Valley

Trying to catch a wheel on Day 3, before the drama.

Rather unhappy after my crash and slowing down to tighten a loose skewer on my wobbly front wheel

21st February 2009 – Sabie Classic (100km)

2009-03-02T08:31:00.002+02:00

Craig, Carl Calverly and I had a long drive up to Sabie on Friday 20^th, and after a quick warm up ride, we were off to my aunt and uncles house near Hazyview. Fortunately Marilyn, my super-aunt, had left all the necessary food ready for us (they were at the Drak Canoe Race in Underberg) so we had a restful evening.

The race got going at 7.00am the next morning and as usual the field split up on the 1^st short climb. I settled into a comfortable pace as it was going to be a long day – 100km in the rocky mountains around Sabie. I was pleased with my form, especially given my lay off from my shin injury, and was riding in about 7^th place at the 40km mark. Then a rear wheel puncture struck (inevitable on the ultra rocky downhills exposed by lots of rain), and the hole refused to seal after one bomb. It turned out to be a long mission tire change of about 20 minutes when the tubeless valve seized on the rim.

Eventually I got going again and joined Craig and Ben Melt Swanepoel who had had similar tire issues. The day turned even longer when I got another puncture and had to wait for another friendly cyclist with spares (mine, Craig and Melt’s were all out), and I was very relieved to get to the end after some 5 odd hours and a very long day.

Despite the mechanical difficulties I loved riding my new bike, the Specialized S-Works Epic. Weighing in at about 10kg it was awesome on the uphills, and simply unreal on the rocky flats and downhills. Bumps just aren’t an issue and I could aim to make up time whenever it got rough. After racing a full suspension for the first time, I never want to go back to a hardtail!

Update - February 2008

2009-02-23T10:34:00.005+02:00

This is just really a quick pictoral update.

Training hit a bit of a slow-down when I had to take a week off after a shin injury got infected. A rock made a deep hole in my left leg after a whitewater-death-insane-life jacket/wetsuit/helmet wearing tubing expedition on the Umgeni at Hilton College Estate. The rest actually did some good.

Tim Witfield kindly included me in the logo of the Ultimate Ultra-Marathon, Hill2Hill which takes place in September. Jason Stark took the awesome photo.

Underberg Training – 2nd February – 4th February 2009

2009-02-06T15:07:00.002+02:00

I set off on a solitary mission up to Underberg at 6 on Monday morning to stay in our cottage at Bushman’s Nek and do some training. First up was a ride into Lesotho via Sani Pass. I have always been drawn to Sani Pass and I love the beauty and enormity of the climb. My love must be due to some flaw in memory recall, because the 8km climb at a gradient of 10% up to over 2800 meters, over a stupidly rocky and rough surface, can only be described as brutal. It does have a special beauty though, and I hope they never get to tar the road as planned. From there it was into Lesotho and over another brutal 5km climb aptly called Black Mountain (reaching 3200 meters – where you can’t breathe!). I rode down the other side of the hill a bit, and then it was back over and down the massive descent from the top of Black Mountain to Sani Pass Hotel (3200 meters – 1700 meters). About 2:50 up, and 1:10 down! 4:40 for only 84km – but with 2400 meters of ascent.

In the evening in was dinner and recovery at our rural, isolated little cottage, and I dutifully drank some red wine to assist with the recovery process.

Day 2 I rode from our cottage to the Bushman’s Nek border post (about 15km away) and got the necessary permit and passport stamp to go into the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg\Sellabathege Park and Lesotho. The trails in the park were lots of fun as they wound next to the scenic Ngwangwane River. The trail then started climbing rapidly and I had to carry my bike over lots of the rougher sections. I was lucky to find a Basotho horseman in his blanket who led me on the trail to the top of the mountain range, and the outer edge of the park. Him, his 2nd horse and grey donkey where great companions, chasing away a rather scary and large group of baboons, and all amazing adept at climbing rocky slopes I had never imagined a horse could summit. After a brief stop at the lodge at the top (a definite high altitude training spot for the future) and a quick look at the awe-inspiring view, it was down some adrenalin pumping singletrack all the way to the bottom. My Garmin 305 saved me and I used it to follow the route I had come up on, as this time I was without my tour guide. After a quick check in at the border post and refuel at the local farm store, it was back to the cottage after another long 4:40 of awesome riding.

After another great evening by the fire at the cottage and swim at the river, it was back to civilisation early Wednesday morning with some good altitude training in my lungs.

Sani Pass

Top of Sani Pass

A rocky switchback on the trail

My Basotho trail guide

A rather high and rocky section of the trail

Sani2C Dry Run – Day 1 and 2 – 30th – 31st January

2009-02-06T14:51:00.002+02:00

Mike and I, and our super-second Phili, drove up to Underberg at 4:30 in the morning to be there for the start of the Sani2C dry run starting a 6am. 6am SHARP turned out to be 7:45 sharp, but the early morning wait (without any coffee) turned out to be a good bonding session for Mike, Phili and I (searching to get a positive out of waking up at 3:30 in the morning!).

The first day was ridden at a very leisurely pace and there was a group of about 25 of us including, Nick Floros (course designer, my Imana partner and general Hardman), Glen Haw (Sani2C visionary and creator), Roger Mann aka Super-Sloth (co-creator with Glen and phenomenal athlete) and Craig Stone (Mike’s Sani and Imana partner). The course was still without its finishing touches (Nick hasn’t gone over it with his tweezers yet), but it was still leagues ahead of any other course in the country. Glen, Nick and Roger’s dedication, creativity and attention to detail will always make Sani a course designer’s benchmark. The singletrack was amazing, especially with the addition of new “twin-track” which has two tracks running parallel in most of the old sections, creating an awesome dual slalom type race between opponents on the two tracks. Supposedly the tracks were made to alleviate congestion (which they certainly will do), but they are way more exciting than that. It’s an exciting dual as your competition gets ahead on his track, and you dice him to come out of the next corner ahead. Nick raced Craig, and I raced Mike just behind them, and we had a story to tell after each section and a discussion as to which was fastest line. Epic fun.

I don’t want to tell you too many more secrets, but expect more great things from day one. The day wore on and Craig and I rode ahead to Mackenzie Club and chilled in the Grass waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive, and then off to a 5 star meal at the Haw’s house courtesy of Mandy and Jabu.

Day 2 was another early start (though not quite 3:30!) and we got going at about 6:05. Some more “twin-track” started off the day. Murray’s Meander is a new addition to the singletrack start of the day, and is a true engineering feat, a track cut into an almost vertical slope covered in indigenous bush. I do not exaggerate when I say that if anyone falls off it, they have got about a 200 meter fall. At least they will have unreal views on the Umkomaas Valley on the way down.

The awesome long singletrack section down trough Nick’s Pass was a bit muddy, but still special as usual. Mike managed to win a battle with a fence, all but destroying it, with only barbed wire puncture marks and severe bruises to show for it... he had to be pulled out by Roan Exelby.

The rest of the day was completed at a good tempo, with myself, Mike, Road and Craig riding up front. We arrived after 5 hours at Jollivet Farm after another great day in the bushes. Sani2C promises to again raise the mark for Mountain Bike races around the country and I look forward to another awesome event.

Start of Day 1

Umkomaas Valley

Murray's Meander

Mike and his gate

Barberton Ultra-Marathon - 24th January 2009

2009-02-06T14:50:00.000+02:00

Baberton is always the first Marathon of the season, and is a good tester of early season form and a showcase of all the new teams and compo. This year the race for the Elites had been converted into an Ultra-Marathon, comprising of the 75km and 45km back to back, for a massive 120km with over 3000 meters of ascent – the longest mountain bike ride I’ve ever done. Craig, my mum and I drove up the day before in the Diesel (or Nuclear Power?) Jeep Patriot and ate all we could possibly find to fuel ourselves for the next day’s epic ride.

The race started off surprisingly fast for a +5hour ride and it felt more like a Cross Country start for me. I really struggled up the first part of the first massive 15km\100meter ascent climb riding in about 25th place. I came right before the top and moved past a few groups, pulling myself into about 12th or so. I just tried to conserve energy towards the end of the first lap and found myself in a nice group including Jock Green and Reneir Belligan for the last 45km loop.

The last loop was almost as bad as the first 75 with another 15km or so climb that never ended. I managed to drop the group by the top of the climb (although Francios Theron came steaming past me, as he usually does near the end of a long ride). Reneir joined me again in the last undulating 20km, but I managed to lose him up a sharp little climb. At 10km to go my shifter went, leaving me in my biggest gear in the back, but fortunately the hills weren’t too severe and I held out for 8th place. I was very satisfied with the result given the huge compo (it just seems to get bigger every year) and was very happy that I still felt strong in the last few kilometres.

Up front Max Knox took the win in emphatic style, with his DCM team mate Jacque Janse Van Rensberg in 2nd. 3rd position turned out to be very controversial with Brandon Stewart being disqualified due to a “switching” incident which involved him and Kevin Evans on the course. Kevin was moved into 3rd. Craig was also having a great ride before two punctures ended his day.