MTB Blog

WP XC # 3

Some hot racing from a wet, muddy and cold Zevenwacht. But, like always, there were warm people, food and coffee all around!
Those are the words of Grevile Ruddock on this week-end’s racing.
Attached find the results.

De Doorns this week-end!

This weekend sees the Absa Hex Valley Autumn Splendour 1000 off-road event taking place on Saturday at De Doorns. The event offers three distances: 55 km, 35 km and 24 km.

The 55 km includes a lot of climbing and should be attempted only by fit, experienced riders. The 35 km includes the same initial climb and technical singletrack as the 55 km, while the 24 km route has been changed from last year’s route and does not include any serious climbs. Starting times from 08h30.

I have had a number of good comments on this event. I will be there.
see www.pedalpower.co.za for more information.

About that rain….

Ai, how many times have I not said to myself in the last week, now is the time to go riding. Then only to see that it is pouring AGAIN!
Okay, I know that the macho guys out there will not let the rain stop them.Maybe I am just being too relatistc about it. I ride in the rain,I get sick,I can’t ride…
So, am I reduced to a mere spinner in a stuffy spinning studio with loud club music and an over ambitious spin instructor?
What are my alternatives?
Going to the pub for a drink after work sounds more exciting than the prospect of sweating with a bunch of people, most of whom probably don’t even own bikes!
Or am I too cynical about this?
HELP!!

the 12000k epic!

On Saturday morning I joined a group of 40 people accompanying the Tour d Afrique riders on the last 30km of their 12 000 journey.
Yes, 12 000 km over 4 months from Cairo to Cape Town.
Now this is a mean feat. There were 9 South Africans in this group of 44 brave individuals.
This week we will be interviewing Jaco Cotter of Malmesbury.
I decided to ask him the exact same questions as I did Dick Morkel who recently completed the Cape Epic. That way we can see how the two events compare…if such a comparison is at all possible!

Here are some pics I took on Sunday at the meeting point in Melkbosstrand and at the Waterfront where the journey ended.

CONVOY RIDE: TOUR d’AFRIQUE BICYCLE RACE

CAPE TOWN – Saturday 13TH MAY 2006.

Come and join those crazy boys and girls that have taken on the African continent to ride from Cairo to Cape Town on their last 30km stretch.
Meet at Kreeftbaai between Melkbosstrand and Big Bay by 11h00 and ride to the Waterfront with them. Convoy to leave at 11h30.

see you there,

MTB Blog interview with Dick Morkel.
Dick and his team mate Paul Jaques entered in the masters category and finished the Epic in 62h16. Dick we salute you!

MTB guy: Is this your first Epic?

Dick: No, I also did the inaugural 2004 CE. Injury and a lingering dose of sensibility prevented me from doing 2005, but by 2006 entry time I had forgotten that I swore never to do it again.

MTB guy: Will you do it again?

Dick: Like after 2004, I solemnly swear never to be so stupid as to try it again.

MTB guy: Why / why not?

Dick: Several reasons:
I am 50 years old and although healthy and fairly fit, one’s body takes an enormous pounding during such an event. My knee has still not recovered,and I know now that without illegal drugs I would not have made it. Apart from it being illegal, cortizone is not good for you. It is also dangerous,as it masks the warnings that your own body is giving you and you could easily tear a ligament.

Then there is the cost – the entry fee is only a small part of it. The many miles of training translates into R 1000’s of worn out components,constant upgrading of components in the never ending quest to get the more durable, lighter bike, and in my case even a new bike. Now factor in the cost of training weekends / events, like Sani2C. We were fortunate enough to have the entry fee sponsored by Southern Air
Conditioning and Daikin, but the cost to me personally probably ran to an additional R 25 000.

Lastly, there is the time that you have to devote to training and preparation. The summer of 2005/2006 is forever lost to me, there was very little else in my free time other than CE preparation. I don’t think that my marriage will withstand another Epic, along with the other strain that I load on it! And I managed to hold on to a full time job, with some demanding projects in the months leading up to the Epic.
…but we’ll see….

MTB guy: What was the single most fascinating / exciting thing about the race?

Dick: There were so many amazing moments, and so many times that I maxed out the adrenaline-o-meter. But if I had to single out a moment, it must be when we crested Groenlandberg on day 7. I knew at that moment that we had beaten this challenge, nothing would stop us now. The incredible view enhanced the euphoria. Then on the hectic 11 km descent, the adrenaline was flowing so much, I nearly blew it. Paul had to continuously remind me to take care. It nearly became too much for my fragile soul when we reached the water point with the PA blaring out “Lets get it started again”. But there was still a long way to go, with many obstacles, and even knowing that we were on the “home straight” now, on “long finals” for Spier, the exhaustion of the
preceding days started setting in.

MTB guy: What was the worst?

Dick: Barely a week since the event, my mind has blocked out the bad moments. I knew that there were times when I was close to sense of humour failure.
Small things annoy you intensely, like the showers not working or being unable to find the water tanker, or having to completely unpack your huge,jammed full, Cape Epic bag to look for that one item that you forgot to pack in your hydration pack – then finding it in your shirt pocket, that sort of thing.

But the worst thing was probably the pain. It can be a bit of a damper on an otherwise great ride if your ass and knee are continually protesting.

That, and the debacle on the final day with the congestion. It marred for me
what was otherwise going to be a great day.

MTB guy: What do you wish to advise anyone that plans to do it for the first time

Dick: Go for it! I believe that it is something that every mountain biker who is even remotely capable should set as a goal. If I could do it, twice, then really, anyone can. But set aside 6 months prior to the race for preparation. I don’t believe that all that much “time in the saddle” training is necessary; you can get away with 10 – 15 hours per week in the 3 months prior to the event. You will not win, but will finish and you will enjoy. But make sure that you do some long, consecutive days, to see how you will cope with stage racing.

I have many tips w.r.t. training rides, equipment, spares and medication.
Anyone interested, now or nearer the next Epic, is welcome to contact me
personally at dick@skyout.net for more info.

MTB guy: Any other general comments you wish to make..

Dick: Yes, I have to pay tribute to Kevin Vermaak and his team for putting together such a spectacularly successful event. At the same time, we should put pressure on them to tighten up things for next year. Better QC to ensure nutrition; the showers could do with some improvements, the “chill zone” was not all it cracked up to be. But most importantly, they must not run the Vigne-a-vigne fun ride on the same route concurrently with the epic. Furthermore, the sewerage ditch is not a suitable place to cross the R 44, especially only 5 km from the finish.

Of course, I also have to pay tribute to Paul for putting up with my inability to lack his pace on the flats and climbs. Thanks too, for usually being the one in front on the roadie style bunch sessions. But hey, at least, although it was always threatened, we never got the tow rope out!
Then lastly I have to thank my family and mates for encouraging me and especially my family who had to endure my absence during training and the event.

The EPIC man

Dick Morkel, a member of the Tygerberg MTB club and a Warthog, shared some insighst into the Epic with MTB Blog.
Here are some of his photos.
Please return tomorrow for the Dick / MTB Blog interview.

Now for the Freedom Challenge!

2300 km MTB from Pietermaritzburg to Paarl.
No required stops.
Between 50km and 158km per day.
You have 27 days in which to complete the event.

Now, that’s a tough one. Ride till you drop, sleep and ride again. No seconding allowed and no forced stops ( altghough 2 required check points )The entry fee is R 8000 and they only take 20 entries.
This year there will also be the Ride to Rhodes. Now you can ride the first 500km in 6 days. Sounds more realistic to me.
Oh, did I mention that the MTB is part of an extreme triathlon? Yip, do the Comrades marathon, then the 2300km MTB and then paddle the Berg River Canoe Marathon!
I am not rushing out to enter….yet!
See www.freedomchallenge.org.za for more.

A race of epic proportions!

Well another Epic has come and gone!
8 days
921 km
R 5700 entry fee
not to mention the time off work and away from home, the months of training, money spent on parts, servicing and getting to and from Knysna!
Yip, “epic” is indeed the word.
Well done to everyone that completed the 2006 Epic. I must say it sounds like a daunting task and I take my hat off to everyone who completed it successfully.