100 miles on a mountain bike

The AMArider 100 miler mountain bike race was a race that I had been thinking about for quite a long time. Unlike a local PPA race it is one of those races that only happens once a year and thus one that I would like to do well in!

So much can happen in a race this long and you can never really plan out the entire race. You can have a strategy, however, due to the long day ahead and depending on how the race unfolds this strategy is very likely to change. I thought that for a start I would watch Erik Kleinhans (Mr Price GT) as he is the defending champion of this race therefore I was sure he would have some experience and a good strategy. Secondly, I would eat a lot! Otherwise just sit tight, stay with the rest of my team Blend, communicate with them to see how everyone is doing and what we could do as a team until about 130km. Then see how I'm feeling and try push it as hard as possible from there.

The race started with a few climbs in the beginning. The pace didn't seem to be all that fast, as I made sure that I wasn't pushing myself too hard as there was a long way to go! After one of the climbs I glanced around to see only about 12 riders in the front bunch. Not long after this Jacques Roussouw (Cannondale) put in a hard effort, which got everyone in the group scrambling to catch onto a back wheel and then when another small climb started Jacque and David George (SA findit) rode off the front. Not wanting to push myself too hard I just kept a steady pace. Afterwards Jacque dropped back from David George into our group, which by this time consisted of about 10 riders after a few dropped back after the slight changes in pace earlier on.

We rode through the first water point as it was only about 30 odd kilometers into the race and there was no real need to refuel already. The breakfast stop at about 50km there was once again no real need to stop and refuel, as I had made sure I had enough to get me to the second water point at 80km. Soon after the breakfast stop we headed up a decent climb. This created some gaps among our group of riders. I was feeling strong up this climb and didn't really push myself too hard. On the other side of the climb we rode an easy pace and a few of the riders that got dropped up the climb were able to catch back up again. From here we just kept things steady until the refuelling stop at water point two.

After the second water point the race changed slightly as no one was wanting to do any work up front or push the pace. And some tried a few attacks but none were successful in getting away. At this point in the race I was not going to let anyone else get away. David George was still quite a long way up the road (he had a 4min lead at the second water point).

The race took a dramatic change and it all began at about the 115km mark. A few of the other riders that hung back right near the beginning caught up to our group. Among these riders was Erik Kleinhans (Mr Price GT). As they caught up and without us even realising Erik had gone passed at a rapid pace and was already a couple hundred meters up ahead! A few of the other riders and myself put in some big efforts to see if we could close the gap. After a while the other riders gave up the chase and I had to then decide whether to continue chasing Erik. It was a little earlier in the race than I would have liked to have to be pushing hard and trying to make a break, however, it was also that time in the race that I had to make that decision. I was feeling alright and continued to chase Erik and managed to catch up to him. Once catching him I looked back and saw that the rest of the group were quite a long way back.

We worked quite hard together and in no time had caught up to David George. David George didn't seem to be strong as he wasn't able to take turns on the front as Erik and I continued to push the pace. It wasn't long until David George had dropped off and as we were going up a climb Erik attacked at about the 130km mark. I was unable to respond and then got the feeling that I had gone to hard to soon and was blown. I kept a steady pace and ate a Gu while Erik was up the road, however, remaining in sight.

We soon approached the third and final water point at about 135km. At this point Erik had a minute and a half lead on me. I was not feeling that broken as I was able to just swap my bottles and grab a banana while still on the go.

Then the real climbing began! Although the climbing wasn't steep it was long and with tied legs it sure did feel steep! I kept a steady pace and noticed that I was catching back up to Erik. Much to my delight I realised that he must be tied and have tried to break away too soon. I caught him up on one of the many rolling hills after the big climb with about 15 to 20km still to go. He was not able to keep up with me and I continued to keep a solid pace.

I looked at my watch and saw that there was about 10km to go and looked behind to see no one in sight. It then hit me that I was out in front of the race, the race that I had been thinking about for a long time and dreaming of winning. I kept pushing towards the finish line but on the flat gravel roads I was really taking strain! Although taking strain with about 5km to go I looked behind and still couldn't see anyone. I thought that I could do it but I could hardly sit on the saddle and I couldn't stand up as my legs were hurting so much! I looked behind again and was horrified to see someone fast approaching! I thought that it was probably Erik catching back up to me but in no time with only 2km to go the the finish line, Jacque Roussouw came flying passed me!

I couldn't go with him, I couldn't pick up my pace any more and I just had to keep on going to the finish and try not get passed by anyone else! At least I managed that and finished a long, gruelling and very exciting race in second place!

Thanks very much to our team Blend support crew in which my number one supporter Jayde was there to have everything I needed within an instant, taking photos and giving the timing splits! Amazing job, well done my girl!

Difference between first place and the rest

I got to race the Computer Mania Willow Creek Nuy 60km mountain bike race on Saturday. Although it was an ordinary PPA race, it had Computer Mania as a title sponsor and therefore some very decent prizes, which is unusual for a PPA race.

As usual with these local PPA races you never know who is going to pitch up at the start line. However, you know that there will always be at least 4 or 5 decent riders ready to battle it out at the front of the race especially this one as the prize for first place was a nice new HP laptop!

I really need a new laptop! I have been wanting to buy one for quite a few months now but always have other things that I need to spend my hard earned money on, especially things to keep me going in the sport of mountain biking.

It was a fast race as there was not a lot of climbing. The terrain was quite rough with lots of dry fynbos-scratching skinny shiny legs. A small group of about 6 riders were out in front until the first little climb at 20km. The group was then narrowed down to just 3 of us (myself, Greg Knox of UCT and a House of Paint rider who I unfortunately don't have a name for as it didn't show up on the end results). After the decent from this climb one of the others that was dropped on the way up was able to catch back up to us again.

From then on the front of the race consisted of the 4 of us. There were no major hills to break up the 4 of us until the final climb at 45km. This climb was more of a hike-a-bike climb as it was very steep and rocky. All of us had to resort to getting off our bikes to make it to the top. This provided little opportunity to make use of on the bike climbing strengths and everyone summited the hill together. Therefore it all came down to the decent into the finish and the guy that was able to catch back up to us down the first climb earlier on in the race was able to put in the best decent out of us and take the win with Greg Knox in second, myself in third and the House of Paint rider in forth.

Although still a decent result and keeping it consistent up in the top three for the last two weeks now, there was no new laptop for third place. Instead I won a very fancy laptop stand with an integrated keyboard. So thanks to Computer Mania for the fantastic prizes!

Something for Charity

BEN Red Hill Charity Cycle Challenge 2010

I have signed up to take part in a charity cycle challenge (details below). The only problem is that it takes place on the Sunday after the AMArider 100 miler (160km) mountain bike race, which is on the Saturday! Obviously I'm always up for a challenge and would therefore like to do as many laps as I can, however, this will depend largely on the state of my muscles due to the 100 miler.


Dear friends and family.

I have entered an endurance event called the Redhill Charity Challenge to raise money for the Bicycling Empowerment Network ( BEN ). BEN is an NGO that uses donations from all over the world to empower previously disadvantaged communities to become more mobile and self sufficient by using bicycles. Recipients are given free bicycles and helmets as well as safety and bike maintenance training. This costs approximately R2000.00 per person and changes their lives forever. If you would like to read more about the charity, click on this link: http://www.benbikes.org.za/

I am going to see how many times I can complete a 29km lap which includes the tough circuit of Red Hill , one of the toughest hills around to ascend. My goal is 7 laps 203km but you can sponsor me to do more laps and set me a challenge to raise more money for charity. You can sponsor as little as R100.00 for this great cause: please go to http://www.benbikes.org.za/charitychallenge/entrants.php , scroll down to my face and help me change the lives of people less fortunate than us.

To read more about the event go to www.benbikes.org.za/charitychallenge/index.php

Weekends racing round up

Winter in Cape Town is always a hit and miss when it comes to races and weather conditions! This weekend was exactly that with perfect "Tru-Cape" weather.

Saturday was the Tru-Cape Grabouw PPA 50km mountain bike race that took place in perfect conditions, while Sunday saw the weather turn real ugly for the first Western Province cross-country league race of the season in Helderberg.

I have always said that Grabouw is truly a mountain biking paradise! Although races are never really easy, some can be harder than others due to various reasons. Grabouw is always going to be a hard race from its steep hills to the abundance of technical single tracks.

With a different style of starting the race, the only one of this kind I have ever done, everyone lay their bikes down on the ground behind a line and stand about 30 meters back behind another line waiting for the start gun after which dashing to pick up your bike (hopefully not having to find it in amongst all the other bikes!) and jump on and get going as quick as possible! Similar to a Le Mans motor racing start.

After the mad start rush a group of five guys formed out in front consisting of Nico Pfitzenmaier, Adriaan Louw (GT Mr Price), Greg Knox, Charles Keeys (Blend Properties) and myself (Blend Properties). From there it was all about pushing the pace as hard as possible and making sure you don't make any mistakes on the single tracks. After a long stretch of the famous rocky Grabouw single track before the end of the first 25km lap the group of 5 was strung out, I was in 5th place and had some ground to make up as we headed out on the second lap of 25km.

Not far into the second lap and the route began to head upwards! Most of the climbing for the entire race occurred between 29km and 40km with two major climbs of about 300 meters of altitude gain. I was able to put in a hard effort up the climbs and move my way up into 3rd position. Unfortunately for Nico who was in the lead and broke his chain on the technical single track in the final 10km, I was able to move into 2nd position and ended up that way behind Adriaan Louw of GT Mr Price.

Sundays race was a different story all together due to the weather and type of racing. Being a cross-country race and those that my slow twitch muscles can never really adapt to in the first lap, the hard race in Grabouw the previous day certainly didn't help in this regard! Neither did the cold wet stormy conditions. However, after dragging myself out to Somerset West it was a fun race on a very decent circuit.

Cape Peninsular flip over by davemore at Garmin Connect - Details

Cape Peninsular flip over by davemore at Garmin Connect - Details

3x sandwiches
1x hot cross bun
1x Jungle oat energy bar
1x Gu energy gel
3x 800ml bottles of water and energy drink
2x 340ml cans of coke

All this was still not enough!

Eating properly on long endurance rides is like an art. I have bonked so many times before, sometimes so badly that I have had to be picked up (usually by my number one supporter and girlfriend, Jayde) because I wasn't able to make it back home (or to the next place where I could get food). This is purely because I always underestimate how much fuel my body needs to keep me going for such a long period of time. I can go through a three hour ride without having to eat much at all but as soon as I do a ride that is over three hours I have to take my eating to a whole different level and consume a large amount! At least on this ride this food and drink got me through about 5hrs45min and it was only really the last 30min that I was feeling rather depleted and was able to make it home without having to be rescued.