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Friday 14
October 2005 is definitely going into my memoirs as “a
really good day!”
I am at
Barloword Subaru in Johannesburg to pick up the branded
vehicle and the sponsored kit for the first official race
outing of the Barloworld Subaru Cape Epic 2006 team.
For an
average cyclist this is really like a dream come true. I
fill in the forms for the vehicle and check the kit is all
there and they take me outside to look over the car. I am
supposed to be checking for scratches or dents, but all I
can see is the shiny Forester badge on the back, and I am
desperately trying to figure out whether it is a turbo or
the standard 2.5
litre version.
It is not
the turbo charged version, and I find myself feeling a
little disappointed, until I turn onto the highway. I
accelerate and feel myself being pushed back into the sport
seats! This is really something! The vehicle is solid on the
road and you quickly forget that you are driving a compact
SUV because it feels more like a sports car. Ok, check the
speedo, going way too fast! Back off and start fiddling with
the climate control. It is 32 degrees outside, but I only
know that from looking at the outside temperature display,
inside, it is a perfect 20!
In all the
excitement I forgot to check if there was a towbar fitted to
load the bike rack. Get home and see that there is not one.
Now, I start thinking that we won’t be able to use the
vehicle to Parys without the bike rack. So I start checking
out the back. The seats fold down with a two thirds split.
Take both bikes wheels off, lower the seats. Voila!
Everything is in the back, with enough space for the team
and the team manager (read wife), cooler box, tool box and
bags. Perfect!
This
Forester turns out to be a bit of a talking point, and we
have numerous enquiries. People stop and ask us about who is
in the Subaru, and what is it like, and is that the new
revamped 2006 model with the indicators on the mirrors. All
we can say is yip that’s us and you really should drive
one to understand.
In a quest
to beat the anticipated traffic to Parys, we are up at 3:30
am on Sunday and on the road at 4:00 am. The cruise control
gets us to the venue in an hour and a half, and we sit
around wondering if we should have slept for an extra hour.
The start
of the race is 3km from the finish area so we prepare all
our stuff and ride to the start. We are not seeded so we
want a good spot in the front. At the start there are
already stacks of people, but we go to the front and no-one
really seems to mind.
Everyone is
extremely excited, this is one of the year’s biggest
mountain bike events and we see absolutely everyone we know
in the mountain bike world.
The start
is slightly late but by 7:45 we are flying down the tar
road, passing slower riders and hoping that we can find
someone traveling at the same speed to form a group. After
about 2 km I look back and realize that a group has formed,
with me at the front. I try to get some others to do some
work and at this early stage there are plenty of takers.
The fast
tar start sets the tone for the rest of the race. Flat and
fast!
As we hit
the dirt for the first time there are major corrugations on
the road and my Raleigh RDS 9’s rear suspension wakes up
and eases me over the bumps. I notice some hardtail riders
being left behind slightly, looking like they have been
rattled awake!
Once
everyone has calmed down I find myself in a group of about
30 riders riding a good pace. I check my heart rate to make
sure I am comfortable with the pace and settle in.
The time
seems to fly by as we are cruising about 30km/h, then a
sign, “Foot of Suikerbossie”. The big climb of the day.
The group’s pace is still high and it is only when I see
the “King of the Mountains” sign that I realize that I
have climbed the whole way in the big ring. I drop to the
middle for the last 250m and we all crest together.
The racing
stays in the group and because all of us want to stay
together and not break the rhythm, no one is stopping at
water points, which seem well spaced and well stocked.
A left turn
and we are suddenly on the only slightly technical section
for the day. The group starts to splinter, and I try to keep
with the front guys. I look up the track and see that my
first goal for the day, to beat a road pro is about to be
achieved, I see a rider from team with no sponsor struggling
over the rocky section and my Raleigh floats past!
A little
way up the road I see that me second goal for the day is
about to be achieved as I pass a group of rides with seeded
numbers, excellent!
The 80 odd
kilometers are starting to take their toll and most of our
initial group is broken up, only 4 or five of us remain, and
we push on. I am running really low on water, and my Energy
Dynamics is also finished. We go past a water point, but I
don’t want to loose any time and I go past. 200m from
there I take the last sip of water and I know that I am in
trouble! The final water point is at 7km to go and I stop to
have 2 cups of water, foolishly I don’t fill up my bottle.
This mistake will cost me in the last 3km. Just on from the
water point my nose starts bleeding and I meet Mr. Wall! Yes
the great bonk! In an instant I am turning the pedals slower
and guys are starting to pass me. I look at my distance for
the first time and see that there are still 2km to go. These
will be the longest 2km in the history of mountain biking! I
reach the bridge just before the Champs Ellesys and with
everyone standing there cheering, I have to ride it! At the
top my legs have had enough and start to cramp. I limp the
final meters into the finish area.
The
team manager (read sweet, blessed, loving wife) brings me 6
ice cold bottles of water and I drink them all! In 30
minutes I feel human again, and we get a chance to shower
and look at all the cool bikes at the expo.
The
final icing on the day, is the boerewors roll and ice cold
beer courtesy of Fritz Pienaar Cycles, where we all regroup
and tell our war stories.
An
awesome event, even better when enjoyed as a sponsored
athlete, well, at least for a day!
Thanks
to Barloworld Subaru and Raleigh South Africa for all their
support.
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