The Long Ride

Thats a chopper bike can you believe it...?  Photo taken on the way to the start of the Argus

 

Just outside the loading zone at the start of the Argus - Long Rider B already scheming how to pip Long Rider A at the finishing post...?

 

This shot proves it! - Long Rider B arranging bunny ears for Long Rider A...

 

In the vicinity of Muizenberg half an hour into the race - first photo taken after the start due to the HECTIC pace set by Long Riders A and B (also known as "the racing snakes").  We were at the top of our batch literally flying past cyclists...

 

Now that would have been a far more comfortable ride to Cape Town!!!

 

30km to go - where on earth are Long Riders A and B...?

 

Cycling into the tunnel on Chapmans Peak Pass

 

This fellow rode a unicycle the whole way, deserves a special medal - must have been an absolute nightmare in the wind...!

 

Thousands upon thousands of bicycles in the cycle pen at the end of the Argus

 

Long Rider A you're going the wrong way...!  Cycling back to Rob and Robyn Wright's place in Hout Bay after the Argus

 

The organisation that goes into the Argus is incredible.  This bridge was constructed specially for the day of the Argus - to enable pedestrians to cross over the main road safely

 

The views on the way back to Hout Bay were amazing

 

This shot was taken for Long Rider D who unfortunately wasn't able to finish the race with us

 

Fishing Boats Hout Bay

 

A view we weren't expecting to see - Hout Bay from the Ocean!

 

That's Long Rider A checking out Chapmans Peak Pass...

 

Long Rider B looking very relaxed with a bottle of merlot...

Up early to cycle to the start – some 20km away – what a wonderful start to cycle the closed route before anyone gets into the race.

We are now down to Three Long Riders, natural attrition, work commitments, minor leg injuries have whittled us down to the last few crazies!

 

The Argus is a BIG event, cycling aside, it affects the whole of Cape Town, who are all fantastic in their support of the event.

The team tactics fell away at 09h21,...and it was each Long Rider for themselves.

We all had excellent rides, produced good times and above that thoroughly enjoyed the day. Finished up with 150km for the day .

Total distance is around 1872 kilometres over two weeks – average near 120 km per day, although we will still run that via the beancounters!

 

Pictures of the day will no doubt follow from Long rider C shortly.

The penultimate day of the Long Ride 2010

 

After a great night at Otter's Bend, the Franschoek Backpackers, we decided to cycle to Stellenbosch up and over Helshoogte. A gentle climb, made difficult by roadworks. Once the roadworks are complete, the ride will be awesome, complete with paved “cycling” path.

Last night, Long Rider A's brother-in-law (or “Swaer” in the vernacular – meaning heavy in Afrikaans) brought along all the ingredients for a good braai – snoek and steak – what a feast.

 

Once in Stellenbosch, we loaded up the trailer, had our nine o'clock brekkies, and headed to the Argus Registration.

Talk of crowds – the expo expected 70 000 people there – I think they we all there when we arrived. Like sheep, we got registered, chipped and packaged ...and were good to go. A great lunch in Houtbay, with some friends from Howick, and a fantastic spin on a speedboat in the Houtbay Swells completed this awesome day!

 

Pictures will follow when Long Rider C finishes with his training conference.... in Cape Town!

Early morning - Day 14

 

Chatting to children on the way to school

 

Stunning scenery on the way to Villiersdorp

 

Long Rider E really enjoying a doughnut

 

Ever seen a shoe hospital before...?  Well there's one in Montagu!

 

This bridge halfway up Franschoek pass was built in 1825

 

View of Franschoek from the top of the pass

 

Long Riders at the end of Day 14, not looking too shabby - all this training must be paying off!!!

 

Completing 111 km today, through Rooihoogte Pass and Franschhoek pass was an awesome experience. We left early before sunrise, as is our now-normal practice and finished off in Franschoek just after 13h00. Our pace in the dark was great, especially on the dirt road sections. We cycled through some awesome countryside, up three passes and really had another great day – the Cape fold mountains are awesome, the Cape floral kingdom magnificent! Mrs G had a bit of an off-day again today, was very quiet and did not come to the fore in guiding Rider F who was driving the backup vehicle today. Mrs G is our GPS , who is usually extremely polite and controlled - but can also be rather insistent at times! Today she was obviously distracted by something unknown... If you would like a more detailed daily report by email, please e-mail longride2010@gmail.com

Looking strong - Long Riders B, C and F

 

Trailer full of grapes - harvest time down here in the Cape

 

Mountains - Riviersonderend

 

Nearing the end of Day 13

 

Long Rider A is a keen photographer

 

Very comfortable accomodation at the end of Day 13, Oestervanger B&B Agterkliphoogte

 

The three most important creams on our trip

Today we rode 125 km, without “Captain Whip.”  This new protocol severely affected our pace for the first 50km, but after a gentle warning the pace moved towards the 20km/hr mark.  We started in light rain and showers, with a little lifting mist.  On route we saw springbok, blue crane and llamas – mostly typical South African animals.

 

Kogmanskloof is magnificent with a tunnel-bridge natural rock over the kloof entrance.  We ended our ride up in the Riversonderend berge near Agterkliphoogte (for those not familiar with the local vernacular – “River-without-end mountains near behind-the-pebble heights!”)

 

After breakfast at Montagu the pace adjusted upwards and we all had a good ride, arriving at our base at 13h00. Long Rider F rode particularly well today  – so look out when she gets back home!

 

This afternoon, we found some mountainbike trails so some of us decided to do a bit of cycling! Others scoured this wonderful spot for cell-phone signals – but alas all in vain!

 

We spend our last night as a full team today (without Long rider D, who underwent knee surgery today) and reflected on our experiences so far.

 

In no particular order, and so as not to offend any-one, some of the highlights are as follows : the hospitality and warmness of all our hosts, the game drive up Tandjiesberg, the impromptu diversion through Groenfontein and Kruisrivier, the morning sunrise over the Maluti’s near Matatiele, the salad at Chesterton Farm, the “rest day” cycling to the ScareCrow People and up to Swartberg Pass.

 

The stories we have heard have been chair-falling-off humour:  the ostrich-catching episodes, the boarding school antics, the farm history of this country is magnificent.  We have all learned a huge amount … and have had the privilege of being able to share it with hundreds of people.

 

The Lord has protected us as we have asked Him to every morning before setting off, and He has guided our path and looked out for us wherever we have been.

 

We still have three days left before returning to the mainstream of life, so please stay with us as we approach our final stages of the Long Ride 2010.

 

Pictures will follow when we get a better signal and more time for comms.

 

If you would like a more detailed daily report by email, please e-mail longride2010@gmail.com

 

Another 130 km under our belts and we are nearing the end of our challenge!

 

Less than 400 km to go (including the Argus), and we are all feeling a bit tired and worn out.  Spirits are high as we near the end of our race – although at the same time we are sadly planning our separate returns away from this wonderful adventure.

Today Long rider E and F cycled up the steepest pass I have seen on a profile for a long time!  What an effort the whole team put in to get us to Barrydale for lunch.  We deployed the highly effective “Moolenschot Manouvre” once again, which worked like a charm.

 

We are staying with wonderful hosts who own a stunning fruit farm and are extremely generous and friendly.  Whilst the rain is a blessing for us, for harvesting fruit farmers we have learned that it poses another challenge in the efforts to live off farming proceeds.

 

Today we travelled through places like Huisriverpas, Gwarrie Poort 1 and 2, Zoar, Ladismith and Barrydale, adding a few more interesting names to our adventure.

 

Last night was spent at The Dorpshuis in Calitzdorp.  The town has wonderfully chiming church bells.  The melody chimes were great, although once we put our heads down we were all asleep in no time!  Thanks to Pete Mitchell (Burton Physiotherapy Ltd, Peel Croft Surgery, Lichfield Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Tel: +44 (0) 1283 741 555, Email: physiomitch@aol.com) for sponsoring the accommodation and meal.  We are really amazed at the generosity of people who have come forward to help.  

The roads were good, some good protective shoulders in some places and plenty of open spaces to move in!

 

If you would like a more detailed daily report by email, please e-mail longride2010@gmail.com

 

A fascinating start to the day with a gentle cycle through the awesome Meiringspoort Pass.  Not to be missed by anyone who travels!  The ScareCrow people at Klaarstroom are extremely helpful, they even offered the services of a PA to Long Rider C.  They provided a spare spoke to Long Rider A …all this without a single word of protest!

 

Prince Albert is an interesting tourist magnet – the buildings are beautifully restored and looked after.

 

The view from the Swartberg Pass was awesome – the ride down was adrenaline-filled and the blast back to Calitzdorp mind-blowing – drops of rain splashing up Karoo dust, the sweet smell of the rain, the fragrance of the fynbos!  Wow – South Africa truly is a great place to be!

 

If you would like a more detailed daily report by email, please e-mail longride2010@gmail.com