24 hours of Oak Valley

I decided to use the 24 hours of Oak Valley as preparation for my up coming BB2BB trip. I also decided to not get anybody to second for me. I would just leave my cooler box with cool drinks and food next to the track and help myself when needed.

Ek is 09:30 op Saterdag 23 Januarie by die huis weg en het net voor 10:45 by Oak Valley aangekom. Die tou om by die kamp terrein in te kom het besonder stadig beweeg en ek het eers 11:00 'n staanplek gekry. Aangesien ek alleen was, was dit maklik om plek naby die roete te kry. Ek het geregistreer en en was 11:45 reg vir die "race briefing".

We started a couple of minutes after 12:00 with the standard "Le Mans" start, having to sprint over a rugby field to our bikes. I did this at a very leisurely pace and left with the pack. My first lap took me just over 38 minutes. I initially wanted to have my first stop after 4 laps, but decided to change that to  6 after a while. All of these laps was just under 40 minutes and I managed to complete the 6 laps in under 4 hours. The maximum temperature was 37 degrees celsius.

My eerste rus stop rondte was 1:14. My rondte tye het nou die effek van die "effort" van die eerste 6 rondtes getoon en geval na 45 minute plus. Die volgende 6 rondtes neem my 5 uur 56 minute.  Intussen het die tempratuur na die laer 20's gedaal. Ek het ongeveer elke 2 rondtes gerus.

I completed round 16 after about 13 hours at 01:00 in the morning.  I was enjoying the ride and was making good progress. As I was completing round 16, my Garmin suddenly stopped working. This also happened after 13 hours last year. All my efforts to get it going again was to no avail. I had not other option to revert to Strava.
Teen die einde van rondte 18 het ek besluit om 'n vinniger ryer veby te laat kom en op 'n brug gestop. Ongelukkig was my momentum te groot om die brug se paal te vang met die gevolg dat ek my balans veloor en in 'n 2 meter gat geval het. Die ryer vir wie ek wou stop moes my uit help. Ek het onmiddellik besef daar is groot fout met my linker pols.

I completed lap 18 and immediately went to the medic. He said that it was not broken and gave me a pill for pain. It was obvious that I could not continue, so I decided to have a shower and have a rest. To qualify as a finisher, one have to complete the last lap after 12:00 on Sunday. I therefore decided that I will walk the last lap and start that at about 10:30. Attached is a photo of the bridge where I had my accident.

Ek het lekker gerus en teen 06:30 besluit om iets te gaan eet en 'n lekker koppie koffie te drink. Daarna het ek weer by die mediese tent 'n draai gaan maak. Die senior medic het bevestig dat my pols gebreek is en dat ek dit by 'n hospitaal daarna moet laat kyk. Daar was, volgens hom geen haas nie en het 'n spalk aangesit. Ek het ook met my dogter en skoonseun gereel om my 14:00 te kom haal.

I went back to my car and waited the time out to do my final lap. This I started at 09:30. I managed to cycle the first approximately 2 km to the start of the first single track. I thought it best to push from there as it would be much easier to get out of the way of passing riders. This also gave an opportunity to take some photos including photos of the crash site. I had to complete the lap after 12:00 but reached the sport field where the finish was at 11:30. I therefore stopped under a tree and waited the time out. I crossed the finish line at 12:03 having completed 19 laps and still finishing 11th overall and 1st in the 60+ age group.

My daughter dropped at Cape Gate Mediclinic when the x-rays confirmed a break and the need for an operation. The orthopedic surgeon did say that my arm should be ready by 1 April when I start my BB2BB trip.