Sponsorship

My first sponsor is aboard! A special word of thanks to Dave May of CABS Car Hire who has stepped up and covered 20% of my budget for the 2011 Freedom Challenge. He also agreed to help me get from Durban Airport to Pietermaritzburg for the start of the race in June next year. What would we do without people like Dave around? Thanks Dave.

Oefenrit 6 September 2010

The Freedom Challenge is about covering great distances over a prolonged period. As preparation for this I decided to spend a day on the bicycle once a month until June 2011. My first trip was on Monday 6 September. The aim was to do 160km. Errol Derricke, who has done 3 Freedom Challenges agreed to join me for part of the way. We agreed to meet at Zevenwacht at 09:00. That meant I had to leave Blouberg at about 06:00. I did managed to get away at 06:18. My planned route was through the bushes north of Parklands via Hillcrest, Nitida, Majik Forest, Kenridge, Oakdale, Protea Hoogte and Kuilsriver Gholf Club to Zevenwacht. Despit a "small" flip over the bars when I came down a hill at Nitida, I made Zevenwacht by 09:10. We then proceeded over Zevenwacht hills behind Stellenbosch Kloof, over Papagaaisberg, behind Coetzenberg to the entrance to Lanzerac in Stellenbosch. As the South Easter was picking up and Errol did 130
Km on Sunday, he decided to head home. I then proceeded up Bothmaskop, down Helshoogte, over the hills to Rustenburg. Unfortunately I could not get permission to cross the farm and had to revert to the tar road to Klapmuts. From there down the gravel road to Fisantekraal via Spes Bona and Fairview to Bloubergstrand, arriving home after 170 km and 13 hours in the saddle.

6 June 2010

We got going at 07:50. had some problems find to route after going through the farm yard at Die Fontein, but somebody has erected a small sign of a bicycle and when we saw that we knew we are on the right route. Towards the top the surface was perry rough, forcing us to revert to pushing. The rest of the route was easy to find and easy to ride. The owner at the Doornrivier shop and post office mentioned that the Cape Epic came past his place during a previous year, so we were in good company. Encountered a vicious headwind around the Brandvlei dam. At one point it was so bad, we had to get off our bicycles as we were just about blown over. Arrived at our parked car by 12:30 after doing 71km.

By now I have covered 41% of the total distance of the Freedom Challenge. Will have to see if some additional distances can be done before June 2011!

Since the previous trip I changed to an old saddle off my old road biker and encountered no "backside" problems this time.

5 June 2010

I managed to convince my friend, Mike Smit to tackle to Montagu/Rawsonville strech of the Freedom Challenge with me. We decided to do it over two days over the weekend of 5/6 June.

We left Cape Town at 06:00. Left my vehicle on a farm near Rawsonville and Mike's son collected us there and dropped us off in Ashton just before 09:00. We decided to skip the Montagu/Ashton section as it is all tar and generally fairly busy, having done that section while doing the Double Century.

We got going out of Ashton at 09:06. Quite a bit of tar from Ashton to Bonnievale, but the shoulder provided a nice asphalt surface most of the way. The going was good got to Coenies River just after 12:00. I did not read the narratives properly and turnoff too quickly. We, fortunately discovered our mistake and found the right route, ably assisted by the kids at the labourers cottages. The track across the koppie down to Kasra was once again out of this world. We measured a gradient of 29%! Arrived at Kasra at just before 14:00 after doing 72km. Had a wonderful evening with Alda & Elsa. The food was divine. As there was no DSTV in the house, we opted for an early evening.

Saturday 1 May 2010

After watching the Stomers demolish the Waratahs on Friday evening, I was off for an early start, 06:30, with 140km to cover with a sore backside! Got the Wagendrift turn-off but then I turn right too early and got bitten by a dog and ended up on the tar road again. As the right route was past the "dog" again, I opted for the safer option and took the tar road to Volstruishoogte. The route via Klein Spreeufontein and Skerpkranz was once again out of this world. I must congratulate David Waddilove on the "interesting" road he discovered when he put this trail together. The route through Anysberg down to Montagu was nice and uneventful except for the fact that I pedaled about 50% of the way in a standing position due to my tender backside! The last bit into Montagu seems to be never ending with corrugations and a slight headwind. Arrived safely at 16:15 after a wonderful six days and a determination to tackle the Freedom Challenge in 2011. 145km in 9:50 hours.

Friday 30 April 2010

Gamkaskloof to Rouxpos. Looking forward to a not too stressful day with the Ladder as the major obstacle to overcome. Got going at 08:01 after picking up unit left with Estelle for charging during the night. Arrived at the foot of the ladder just after 09:00. Was amazed at how comfortable it is to carry a bicycle on your back if you have a rucksack on your back! Took me 1:15 to cover the 1.8km with an accent of 700m. The feeling of exaltation when reaching the top is difficult to describe. The ride from the top of the Ladder to the public road, a distance of 15km is very rough. Once you hit the public road the going is easy and I reached Rouxpos at 14:15. A distance of 66km in 6:15 hours with 1.6km of climbing.

Thursday 29 April 2010

After a lovely breakfast, I hit the road at 08:00. Steady progress up the beautiful Swartberg Pass. Was rather surprised when a BMW 650i came past me, but he was only going about 10 k.p.h. faster! The up and downs to Gamkaskloof seems to never end, but I finally got there at 15:00. 66 km for the day. Had my own little house for the night and went to bed early.