Louvain Toer (Reverse) Dag 3 Knysna na Ou Meul oor Ou Voortrekkerpas

 

See English below.

Ons besluit om weer net na 06:00 aan die gang te kom. Ons het die vorrige aand vir 'n "ontbyt pakkie" gereël. Dit bestaan uit 'n eier en mayonaise toebroodjie, 'n lemoen, sjokelade muffin en 500ml water. Ek eet die broodjie en drink die water vir ontbyt. Ons hoop om middagete by Bergville winkel te kry.

Ons kom 06:18 weg. Die weer is perfek vir fietsry. Koellerig met heelwat wolke maar kans op reën is skaars. Die eerste paar kilometer is met die N2 langs tot voor die Knysnarivier waar ons regs draai op 'n grondpad en dan met die Rooibrug oor die rivier na Phantompas. Hy kronkel teen die bult op en die einde neem lank om aan te breek. 

Dan volg 'n stuk teerpad tot by Rheenendal. Ons "vriende" van gister se ondersteunings voertuig kom op die stuk pad by ons verby. Verder is daar 'n groot hokkie toenoei op die sportgronde langs Totties Country Market. Net na die Rheenendal afdraai word dit weer grondpad en begin Homtinipas. Een kant af en anderkant op! Af is vinnig en op is stadig! Die natuur se mooi help om die "op" draagliker te maak. 

Die Sewepasse pad kry sy naam van die sewe passe wat sewe riviere tussen Knsyna en George kruis. Die gevolg is dat daar baie min gelyke gedeeltes is. Dit is gedurig af na 'n rivier toe en dan anderkant op tot bo op die rant. Soms sorg die "rante" vir 'n gelyk stukkie, maar daar is ook 'n aantal kleiner ops en afs! 

Als verloop goed tot so 15 km voor die Bergville afdraai. Hennie tel skielik probleme met sy fiets se krag op. Hy dink dit is die battery. Hou stil, haal hom uit en maak seker die kontakte is skoon. Sit terug en daar werk dit weer. Na 'n rukkie is die probleem terug. Ons besluit om aan te sukkel tot by Bergville en dan te sien wat ons te doen staan. Ek jaag vooruit om te kyk of ek nie ons vriende van gister daar kan vang nie. Hulle kan dan vir Hennie George toe neem. Daar is geen kans dat hy die pad Louvain met 'n "doggy" fiets kan aanpak nie. 

Toe ek by die Bergville winkel kom, is alles toe en ons vriende is dus ook nie daar nie. Hennie kom 'n rukkie later daar aan. Na "kajuutraad" besluit ons hy moet reguit George toe gaan en dan kom kry ek hom later daar. Terwyl ek terug stap na my fiets kom die Bergville winkel eienaar se dogter daar aan. Sy sê sy is oppad George toe en haar vriend kom tel haar op. Ek vra of hulle nie vir Hennie kan oplaai nie. Hy het intussen al begin ry. Ek gee vir hulle 'n beskrywing van hom en hulle stem in om hom op te laai. Gelukkig ry hulle met 'n bakkie!

Nou moet ek maar die laaste 45 km op my eie aanpak! Die eerste 20 is omtrent alles bult op! Ek begin trap. My eerste mikpunt is die hek by die ingang van die 4x4 roete na Louvain toe. Dit is so 4 km bult op met 200 meter se klim. Dit neem my so net minder as 'n uur. Hier moet ek my fiets oor die eerste hek tel. My volgende mikpunt is 'n vurk in die pad, so 'n 7 km verder. Die klim oor die afstand is nie so erg as die eerste deel nie en ek ry lekker gemaklik. My volgende mikpunt is 6 km verder waar die pad 'n skep regs draai maak en waar die Ou Voortrekkerpas in alle erns begin. Ek kom 'n bakkie, wat oppad af is,  tee op die gedeelte. Ons gesles 'n stukkie en ek kry water by hom. 

So 'n entjie na die regs draai raak my "energie" min en ek klim af en begin stoot. Die helling word al erger en daar is baie los klippe. Die gradiënt wissel tussen 13 en 16 grade. Ek is verplig om vir die volgende uur en 'n half fiets te stoot. Ry is net te moeilik.

So gaan dit aan tot omtrent 500 meter van die bopunt. Hier raak die weer rybaar. Regs van my beweeg daar 'n donker wolk in, maar die reën bly gelukkig weg. Heel bo is die kop gehul in mis en is die sigbaarheid net 100 meter. 

Ek is nou op die kruin van die berg en ry teen 'n redelike spoed. My gemiddelde spoed het met al die klim en gestoot, geval na 9.3 kpu. Oor die kruin begin ek anderkant af daal. Die pad is redelik rof, dus gaan dit maar stadig. Ek bereik die Louvain afdraai. Hier gaan die pad reguit aan, maar daar is 'n duidelike "geen toegang" teken. Die pad is egter 10 km korter as die Daskop pad en ook baie interessanter as die ander opsie van die N9. Ek het met my beplanning al besluit ek gaan wel die opsie kies. 

Die pad word duidelik nie baie gebruik nie maar die oppervlakte is aanvanklik redelik goed. Ek kom by 'n punt waar daar 'n pad links afdraai. Dit is die Louvain wandel, fiets en motorfiets pad. Heel onder is daar 'n pyltjie regs wat duidelik wys "no entry"! Ek gaan regs! Nou raak die pad baie klipperig met 'n paar lekker, gelukkig kort, styl seksies. Ek klim ook redelik tot by 'n hek wat gesluit is.

Ek tel my fiets oor en ry aan. Dan kom daar 'n lekker afdraend, maar die oppervlakte verhoed die kans om spoed op te tel. 

Onder, net voor die boer se huis, daar ek links. Nou is die pad goed en óf gelyk óf bult af tot by die volgende gesluite hek. Ek en fiets moet maar weer bo-oor. Nou is ek darem af van die "geen toegang" areas! 

Ek ry lekker vinnig af tot by Shanzeley Guest  House se afdraai. Hier volg ek die pad parallel met die N9 tot by die Klip Kop pad. Van hier is ek verplig om op die N9 te ry. Soos gewoonlik hou ek regs en wanneer daar 'n motor van voor kom gaan ek af op die gruis. Die pad is baie besig en ek is omtrent 40% van die tyd op die gruis. 

Met net meer as 6 km oor, draai ek regs waar ek en Hennie Vrydag uit gekom het om by die Buffelsdrifpad aan te sluit. Terug langs dieselfde pad waarmee ons gekom het tot by Ou Meul Gastehuis. Die laaste 15 km of so kon ek darem 'n goeie spoed handhaaf en ek eindig op 'n gemiddelde van 10.1 kpu. Totale afstand was net meer as 96 km met 2,166 meter se klim.

Ek laat weet vir Hennie ek is tuis en kom haal hom sodra ek gestort het. Hy wag by die "Four Passes" uitkyk op Outenikwapas. Hy het intussen vasgestel dat die probleem by die motor lê en nie by die battery nie.

We decide to get going again just after 06:00. We had arranged for a "breakfast pack" the night before. It consists of an egg and mayonnaise sandwich, an orange, a chocolate muffin and 500ml of water. I eat the sandwich and drink the water for breakfast. We hope to get lunch at the Bergville store.

We leave at 06:18. The weather is perfect for cycling. Cool with a lot of clouds but the chance of rain is rare. The first few kilometers are along the N2 until before the Knysna River where we turn right onto a dirt road and then take the Red Bridge over the river to Phantom Pass. It winds up the hill and the end takes a long time to arrive.

Then a stretch of tar road follows to Rheenendal. The support vehicle of our "friends" from yesterday's pass us on this stretch of road. There is also a large hockey tournament on the sports grounds next to Totties Country Market. Just after the Rheenendal turnoff the road becomes a gravel again and the Homtini Pass begins. Down one way and up the other! Down is fast and up is slow! Nature's beauty helps to make the "up" more bearable.

The Seven Passes road gets its name from the seven passes that cross seven rivers between Knsyna and George. The result is that there are very few flat sections. It is constantly down to a river and then up the other side to the top of the ridge. Sometimes the "ridges" provide a flat section, but there are also a number of smaller ups and downs!

Everything goes well until about 15 km before the Bergville turnoff. Hennie suddenly notices problems with his bike's power. He thinks it's the battery. Stop, take it out and make sure the contacts are clean. Put it back and there it works again. After a while the problem is back. We decide to struggle on to Bergville and then see what we have to do. I rush ahead to see if I can't catch our friends from yesterday, who probably would have stopped there. They can then take Hennie to George. There's no chance he can tackle the road to Louvain with a "doggy" bike.

When I get to the Bergville shop, everything is closed and our friends are therefore not there either. Hennie arrives there a while later. After a discussion we decide he should go straight to George and then I'll meet him there later. While I'm walking back to my bike, the Bergville shop owner's daughter arrives. She says she's on her way to George and her friend is coming to pick her up. I ask if they can give Hennie a lift. He has already started riding and they should catch up with him. I give them a description of him and they agree to pick him up. Luckily they are driving a bakkie, so there will be space for the bike!

Now I have to tackle the last 45 km on my own! The first 20 are almost all uphill! I start pedaling. My first goal is the gate at the entrance to the 4x4 route to Louvain. It is about 4 km uphill with 200 meters of climbing up ti there. It takes me just under an hour. Here I have to pick my bike up and get it over the first gate, which is locked. My next goal is a fork in the road, about 7 km further. The climb over this distance is not as bad as the first part and I ride comfortably. My next goal is 6 km further up where the road makes a sharp right turn and where the Ou Voortrekker Pass begins in earnest. I come across a bakkie, which is on its way down, on this section. We chat for a bit and I get water from him.

About a kilometer after the right turn my "energy" runs low and I get off and start pushing. The slope is getting worse and there are a lot of loose rocks. The gradient varies between 13 and 16 degrees. I am forced to push the bike for the next hour and a half. Riding is just too difficult.

And so it goes until 500 meters from the top. Here it becomes ridable again. To my right a dark cloud is moving in. Fortunately the rain stays away. At the very top the hill is covered in ist and visibility is only about 100 meters.

I am now on the summit of the mountain and riding at a reasonable speed. My average speed has dropped to 9.3 kph with all the climbing and pushing. Over the summit and I start to descend down the other side. The road is quite rough, so I go slowly. I reach the Louvain turn-off. Here the road continues straight, but there is a clear "no entry" sign. This road is 10 km shorter than the Daskop road and also much more interesting than the other option of the N9. I had already decided with my planning that I would choose this option.

The road is clearly not used much but the surface is initially quite good. I come to a point where a road turns off to the left. This is the Louvain walking, cycling and motorbike track. At the very bottom of the sign there is an arrow to the right clearly indicating "no entry"! I go right! Now the road becomes very rocky with a few steep, fortunately short, sections. The road also climb quite a bit until I reach a gate that is closed. I pick my bike up, place it over the gate and ride on. Then there's a nice descent, but once again the surface prevents the chance of picking up speed.

Below, just before the farmer's house, I turn left. Now the road is good and either level or sloping down to the next closed gate. The bike and I have to go over again. Now I'm out of the "no access" areas!

I ride down pretty quickly to the Shanzeley Guest House turnoff. Here I follow the road parallel to the N9 to the Klip Kop road. From here I am obliged to drive on the N9. As usual I keep right and when a car comes from the front I go onto the gravel. The road is very busy and I am on the gravel about 40% of the time.

With just over 6 km to go, I turn right where Hennie and I came out on Friday to join the Buffelsdrif road. Back along the same road we came on to Ou Meul Guest House. The last 15 km or so I was able to maintain a good speed and I end up at an average of 10.1 kpu. Total distance was just over 96 km with 2,166 meters of climbing.

I let Hennie know I am home and will come and pick him up as soon as I have showered. He is waiting at the "Four Passes" lookout on the Outeniqua Pass. He has since determined that the problem lies with the motor and not the battery.

Louvain Toer (Reverse) Dag 2 De Vlugt na Knysna oor Kom se pad

 See English below

Ons begin 06:09 trap. Die eerste 22 km van vandag se rit is meesal opdraend. Ons begin by 370 meter en eindig by 690 meter. Op 'n kol daal ons na 220 meter en moet dan weer klim! Totale klim oor die 22 km is 680 meter. Dit neem ons 2:15 om die 22 km af te lê. Hennie se "handewerk" op sy deraillier hou goed en gee geen probleme nie! Ons spore is vanoggend die eerstes op die pas na die vorrige aand se reën. Die pad oppervlakte toon ook duidelik dat daar heelwat water gevloei het.

So amper bo op die eerste bult hoor ek stemme agter my. Na 'n rukkie kom 'n man en twee dames by my verby. Hulle is van Elandsheuwel, naby Uitenhage en het van Steytlerville af gery. Hulle is oppad Grootbrak toe. Ons ry die res van die dag saam met hulle. Ruil lekker stories uit. Ma, Pa en Dogter! Het eers geboer maar nou is Ma en Pa by kuns betrokke en dogter het sopas haar Doktors graad in Ondergrondse water voltooi. Ook groot Freedom Challenge "dotwatcher". Wat is 'n FC dotwatcher? Iemand wat die beweging van die dotjies, wat FC deelnemers se vordering aandui op die FC webwerf, dop hou!

Die 22 km bestaan uit twee ernstige klimme en een baie styl afdraend. Die afdraend is net 2 km maar ons daal van 500 meter na 220 meter oor die 2 km. Bo by Buffelsnek maak ons eers behoorlik kennis en ruil telefoonnommers uit. 

Nadat ons herstel het pak ons die bult af aan. Die oppervlakte is rof en ons spoed is so net oor 30 kpu. Dit is 'n 10 km bult maar ons verloor net meer as 200 meter nie, so die helling is sodanig dat ons nie regtig lekker spoed jkn opbou nie. Onder by Kom se pad se afdraai stop ons om weer iets te eet en lekker rustig te gesels. 

Dan pak ons Kom se pad aan. Hy is ook redelik rof maar dit is so mooi hier dat jy in elkgeval nie te vinnig wil ry nie. Die e-bike en "jonger" mense "drop" my so elke nou en dan wanneer ons die styl gedeeltes aandurf.  

Bo-op Gouna se bult konsollideer ons. Al wat nou oorbly is die kort styl bult af na die Gounarivier en dan die laaste klim na Simola. Hy is net 2 km lank maar ons klim 110 meter. Bo versamel ons weer en dan met die Simola heuwel af na die N2 wat deur Knysna loop. Net voor die aansluiting "konsolideer" ons weer by hulle "backup" voertuig. Fotos word geneem en ons neem afskeid. Moontlik sien ons mekaar môre weer op die Sewepasse pad!

We start pedaling at 06:09. The first 22 km of today's ride is mostly uphill. We start at 370 meters and end at 690 meters. At one point we descend to 220 meters and then have to climb again! Total climb over the 22 km is 680 meters. It takes us 2:15 to cover the 22 km. Hennie's "handiwork" on his derailleur is successful and it gives no problems! Our tracks are on "virgin territory" after last night's rain.

Almost at the top of the first hill I hear voices behind me. After a while a man and two ladies pass me. They are from Elandsheuwel, near Uitenhage and have ridden from Steytlerville. They are on their way to Grootbrak. We ride with them the rest of the day exchanging stories. Mom, Dad and Daughter! They were farmers but now Mom and Dad are involved in art and daughter has just completed her Doctorate degree in Underground water. She is a big Freedom Challenge "dotwatcher". What is an FC dotwatcher? Someone who keeps track of the movement of the dots, which indicate the progress of FC participants on the FC website!

The 22 km consists of two serious climbs and one very steep descent. The descent is only 2 km but we descend from 500 meters to 220 meters over the 2 km. At the top of Buffelsnek we first get to know each other properly and exchange phone numbers.

After we recover we tackle the downhill. The surface is rough and our speed is just over 30 kpu. It is a 10 km hill but we lose just over 200 meters, so the slope is such that we can't really build up any speed. At the turnoff of Kom se pad we stop to eat something again and have a nice, leisurely chat.

Then we tackle Kom se pad. It is also quite rough but it is so beautiful here that you don't want to ride too fast anyway. The e-bike and "younger" people "drop" me every now and then when we venture into the steep sections. At the top of Gouna the hill we consolidate. All that remains now is the short steep hill down to the Gouna River and then the last climb to Simola. It is only 2 km long but we climb 110 meters. At the top we regroup and then down the Simola hill to the N2 that runs through Knysna. Just before the junction we "consolidate" again with their "backup" vehicle. Photos are taken and we say goodbye. Maybe we'll see each other again tomorrow on the Seven Passes road!

Louvain Toer (Reverse) Dag 1 Ou Meul na De Vlugt oor die Kammanassie

 

See English below

Hennie de Clercq het nou onlangs gevra wanneer gaan ry ons weer saam fiets. My voorstel was toe om die Louvain Toer, wat ek Augustus 2024 saam met Mike Smit en Danie Kotse gedoen het, te ry maar in die teenoorgestelde rigting en wel van 21-23 Maart. Louvain het daardie naweek 'n troue en ek kry blyplek, so 20 km pad af by Ou Meul Gasteplaas. Ons spreek af om mekaar so tussen 17:00 en 18:00 daar te kry. Hennie sorg vir Donderdagaand ete en Sondag is dit my beurt. Die plan is om Vrydag via die Kammanassie vallei na De Vlugt te ry. Saterdag Knysna toe en dan Sondag via die Ou Voortrekkerpas terug Ou Meul toe. 

Hennie braai vir ons 'n paar kasler tjops en sit dit saam met 'n brianni gereg en 'n kuskus slaai voor. Dit reën 'n paar keer lekker hard, maar die voorspelling vir Vrydag is gunstig.

Ons bepkan om 06:00 op te staan en en 07:00 weg te kom. Daar her ook 'n paar buie gedurende die nag uitgesak en dit is nat buite. Ek besluit om maar met my reënbaadjie en "windbreaker" te begin. Ons kom 07:04 aan die ry. 

Net voor die N9 draai ons links op plaaspaadjies langs plaaswerkers huise en appelboorde verby. Na 6.5 km kruis ons die N9 en draai links op na Buffelsdrif langs die Kammanassie. Na 'n klim van so 120 meter oor 2 km begin ons afdaal na die Kammanassie. Die volgende 12 km is uitputtend met baie kort op en afdraendes! Dit word gevolg deur 'n gelydelike opdreand na die N9 met 'n skep klim oor die laaste paar honderd meter. Ins stop na 2 uur vur 'n vinnige versnapping. 

Die volgende groot klim kom in die eerste 5 km op die N9. Voor die klim stop ons by 'n padstal en eet 'n lekker warm roosterkoek met spek, eier en kaas en 'n beker moer koffie. Na 27 minute val ons weer in die pad. Ons klim van 730 meter na 980 meter en dit word gevolg deur 'n 14 km afdraend wat ons vat na 530 meter. Dan draai ons links op 'n grondpad wat ons afneem na die R339. 

Teen die eerste bult op stop Hennie. Daar is 'n probleem met die fiets se ketting. Na 'n lang gesukkel kom ons agter dat die binneste plaatjie van die "derailleur" gebreek het. Die gevolg is dat die ketting van die rat af val sodra hy van rat verander. Ons kry die ketting op en ek stel voor dat hy 'n middel rat kies en dan moet hy in daardie rat bly en nie van rat verander nie. Dit kan goed werk aangesien hy 'n e-bike het en dus net meer batterykrag teen die bult moet gebruik. Hy skakel en kry 'n fiets winkel in Knysna, wat eers sê hy kan nie help nie maar na 'n tweede oproep en 'n beter beskrywing van die probleem, stem hy in dat hy kan help. Die enigste probleem is dat hulle besluit het om op die vakansie dag te werk sodat hulle Saterdag kan af vat. Hy stem in dat Hennie hom kan skakel wanneer ons in Knysna kom en dan sal hy kyk wat hy kan doen. 

Ons ry voort en die ketting hou op die een rat. By die K'buku Bush Pub stop ons vir iets om te drink. R30 vir 'n bier en R10 vir 'n Coke! Die pryse sal jy nie maklik weer kry nie! Ons rit af na die Plaaskind Padstal, waar ons vannaand in Ou Doc de huus slaap, verloop sonder enige verdere insidente. 

Adri van Rooyen, van die padstal bring vir ons lekker bugers en koek vir aandete. Ons reël ook vir twee ham en kaas rooster koeke elk, vir ontbyt. Die plan is om 06:00 te begin sodat ons vroeg in Knysna kan wees vir die fietswinkel. 

Hennie besluit om te kyk of hy nie self 'n plan met die deraillier kan maak nie. Hy kry 'n stukkie draad en met dit kry hy die deraillier sodat hy werk! Hy gaan vir 'n toets rit en is tevrede met sy handewerk. So môre sal ons sien of dit regtig suksesvol was.

Hennie de Clercq recently asked when we could cycle together again. My suggestion was to ride the Louvain Tour, which I did in August 2024 with Mike Smit and Danie Kotse, but in the opposite direction, from 21-23 March. Louvain has a wedding that weekend and we found accommodation at Ou Meul Gaste Farm, about 20 km down the road. We agree to meet there between 17:00 and 18:00 on Thursday 20 March. Hennie will take care of dinner on Thursday evening and it will be my turn on Sunday. The plan is to ride via the Kammanassie Valley to De Vlugt on Friday. On Saturday to Knysna and then on Sunday via the Ou Voortrekker Pass back to Ou Meul.

Hennie grilled some Kasler chops on the fire and serve them with a brianni dish and a couscous salad. It rained quite hard a few times during the night, but the forecast for Friday is favourable.

We plan to get up at 06:00 and leave at 07:00. There have also been a few showers during the night and it is wet outside. I decide to start with my rain jacket and windbreaker. We get going at 07:04.

Just before the N9 we turn left onto farm roads past farm workers' houses and apple orchards. After 6.5 km we cross the N9 and turn left up to Buffelsdrif and then along the Kammanassie Valley. After a climb of about 120 meters over 2 km we start descending to the Kammanassie. The next 12 km are exhausting with very short ups and downs! This is followed by a gradual climb to the N9 which ends with a steep climb over the last few hundred meters. The next big climb comes in the first 5 km on the N9. Before the climb we stop at a roadside stall and eat a nice hot "roosterkoek" with bacon, egg and cheese and a cup of "moer" coffee. After 27 minutes we hit the road again. We climb from 730 meters to 980 meters and this is followed by a 14 km descent that takes us down to 530 meters. Then we turn left onto a dirt road that takes us down to the R339.

At the first hill, Hennie stops. There is a problem with the bike's chain. After a long struggle, we discover that the inner plate of the "derailleur" has broken. The result is that the chain falls off the gear as soon as he changes gears. We get the chain on and I suggest that he choose a middle gear and then he should stay in that gear and not change gears. This could work well since he has an e-bike and therefore only needs to use more battery power against on the hills. He makes a phone call and finds a bike shop in Knysna, who at first says they can't help but after a second call and a better description of the problem, they agree that they can help. The only problem is that they have decided to work on the holiday so that they can take Saturday off. He agrees that Hennie can call him when we get to Knysna and then he will see what he can do.

We ride on and with the chain in one gear. At the K'buku Bush Pub we stop for something to drink. R30 for a beer and R10 for a Coke! You won't easily get those prices again! Our ride down to the Plaaskind Padstal, where we are sleeping tonight in Ou Doc se Huis, goes without any further incidents.

Adri van Rooyen, from the padstal, brings us delicious burgers and cake for dinner. We also arrange for two ham and cheese toasties each, for breakfast. The plan is to start at 06:00 so that we can be in Knysna early for the bike shop.

Hennie decides to see if he can't make a plan with the derailleur himself. He gets a piece of wire and with it he gets the derailleur so that it works! He goes for a test ride and is satisfied with his handiwork. So tomorrow we will see if it was really successful.

CTCT (Argus) Nommer 34

For English version, see below.

 Dit is weer tyd vir die Cape Town Cycle Tour (Argus) en dit sal nommer 34 wees. Die weer voorspelling is baie gunstig en ek besluit om weer met my fiets in te ry stad toe en dan na die tyd terug huis toe. Die wekker jaag my 04:45 uit die bed en ek val 05:42 in die pad. Dit is redelik mistig oor Paarden Eiland en ek kan net Kloofnekweg se ligte sien. Toe ek egter regs draai op die N1, preik Tafelberg in al sy glorie voor my. Ek volg die “skares” wat na die wegspring bloke ry en is teen 06:45 in my wegspring blok. Net voor ons begin merk ek vir Jan Viljoen, my skoonseun se broer, en sy seun, Jan Malan, in my blok op. 

 

Wegspring verloop soos ‘n Switserse trein en ons begin presies 07:12. Jan en sy seun skop sommer gou stof in my oë en ek aanvaar ek sal hulle nie weer sien nie! Die “drag” teen Nelson Mandela Boulevard is maar altyd ietwat van ‘n uitdaging en dit neem my 12 minute om die 4 kilometer tot bo-op Hospitaaldraai af te lê. Anderkant af sprei die veld redelik uit wat die “stress” van vining in ‘n bondel ry, verwyder. Ek ry lekker rustig tot by die volgende “uitdaging” naamlik Edinbugh Drive, ‘n 2 kilometer klim wat my 8 minute neem om onder die knie te kry. Nou kom die mal jaag teen die bult af en met die M5 tot by die Weslake afdraai. Ek “hak” by ‘n lekker groep aan en is binne ‘n kort tydjie by die links draai af na “Main Road” en dan die “beproewing” deur Muisenberg, Kalkbaai, Vishoek en Glen Cairn tot in Simonsstad. Hierdie is maar altyd ‘n uitdaging met baie hobbels in die pad, nou paaie en baie mense wat ons aanmoedig! Na 1:16 ry ek deur JubileePlein in Simonsstad. In die dae toe ek onder 3 uur gery het was my mikpunt altyd on dit teen net meer as 50 minute te doen. So stap die jare aan en word mens stadiger! Die pad deur Simonsstad is ook maar lekker hobbelrig maar gelukkig is daar nie slaggate nie. Dit weereens interessant om die deelnemers om my dop te hou. Ek sien gereeld dieselfde persoene. Nie dat ek hulle ken nie, maar ek merk elke nou en dan ‘n “bekende” fietsryuitrusting op. Dan verwyn hulle en dan kom hulle weer verby. So “jo-jo” ons tot in Groenpunt! Een spesifieke een is “Danie” wat ‘n ou 21 wedren trui aan het.  Meer oor hom later.

 

Na 1:30 bereik ek die begin van Smitswinkelbaai se klim. Teen die tyd wat ek die klim begin is my gemiddelde spoed 30 kpu! Teen die spoed gaan ek in 3:40 klaar maak. Ek weet dit is ‘n pypdroom, want die groot klimme lê nog voor! Hierdie klim van 5 kilometer neem my 15 minute, wat ‘n aanduiding is dat die klim nie te styl is nie. Anderkant af is dit altyd ook weer ‘n nare gejaag om by ‘n bondel te hou en tyd op te maak. Na die aanvanklike afdraend van 4 kilometer is dit redelik op en af tot by Red Hill, waar ons links draai Scarborourgh toe, wat weer geleidelik af is en dan gelyk tot by die Oscean View klim, wat net na Misty Cliffs begin.

Weereens nie te styl nie en 4 kilometer lank. Anderkant af en dan verby Masiphumelele na Sun Valley toe. Dit weereens ‘n stuk waar mens moet uithaal en wys want die pas is gewoonlik lekker warm. Hier kan ek vir “Danie” help om ‘n “gel” uit sy sak te haal. Dit is dan ook die laaste keer wat ek hom sien! Ek het agter gekom dat ek beter as hy klim en dit wil voorkom asof hy toe op die res van die bulte agter geraak het. Ek bereik die Sun Valley draai na 2:32 en 73 kilometer, dus het my gemiddelde spoed nou na 28.8 kpu geval. Chapman’s Peak en Suikerbossie lê nog voor so ek gaan sukkel om 28 kpu oor die hele afstand te haal. 

 

Net voor ek verby Noordhoek ry, sien ek vir Jan Malan en so ‘n entjie voor hom vir sy pa, Jan Viljoen. Dit blyk toe dat die jong man se energie so bietjie “opgeraak” het! Miskien te vining begin! Ek klim Chapman’s Peeak teen ‘n goeie pas uit en sien weer ‘n hele paar deelnemers wat ek vroeër opgemerk het. Bo-oor en anderkant af handhaaf ons weer ‘n goeie pas. Onder in Houtbaai merk ek vir Egbert Robinson, wat in ‘n groep voor my begin het, op. Nou lê net Suikerbossie voor en dan is dit “voet-in-die-hoek” huis toe. Hier kom Egbert by my verby en ek kan nie by hom hou nie. Aangesien hy 3 minute voor my begin het, moet ek net sorg dat ek binne 3 minute na hom klaar maak om hom op die dag te klop. Ek skat dat ek dit darem gehoort te kan doen. Teen die bult op gaan ek verby ‘n deelnemer wat nie hande het nie en sy linkerbeen is ‘n kunsbeen! Ek ry beswaarlik vinneger teen die bult op as hy ten spyte van sy gebreke! Ek sien ook, naby aan die bokant, ‘n tandem en probeer agter hulle inval om deur hulle “getou” te word wanneer ek anderkant afgaan, maar hulle pas is te stadig en ek ry vooruit. 

 

Anderkant af vorm ‘n paar van ons ‘n bondel. Na ‘n ruk kom die tandem verby en ons val agter hulle in. Ons vorm ‘n groep, maar begin vinniger as die tandem ry en hulle raak agter. Na ‘n rukkie kom die man met die kunsbeen verby! Hy trap ‘n “mal” pas en ek moet ekstra hard trap om by te hou. Hy val egter terug en ek en ‘n klomp ander deelnemers ry alleen voor. Nie te lank nie en hier kom hy weer verby en die keer teen ‘n spoed waarvoor ek nie kans sien nie. Teen die tyd lyk die moontlikhied om onder 4 uur klaar te maak goed en ek ry binne my perke. Deur Bakoven, Houtbaai en Clifton en dan teen die seefront af. 

 

Ek bereik die eindstreep in 3:51 en voel heel goed dat ek dit weer reggekty het om onder 4 ure te ry. Die weer was egter perfek en die omstandighede vir ‘n goeie tyd was dus baie gunstig. My finale gemiddlde spoed was toe 28.1 kpu.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s time for the Cape Town Cycle Tour (Argus) again and it will be number 34. The weather forecast is very favourable and I decided to ride with my bike into the city and then back home after the event. The alarm clock wakes me up at 04:45 and I hit into the road at 05:42. It’s quite foggy over Paarden Eiland and I can only see the lights of Kloofnek Road. However, when I turn right onto the N1, Table Mountain looms in front of me in all its glory. I follow the “crowds” heading towards the start blocks and am in my block by 06:45. Just before we start, I notice Jan Viljoen, my son-in-law’s brother, and his son in my block. The start goes like a Swiss train and we start exactly at 07:12. Jan and his son quickly kick dust in my eyes and I accept that I will not see them again! The “drag” up Nelson Mandela Boulevard is always a bit of a challenge and it takes me 12 minutes to cover the 4 kilometres to the top of Hospital Bend. On the other side, the field spreads out quite a bit, which removes the “stress” of riding fast in a pack. I ride nice and easy until the next “challenge” namely Edinbugh Drive, a 2 kilometre climb that takes me 8 minutes to get to the top. Now comes the mad rush down the hill with the M5 to the Weslake turn-off. I “catch up” with a nice group and in a short time I am at the left turn towards “Main Road” and then the “ordeal” through Muisenberg, Kalk Bay, Fishhoek and Glen Cairn to Simonstown. This is always a challenge with many bumps in the road, narrow roads and many people encouraging us! After 1:16 I ride through Jubilee Square in Simonstown. In the days when I rode under 3 hours my goal was always to do it in just over 50 minutes. So the years go by and you get slower! The road through Simonstown is also quite bumpy but fortunately there are no potholes. It is once again interesting to keep an eye on the participants around me. I regularly see the same people. Not that I know them, but every now and then I notice a “familiar” cycling outfit. Then they disappear and then they pass by again. So “yo-yo” we up to Green Point! One specific one is “Danie” who is wearing an old 21 race jersey. More about him later. After 1:30 I reach the start of the Smitswinkelbaai climb. By the time I start the climb my average speed is 30 kph! At this speed I will finish in 3:40. I know it is a pipe dream, because the big climbs are still ahead! This 5 kilometre climb takes me 15 minutes, which is an indication that the climb is not too steep. On the other side, it is always a nasty rush to keep up with a bunch down the hill and make up time. After the initial 4 kilometre descent, it is quite up and down up to Red Hill, where we turn left to Scarborough, which is again gradually downhill and the climb up to Ocsean View, which starts just after Misty Cliffs. Again not too steep and 4 kilometres long. Down the other side and then past Masiphumelele to Sun Valley. This is again a section where you have to show your mettle because the pace is usually nice and hot. Here I can help “Danie” get a “gel” out of his pocket. This is also the last time I see him! I noticed that I climb better than him and it seems as if he then fell behind on the rest of the hills. I reach the Sun Valley turn after 2:32; 73 kilometers, so my average speed has now dropped to 28.8 kph. Chapman’s Peak and Suikerbossie are still ahead so I’m going to struggle to make 28 kph over the entire distance. Just before I pass Noordhoek, I see Jan Malan and a little ahead of him his father, Jan Viljoen. It turns out that the young man’s energy has “run out” a bit! Maybe he started too fast! I climb Chapman’s Peak at a good pace and see quite a few participants that I noticed earlier again. Over the top and down the other side we maintain a good pace again. Down in Hout Bay I notice Egbert Robinson, who started in a group ahead of me. Now Suikerbossie is ahead and then it’s “full throttle” home. Here Egbert passes me and I can’t keep up with him. Since he started 3 minutes before me, I just have to make sure I finish within 3 minutes to beat him on the day. I think I can do it. Up the hill I pass a participant who has no hands and his left leg is an artificial leg! I hardly ride faster up the hill than he does despite his disabilities! I also see a tandem near the top and try to fall behind them to be “towed” by them when I go down the other side, but their pace is too slow and I go ahead. On the other side a few of us form a bunch. After a while the tandem passes and we fall in behind them. We form a group, but start to ride faster than the tandem and they fall behind. After a while the man with the artificial leg passes by! He pedals at a “crazy” pace and I have to pedal extra hard to keep up. However, he falls back and I and a bunch of other participants ride alone in front. Not too long and here he comes by again and this time at a speed I don't see a chance of.

 

 

 

At this point the possibility of finishing under 4 hours looks good and I ride within my limits. Through Bakoven, Hout Bay and Clifton and then down the seafront. I reach the finish line in 3:51 and feel very good that I managed to ride under 4 hours again. However, the weather was perfect and the conditions for a good time were therefore very favorable. My final average speed was then 28.1 kph.

House on the Hill Toer (Reverse) Dag 3

Die plan was om 07:00 ontbyt te eet en dan 07:30 in die pad te val. Ons kuier egter so lekker saam met Kosie en Ryna Sauerman, bygestaan deur Wells die kelner, dat ons eers 08:09 daar wegkom!

Die dag begin sommer weer met 'n klim! 2.62 km, 82 meter se klim met 'n maksimum gradiënt van 17.7%! Die gemiddeld is gelukkig 5.1%, dus is daar ook heelwat maklike gedeeltes. Na 6 km kruis ons die pad waarmee ons gister ingekom het en gaan reguit die bult op en deur twee hekke. Johan verloor sy balans by die eerste hek en val "saggies"! 

Die pad wat ons volg Riversdal toe is redelik op en af met mooi Suid Kaap natuur van golwende heuwels met canola stoppels. Ryna het reeds gesê ons moet hier kom ry wanneer die canola in blom is.

Ons maak 'n draai naby aan die stasie Renbaan wat mens verby ry op die N2 tussen die Stilbaai afdraai en Albertina. Vandaar is ons eers op 'n plato en dan daal ons af Riversdal toe, met so twee onverwagte skerp bultjies wat geluk nie baie lank is nie. Ons kom na 3:50 en 54.5 km in Riversdal aan. Op die hoek waar ons moet afdraai sien ons die Mosie koffiehuis en stop net daar vir, wat ons hoop, 'n vinnige middag versnapping sal wees. Ek kom baie vinning tot die gevolgtrekking dat dit nie gou sal gaan nie. Wanneer die kelnerin uiteindelik by ons uit kom maak sy onmiddelik verskoning aangesien hulle net twee is en daar nou drie groepe is. Ons bestel eers koffie en loer dan na die spyskaart. Nadat die koffie gekom het moet ons nog 'n rukkie wag voordat ons bestelling geneem word. Die diens is stadig, maar ons geniet die rus en ten spyte van die wag is ons heel tevrefe met alles. Ons kom eers na 'n uur weer aan die gang. 

Die laaste 35 km begin met 'n redelike gelyk stuk in 'n Noord Westelike rigting, met die laaste gedeelte geleidelik op tot op 72 km. Dan draai ons links op 'n "jeep track" wat lekker styl is. 4.75 km met 230 meter se klim en 'n maksimum van 19.5% en 'n gemiddelde van 4.8%. Dit neem my 41:26 om tot bo te kom. 

Bo draai ons links en verloor weer vinnig hoogte met so twee kort heuweltjies tot by 'n T-aansluiting waar ons regs draai. Nou die laaste klim en dan is dit oop ketel huis toe. Ek laat waai en geniet die laaste paar kilometer tot by die aansluiting waar ons regs moet draai om by House on the Hill uit te kom. Ek wag hier vir Mike en Johan. 

Wanneer Johan die laaste bult af ry draai hy links in plaas van regs! Mike roep hom terug. Nou is daar net 3 km oor huis toe. 

Ek kom na 91.29 km, 7:25 uur en 1,309 meter se klim weer by House on the Hill aan. Die weer was bykans perfek met 'n gemiddelde temperaruur van 25 grade Celsius. Redelik bewolk met 'n ligte briesie wat dit koel gehou het. So eindig Dag 3. Die aand eindig met 'n wonderlike sons ondergang.

Dit was voorwaar 'n heerlike drie dae se fiets ry!

Totale afstand: 263.83 km; 21:47 uur en 4,457 meter se klim. 

 

The plan was to have breakfast at 07:00 and then hit the road at 07:30. However, we are having such a good time chatting with Kosie and Ryna Sauerman, assisted by Wells the waiter, that we only get out of there at 08:09!

The day starts again with a climb! 2.62 km, 82 meters of acsent with a maximum gradient of 17.7%! The average is fortunately 5.1%, so there are also quite a few easy sections. After 6 km we cross the road we came in with yesterday and go straight up the hill and through two gates. Johan loses his balance at the first gate and falls over very "gently"!

The road we follow to Riversdale is quite up and down with the beautiful Southern Cape nature of rolling hills with canola stubble. Ryna did suggest that we should come here when the canola is in bloom, to appreciate the beauty.

Our route takes us past the Renbaan station, which one drives past on the N2 between the Stilbaai turnoff and Albertina. From there we are first on a plateau and then we descend to Riversdale, with two unexpected sharp bumps that fortunately are not very long. We arrive in Riversdale after 3:50 and 54.5 km. At the corner where we have to turn off we see the Mosie coffee shop and stop right there for what we hope will be a quick mid morning snack. I quickly come to the conclusion that it will not be "quick". When the waitress finally comes to us she immediately apologizes since there are only two of them and there are now three groups to be served. We first order coffee and then glance at the menu. After the coffee comes we have to wait a while before our order is taken. The service is slow, but we enjoy the peace and despite the wait we are quite satisfied with everything. We only get going again after an hour.

The last 35 km starts with a fairly flat section in a North Westerly direction, with the last section gradually rising to 72 km. Then we turn left onto a "jeep track" which is nice and steep. 4.75 km with 230 meters of climbing and a maximum of 19.5% and an average of 4.8%. It takes me 41:26 to get to the top.

At the top we turn left and then quickly lose altitude again with two short hills until a T-junction where we turn right. Now the last climb and then it's ears back to home. I go like the wind and enjoy the last few kilometers up to the junction where we have to turn right to get to House on the Hill. I wait here for Mike and Johan.

When Johan comes down the last hill he turns left instead of right! Mike calls him back. Now there are only 3 km left to go home.

I arrive back at House on the Hill after 91.29 km, 7:25 hours and 1,309 meters of climbing. The weather was almost perfect with an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Fairly cloudy with a light breeze that kept it cool. Thus ends Day 3. The evening ends with a wonderful sunset.

It was truly a wonderful three days of cycling!

Total distance: 263.83 km; 21:47 hours and 4,457 meters of climbing.