Argus MTB

The Grape Escape was followed by The Argus MTB at Boschendal on Sunday 4 March. I arranged to sleep with my friend Gerard Cooke, who lives on the grounds on the Boschendal Estate, on the Saturday night. On Saturday afternoon, as I was checking my bike over, I noticed that I routed the chain incorrectly through the rear chain guide, with the result that I had to break the chain again. This I did at one on the master links and at the same time I decided to add the piece, which I picked up on Friday when my chain broke the first time. I joined this with the chain with a normal chain pin. I did realise that I may pick up problems with this the next day, but that was a gamble I was willing to take.

My start time was 07:05 and I left the house at 06:35 and cycled to the start. The Boschendal course is quite hilly and the way the route for the Argus MTB is laid out is such that the main climbing is divided into two sections, with lots of smaller climbs in between. The first 12 km took me 38 minutes and included 194 meters of climbing. We then hit the first serious hills and the next 16 km, which include 319 meters of climbing, took me 56 minutes. We then had tackled the next big climb with the next 12 km including 407 meters of climbing and that took 59 minutes to complete. There after the going was easier again and the last 22 km, which included 240 meters of climbing, took me 1 hour 10 minutes. As I faired, the repair of the previous afternoon was not good enough and my chain broke again after 12 km. This time it took me only 4 minutes to repair and it lasted the rest of the day. The riding was very enjoyable with lots of other competitors around and a continual varying terrain. It did pass two guys, at different times, who must have fallen very hard because they were lying very still. Both were attended too. My riding was fairly uneventful until I got to the first river crossing after 50 km. It was fairly steep and the guys in front of me "chickened" out. They stopped to let me through, but I had to slow down and as I tried to get back onto my saddle, the point caught the back of my cycling shorts, with the result that my weight was to far forward leading into a spectacular somersault when my front wheel hit the first rock. The landing was not to bad and the guy behind me commented, "It is not why you fall, but how you fall!" At the next river crossing, on 61 km I was in the wrong gear and did not have enough momentum to take me through so that I had to stop just before the end and push up a small hill. The race ended after 62 km and my time was 3:52:06. We climbed 1,161 meters.

And so ended four days of mountain biking at an average of 70 km and on average 4:15 per day in the saddle.

Grape Escape Dag 3

Saterdag 3 Maart was die finale dag van 2012 se Grape Escape. Die skof het op Diemersfontein, die eindpunt van die Freedom Challenge, begin. Die tydsberekening van die organiseerdes was weereens perfek en ons val 07:00 in die pad. Die dag se roete begin egter met die ernstige klim en in die eerste 36 kilometer klim ons meer as 1,205 meter en dit neem my 2:46. My ketting breek weer, maar gelukkig kry het ek dit gou reg gemmak en weer in die pad geval. Die klim was teen die hange van die heuwels aan die voet van die Du Toitskloof berge, met heelwat paaie deur die plantasie en 'n paar baie oulike "single tracks" ingegooi. Die bome het heelwat skadu voorsien, met die gevolg dat ons nie te warm gekry het nie. Die laaste stukkie teen die berg af onderdeur die Hugenoottonnel se voerpad was nogal redelik tegnies, maar baie interessant. Van daar tot die einde was dit redelik op en af met die laaste redelik gelyk. Dit neem my 1:45 om die laaste 30 kilometer te voltooi. Ek eindig met 'n tyd van 4:58:01 vir die 71.82 km met 1,651 meter se klim en 166 uit 241 wat klaar maak.

Totale tyd oor die drie dae is 13:08:27 vir die 216 kilometer en ek eindig 132 uit 226 wat die wedren voltooi. 'n Heel skaflike vertoning vir die drie dae.

Grape Escape Day 2

Friday 2 March and time for day 2 of the 2012 Grape Escape. The journey to the start was longer than yesterday, but as I could travel down the back roads, I left at about the same time and arrived at the Boland Aricultural School in good time. Light breakfast was available again and this I helped myself to a cup of coffee. Timing was perfect again and we got going at 07:00. The initial riding was pretty fast as most of the route, at this point was fairly flat. A matter of fact, the first 40 km took me 1:46 at an average speed of 22.6 k.p.h.! Then to tougher section started, but fortunately the initial climbing was not too strenuous. That was until we were past Groenberg. When we hit the slopes of the Bianskloof mountains, things started getting serious. At about 46 km my chain broke. I had all the necessary equipment to repair it and got going again after 8 minutes. Just as I was about to get going again, I saw three links on the ground. I was not sure if it was mine, but put them in my pocket for "just in case"! When we got onto the tar road, I realised that I had another problem. My front derailleur was not working properly! It seems to have shifted down and was touching the front big blade. As there was still a fair amount of climbing to do, I moved it over to the middle blade and continued in this manner. It was not sounding to good because the chain was rubbing against the derailleur, but it did not really effect my peddling. After "fiddling" around with the adjusters while riding, I managed to get it work without making a noise. I did not want to put much strain on the chain and therefore "walked" a number of technical steep sections, without loosing too much time. Everything lasted well and I reached the end after 4:15:52, having covered 69.01 km and climbed 1,311 meters. In spite of my problems, I managed to finish 138 from 264. The schuttle got me back to the start by 12:30 and I had my bike at Cycles Direct by 14:00 for a check over to ensure that I could tackle Day 3. I got it back at 18:00 and was ready for the final day of the Grape Escape.

Grape Escape Dag 1

Registrasie was onder andere Woensdag 29 Februarie by Columbia Store se winkel in Canal Walk. Behalwe vir jou nommer het elkeen ook 'n mooi wit langmou top en 50 liter Columbia sak gekry! Ons kon ook op die dag enig iets teen 50% van die normale prys koop. Ek het toe maar vir my nog 'n lekker kortbroek aangeskaf.

Donderdag 1 Maart 2012. Dit is dag 1 van 2012 se Grape Escape, wat vanjaar oor drie dae strek, en wat nie die Argus MTB, soos verlede jaar, insluit nie. Die begin is ook vanaf Eden on the Bay na die Durbanvile Perde Renbaam verskuif. Ek kon dus nie net op my fiets klim en na die wegspring ry nie! Verder moes ek sorg dat ek 06:00 deur Blaauwbergweg se verkeer kom. Ek moes dus maar redelik vroeg wikkel om seker te maak ek is betyds. Alles het goed afgeloop, Blaauwbergweg was nog nie te besig nie en ek het ongeveer 06:20 by die renbaan aangekom. 'n Ligte ontbyt is voorsien en ek het myself gehelp met 'n piesang en 'n ekstra "Energy Bar". Vir die eerste keer in 'n baie lang tyd het ek skielik 'n groot "nommer twee" ontwikkel. Gelukkig was daar 'n hele paar mobiele toilette en ek het gou in een ingeduik en van die nodige ontslae geraak!

Net voor 07:00 is ons nader geroep en stiptelik op 07:00 val ons in die pad. Na 'n neutrale stukkie deur Durbanville daar ons langs Aurora op en begin met die eerste klim. Dit neem ons langs Aurora om, links om die koppie teen die hange bo die Durbanville/Tiekiedraai pad tot net duskan Boemendal Restourant verby. Net na die restourant sluit ons by die Hillcrest roete aan en gaan bo oor Kanonkop en teen Contermanskloof af tot heel onder. Halfpad met die terug roete van Contermanskloof op draai ons links en vat die pad Malanshoogte toe. Bo op Malanshoogte draai ons regs deur 'n hek en kies koers in 'n Oostelike rigting deur 'n paar graanlande. Oor Adderley pad en dan sluit ons by die Spes Bona pad aan. Na die eerste draai hou ons egter reguit aan voordat ons later eers weer regs draai in die rigting van die Wellingtonweg. Net voor Melish kruis ons Wellingtonweg en vat weer koers in 'n Oostelike rigting. So gaan ons aan met redelike goeie plaas paaie en en elke nou en dan deur 'n land of verby 'n plaas huis. Ons ry onder andere verby Leeuwenkuil. Net anderkant die Perdeberg Kelder kruis ons 'n teerpad. Verby 'n paar wingerde, met 'n paar kronkelinge en na 78 km eindig ons by die Boland Landbou Skool. Daar word ons ingewag met 'n gratis fiets was en 'n middag ete van 'n lekker Woolies toebrooitjie, aartappel slaai en 'n bakkie sjokolade mouse! My tyd vir die dag was 3:54:39 en ons het 1,128 meter geklim. Ek eindig 132 uit 272 wat klaar gemaak het. Deel van vanjaar se pakket het vervoer terug na die begin ingesluit. Dit was redelik effektief, maar die verkeer in Blaauwbergweg teen 13:00 was nie, aangesien daar verbouings is. Dit het langer geneem om die 2 km daar af te le as die hele rit van Durbanville tot in Bloubergstrand.

Oak Valley 24 hour race

Saturday 21 January was the date for Dirtopia's 24-hour race at Oak Valley. Having, unexpectantly won this last year, I had no option but to enter again. I had no illusions about winning again, but I would give it my best shop. I decided to employ the same strategy of riding continuously with only taking some "longer" laps during the night. We heard that this year's lap was a little longer than last year.
My brother agreed to take care of the back up again, but as his son, Leon, was also riding, he would look after both of us. He had additional support from my wife, his wife, Leon's wife and their kids. So the Erasmus clan was out in force.
We arrived at 10:10, by which time all the shaded camping areas were taken, but we managed to get a reasonable spot, especially seeing that we had enough gazebos. I collected my number and went back to help with the erecting of tents and assembling my bicycle. The sky was overcast and the temperature was rising.

Race briefing was at 11:45 and then we lined up for the traditional "Le Mans" start. Due to this, I decided to not start with my hydration pack, which also carries all my tools, on my back. Bikes were at the Western end of the rugby field and lined up on the Eastern end. On "Go" we had to run the length of the field, get on our bikes and start the race.
Initially we started along the same route as last year, but after about 2 km we turned left where we turned right last year. Then it was right along some trees, up a small hill and over a dam. This was followed by some nice switchback single track through some trees on the other side of the dam, down a slight hill, through some ferns onto some more switchback single track which end with quite a climb up a farm road to the highest point of the course at 465 m. The down hill started with a ramp with quite a scary down section to some more switch backs with banked curves, more single track at the edge of some trees to the fastest part of the course which led us into another fast single track among some trees which ended with a reasonably difficult uphill ramp onto a level section where we could maintain good speed. This was followed by two short, but monster downhill sections, up a hill over as small ramp which led into another single track amongst the trees which was started with a steep downhill ramp into a sharp right followed by a left and some single track under the tress. Once out of here we were unto a farm road from where we turned right onto some more single, which was part of the course used last year. From here we followed last year's course, but whereas we used the road next to the orchard last year, we now had a new rough single track with many ups and downs, which demanded a lot more effort and concentration. The loop through trees just before the end from last year was not used. The rest of the last bit was the same as last year. Total length was 11.2km against last year's 9km, with only about 2km the same as last year. Total climbing per lap was more than double and technically this year’s course was most definitely more difficult than last year.
Half way through my first lap my number came loose. That was sorted out with some cable ties. Two kilometer into lap two I got a flat. Due to me not using my hydration, I had nothing to inflate my wheel except my pump and a pump on a MTB wheel is a bit of a nightmare. Fortunately a "good Samaritan" stoped and lent me a "bomb" and an inflation valve. On inflation I could hear the air escape. After a few yards I realised that it will be better to go back to the start, where all my back up was, and get my spare wheel. I phoned my wife and asked them to bring the spare wheel to the back of the start area. In the mean time I cycled as best I can with the flat wheel. When I got there I changed the wheels, with the "normal" trouble of struggling to get it in properly due to haste, but I managed and was on my way again. In total I lost about 20 minutes. There after the cycling was pretty uneventful, knocking off the laps in a shade less than 50 minutes at a time. I did have one minor mishap when I took a tumble due to missing a turn on my effort to stay in front of some faster guys. Fortunately nothing was broken, but my upper leg took most of the impact when I landed on tree trunk. My leg was quite sore, but I struggled on. Dusk arrived between 19:00-20:00 and I had to stop to fit my lights. Night riding is quite interesting and different. It normally is cooler, which makes cycling very pleasant, but you have to concentrate harder on where you are going. At 01:40 I had my second minor mishap when I took a head over heels tumble, which was the direct result of lack of concentration and fatigue. I wandered a bit too to the right on one of the single tracks, me front got stuck into the banking and I went flying over the tip. Fortunately I was not going to fast, but the result was a broken rear derailleur cable. These happened about 2 kilometers from the midway point and I now had only one gear to ride. As soon as I put any sort of pressure onto the pedals, I also encountered "chain suck". The result was that I had to push up all the hills, but could ride the down hills. I phoned my brother and asked him to arrange for somebody who could repair my bike. The ride home was fairly uneventful, except for pushing the up hills. On arriving at the start area, I was directed to the on site mobile workshop where they proceeded to replace the broken cable. I also managed to bend the hanger bolt, so the repair took about 30 minutes. Once done, I was on my way again. Two laps on and another problem. The battery of my riding lights gave up the ghost. I tried one lap with my secondary light and made it, but it was like riding with a candle! In the meantime my brother managed to borrow a light. I filled it and was on my way again, being able to at least see where I was going. A this point it was taking me about 90 minutes to do a lap.
Dawn arrived last after 05:00 and the pace started picking up again. Fatigue also started to take it's toll a and it was taking me about an hour to do a lap. With the sun rising the heat also increased. We were fortunate to have some cloud cover and a breeze to cool things down. I had a bacon and egg burger for breakfast and was back in the saddle quickly losing only about 15 minutes. The final laps was rolling off at 60 minutes a time and I was relieved when my last lap started at 11:10, ensuring that I would not get in before 12:00 and having to do another lap. At this point I was so tired that I opted to push some of the steeper sections. I was relieved when I came in just past 12:10 to complete my last lap.
Overall I was pleased with my effort in completing 23 laps and finishing 7th put of 98. Not as good as last year, but good enough. Why do something like this? Because of the sense of achievement when you cross the line after 24 hours and being able to say "I did it"!

2012 Attakwas

Saterdag 14 Januarie en weer tyd vir die Attakwas. My mikpunt was om in onder 8 uur klaar te maak. Om dit reg te kry moet ek 'n gemiddelde speod van 15.5 k.p.u. volgens my Garmin handhaaf oor die 121 km.

Voorbereiding het goed verloop met geen "dratiese" oefen program nie. Al wat 'n bietjie "abnormaal" was, was die 118 km wat ek op Saterdag 7 Januarie afgele het.

Ek, Danie Kotze en my broer is Vrydag middag 13:00 uit die Kaap weg. Ons was net voor 19:00 in Oudtshoorn. Val gou by Pick n Pay in en koop braaigoed vir die aand. Daarna het ons ons nommers by Kleinplasie gaan haal en so teen 19:30 by NA Smit Vaklansieoord ingeboek. Lekker gebraai en was voor 22:00 in die bed.

Saterdagoggend 05:15 opgestaan en teen 06:00 by Chandelier aangekom vir die 06:30 begin. Vanjaar het ons weer in groepe weggespring. Die eerste groep was die vinnige manne, daarna volg 'n groepe wat skynbaar mense is wat al van tevore gery het en dan die res. Ek was in die tweede groep. Die eerste paar kilometer is nie te moeilik nie, behalwe vir die "verkeer". Die meeste ouens het egter 'n redelike pas gehandhaaf en na die eerste uur was my gemiddelde spoed 18 k.p.u. Die Attakwas roete is egter een wat geleidelik begin met die werklike angel in die middel. Alhoewel daar 'n paar lellike bulte op die einde is, kan 'n goeie gemiddelde spoed gehandhaaf word. Die roete bly baie mooi met wisseling van droe Klein Karoo na die fynbos van die Attakwas Kloof en die digter bosse aan die see se kant van die Outeniekwa berge. Die pas wat ek gehandhaaf het was deurgans heel goed. My fiets het geen probleme gegee nie en ek het die meeste tegniese gedeeltes sonder enige moeite aangedurf. Die bult net na die eerste waterpunt was nog altyd moeilik en ek het nog elke jaar die laaste derde gestoot. Vanjaar weer. Van daar tot by die kruising van die Oudtshoorn/Mosselbaai pad het ek 'n goei pas gehandhaaf. Daarna volg die Attakwaskloof met 'n paar erstige klimme en rowwe afdraandes. Hierdie terrein het egter veroorsaak dat my gemiddelde spoed by Bonniedale, na 65 km. geval het na 14.4 k.p.u. Ek moes dus aanvaar dat ek nie 8 ure gaan breek nie, of ek moes baie hard werk oor die laaste 55 km. Om sake nog verder te be moeilik klim ons 222 meter in die volgende 6 km. Nie idiaal om die gemiddelde spoed te laat styg nie! My oog bly op die gemiddelde spoed en die bly onder 15 k.p.u. Daar volg gelukkig 'n paar lekker afdraandes voor die eerste van die laaste twee groot bulte en ek sien dat my gemiddelde stadig begin klim. Halfpad teen die bult trek Gavin Viljoen langs my in met die opmerking "tell me this is the top" en ek antwoord "no chance of such luck" en ek sien hom nie weer nie! Aan die voet van die laaste bult is dit op na 15.3 k.p.u. Daarna is die pad meesal gelyk of met 'n helling waarteen 'n goeie gemiddelde spoed gehandhaaf kan word. My moed styg saam met my gemiddelde spoed wat nou op 15.5 staan. Aan die bopunt van die finale afdraand weet ek dat ek in minder as 8 uur gaan klaar maak. Dit is ook so en my tyd is 7 uur 53 min vir die 121 km. Ek sou later sien dat Gavin Viljoen, wat 5 minute later as ek begin het, my met 7 sekondes klop!

Weereens 'n baie lekker wedren met fantastiese waterpunte, goeie weer en van die mooiste natuurskoon.

Leeuwenboschfontein

Leeuwenboschfontein
Dit is 15 Desember en ons vertrek teen 10:00 Leeuwenboschfontein toe vir 'n naweek van ontspanning en fietsry, weg van selfone af en in die wye vlaktes van die Karoo. My seun en sy gesin vergesel ons vir die naweek. Dit het ons ongeveer 3 uur geneem om die 220 km af te lê. Ons was aangenaam verras met ons aankoms daar. Alles was mooi skoon en ruim met 'n lieflike groot grasperk voor die huis en 'n dam. Die heuwels in die omtrek het dit duidelik gemaak dat die drie dae se ry 'n paar "klimme" gaan insluit. Registrasie is gedurende die middag afgehandel en aangesien ek voor 30 November ingeskryf het, het ek 'n persoonlike nommer gekry. Wegspringtyd is bevestig vir 07:00 om seker te maak dat ons nie te warm kry en probleme met die slange optel nie. Dit is duidelik gemaak dat dit 'n naweek is om te geniet en dat "wen" nie ter sprake is nie.

Dag 1
Vroeg opgestaan en gereed vir 70 km in die Karoo. Daar is ‘n redelike “byt” in die lug! Ons loop ook vir Sieg en Marlise Visser asook Rob Moffat van ons Double Century span daar raak. Ons word ingelig dat daar geen "sand" op die roete is nie. Die eerste 10 km is op 'n goeie distrik pad en ons gemiddelde spoed was in die hoë twintigs. Daarna is ons die veld in en ry op "minder gebruikte" veld paadjies en nie te lank nie of ons tref die sand. Die "Maan mannejies" het dit seker die vorige aand kom strooi! Alhoewel daar 'n hele paar sand kolle was, waar afklim en stoot die voorland was, was die lengtes nie ernstig nie. In sekere gevalle kon ons met goeie momentum deur kom en in ander gevalle het 'n "detour" deur die veld gehelp. Net voor die eerste waterpunt op 30 km was daar 'n redelike klim. Vanaf km 32 word ons verras met 10 km se geleidelike afdraand. Tydens hierdie 10 km handhaaf ons 'n gemiddelde spoed van in die dertigs. Dit word gevolg met 'n soortgelyke klim vir die volgende 6 km. Waterpunt twee volg en daarna is dit 'n redelike gemaklike klim vir die volgende 16 km. Die laaste 5 km het 'n paar ernstige klimme en afdraandes ingesluit en dit was voorwaar aangenaam om oor die laaste bult die eindpunt te sien. Na 69 km en 4 uur en 2 minute bereik ek die einde. Voorwaar 'n baie aangename rit met 'n bietjie van alles om dit interessant en genotvol te maak.
Die res van die dag ontspan ons lekker op die gras, roei op die dam en sluit af met 'n braai. Teen 22:00 slaap almal.

Dag 2
Weer vroeg aan die gang. My seun, Adre, se tweeling maak seker dat almal teen 06:00 wakker is! Ek het dit ook reg gekry om hom te oortuig om sy eerste bergfietswedren aan te durf en aangesien dit in die gene is, besluit hy hy om die lange te probeer! Die begin is redelik gaoties aangesien die hek by die eertse afdraai toe is en daar onsekerheid heers of ons moet afdraai of nie. Gelukkig word dit gou uitgesorteer en daar trek ons, deur die veld op ‘n redelike rowwe veld paadjie, terug oor die groot pad en deur die veld teen die berge uit. Op 11 km begin die klim. Ons kilm 400 meter in die volgende 8 km. Hierna volg ‘n 7 km redelike gelyk rit gevolg deur 12 km se afdraand, waar groot dele redelik “rof” is. Teen die tyd los ek vir Adre en vat die pad einde toe. Die laaste 10 km is lekker glad en eindig met 5 km op die distrikspad. Daar is egter ‘n “angel” in die einde. Die roete gaan verby die afdraai na Leeuwenboschfontein en draai ‘n entjie verder af na die kampterein. Nie ‘n probleem nie, maar dan kom die “verassing”. Na die kampterrein draai ons nie regs met die pad na die eindpunt nie, maar ons gaan reguit bult op! 30 meter se klim in 300 meter. Die afdraand eindpunt toe maak egter die klim die moeite werd! 47 km in 3 uur 6 minute. Adre kom so ‘n kwartier later in.
Saterdagaand is ons deel van ‘n heerlike samekoms van vriende rondom ‘n spit. Die word vooraf gegaan deur ‘n “lucky draw” waar almal wat teenwoordig is, iets kry. Die vleis was “voortreflik” gaar gemaak.

Dag 3
Nog ‘n voortreflike dag met fantastiese weer. Ongelukkig het Sue, my vrou, begin siek word en voel glad nie baie goed nie, met die gevolg dat sy nie veel geslaap het nie. Die dag se roete begin met ‘n rowwe “jeep track” agter die die plaas uit, oor die vliedtuig aanloopbaan terug na die grootpad, deur die kloof waar ons die eerste dag gery het en deur die eerste paar “sand stukkies”. Op 14 km draai ons gelukkig links en volg ‘n beter pad wat baie van dag 1 se sand,‘n paar bulte en daardie lekker afdraand uitsluit. Vanaf kilometer 14 to 30 klim ons 300 meter. Die volgende 18 km is redelik konstant met geleidelike op en af dele en terrain wat wissel van veld paadjies na ‘n deel op ‘n distrikspad. Dit eindig met die afdraai na Kopbeenkloof en die laaste waterpunt op 49 km. Die laaste 11 kilometer sluit ‘n paar “hairy downhills” met groot klippe en en heelwat draaie in. Tydens hierdie stukkie “jaag” ek en Theo mekaar. Ek is sterker teen die bulte, maar hy is ‘n doorn teen die afdraandes. Hy ry onder my uit oor die rowwe afdraandes en dan haal ek hom in teen die bulte. Ons ry saam oor die groot dam se wal en durf die laaste kilomtere kop-aan-kop aan. Dit blyk toe dat ek so ‘n bietjie meer “spoed” op die gelyk pad het en ek klop hom met so ‘n paar sekondes op die eindstreep. Niks ernstig nie, maar baie lekker en opwindend.

So eindig ‘n voortreflike naweek op Leuwenboschfontein. Ons het dit so baie geniet dat ons sommer onmiddelik die huis vir volgende jaar bespreek. Die naweek word afgesluit met ‘n goeie middagete by Die Ou Kombuis in Monatgu.