Week of rest, training and Katberg Quest

So I was told by my coach that my indicators are all in the red and I have to take two days off.  Okay, I can do this.  Not.  It is so weird not being able to get onto my trainer or my bicycle.  Had to find things to do to keep my mind off from getting on my bicycle.  Not easy, let me tell you.

So after a chilled two days it was back to business as usual.  Have to get my physique and brain all ready for the up and coming SA Marathon and XCO champs in Grabouw and Bloemfontein.

https://www.cyclingsa-events.co.za/app/

On Thursday Gemma and I left for Katberg to go and take part in the new stage rac,  Katberg Quest run by Mountain Events.  Wow what an awesome time.  Check the footage below.  The accommodation and scenery was just fantastic.  Gemma and I had a very nice time and my partner Harry and I rode as TEAM THULE and we managed to be the first team home.  I reckon this will be a stage race that will get sold out very quickly in the years to come.

Highlights from Day 1

 

  Some photos of the scenery and hotel, really beautiful place that you can take the whole family with.

 
 
Thank you Mountain Events this is definitely a stage race to write home about.
Thank you Harry Abourizk from Thule PE.  I had a great time.

Trans Elands 2018

Saturday 9th June 2018

Travelled through to PE and stayed over at my parent's house on Friday night, we had to be at the Gamtoos Ferry Hotel at 6 o'clock to register for the Trans Elands 2018.  Gemma and I got up at four o'clock to begin the journey down to the Gamtoos valley.  Arrive there safe and sound and the vibe is electric and there are a lot of people all registering for the 60km lite and the 160km extreme races.  Gemma had decided she was going to do the lite.  Registered and got ready.

07h00 the extreme race has begun.  

A very entertaining race, even managed to throw my toys out of the cot at the end.  Apologies to one and all, this was pure frustration and adrenaline fueling the fire!  

Just before we turned off the tar road onto the gravel road, Steven decided to go off into the front with a couple of other riders.   I thought this is fine, I will catch up to him later.  How wrong I was, Steven decided he would stay in the front.  By the time we got to the East Cape Cycles water point at Loerie, Steven had four minutes on us already. I had a bit of a dig at trying to catch him, I managed to see him, but decided that I was not going to put myself into the red like I wanted to.  I could see that he was on a mission and travelling rather fast, we decided to keep the pressure on him though up through Lex's monster, which we did.  We kept it at the four minutes. On the downhill after water point 2 with a 24km head wind Steven put more distance between us.  At water point 3 the cheese farm we were told that he was 15 minutes ahead of us. Jason Peach decided he was going to have a go and try and catch Steven, Yolande and I decided we needed to up our pace and start to try and chase. By the time we got to the top of the hill at Mast, Steven had 8 minutes on us.  We knew that the last bit was going to be hard and really tough, I was a bit blown, so hung back a bit to regroup and try and recoup my energy.  When we got towards Zuurbron my energy came back and I was told that Jason Peach was only 3 minutes ahead of me and Steven was four minutes ahead of him.  Interesting.  I decided to catch Jason as my legs had returned fully, I managed to, then we had an amazing sprint for the finish.  I overshot the turning and ended up coming in third place instead of second.  

That's racing for you.  Lesson to learn,  listen to rider's briefing in the morning at the start of the race.

👀💪🙈

Well done Steven and Jason.  2019 beckons, 

    Awesome trails and terrain     

Day 3 - Moments of Truth - 1 Zambia MTB 2018

So now Francois is feeling much better and ready to go and wants to ride.  106km today.  Great downhills, the flat sections were fast and really great to ride on.  Wonderful trails and scenery all the way to the finish.  Elephants on the river banks, crocodiles, out in the lush bush having a jol with all this great nature around you.  You can't ask for anything better.  Our GPS stopped working so we had to follow riders as we did not want to get lost.  Sprint finish and we finished in second place. Great way to end a fantastic race.

Elephants on the river bank.

Prize giving was on an island.  Stunning.








                         Video footage of day 3.  Thanks to Dropkick Media.  No words needed.

So now on my way home, sad to be leaving, but happy to go back to my lovely wife, I really missed her.

Thank you everyone in Zambia for a very memorable time.  

Thanks Paddy and Jay, you are the best.  Meiring and Francois, great to meet you all, I had a lot of fun.  Watch out for AMS Attack, we will be back.

Day 2 - The Nankanga Tour - 1 Zambia MTB 2018

So now Francois and I have some serious cycling to do to catch up the 8 minutes that we need to give the other team a run for their money.  So all gung ho and ready to go we leave early in the am.  But alas tragedy struck, my partner became ill with some serious runs and feeling rather sick, so he went back to base camp and I carried on.  

69km to ride today with about 1100m of climbing in it. A lot faster and flatter. Really nice awesome single track in the beginning, then opened up into some jeep track, gravel road then the fun began, we went down into the gorge. 6 river crossings to get through, the gorge was just pure single track, pure enjoyment. Lush and green environment, beautiful scenery.

Great riding with all the others and not a care in the world.  Wow this is a fantastic place to ride. I cannot wait for tomorrow.

Congratulations to the winning team.  Unfortunately we cannot catch you now.  Never mind there is always next year.  Hopefully.  👌😞

Awesome company and scenery

                                           

                                    

                         Video footage from Day 2.  Thanks to Dropkick Media.  Pure enjoyment.

Day 1 - Double Espresso - 1 Zambia MTB 2018

Up early, nerves are rife as I am in totally unfamiliar territory.  Met up with Francois Burger, my partner in Team AMS Attack.  Love the new kit and the colours, so me!

Lime green and bright blue, hello this goes so well with my grumpy socks.  The colours are great and all match and are very bright, still making a statement mum.  LOL  👍👀.

The terrain is fantastic, bumpy, rocky and one of the best I have ridden in a long time. Hard and you need your wits about you, beautiful single track.  Francois and I did great for day 1 and managed to come in second place.  So stoked.  Tomorrow is another great day and stage 2.  We are 8 mins off the leaders, got to try and make up time.

Video footage from Day 1.  Thanks to Dropkick Media.  Now you can see all the awesome trails.

Zambia and pre-race (1 Zambia MTB 2018 training)

So I am still here in Zambia.  Wow what a great place to ride and have fun.

                               


I am here fixing bicycles, riding with friends and training for the upcoming stage race: 1Zambia.

My back yard.  What more can one ask for.

                         Crossing the river.





I have seen some of the country and ridden in awesome game reserves and having a really nice time.  Zambia has gotten under my skin.  I love it here, so green, so beautiful and the people are really friendly and hospitable.

So Thursday dawns and we head for the airport to Lusaka to join up with all the other riders who are competing and racing in the ultimate 1 Zambia, a 3 day mountain bike stage race that I have been waiting for with great excitement.

We arrive, register and find our tent in the race village and get all settled in for the morning, stage 1.  Bring it on.