Week 8 and Counting

Target: 13:36
Achieved: 25:26

I am in a plane flying over a Mountain range just before we touch down in Cape Town. A thought runs through my head as I think that surely this is not where we will be doing our Cape Epic training camp for the next four days, while looking at the mountains towering below me. I also look at these mountains as a smile comes over my face and I think what if it is where we will spend the next couple of days. Then of course the cold sweat as I think, what am I doing here and am I going to be the one to let everyone wait while I try and stay in touch with the group?

I meet up with Rick and we drive to the rendezvous point where we are met by some serious looking individuals. The first thought that comes to mind is to look for the weakest person and then to measure yourself. Only one problem though is that they all look like monsters with legs that will make a horse blush.

We drive closer and closer to those mountains and we are not turning away but rather seem to drive right at them. After some time I hear some talk going on and I hear these people talk about their previous Epics and freedom challenges and, and, and. Suddenly my IronMan seems so puny and irrelevant. I do not say too much and keep a seemingly brave face.

When we arrive I notice we are surrounded by mountains and more mountains with more mountains. So I come to the conclusion that when Di said we would do some climbing she was not lying.

We get the bikes sorted and give them a last quick service to settle down to some eating. The food is great and it is a pity that I cannot really enjoy it as I am just a little nervous. Steve briefed us and we agreed to meet the next morning for breakfast.

Day 1:

The first thing that comes to mind now is the sheer beauty of this country we call home. It is also remembered for the people I met. Rick “the horse” Afonso of course picked up speed from 60km. All in all I felt great as we finished for I now knew that I had some legs and they were keeping up well. We traveled just over 80 km for the day and did just on 1600m of climbing with just under 9 hours in the saddle. Riding time was a little less as we took quite a couple of breaks with lunch.

Day 2:

Legs were here today and just getting stronger Rick once again an animal. I tested my maximum heart rate (MHR) and it was there. I got through the hills fine. Then just as we got towards the end I felt it. O no I can feel a little tingle in the saddle and it seems to be the beginning of some sort of pain for my rear end. That evening I find it tough to sit on a normal chair never mind a saddle the next day. I am seriously concerned that I will become or already was the victim of a saddle sore. I put my pride in my pocket and spoke to Di. She gave me some miracle cream and I applied it liberally. Just over 8 hours 100km and 1500m of climbing for day 2 and very anxious about day 3 now.

Day 3:

I wake up and once again Di’s prophecies came true. The ass was doing fine. Now Steve gave me some good advice and suggested I plaster my shammy with oodles of “milk cream”. More climbing today and I pushed my MHR and it was there. I am absolutely elated as I do not feel any pain in the rear. I am rather comfortable and I love this ride as I now know how different it could have been. More scenery and I am loving the ride today, not sure if I said this already. My legs feel great initially but getting a little tired towards the end. I finish strong and Rick is still on fire. The heat was tremendous and we are suddenly into our last night of this tour. 110km of riding with 1600m of climbing and some real technical riding done today. Once again I could push into MHR. This is good and shows I am doing well so far. Some miracle cream and some good rest and life is a peach.

Day 4:

Way too soon and I will remember this day for the wind. This was a great day with lots of legs and I could feel I was in a strong day. For some reason Rick could not get beyond 65% MHR. This was still early in the day and we had to work hard to stay in contact with the group. Rick gathered himself took some hammer gel and then drank some Coke. He also did some cooling down and then he got legs from somewhere. I had to hang on like never before. Rick you da man buddy. Where is my gel again. Way too soon this trip drew to a conclusion.

Daytrippers, Di, Steve and Bruce you all rock and surely you helped me in my endeavors to becoming the Cape Epic Rider I want to be. Thanks both of you and to the others making this trip what it was. I will see you and give you my time on the Epic when I ride past you.

People I met in no particular order.

Steve:

thanks for the effort and never knowing the distance. I believe if you would have told us the truth we never would have started. You were our backup and always made sure we were sorted.

Di:

You mountain goat and never say “di” attitude is awesome. Always catching the ones in front then fetching the ones from behind. You just kept on going no matter what. You rule sister. Many a man will be eating your dust in the Epic.

Bruce:

The dependable. We sure made you work my friend. You were awesome backup when we needed anything.

Ray:

You sum up a true MTBer to me. To take a serious fall on day 1 then loose your bike on day 3 to finish with a loan bike then to finish an actual Epic day on someone else’s hardtail on day 4 is just mind blowing. You rock buddy and I look at you and know where I want to be when I am 58. I will call you friend from now on. See you in the Epic.

Derrick:

you know everything about everything and I truly learned a lot from you. Trust the equipment and know you will never win the Epic on a downhill but you can loose the Epic on the same downhill. I will take this with me to the Epic.

Heike:

Stay away from the hammer! You make the men look bad. You know you will make this Epic. See you there. Hope your partner knows what she is in for.

Stephan:

Always quite but always there. Consistency comes to mind buddy strong and never giving up is what I remember from you. To have come from Germany a couple of days before where the temp was -1 to ride in the sweltering heat for 4 days takes a special person.

Julia:

What you on woman? You led for so much of the time and rode with the best of the week. This 1 week after a 70.3 IronMan event, EISH

Daryl:

Six months on a bike and you rode with us on some trails that made me shiver and yet you were always there and there about. Keep on going and do not over train now my friend.

Stan:

You a polish bear with some serious mental toughness. You are the man. I recon you should just eat more.

David:

My fellow smurf. As strong as an ox and deceptively fast on the downs. I feel your pain in the rear and I really respected you when you went back to go and help Ray. We need lots of you in the Epic

Partner Rick:

Only one thing scares me more than a charging lion and that is Rick on his Trance. Dude you need to give some of those secret pills you use just before the 70km mark to me as well. Looking forward to sucking your wheel in the Epic buddy.

I am sure you all want to know the miracle cream and it is Aloe Gel Plus by Alcare.

Service your bikes well.

You can never have enough lubrication on your shammy. Like Steve says “It’s got to squirt when you sit”

I will add more to the blog soon

Happy Riding