Trading in heels for bike wheels
FOURWAYS - Ditching the glitz and glamour of her day job as PR manager for mountain biking gear, Sian Bailey completed the gruelling Barberton XCM Mountain Bike Challenge.
Bailey explained that every year she chooses a different challenge that takes her out of her comfort zone. “Mountain biking is a popular sport in the Joburg corporate world,” she said. “I would be as bold as to say it’s becoming just as popular as golf and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”
The Barberton XCM Mountain Bike Challenge is considered one of the toughest one-day mountain bike races in South Africa, with five race categories including 20km, 30km, 48km, 77km and 110km. Bailey chose to do the 20km race.
Bailey explained that the last time she owned, let alone rode, a mountain bike was at the age of 13. In preparation for the challenge, Bailey had to do a few training rides. “My first ride was short-lived because my bike pedal literally broke off. I should have expected it. I arrived with a penny-farthing compared to the technology available today,” she said.
On the advice of mountain biking friends, Bailey visited CycleLab Fourways where she was presented with a gorgeous black and orange Fuji mountain bike which was fitted to her specifications.
Bailey trained at Northern farms and PWC Park in Bryanston to familiarise herself with the different terrains she would be faced with in the Barberton challenge.
Bailey roped in radio-personality Lee-Roy Wright to keep her company during the challenge.
The challenge started off flat with a few easy downhills, but pretty soon Bailey and Wright were steering over rocks, potholes, mud and the odd tree stump.
“I enjoyed speeding through the mud puddles until I lost momentum and my front wheel got stuck,” Bailey said. “Apparently there are two types of mountain bikers, those who have fallen and those who still need to fall, guess which one I am.”
Bailey and Wright managed to complete the race in less than 90 minutes.
“I once again stepped out of my comfort zone and in return received a priceless experience,” Bailey said. “I enjoyed the remote and peaceful scenery in Barberton and the feeling of flying down the trails. I have been bitten by the mountain bike bug.”
