With the summer heat slowly giving way to cooler weather, Durbanites are planning a family day out at the aQuellé Tour Durban on 25 and 26 April, knowing full well that they are riding in support of the Domino Foundation.
The race is all about a #Ride4Good as all the proceeds go to the ground-breaking NPO that serves the disadvantaged communities of in the north of Durban.
With the news that the repairs to the flood damage to the M4 will be completed in time for the race, families are eyeing the easy 45km ride from Moses Mabhida Stadium to the Mdloti turning circle and back as a great way to celebrate the Freedom Day long weekend.
More and more Durbanites are taking ownership of the unique opportunity to ride the M4 in the safety of total road closure on raceday, in much the same way as Capetonians take ownership of the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Regular riders come from around the country, lured by the striking sea views that are a feature of the M4, which at times skirts close to the sea shore.
The M4 provides an excellent road surface for the ride, and the one challenging climb around Umhlanga provides an exciting downhill thrill on the way back.
The race is designed to be as inclusive as possible, and the 45km ride will include handcyclists, mountain bikes, BMX bikes and even the odd unicycle alongside the traditional road bikes.
For others the family day out includes dogs coming along for the ride in specially tailored baskets or trailers!
While the ride is all about maximising the donation to the Domino Foundation, the charity reach stretches deep. Riders can also opt to support The Cows as they ride to raise money for the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation by selecting to ride in The Cows charity batch for an extra R100 donation to CHOC. And riding with The Cows is a very festive experience!
As riders return to Moses Mabhida Stadium, whether it is with 115km, 90km or 45km under their belts, their sense of accomplishment is multiplied by the warm feeling of having made a difference to the lives of the people served by the Domino Foundation.
Normal entries are now being taken. Simply follow the links from www.tourdurban.co.za
