A HARD-WORKING member of the Metro Police, a part-time law student and a mother of two, Isabel Moolman is looking forward to creating a comeback within the mountain biking community after a six month recovery period.
The 42-year-old Westville resident said her cycling journey started in 2003. Initially her chosen sport was running, which she was able to continue doing after she had her first child, Warren. After she had her second child, Evan, she found it was difficult to continue as it was taking a toll on her knees. “My husband encouraged me rather to cycle and I was given a bike in 2007,” she said.
A year later she rode for pro-amateur teams up in Johannesburg. “When my children were still little I found myself in Johannesburg every weekend taking part in road races.” Her cycling adventures later evolved as her children grew and mountain biking became a sport that she could partake in with her whole family.
Racked with the flu, she had to pass up on the opportunity to take part in her all-time favourite race, the Hill 2 Hill.
During a game of netball in December last year, Isabel snapped off her Achilles tendon and was in rehab for six months. It was only in the last two months that she was given the go ahead by her physio and biokineticist to train again. Her first event for this year is the The Deutsche Bank 100km Cycle Tour in Mauritius which will take place at the end of September. She won the event in 2014 and again in 2015. “Although the race is tough, I wold like to see more of the local women taking part in the event, which is why we go back every year to try and encourage the local women there to cycle,” said Isabel.
In October she will compete in the Amashova cycling tandem with her husband. “There’s a reason why I am doing the tandem race, so that if something goes wrong I can always blame him,” she laughed. She took second place in the race in 2008.
“I normally don’t train more than four days a week due to work,” said Isabel. She is a captain in the Metro Police and is studying towards her LLB degree. “I joined the Cadence Cycling Centre in Westville and do two to three sessions there. I also go for a run or head off to the gym. I find that with my focus on my children, my training has decreased over the years and I am enjoying training now as there is not a lot less pressure,” she said.
“I would like to thank the Westville Cycle Club chairman, Kelvin Du Sart and his wife, Corinne. I joined the club in 2006 and they have been with me through everything, whether it was personal or cycling related. They are like my second mom and dad and they also do a lot for the youth and development. The biggest of thank yous goes to my family for their continued support and encouragement,” said Isabel.
