TZANEEN: Old Plasie proud member of Last Four Lions

This year Old Plasie Craig Beech completed his 16th annual Cape Epic challenge.

This is a huge achievement as it commemorates the fact that he is one of the ‘Last Four Lions’.

Basically what this means is that he is one of four competitors that have entered and completed the epic every year since it started.

Letaba Herald got in contact with Beech and found out from him what this all means to him.

“I grew up in Politsi on Grenshoek Tea Estate, and obviously attended Merensky High. While on the farm, as kids you are always on a bicycle or motorbike. I have always wanted to keep some level of fitness going so I spent as much time on a bicycle as I could,” explained Beech.

As he grew up he decided to go study at Tuks University and while he was there he kept up with cycling and other sport activities like rugby.

“I moved to Stellenbosch in September 2000. Just before that I bought a decent mountain bike (MTB) and I realized that in Stellenbosch the best means of finding out what the lay of the land is is by MTB. There are mountains around the town, up Grabouw way, even Tokai and other parts closer to Cape Town. All of which have so much to offer to someone interested in mountain biking. We spend our December holidays riding and building onto the little fitness we can maintain through the wet winters and a very hectic work travel schedule.

“We often ride from Stellenbosch to Kenton-on-Sea in the Eastern Cape to go and see my parents who have retired there. It is not entirely unsupported, we do this again with friends, and some take turns to drive the support vehicle while others ride.

“There is only one rule, (maybe a few others) we do not cycle on tarred roads, and we do not ride the same route twice,” Beech said enthusiastically.

Beech finished at Merensky in the class of 1990, afterwards he started with his BSc at Tukkies and then he went on to study his post graduate studies in Conservation and Wildlife Management.

“I worked in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Midrand for about a year and was then offered a job to start GIS for Peace Parks Foundation in 2000. Around this time a moved to the Western Cape.

“I have been with PPF ever since, living a dream life of enabling technologies which include remote sensing, artificial intelligence and blockchain for conservation in especially southern Africa,” Beech boasted, clearly proud of his work.

When asked how the Cape Epic has changed over the years, the differences he’s seen, he answered in an excited tone.

“This is an amazing evolution! We were actually talking about it these last few weeks. It went from 26 inch bikes with rigid frames, early front fork suspensions and tyres with age-old tubes which would require fixing of punctures (a lot). From V-brakes to disc brakes, full suspension bikes with improved systems. Don’t forget the saddle sores (chaffed bum), and the tech and design of bikes is quite amazing. Interesting enough almost everyone rides a 29-er now,” Beech explained.

He also mentioned that the level of fitness has improved dramatically, and that 90% of the participants coming into the Epic are in very good shape and ready for the 8 hard days’ riding.

“It takes a lot of dedication, understanding from my wife and heaps of luck,” he explained.

“After riding this 2019 edition of the race, it again reflected so much growth in the sport and just how willing private land owners have become in offering trail builders and mountain biking onto their land.

“So many purpose built and dedicated trails have come into being in the Western Cape, and events such as the Epic and others are to thank for this exposure.

“I felt privileged to be able to see places on private farms, which one would not be afforded otherwise and this is another factor that keeps drawing me back into the race.

“I have also recently come to learn of some ailments which have impacted my health in the past 4-5 years, and now knowing how to manage these has offered more energy and vigor on the bike.

“So I certainly will be on the starting line come March 2020, and more importantly, my wife, Marina and I and some of our closest friends are able to share weekends cutting across some of these finest trails our immediate surrounds in the winelands have on offer,” Beech told Letaba Herald fondly.

Beech advises others wanting to do the ride, just to enjoy the time you can spend on the bike.

“Eight days can be very long if you are not having fun. In order to have fun, you also need to ensure you have a suitable level of fitness.

“Don’t train the same route or the same way in preparation. Do some long boring rides, which will allow you to sit comfortably on the bike and put on the mileage on open roads. Do short but difficult rides.

“Ride technical stuff too which pushes your comfort levels, ride the technical stuff uphill and race it downhill, get used to stuff you would not normally ride – as each stage of the Epic is designed to include these.

“Get your mind used to pushing the body, lungs and legs into territories which they would not normally be in.

“Know how to manage your time in the saddle. Saddle sores and chaffing are some of the more challenging and most uncomfortable elements to contend with for eight days.

“So in short know how to manage your bum!” Beech concluded.