Intrepid cyclists tackle 361km Oudtshoorn ride
At one stage Viv described the hills that they were climbing as mountains.
THERE is not too much news from the past week at Amanzimtoti Cyle Club, but there were four exceptional people who went out and did something quite crazy over the weekend.
Billy, Malcolm, Corrie and Girtie drove all the way to Oudtshoorn to ride a hell 361kms.
With their trusty seconder, Viv they started their long ride on Friday at 5pm. Malcolm had the first hiccup with the bearings on his back wheel. Viv rushed to the rescue and got the wheel repaired while he and Billy rested. At one stage Viv described the hills they were climbing as mountains. Then way into the race, Billy pulled out of the race. Malcolm caught up with the other two but unfortunately his wheel gave up the ghost once more, and this is the impressive part – Girtie and Corrie walked with him until Viv and Billy got to them with Billy’s back wheel. The three then completed a grueling 361kms at about 11pm on Saturday night. Whew. What a ride. Well done Viv for your support and to the riders for taking on the challenge. The club will hear war stories from them soon.
There were a few new soldiers on the Saturday ride. They couldn’t believe the hills we have here at home either. Well done to them on an impressive first outride on home ground.
The club social last Wednesday night was nice, with everyone chilling, chatting and discussing important issues. Prizes were handed out for the Strava competition that took place around the track at Lords. Unfortunately, entrants had to be members and have a Strava to compete. Brennan Anderson got the fastest timed lap and Dale Tarr the fastest timed lap within an hour’s worth of laps. Dale, Darryl Brokensha and Gavin Harvey won the most laps done in an hour. There were a few booboo prizes for the awesome crashes and for those that had to take a break on their hour’s rides. The club thanks Ollies, Thirsty Whale and The Coffee Theatre for their generous prize donation.
On Friday riders are doing a family morning up at Vernon Crookes, with hot cross and Chelsea buns, coffee, milkshakes and cooldrinks in the coolerbox. If anyone wants to do their own cooked breakfast, they are welcome. There will be a couple of options. Non-riders can enter Vernon Crookes by car and go to the picnic site with all the food. Children and the not so adventurous riders can ride around Vernon Crookes.
Riders then have a choice of either riding from Rocky Bay through Ellingham farm along the Sani route up to Vernon Crookes, having breakfast and riding back down again or if you only want the downhill experience, get a lift with someone up to Vernon Crookes and ride back down along Sani route to Rocky Bay. If you take that option, you have to organise to pay at Rocky Bay beforehand, as you have to produce your ticket when you exit. RSVP if you can as the club needs numbers for food and lifts for the food up to the reserve.
The cost into Vernon Crookes is R20 per person and the cost to ride through Ellingham is R20.
Don’t forget the Tour D’urban is on Monday, 28 April. Deadline for online entries is 22 April. There is a road race and a cyclo cross event.
Amanzimtoti Cycle Club consists of two disciplines of riding, road cycling and mountain biking. The club is passionate about cycling and enjoys having new people join in order to share their love of the sport with others. The annual club fee is only R100 and the club provides a beautiful mountain track around Hutchison Park on which people can ride, a club social once a month, weekend outrides with people who know the area and can provide good riding advice and a lot of other fun outings as a club.
For more details, call Caryn Harvey on 082-357-5287.
