BOTH the road and the mountain bike sections of Amanzimtoti Cycling Club were busy with training, racing and having fun over the weekend.
The mountain bikers met at the old Illovo Club at 6.30am on Saturday and decided to explore an old route, the ‘two rivers’ that hasn’t been ridden for quite a while.
They got in some fast dirt road riding before hitting the rocky descent into the valley to cross the two small rivers in the valley. Luckily these were easy to ride through, as there has been no rain. After a long, gentle uphill, they turned onto some rough, overgrown single track that took them back down across the river. This part had to be portaged as the rocks were pretty slippery.
Another portage was needed to get back up part of the hill, which was a bit too overgrown and bumpy to ride. The steepest part of the uphill was ridden up, which made everyone happy about their technical achievements. The ride continued around Mnini Dam and back home. A good 40 odd kms was done with a variety of different training techniques included.
On Sunday, quite a few Mambas met up at Giba Mountain Bike Park at 10.30am to do a bit of a later ride. Much to their horror, they started riding in a temperature of 28 degrees which rapidly turned to an uncomfortable 30 degrees as they ascended the gorge. But they pushed on in the hot conditions and managed to do a 23km ride around fantastic track. Unfortunately, a normally extremely competent track rider, Duncan Schultze, ran out of talent and did a rapid slide into the bushes, coming out all gouged up. Giba has claimed a couple of Mambas over the past few weeks. It just shows that even the most talented riders eat dirt every now and again.
The road riders left Engen in Rockview Road on Saturday morning at 5.30am to do a ride to the Bluff. They did two laps around the Bluff before heading home. On Sunday the process was supposed to be repeated but it seems as though Ron Waldburger put a spanner in the works with a few punctures, so the ride to the Bluff wasn’t quite reached. Sunday’s ride was reported to have been “an event-filled, puncture riddled, entertaining ride, which allowed time to smell the roses and take photos”. These rides are always good to do as well, as it reminds everyone that riding your bike is meant to be enjoyable and fun. At least Ron Waldburger rewarded the patience of the others by providing coffee for the clan. The road riders route down the coast have been hindered by the new, very rough and stony tar that has been laid. This is a great pity as that training route is one of the most scenic and beneficial routes to ride.
The Sappi Howick Classic was held this weekend. The race was reported to have been one very hot, rocky, and technically challenging one to do, with plenty of uphill track to get one’s legs burning. Two club members did really well. Brennan Anderson finished the 40kms in 2:07 and Cindy Theunissen finished 2nd woman overall and 1st vet coming across the finish line in 2:32.
The next race that has been earmarked as a club race is the Baynesfield race on 15 June. This is looking to be a great race to enter and hopefully there will be a large number of orange jerseys on the track.
All cycle club members are to note that the new mountain bike shirts are now available for purchase at a mere R200. These are top quality, lightweight shirts.
Toti Cycling Club has a social every month at Lords and Legends, with a guest speaker. These are also social get-togethers to meet fellow cyclists and find out what is and has happened in the cycling community.
There is a single track that runs around Lords and Legends that is cut and maintained by the club, which is open to any cyclists. The road riders ride from Engen Garage in Rockview Road from Tuesdays to Friday mornings from 5am. There are also mountain bike rides and road rides every weekend.
The club holds its annual race, the Toti 69er on 13 July. One of few road races still held in KZN, it is very highly rated. Info is on the club website.
Entries for the Scottburgh mountain bike race are open on ROAG. This will be held on 31 August. Goto https://www.roag.co.za/enter-an-event/mtb/scottburgh-mtb-race.aspx
Te club has two FB groups, Mambas MTBiking and Toti Roadies, on which details are posted.
If anyone is interested in joining this great club, either go to the website or call Caryn on 082-357-5287 for more details.
