Cyclists pedaling through the pain
Riverlea Cycling Club flew the flag high at the Tsogo Sun Amashova Durban Classic Cycle Race.
Three men from the Riverlea Cycling Club participated in the Tsogo Sun Amashova Durban Classic Cycle Race.
The pair completed the 106-kilometres race and proudly represented the Riverlea community.
The original group started four years ago. Joseph Jacobs, Jermaine Riberts and Derrick Lewis went all the way to Durban with a bus and arrived there at around 6 pm on October 20.
Their bicycles stayed over in Pietermaritzburg and on the day of the cycle they were on the bus to collect the bicycles.
Jacobs explained his experience, “I will tell any racer that it has nothing to do with legs but everything to do with exercise. The Bible says that if you do not exercise, you will not be able to finish the course.
“You get some cyclists who just go there to cycle and finish the race in time and then you get some of us who take photos and enjoy the ride. My experience was wonderful.
“I went and I took my own time, the first right was a downhill, and the next 30 minutes was uphill. Wow, that was a great experience! When we came around the corner and I saw the handicapped children applauding us, I was really touched.
“After the Valley of a Thousand Hills, I experienced some cramps. I’ve seen people finishing the comrades by crawling on their knees, that was my crawling on my knees moment.”
Jacobs sang spiritual songs and started the race with ‘Die Here is my Herder’.
As the race progressed, his feet started burning because of the clicks and he switched over to, ‘Soos ‘n brandende hout, Hy haal my uit die vuur soos ‘n brandende hout’.
“When you enter Pinetown, the hill wasn’t back but Joseph couldn’t pedal because the more he pedaled, the more intense the cramping became.
“People gave me the salt, but you know what on the race was more bananas than anything else.”
The cut off time was 2 pm and the next at 3 pm.
The race started just before 8 am. After struggling with leg cramps for a lengthy period of time, he started singing ‘God sorg vir die mossies, God sorg vir die diere, God sal sorg vir my’.
“I told God that He couldn’t bring me this far and not let me complete the race.” “When they put the medal around my neck, I saw the crew members and I tossed my bicycle, vowing never to do this again”.
Jacobs completed the race in 6 hours, 15 minutes and 49 seconds.
Riberts said, “I really enjoyed the race, there were six water points and I only stopped at one to fill up my bottles. I was well-prepared, thanks to another gentleman who I train with on a Saturday. We cycle 100 kilometres every Saturday.
“I finished in 4 hours and 19 minutes. I beat my 94.7 time so this year I’m hoping to finish under four hours.”
The training every day and the fact that his three daughters were cheering him on at home while his wife waited at the finish line, motivated him so much that he could not push in his bicycle.
The duo will be participating in the 94.7 cycle on November 19.
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