Sunday, November 29, 2009

The race, the ride, the struggle.


At last, the Burger: got up at half past four only to queue from the N1. People stopping 5 km from the start to get there in time. Lucky I had a junior already at Nelsons Creek that told me to keep driving, lots of parking there. Starting a road race is very weird. People go off as they please in the last batches. Lots of kill-the-cyclists drivers on the way to Hermon. Then to Riebeeck Kasteel and then the fun started. Suddenly there was this mountain ahead of us and we have to go over it. About 5 km non-stop climbing and then the 10 km downhill on the other side with a stiff breeze in our faces. Whenever you ride a bicycle it doesn't matter which way you go - the wind is always from the front.

Malmesbury arrives and the wind is increasing. Four hours on a narrow seat is not fun any more. Have to go to a surgeon to have the seat removed tomorrow. Now we turn right to Wellington, wind at our backs, sore bum, cramping legs and more hills. A hill I will normally breeze up is now granny granny, time 6km an hour. Then some clever guy came back from the start and told us the last 8km is all downhill. One should never believe or listen to anybody who tells you something like this! At least the last 1.5km was downhill.

Then the end with a screaming southeaster on our backs. This is where the 5km parkers had more fun riding into a screaming wind back to their cars. Lots of grumpy faces. We finished in about 5h 15, not too bad for knobbly mountainbike riders.
Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Feel a bit like the dog next door to us, howling in the wind.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Another day in the sun.

Hot day, cool evening. Some cloud and a fresh southeaster.Only 3 people turned up to ride, none of the main manne. Riding out chatting paying no attention to the wind suddenly at 8km out of town I realised I am riding too fast. Too late she cried and now it was time to struggle back with a low sugar. Lucky I had some sports jellies and stuffed my face with them. Sugar does wonders for energy. Finished feeling fine. Now only rest until Sunday.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Tuesday training.

Thirty something degrees the whole day. Citrusdal is cooking. Twenty km ride just cruising, felt good all the way. I need a thin-wheel bike to really go well. Just worried about the holes in the road. Mountain bikes don't care about holes. Hope you all had a good day, speak to you again soon, sleep well.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

At last a weekend ride.

Sunday morning 5.30, south easter blowing should I go for a ride or not.I had to because my son came to ride with me. First a zigzag through Blaauwbergsands and then onto Blaauwberg beach road. Down to Dolphin beach and back up the road to Bigbay, from there to Melkbos with a howling wind on our backs. What a good ride, and then we had to turn back into the wind. Now it was dropping your head and work hard. Two rests later we were back in Bigbay. The speed now varies between 15 and 19 km an hour. Down to the circle again and back up to the house with a smiley face and a stiff bum. What a good ride. Burger here we cum.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Weekend at Blaauwberg.


One week away from the Burger and no long ride. Lovely warm morning. Went for a nearly two hour walk on the beach up to Bigbay with my partner. Stacks of people swimming and surfing. View of Table mountain specktaqular. What a day in the Cape.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Another good day on my bicycle

Yesterday was again one of those days that you just feel good.Even had one of the other guys saying 'Looks like you are getting fitter, we are just not getting any better'. That should really motivate any person. We did some intervals up a long hill, really felt well. Tonight also was good; the mountain was on the training schedule. I felt so good that I had to wait on the warm-up ride. A friend always used to tell me when you feel so good stop and go and sit on the pavement and wait for the feeling to go away. Now you can carry on, otherwise it will bite your bum and it always seems to work. So I turned back and went home before I was tired. What a good move. Got home feeling good. Hope the weekend will be the same.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Maritzburg humidity in Citrusdal.

About 70% humidity at 15:00 today. Temperature 32 degrees centigrade. No wind, good riding weather. What a good ride. Made the other ones look around a little. Look like a bit of rest did me well. Found the whole ride to be pleasant. Still had energy at last 3km. Walking up to my flat carrying my bycicle was an effort. Something called wobly legs. Hope to feel good tomorrow.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Excitement in Citrusdal.

No riding this weekend. A lot of eating and drinking in Hermanus. Early morning exit to Citrusdal with very quiet roads. Big excitement: a veld fire near one of the manufacturing facilities. Everybody gets called up. With a screaming southeaster quite fun. Back-up fires, fire engines and lots of excited people. The most exciting thing in town since the 4x4 weekend. Okay, don't forget about the waterblommetjie picking gone wrong because of lots of water in the upper Olifants. Apparently the cops had to rescue a person. No riding again - a screaming wind. At least I serviced my bike. Wind still howling 21:39.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Tasting Platter

What a great evening. Tasting all the five-star wines from Platter. The white blends were amazing, not to talk about the reds. This year there was only a very few reds that weren't up to par. The best for me in reds were Rustenberg Shiraz wet peppery biltong nose and the taste did not disappoint, one of the best Shirazes I have tasted in years. Or maybe since I have been to France. The white blends were also incredible. No riding this far sorry. The weather not to blame just not getting out there. Going to Hermanus tomorrow. Hope to find some motivation to ride.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Rainy day in summer in Cape.

Last night it started raining like there was no end to it. It carried on the whole day, needless to say no cycling and very unhappy wine farmers. It is like winter all over again. This weekend I will have to go out on the road or on the dirt. Another cold front is rolling in. Put on your rain jackets and get out there.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Another day in Citrusdal

Monday started off cool and crisp, a bit like early morning in France. Rain at midday. Afternoon crisp and clear, did not ride [training for an Argus Tour] 3.45am leaving from Cape Town makes your day very long. Today another story - a slow ride up the road to warm up and then back to go up the mountain. Total human torture 5km of non-stop climbing even granny granny doesn't help. Maybe it will get better later. A road bike might also help. The place I live in is ideal if you want to have long rides. No taxis, very few cars and trucks. Most of the people are locals and greet you every time they pass. At the moment we are only 8 people riding. Will give regular upgrades on fitness improvement.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sunday lunch

Cooked a South African soup. Onions, garlic, lamb shanks cut, pumpkin, waterblommetjies and a can of peeled cut tomatoes chicken stock mixed with strong rooibos, 3 red chillies and black pepper and salt to taste. Sweeten up with some Vintage Port. Slow cook for 2 hours. Goes well with a fruity Shiraz.
The art of relaxation by a dam.

What you need:

1. Nice big blanket

2. Probably the most importand part : the wine

3. Cheese

4. Good company

The Beginning

It all started with a trip to the Cape.