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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.