Tarry a while
Article from the March 2012 Ride Magazine.
By the third week of March, the Argus will have come and gone. For many, this event is the high point of the early year racing season followed by a semi-sedentary slide towards autumn and then the winter hibernation. It need not be so – using your Argus fitness, there are many reasons to stay on the bike in March and April.
Eastern Cape: Anyone can win
The Masters and Ladies Cycling Club of Port Elizabeth runs a series of races based on a handicap system (not limited to masters and ladies). The series generally runs from September until April the following year. Handicap races give every participant an even opportunity to win. Points are awarded for each race to all cyclists taking part, depending on finishing order. At the end of the season, the rider’s best 10 race points are calculated to determine the group and category winners.
Visitors are welcome to participate in individual races with open status at R60 a race. A maximum of three visits are allowed before visitors are expected to join the club.
Saturday 17 March: Hi Tech Circuit x5 – 60 kilometres
Venue: Hi-Tech Automotive Greenbushes
Saturday 31 March: Sprinters Circuit – 58 kilometres
Venue: Fairview Race Course
For more info visit, www.masterspe.co.za
Enquiries: 082-706-0411 or admin@masterspe.co.za
Mpumalanga: The original four-day
28 April – 1 May: MTN Panorama Tour
If you’ve never done a multi-day road tour, you don’t know what you’re missing – and this is the one to do. It was the first ever four-day road stage race for teams of two – and has grown steadily, with this year being the seventh edition. Casterbridge shopping centre in White River is the race base and participants ride a different route each day with distances ranging from 80 to 115 kilometres and a 24-kilometre time trial on the final day.
The entry fee is R3 200 for a team of two riders. This includes giveaways, finisher mementos, snacks on the route of days one to three and a meal before the time trial, as well as waterpoints, emergency and technical support. Entries close on 16 March.
New… shorter and lighter
28 – 29 April: MTN Panorama Lite
For those who are put off the tour because it is too many days on the bike or too far, this year sees the inaugural MTN Panorama Lite, a two-day event for teams of two. Participants ride the first two stages of the tour (113 and 80 kilometres), starting 30 minutes after the tour riders and they get all the same facilities and services as the tour riders. The cost per team is R1 600. Entries close on 16 March and are limited to 100 teams. For more information, visit www.panoramatour.co.za.
Enquiries: contact Fiona Coward on 083-564-7767 or email fiona@panoramatour.co.za
Gauteng: Be bold; try an Audax ride
The focus of this discipline of cycling is distance, not time. Having originated in France, the South African affiliation, Aurasan, participates under the auspices of Audax Club Parisien (ACP) which approves and records the results of all South African events. A Randonnée is a self-supported ride of at least 200 kilometres using any form of human powered vehicle. The standard distance for Brevet Randonneé Mondiaux (BRM) events are 200, 300, 400 and 600 kilometres. The completion of all four distances in a calendar year confers the title of Super Randonneur (SR) on the cyclist. It’s a ride, not a race and participants are expected to maintain an average speed of no less than 15 km/h and no more than 30 km/h. No outside assistance may be provided to the riders other than at designated control points. Riders may assist each other and take advantage of serendipitous offers of help. In South Africa a medal is awarded for each successful completion of an event.
Sunday 25 March: Audax BRM 400 – Johannesburg, CG
Sunday 29 April: Audax BRM 300 – Johannesburg, CG
Contact: Eddie Thomlinson 083-775-5010 / www.audaxsa.co.za
KwaZulu-Natal: Back with a bang
13-15 April: Midlands Tour – Nottingham Road
This is a three-day, four-stage tour for individual riders, i.e. it is not a team event and not for elite cyclists. After a two-year hiatus, it is back for the fifth running in 2012. Based at Nottingham Road, this tour takes participants on challenging and scenic routes through the KZN Midlands.
Route distances range from 58 to 117 kilometres with a seven-kilometre time trial rounding off the last day. Entry fee is R750 and entries close on Thursday, 5 April. Enter online at www.mrpriceheroes.co.za. Manual entries can be done at any Mr Price outlet, countrywide. For more information, visit www.midlandstour.co.za. Contact Margie Gallagher 082-714-2471.
An old favourite
Sunday 29 April: Tour Durban
Contact Stu Berry 083-456-8436
Western Cape: Something new
Saturday 28 April: Outdoor Living in Action – Oudtshoorn
Contact Essie Esterhuyse 084-279-1065.
Watch and admire
If you are in Cape Town and not riding your bike, head down to the Bellville Velodrome and watch the courage and skill of some remarkable cyclists at the National ParaCycling Champs.
27 – 30 April: National ParaCycling Elite Track Championships – Cape Town
Contact: Mike Burns 082 560 8199
Limpopo: Not so far
Saturday 14 April: Cycle Centre
76-kilometre Challenge – Louis Trichardt
Contact: Heine de Jager 082-848-1973.
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