2 races in 1 weekend
In my infinite wisdom I thought it would be great traning to do two races back to back……
Saturday morning started at 5.15am. It was 5 degrees and the skies were clear at last. We set off to Org De Rac wine estate.This was to be a weekend of memorable hill climbs, descents and wet feet.
As soon as we arrived….a little later than planned, I rushed off to register and then back outside to find that Jody had parked at the very top of the hill as far from the venue as it was possible to get. Ascent number One, taken at a fast walk. Having seen there was parking right near the start I moved the car and commenced getting ready with 15 minutes until the start of my 70 km race only to discover that my bike was locked to the bike rack and the person with the code was no where to be found. Panic! Now 5 mins to start time. At his stage I resembled a headless chicken.
At the last minute Jody appeared with my bike and off I shot as the race began. Close one! There were a few tricky bits to get through and then we hit open jeep track towards Ascent number Two. A mountain ahead of us with a mast on top of it. Mast climbs are notoriously tough in my experience and this one did not let me down. One riders comment as we started our lengthy rocky climb was “ok, time to find my happy place”. We rached the top and as thet say “what goes up…... oh yes , we went down …. a very steep fast rocky washed away and rutted down that went on and on and on…..untill legs were burning and arms were jelly.
The scenery on this ride was some of the most beautiful I have ever experienced. Snow on the mountains, daisies of all colours in full bloom and the sky was crystal clear . It was the perfect winters day. Until we reached Ascent number Three! By now most peoples chains were screaming for lube as we had been through numerous puddles. I yelled at the guy ahead of me to ask if he had lube but alas….caught the next guy and tried again ….Thank you Luke from Knysna!!! You are an angel. I relubed my chain and started up the mountain that seemed to be claiming victim after victim as the guys all got off and walked. This made me all the more determined to stay on my bike all the way up and show them just how tough chicks can be. Upon reaching the top with muscles screaming and heart racing you then plateaued briefly only to start a rapid and even more stupidly steep and fast descent than before. You could have seared tuna to perfection on my breaks after that run down the hill! It was insane…
A couple more nasty shorter climbs later, one I admit I did walk up, and we were headed for home through the fieldsdown over a river and hey, guess what just to add to the pain…up Another hill to the finish!!! Where I was greated with “Well done, First Lady!!”
The pain was worth it. My first win! Happy Days.
Sadly the organisers decided that as it was a” fun ride” that they would not have a prize giving. Pretty miserable effort in my opinion.
Moving swiftly on…..
On the way back to town I was told by Robert that I was to be ready for a ride in Tokai by 4 with someone who is trying to get my team mate and me a sponsor for the Cape Epic. No rest for the wicked! Sunday loomed crisp and clear and off trundled Robert, Mel and I to Grabouw, to the infamous Oude Molen 60 km race. This race had attracted some high profile racing snakes such as Eric and Ariane Kleinhans, Lara Wooley, Cheri Vale, David George and Nico Pfitzenmaier to name but a few. This race promised to be an eventful ride and it sure was starting with ascent number …. the biggest climb all weekend!!! Up and up and up and up some more for the first 15kms. My legs felt like lead. Eventually I found my “happy place” and a few not so happy places and followed Robert up the mountain and after a couple of heart attacks and burst lungs summited the peak . The views were worth the pain. And down we went into the valley below, at exhillaratingly breakneck speeds, where we all got covered in mud and soaked from head to toe in the giant puddles and rivers we rode through. It was a soggy and chilling experience and at 30 kms we were asking ourselves why we hadn’t just stayed at home in bed. At 40 kms the wind got up and I lost my feet and most of my legs. At 50 kms or there about I rode straight in to a pool of water that was waist deep much to Roberts amusement as he hastily avoided the worst of it. The last 10 kms were torture as we got stuck in the 35km riders and were slowed down considerably. At last we reached the infamous cellar that was to be ridden through to the end of the race. A heafty waft of wine penetrated our nostrils as we rouned the corner to the finish…..at last.
In complete contrast to Saturdays race there was a great welcome, yummy goodies to feast on and drink to your hearts content and a wonderful and very generous prizegiving not only for the top riders but for each age category. Now thats how it should be done! Thank you Stillwater Sports and Oude Moulen for a memorable day. Well done David George and Lara Woolley for winning your races.
And so my weekend of 2 races and ride in Tokai came to an end with delicious pizzas and great company and hospitality.
Baie Dankie JP and Maya!