Stage 1: Oudtshoorn to Calitzdorp

The first stage started at Oudtshoorn High School. We left the town at 7:30 and rode in a neutral zone along the R62 for about 10 kms. Thereafter the pace remained civil for another 10 kms. The undulating hills were familiar territory from the 3 Oudtshoorn marathons done in years past. The pace was quick and the legs felt strong, so 2 hours later we rolled into the first water point feeling fresh. A tidy stop saw us on our way soon afterwards. Rietfontein held pleasant memories as this is a regular lunch stop for us whenever we are in Oudtshoorn. Simply great Lasagne and devine Bobotie...
Back to the race, soon after water point 1 we were tested with a long tough technical climb reaching grdients in excess of 30% in places. Disembarking and porting the bikes was very much the order of the day. Soon we were on our way to the Red Stone Hills around the Kruis River area. Water point 2 was a welcome sight and after another quick stop we left the gravel again for more low range 4x4 territory. The next 20 kms dragged out and it also started to heat up. It was a constant battle to keep riding. Elzaan and Theresa from the First Ascent ladies team cought up after we lost them after the neutral zone and we took turns riding on the front. They would out-climb us and we would pass them on the technical descents. Water point 3 was a welcome sight. We took a little longer here to simply get to grips with the next section to the finish. Katot gave me the assurance that the climbs were now done. He is a liar. The gravel climb was managable and soon we had Calitzdorp in our sights. In true Katot style we took the road less travelled, turning away from the R62 that would have taken us to Calitzdorp in 5 minutes on a round-the-mountain loop. Here on another crazy descent I cut my tyre and had to repair it. My partner didnt see me stop and I jogged up to the rise to make sure that I could stop him from continuing. I bombed the tyre with no success and thereafter I tried a foam product that was meant to set in the tube, much like the old perma-tubes we had as kids, but it failed as well. I was abou,t to stick a tube in when my partner produced a plugging kit. I successfully plugged my tyre for the very first time. Definately an item on my shopping list. A plug set.

The last 7 km into Calitzdorp was done with a fair amount of caution. I had images of the plug dislodging and having to either tube the tyre or walk the last few kms to Calitzdorp. The climb up to the school felt very long. A time of just over 7 hours was a job well done.

The race village buzz is great. The race is much more intemate than the bigger races on the calandar. With approximately 150 teams and a contingent of Solo riders, it feels like everybody knows everybody by now.

Time for supoer and race briefing, and a monster stage lurking tomorrow.

P.P.S.

With 5 days to go, suddenly the reality of what we are about to embark on is dawning on me. 6 Days of really tough mountain biking... making it to the start line in itself deserves a medal. Being in the middle of selling our house, buying a new one, juggling training and work commitments, finishing up with projects before the event, major IT upgrades and my wife's birthday not only made the last few weeks speed by, it also ate into valuable training time. The reality is that mountain biking only forms a small part of our lives (well for most of us non-pro's with families and work commitments anyway).

Now with 5 days to go I find myself suffering from P.P.S (Pre Pioneer Stress). It actually started last weekend when suddenly I shot up and started packing.
Drawers being opened and closed as I started to organise all my cycling kit. It seems that since my last stage race these items magically migrated throughout the house. Every drawer and cupboard seemed to be stashing cycling gear.

Once everything was piled up in the middle of the spare room, the packing started. Everything into its own ziplock bag and the ziplock bags into a plastic container. Labelling machine out to label the containers and the bags.

A list was generated for items I must still go out and buy. Sunblock, lip balm, contact lenses, new water bottles, ear plugs...

Bike being serviced on the small items that I can attend to. New brake pads, new chain rings, new rotors... oops the Hope rotors knocks against the brake calipher, so back on the old ones go... check the wheel... hmmm the back wheel has a lot of play in it! Guessing its bearings. This was where I re asssembled the bike and decided to let my bike shop fix her up for me. Complicated moving parts like hubs needs specialist attention. Especially before a big race. And now someone can go over my work to correct mistakes that I may have made.

Monday comes. I get to work and can't focus on the items that needs to be done before Friday. I get into the car and the bike goes to the shop and the shopping gets done for the last items. Back at work I can once more focus on the important tasks that needs to be done before Friday.

Tuesday is no better. Lunchtime I amble through the new Chris Willemse Cycle Shop near Willowbridge with a purpose. Armed with my list I walk up and down the shop trying to find any more items that I may need. Nothing. My Garmin! I sent it off for repairs a few weeks ago and the store didn't phone me to tell me when it will be back. I phone them and doing my best to stay calm, I remind the attendant that I did tell them that it needs to be back in Cape Town by Thursday 13 October. He follows up with Garmin and tells me that the unit is not being repaired, it's being replaced and should be here by Thursday...phew!

Now with my bags packed and every conceivable base covered I lie awake at night waiting for Monday to come...