Day 1 Me and Flash got to the start on Friday very, very early . I think we came 3rd ! We met up with Barry who happens to be my team manager partner for the SAni2C and had a nice chat about the weather and woman . The start was really cool , we had to get into a horse trailer to start out 21km TT . We started at about 14:27 and raced up the road just to get around the corner where nobody could see us and then slow down . But we did not slow down enough cause as we turned right onto a piece of paved road I overcooked it a bit and found myself lying flat on my back . This was 480m into the race ! I quickly ran out of steam as it seems that the first 10km was one big climb . I actually got of my bike and walked while Flash cycled up the hills with my bike in tow !! After the second hill things got a lot better and we started to get into downhill’s and faster single tracks territory . A few cows blocked part of the single track close to the finish but we soon scared them of to finish day 1 in a time of about 1h18 .
Day 2 We made it all the way to N4 and Vander Hoff where a sleepy driver turned in front of us . After this nobody felt like racing and we went home . Day 3 We made it to the start at Bufflespoort in one piece and on time . The start looked very familiar and then I recalled a race I did a few years ago that started from here . Me and Flash took up our normal position close to the back of the field . After about 500m we moved up the field as the back people can really cycle much slower than I can . Those that have done the Magalies Monster before will know that the first part is very fast with the few steep climbs up the cement road but once you cross that river the fun starts . The first bit of the climb was as I remembered it , steep but fairly smooth . But as we climber higher into the mist the rocks got more and more . This part I did not recall from the Monster race and maybe we strayed of the paved road in the mist . At times I could not see my partner 10 meters ahead of me in the dense fog . Next came the downhill and we all got off our bikes and hooked them into our camelpacks . There was just no ways anybody can ride over the big rocks they have placed across the trail . We hiked about halfway and then me and Flash jumped on the bikes to try and cycle the rest of the downhill . Thursia may well recall an incident where she shouted NO,NO,NO to a rider and it sounded like GO,GO,GO to him . Well not exactly the same but I could hear Flash shouting “ wow , @@[EMAIL PROTECTED]@” . Sounded very much like “go,go,go” to me . But this time I did make it over the obstacle and landed safely on the other side . Once at the top it was fast and furious for the next 35km . Flash went around a few corners like a speedway rider , front wheel anti-clock and rear breaking out . At the 65km mark I ran outta fuel and we had a quick stop for some snacks and a Gummy Berry Juice . A short steep climb up the mountain to the trees and we hit the single track all the way home . Here the real fun started . We followed the river between dense trees and bamboo forests crossing the river about 5 times . Lots of slippery roots and uphills . Some of the drops were followed by sharp turns and with all the mud around it really made it very interesting . Me and Flash followed Johan and his brother for most of the route and they really entertained us with their antics . I did manage to go down all the drop and across the river crossings without any incidents but most of the uphills caught us all out and we battled to walk up them . It was a case of two steps up and slide one step back . About a 100meters from the finish we exit the forest and the 4 of us crossed the line after about 5h18 . My attempt at a wheelie after the finish line did not turned out the way planned and I landed flat on my back , much to the delight of the small crowd . Mandy , Antoinette and dirt-baby was at the end to support us . Really a very nice race and it will stay on my calender for the next few years . ------------------------------------------- South Africas premier free email service - www.webmail.co.za ------------------------------------------------------------------ For super low premiums, click here http://www.webmail.co.za/dd.pwm --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DarkAndDirty" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DarkAndDirty?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
