Yes it has been discussed at various social events :) . It seems our Team manager is still available , we are just going to need a new team member to replace our lost son who is finding himself in Deep Dark Holland . I am also not so sure if we will be able to keep up with The Mummy anymore !!! Maybe we need to find a new "newbie" to blame for our slow progress .
> Heya DirtRider, > > Been hearing some rumours of AR - TEAM : HAVE BEER making a come-back... > > any truth there? > > C > > On 18 May 2010 14:13, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I have been waiting now for 2 days to read a report on this race !!! It >> seems I will have to bore you all with my account of events . >> >> It was a chilly pre-winters morning when we headed for the start of the >> 10th Mabalingwe Lionman Race at 06:00am . We got there just after 06:30 >> and found a parking spot not too far from the start . We performed the >> normal pre-race checks before taking of our very cozy Sani2C jackets . >> By >> his time the starting chute was about halfway full and I picked a spot >> next to the barrier since I was waiting for Flash to come past . We >> planned to ride together but by the time the race started I have still >> not >> seen him and assumed he was somewhere closer to the front . >> >> The neutral zone (no racing allowed) split the field . I still am not >> sure >> what the speed limit in these zones are but it seems to be close to >> 40kmph >> , apparently it is not about how fast you going , just don’t overtake >> anybody . The first 20km was very fast and a lot of riders did not make >> it >> to the first climb . A few dislocated shoulders and broken bikes lined >> this first section . It is unfortunately a fact that riders that are not >> very skilled (and roadies comes to mind) insists to start close to the >> front . They will go flat-out till they encounter the first >> ant-droppings >> in the road at which point all brakes are applied resulting in a dead >> stop >> . The rest we all know and I will therefore not ponder this very >> sensitive >> point . >> A long rocky climb saw most of us get of our bikes at some point on the >> hill . Apparently the 35km riders did not enjoy this too much as it was >> not in last year’s race . Once over the hill it was back to big blades >> and >> long fast stretches with the odd piece of single track thrown in .Flash >> came flying past me with the news that his partner will not be doing the >> full race . >> But somewhere around 50km the road started to go upwards , a very >> gentle >> climb and nothing that would make you want to change up a gear . But >> after about 10km this road still kept on going up and legs started to >> complain about the constant abuse . At this stage the sun also did not >> take too kindly to us . Along the route cyclists could be seen standing >> under trees trying to get some life back into their legs or just to have >> a quick fag (ok that was me) . >> Just when I thought we will never see a water table again the music from >> the Warmbaths School could be heard about 2km from their actual position >> . >> But at least I knew there were other people out there in the bush >> somewhere . What felt like forever I reached this water hole and found >> an >> oasis out there in the bundus . Shade , cold water and coke , boerewors >> and bananas and lots of friendly people . This looked like a good place >> to >> pull lager and I spend about 20 minutes there eating and drinking . At >> this point I also got the first warning about a coming hill that’s going >> to test my sense of humor . At this point I really thought that they >> have >> decided to let us rather go around the hill , I mean who in his right >> mind >> would put that hill 6km before the finish ?? >> After another 12km I found another water point and again everybody >> helping >> there was too eager to tell us about THE HILL . A few riders just could >> not bear the fact that they will have to go over that hill and decided >> to >> wait for a sweep vehicle . Myself and a few Cycle Lab gentleman did what >> any decent , self respecting , mountain biker would do . We headed for >> the >> hills !! We all stuck together and soon found the turnoff leading up to >> the climb most of us have always done from the other side . From >> previous >> races I remembered that there were no concrete bits on this side of the >> mountain and that it was very rocky . I soon lost my new comrades when >> they decided hiking would be easier . To my surprise I found going up >> not >> to strenuous and on my first stretch went about 3km up the hill . At >> this >> point I disembarked , found a nice shady tree and enjoyed a puff . The >> rest of the crowd soon caught up and I joined them again . Although they >> still walked and I was on the bike , our speed was about the same and we >> stayed together till close to the top . >> Going down the other side I not only lost the rest of the team , I also >> lost 3 spokes , one water bottle , and a few brain cells (now I got >> almost >> nothing left) . It was absolutely amazing . I again proved that if you >> take your hand of the brakes and just steer your bike you will get to >> the >> bottom in one piece . Ok not entirely true , I had to brake very sharply >> on the concrete sections after I went into a corner way to hot . But >> luckily the grip on those patched are very good and slowing down was not >> a >> problem . It was over way to soon , the downhill , and I crossed the >> finish line in a now slowest time of 05:49 . >> I think this route is much tougher than the previous years and it is >> interesting to note that DNF’s was at 25% . I hope they keep the route >> like this for next year so I can at least try a sub 5. >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> South Africa's premier free email service - www.webmail.co.za >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> For super low premiums, click here http://home.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]<darkanddirty%[email protected]> >> . >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/darkanddirty?hl=en. >> >> > > -- > 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. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ South Africa's premier free email service - www.webmail.co.za ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For super low premiums, click here http://home.webmail.co.za/dd.pwm -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DarkAndDirty" group. 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