River Rat

I ride in Groenkloof quite regularly and have become quite fond of the place. During my ride there on Sunday I was thinking that it might be great to give some of the tracks names like they do on Sani. The only section that I know of that has a name is Onion Hill so if there are named sections feel free to correct me. Here are the names that my riding partners and I came up with and why. Looking at the route (obviously clockwise) we named the first section as you veer off the tarmac at the start all the way to the R21 Burry's Playground because it reminded us of the Olympic course were Burry showed such great courage and tenacity. The first steep rocky climb after Burry's Playground we named Kudu Climb simply because we often spot Kudu there. There are two climbs on that koppie so we named them Kudu 1 (steepest one on the right fork) and Kudu 2 ( the slightly easier left fork). The section of forest single track when you veer off to the right after the jeep track next to the R21 we named Friar's Forest. The reason being that we once got stuck behind a rather large guy that simply resisted any attempts we made to pass him, somewhat like Friar Tuck duelling with Robin Hood for the rites of passage. The steep rocky section after the 4x4 dip we named Dragon's Back or just Dragons because riding it is like trying to ride over the fins on a Dragons back and if you don't do it quickly the Dragon is going to get you. That great piece of flowing single track after Dragons we called Rossi's Run because to really enjoy it you have to ride it like Valentino Rossi rides his motorbike think Grand Prix here! Fast and furious with courageous cornering and acceleration out of the corner. The short gnarly descent after Onion Hill we called Devil's Gully because if you fall there and survive it's going to be hell. The section just before the end after you have crossed the river we called Merlin's because in summer the place has almost a magical feel to it with twisted tree trunks and the mushrooms sprouting after good rains. These are our thoughts perhaps they resonate with yours.

That's what happens when you're sitting in a hotel in Beijing with nothing to do until tomorrow's business meetings. I've done all the tourist stuff for the day and I have turned down my Chinese business partners invite to dinner upon a written request from my liver. I'll be back in the Republiek on Friday and then I can ride my bike. Until then my schedule is quite full so you need not worry too much about having to read the rants of a delusional man.

The great HCB is actually my late grandmother's uncle but we are prohibited from talking about him because he brought groot skande to the family. My family has a deep divide which splits us into two camps the De Villier Graaf's on the one side (Beaufort West) and the Bosmans ( on the wrong side of the boerewors curtain). For many years the kids born into the family were given a grace period during which a coalition of my groot tantes would observe our progress in life and place us on either side of the great divide. I was confirmed a Bosman the day I created a homemade bomb in the metalwork workshop at Germiston Reformatory Technical School that blew out all windows of the workshop and forced the headmaster to evacuate the entire school. It really wasn't my fault, okay it was my idea to put the match heads in between the two bolts and a nut but it was Bruce Sillitoe's idea to put another ten match heads in. Anyway I thought that I had redeemed the family honour when I was made a prefect seven years later but my dear aunts said it didn't count because they felt I did not get it on merit. They said I only was made a prefect because Kobus Swanepoel left school when he got the Gym teacher's daughter pregnant and I got appointed in his place. They also were unmoved when I became the first scholar from Germiston Reformatory to go to university. I was really upset about this because I was really diligent at University I was always the first one there in the morning and I even attended during the holidays. I worked hard at University and decided that I would go and speak to my aunts to change their minds which believe me is not a simple task. The Coalition of Tantes always deliberated over these matters during a specially convened afternoon tea and I needed to be present so that they could interview me. It took me quite some time to dress up for the occasion with most of my time spent trying to decide whether putting gel on my mullet hairstyle would make it look worse or really bad. I rode to my Tant Susarah's house on my old Raleigh so I guess the helmet and the gel wouldn't have worked out anyway. I knew that I was in for a hard time when I entered the Dominee sitkamer where the coalition were waiting and looking at the empty Romany Cream boxes they had been there for quite some time obviously discussing my fate. I was offered a luke warm cup of tea and an Aniseed Beskuit that was so hard I could have used it as block when I rotate my uncle's Ford Cortina's wheels. It was a short meeting and I still don't understand why they say being a security guard at the Yale street entrance of Wits does not constitute going to University. I really wish I had met my great Uncle Herman maybe he could explain it after all he was clever, he even wrote a book. But I'm going to get my revenge I'm going to vote for the Nats in next years election as long as they let us vote here in Pretoria Central. To answer the original question I haven't done the Bekkersdal Marathon. Is it a race I should be doing?

Yip a comma would make a difference, grammar was never my strong point. As for the pictures you guys are a tough crowd I could barely breathe at the time. So I guess I'll have to go for a safari with the long lens camera as I not sure that I'll get that close to her again.

Trust the Panda Bear to find a hole in my story... After all doesn't the phrase "eats roots and shoots" describe a Panda Bear?

Soap it up and turn it inside out and use the pressure hose to spray it out.

Boet you must think I have a death wish.

And it's not just any Garmin either! It seems you need an 800 or 810.

It was my second ride after Sani and I decided to just do a soul ride you know one of those where distance, time and average heart rate are of no concern. I had just climbed the short hill at the start of the single track near the R21 heading south. It was really a fantastic day just a whisper of wind in the autumn grass, the sun shining and it was warm enough for a T- shirt and baggies. Anyway, I knew something was wrong when the Zebras were staring right past me back along the path I had just come up. Their nervous shimmy told me that there was danger in the area and I looked back to see what it was and that's when I spotted her. Her mottled gold coat almost glistening in the sun, a magnificent beast clearly in her prime. Man I know this is a nature reserve but surely to introduce a dangerous predator into an area frequently used by hikers and bikers is crazy to say the least. At this stage I was relatively relaxed after all there was a herd of Zebra to the left of the single track that she would have pass before getting to me. Surely she would not see me a slightly overweight MTBiker, as her prey. Nonetheless I watched intently to see what her next move would be, lo and behold she ignored the Zebra and set her hazel eyes squarely on me. No man! This can't be happening the damn Zebras just moved slightly away from the single track that the cheetah decided to use to pursue her prey, namely me! My senses were now at full alert, this was a matter of life or death and I had to do something. The flippen atheist thread left me confused as to whether praying would help, I mean after reading that thread who do you pray to and is there anybody even there to listen. This was it I had to save myself, I had to do something and the only thing I could do was ride. I know that cheetah would be faster than me but as I understand it they can only hold their speed for a short distance. So all I had to do is use the downhill ( my weight helps on downhills) and get enough distance between myself and this yellow killer. Man I gave it horns, big chain ring, smallest gear, pumping legs and before I knew it had opened a gap of 250m. I told myself that there is no way a cheetah could close that gap it would have to stop to recover. That's what they said on National Geographic. I was now on the hill going up next to the road to the golf estate and was convinced that I had ridden to safety. But a short glance behind me told me otherwise, this cheetah did not tire in fact it was eating up the distance between us in manner that suggested that this was not a hill at all. That was when the panic set in, I knew I was going to die but I couldn't just give up like this I had to do something but what... Then I remembered I was in a reserve and the animals were enclosed by fences and the roads with cattle grids. I had to get over the cattle grid before she caught me so I set off up the hill with renewed vigour, after all my life was at stake. Halfway up the hill a glance behind told me that I was not getting away from her she was closing in. More effort required but I could still feel Sani in my legs, HTFU I said to myself. A quick look at my heart rate monitor showed me a number that I had never seen before. What is the max again? 225 less my age would be give me ... Stuff it, my oxygen starved brain confused with fear could not do the calculation. Concentrate on the task or you are going to die here, in the veld, on a beautiful autumn morning. Just get over the cattle grid and you'll be safe, give it more gas. The number on the garmin was even higher than before and the thought crossed my mind that I might end up killing myself. I wonder if there is a specific garmin alert for a heart attack? A glance back gave me hope that I might indeed make it to the cattle grid. I went past the guard house and made my best skid turn ever to get onto the tar road. My bunny hop over the speed bump took me clean over the cattle grid again my best bunny hop ever, I mean ever! Safety at last, my momentum took me around the short bend and as I started the climb up to Waterkloof 101 I heard a rattle on the cattle grid. Another backward glance confirmed my worst fear .... Cattle grids do not stop cheetahs. My only hope was to try and get to the security guardhouse at 101. But there was nothing left in my legs, nothing I was barely moving forward I always wondered whether I would be able to face death like a man. I had to force myself to look my killer in the eye. I had to blink a few times before I could get the sweat out of my eyes to focus on hers. They were beautiful hazel with edges of green and her mouth opened slightly to reveal a set of briliant white teeth in what looked like a smile and then she said "more oom" and she passed me under the dappled shade of the camel thorn tree at Waterkloof 101, MTN emblazoned across her rather ample bosom. Who is she you ask? Well, I don't know, anyway she's my cheetah go find your own!

1st or 9th June?

I don't think this is a Pretoria issue but the latest Ride magazine has the race calendar for 2013 450+ MTB and only 130+ for Road. I think that alone speaks volumes.

To use the analogy of the safe following distance where if you rear end someone the onus is on you to prove that you kept to the correct distance. In the case of the proposed1.5m gap if you hit a cyclist you'll have to prove that you kept the gap, geddit?

Reading this thread (and others) it got me thinking that what we have going here is a typical change management exercise where the pace of change is typically set by how much time we spend addressing the naysayers. These guys will spend all there time trying to tell you why something won't work but zero effort on how to make it better. The only way around this is to ignore them and get on with it because they are going to contribute zip anyway and then hopefully the pain of not changing will exceed the pain of the change.

Particularly this part "As al die fietsryers net twee-twee langs mekaar ry en nie vir motoriste die vinger wys nie, sal ons ’n ander soort respek van ’n motoris kry. En dit sal ’n beginpunt wees.” I might be wrong but I think he is suggesting that it is okay to ride 2 abreast

This just shows how little the so called experts know Mr. Esteves might want to consider the rule stating that the obligation is on the motorist to only pass a cyclist when it is safe to do so even if it means doing so in the other lane. Man, we have an enormous task ahead of us not only educating the motorist and cyclist but it woiuld seem the authorities as well.

I find this post funny on so many levels, thanks man!

I wonder who the idiots are? Perhaps those that don't realise that a cyclist has a right on the road but they have to ride in a single file?

I love watching a plan come together!

The track today was slightly worse than usual. The past rains seem to have damaged the trail somewhat, so expect an even easier track into the future.

Why not get yourself a 2nd hand bike first you should be able to pick up sonmething quite decent within your budget. Remember this is a game of constant upgrading you will quickly realise what kit works for you or not. But a good 2nd hand bike allows you to start with something quite reasonable which makes the initial experience so much more enjoyable.

Race starts at 08h00, number collection from 06h00 see you there!

Thanks but I think you've just shown up my lack of IT skills!

Truth is I have no idea how this photo turned on its head, I've tried rotating it but it ends up the same.....

Hammocks don't work when they're upside down.

I was there and I had a peek!