tubed

Leon George Philip Francois

RASA 2014 Finishers: Steve and Di (aka Daytrippers)

RASA 2014 Finishers:George, Francois, Philip, Leon, RASA 2014 Finishers: Richard

Double post sorry

RASA 2014 Finishers: Axel, Daniel + race Director Dave W

As expected Gaafsters blitzes in solo at 13:50. Great ride mate!

Final Day RASA 2014 Just 50km on the final day – race director making things easy?: Today is an unprecedented day in that there will be a 12 strong group ride up Stettyns Kloof, images of a team time trial through the Kloof?, but given how long it took the 4 finishers yesterday, we could be in for a long 50km time trial. To put it in perspective, the 4 who finished yesterday took between 14 and 16 hours to finish 50km, they didn’t get lost, its just that tough and energy sapping. Trouthaven, some nervous, some bold: Last night would have bene a bit of a party at Trouthaven, although it is just up the road from Rawsonville (which has the dubious distinction of being the papsak capital of the world) there was probably not much alcohol on offer and some of the riders would be quite apprehensive of what awaits. Someone like Gawie on the other hand who travels light, would have been stoking the fire well into the night, he has a habit of building a massive fire at every support station and burning every bit of wood in sight. Gawie has no fear of the Kloof and will lead the way through there today, if he’s not the first finisher today I will be very surprised. In 2012 at 5pm after leaving Montague that morning, he headed solo into the Kloof in the teeth of a massive storm and cold front, to emerge at Diemersfontein after midnight, quite cheesed off that there was no welcoming committee and pizza waiting. Gawie has always wanted Glenn’s single speed record, but it seems that with age he enjoys spending time with the various groups on the trail soaking up the South African vibes before he has to head back to Brisbane. Unfinished business: Another finisher from the Antipodes is Stu Brew the Kiwi, Stu has had a solid, steady ride after bailing with an injury in 2011, he will be chuffed to finish and is another who will be soaking up every bit of the atmosphere before he heads back to the Isle of Man where he is based. The point being that many riders who finish are doing so because they have silent scores to settle and unfinished business, so today will be an emotional and very meaningful day for some, as the comment was made of Liehaan last night when he finished, he was happy, no very very happy. The next level?: Its worth reading Glenn’s account of his ride this year on his blog www.glennharrison.co.za, Glenn writes well and I can never add to what he writes. Just some observations then, a comment I made at the start of the thread, even these top endurance athletes are going through so much experimentation still in this race. To read all the ‘errors’ Glenn made in terms of nutrition (drinking and eating the wrong stuff and wrong quantities) makes one think that with some science this could be done a lot better, but then you realise that this is not some staged event, it is raw, unsupported and brutal, despite all the planning and experience, once you are out there, there are so many constantly changing variables at play, not the least of which is your mind always giving you the option of quitting. In some ways I think that overplanning the ride is worse than going in with a flexible mindset where you adapt as you go – a bit like Marnitz did this year. There is no reception in the Kloof, I suspect the first we will hear is when Gawie starts dropping down the Elandspad to the N1. Pic: that smile at the top of Stettyns

Jill and Liehaan, finishers RASA2014 - awesome effort. Jill the first lady across the finish in 2014 and Liehaan - as far as I know his first finish but not his first attempt - proud of him for going back and finishing.

Con and Coen Finish RASA 2014 - well done guys (apologies for the poor photo quality)

thanks Nonky - Martin Dreyer's twitter account photo of him going through the Osseberg - he came down that kloof, through that river behind him - meek and mild doesn't get you through there... the PMB boys used the phrase this year: "it is what it is" in my year it was "this is not for the casual enquirer" I probably sounds a bit trite and boy scoutish, but you really do get to another level in terms of what you are able to do - it takes some talking up, but the mind does lead the body

It really was my pleasure, well done to you too, some proper grit shown - and your greater family - wow, they showed some fantastic support. Please share some of your photos here, I didn't share them as I figured you may wish to do so later. The pics have been scarce this year and they are a massive help for anyone considering what you took on - I really cant begin to properly describe you guys wrapped up in survival blankets in the Boshelweni Forest .

Rider positions

FC Update: the final days of 2014 Not sure what happened yesterday, but everything seemed to go quiet in the afternoon, but there was action in the evening when a biggish group hit the Montague Country Hotel! Gawie reviving the wyntrein after he had demolished the KFC offering. It may seem that the fizz has gone out of the FC2014 with Graham taking the winners blanket on the weekend, but that would be very far from the truth. Today will see a biggish group finishing and they will be just as worthy finishers – ask any one of the 13 who didn’t finish where they would rather be right now and you will know just how much this means. It is a bit strange this year how concentrated the field is and how the groups have split and reformed. The best part for me is that nobody is riding alone – that is significant in that sharing the elation of what they are about to achieve with fellow riders is a big part of these last days. While undoubtedly the last days are more civilised (until you get into Stettyns for the final bash), the guys will still be riding long distances each day on tired bodies. Every one of them will be hoping to avoid the rain and should indeed do so when it really sets in on Thurs/ Fri this week. Yesterday saw two riders have to sit still for 6hours each as they served time penalties imposed by the race director – I understand that these riders had family visit them on the route which is against the rules. The reason for this rule is that time and time again one has seen a struggling or competent rider bail when family arrive on the route – they simply cut short the suffering in favour of a comfortable ride home. So the rule is there to assist the riders to finish and to give them the peace and space the race affords them, after all there are very few times in one’s life nowadays when you get such an opportunity – so you may as well use it, it also makes seeing family at the end so much sweeter. You will note that some of the riders seem to have slowed as they reach Montague/ MacGregor/ Trouthaven – I think the main reason for this is that riders want to savour these days, what can be better than riding your bike self-supported into MacGregor on a sunny morning, sitting down with some mates and ordering coffee, toasted sandwiches and then riding up the Breede river valley to the new support station at Good Hope Farm for some lovely guest house hospitality and country cooking. The sting in the tail is Stettyns, but honestly at this stage after summiting Lehanas Pass at 2900m in gale force winds and having beaten their way through the Osseberg/ Baviaans, nothing will stop them conquering Stettyns and it is a fitting finale. Just take your barbarian mindset and your remaining resolve with you as you drag your bike up to the nek and the start of the Elandspad. Hope to have some more pics later

Not that you are going to get permission in a month of Sundays. I wouldn't mention anything to Sanparks about publicity, event, ride etc - the moment they hear those words they assume revenue! and will ask you to fill in the forms for your 'event' so that they can get their cut. Beware even if you want to take a large group for a hike in the reserve they are keen to make you apply for a permit, just in case there is chance that you are making some money

bikes will come through Stettyns looking quite clean, the fynbos branches brush them the frigid rivers wash them, the riders will carry the scarred legs for a couple of weeks with what the fynbos will exact

Interesting bike and I don't know who the rider is, could probably figure it out by elimination. Here is the slightly controversial game fence pic again, (ie how not to stand on a fence), but here is that bike again, no wonder it needs two people to haul it up and over. The guy giving instructions with his back to us is the owner. The other interesting bike is the one against the fence with the red front hub and the solid fork. Its Gawie's belt driven single speed, hope to get a close up of it later.

well spotted, hell the oke rides 2300km and he gets offered some boxes raided by Meryl......hope they are enjoying their breakfast at Diemersfontein as much as Tim James is enjoying frolicking out in the sun after his release from hospital this morn

Marnitz - finshed last night too, 2nd place and did it his way (I don't think this pic is at the finish, that's SS food there - coffee, peanut butter, bread and raided boxes) Marnitz holds 5 blankets, a lifetime of memories and lifelong friendships - that's some going, RESPECT. Legend is a word thrown around all to often these days - but this oke from Klerksdorp might just qualify.

Graham Bird - feeling like a million dollars having earned his winners place and receiving his blanket and Diemersfontein Pinotage. His pizza would be waiting.

Graham Bird over the line - winner of Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa 2014

Latest news is that Graham and Marnitz are together and have dropped down from the Elandspad onto the N1, they have a horrible ride (traffic and trucks which they wont be used to) up the Du Toits Kloof Pass to the top where they swing off into the pine plantations below the pass road and from there is is about 20/30mins all downhill the Diemersfontein gate where they will be met by David the race director and then by their families as they ride up the driveway to the historic manor house. We will have our 2014 winner and runner up shortly - very fitting winner and just as deserving runner up in my opinion.

Hi Ugene I am pretty sure Shebeen was not being too serious when he made that comment, what you and Trevor did over those three years was unquestionably ground breaking, and I am sure you will concur that Bugs and Allen followed quite capably in showing the field a clean pair of tracks to Diemerfontein. I dont think there was any malice intended at all. Besides after 2012's Alaskan Wolf we all took a new look at what equipment is actually needed to complete the FC and its definitely a case of each to his own. Cheers

nothing - probably battling his way up Stettyns Kloof right now, will be very beautiful in there - such a fitting way to spend the last day, only signal will be when he hits the N1 near the tunnel and then he is nearly home, same for Marnitz

First home, Bugs du Toit and Allen Liversage, they put their heads down and nobody was able to catch them - fantastic achievement for novices. Now they are proud blanket wearers and friends for life. (Nice to finally get a pic of them)

Its been a quiet day on the FC with maybe a bit of a somber mood with Glenn's withdrawal and the sting being taken out of the race. The riders are also riding long stretches now and few will not be doing double days, skipping out the likes of Hel, Anysberg and perhaps Good Hope Support Stations as they are drawn to an earlier finish. Seems like Graham was in a reflective mood this morn as he has posted a pic from the sunrise in the Hel this morn, see below and see the earlier post on some of his reasons for doing the race - he has every reason to savour his last couple of days. Reports seem to suggest that Marnitz emerged from the Leer earlier and started his way down to the top of the Bosluiskloof Pass where he will be back on district roads to Rouxpos, Graham wont be far behind him and the fact that this pic has emerged on twitter suggests he is also out of the Hel and back in sms reception. No sign yet of Jill and Liehaan. Its a very beautiful ride down to Rouxpos with the Seweweekspoort Mountains (the highest peak in the WC) on your left. Elsewhere the 2 big groups of riders will be arriving at Prince Albert and Willowmore after long days riding, both have excellent 'recovery' facilities with great food. Its seems they have been spared the demented wind of the past couple of days. Hope Stu and Hanno make it out of the Kloof today and then it should be plain sailing. Bugs and Allen will be enjoying their last night on the trail at Trouthaven - no doubt raiding boxes and then chucking the stuff right back as nobody wants to carry any excess up that Kloof. (Weird psychology that goes on in box raiding - has to be seen to be believed - plunder psychosis takes over and even the wealthiest most intellectual riders are reduced to moments of barbarism) All good on the Freedom Trail today - no drama.