tubed

Prologue - Waterfront Stages 1&2 - Elgin Stages 3&4 - Worcester Stages 5&5 ???? Upper Breede River Valley? Final Stage - Meerendal my guess

Time to wrap this up from my side. Couple of final thoughts. It seems like the race flew by this year, all the RASA finishers in within a week of each other. Again the weather was kind - very kind. Glad peace reigned in the Hel and everybody got on with their business, long may it last as without respect from and for everybody we are in trouble. It remains a massive achievement to finish this race. The emotional pull of the race is real - ask those who returned, those who didnt finish and those on the sidelines - there is almost a collective sigh of relief that it is over and we can return to our normal lives. The Race to Rhodes is a great addition, I am glad to say it has its own unique place and is a big contributor to the Freedom Challenge, but it and others will never overshadow the Freedom Challenge Lets not forget the FC Scholarship Fund - if you want to make a donation - I can assure you it is money well spent David the race director was silent this year - but thats the way he prefers it. But nobody else hands you your blanket - he personally welcomes every finisher and knows at any moment exactly where you are. No fuss. Meryl - just ask anyone who has done this race and they will tell you that Meryl runs the show - again very successfully under some very trying circumstances this year. Shebeen - thanks for the help, wit and insight, especially when I am in an internet black hole with an old blackberry - much appreciated To the new guys who got involved, you know just who you are, well done on your achievements, don't hold back, you are part of the community and any involvement is appreciated The Freedom Challenge is increasingly 'owned' by the community, my sense is that more and more people are realising this and want to be part of it, it offers something different amongst a sea of choices for riders. Core to this is the desire to 'keep it real' - seems like 'real' is alive and well Finally to all on the hub who once again proved that this is the best portal for the being involved in the race from the sidelines - thanks so much for your constructive input and the many many words of encouragement and thanks - it really is appreciated. Please feel free to continue to contribute to this thread with your experiences of this year - lots of guys use it for prep or just getting a sense of what its all about. Thanks and cheers Charl

cant remember something special, please remind me, but the kiwi tribal graphics are unique

RASA 2014: Stu Brew sweeps the field. Congrats mate. (as per previous pic see the smiles of Glenn on crutch, Marnitz and Steve shaking his hand). Just to say to the guys considering the Freedom Challenge 2015 - to stand there and let it sink in what you have done is quite special and worth every ounce of energy spent. There are no loud hailers, music or pretty girls to take your bike - there is nothing to detract from what you have achieved. Its a humbling and serene finish, certainly a moment which will live with you for the rest of your life. 2015.....

I wore neoprene sailing gloves and the warmest ones seen were my riding partners ice climbing mitts

Besides a great pic of Hanno finishing, what I like about this pic are the people in the background there to welcome him in. From left to right. Di (finisher 2014 and before), Steve (Di's other half and 2014 and multiple finisher, the man at the Epic with the clanging coffee pot), Marnitz (2nd place 2014 and 6x finisher) and last but certainly not least, Meryl - the race office (and absolutely everything that means). I am sure there are others not in the photo, but such is the pride of the finishers in every other finisher, that some of them have been hanging around there for days to welcome the others in. Stu Brew is on his way to finish this afternoon, he may be last, but perhaps he gets the best welcome from his fellow riders. Goosebump stuff.

Note the Croc on the back for nightime Support Station use - probably the only time a Croc should ever be worn....ever

thanks, that explains the no helmet and no maps, wouldn't like to drag that rig through Stettyns

RASA 2014 Finisher: Hanno in, happiness all around. (note the rain pants - we nearly passed 2014 without a drop, today they needed them)

Correction to earlier: it seems that Stu and Hanno only left Good Hope this morn and will be at Trouthaven tonight, with an arrival at Diemersfontein tomorrow night. At least there will be a well beaten path up the valley after today....

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