tubed

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.

Hi, I am afraid I don't, having been there myself I know its quite emotional and sometimes personal, so if they volunteer the reason then fine or else we leave it there. I will say this of Tracey, I saw her faltering around day 2/3 and I though oh no!, but boy did she get it together and rode strongly after that, the tough part is when the field leaves you behind and you are the last one on the trail, then its a mind game and not just physical. If there are any novices reading this for next year I would strongly suggest you try and get put into one of the earliest groups ( I think the race office does this anyway), it will give you the best chance of finding riding buddies as you go. Back to Tracey - lots of respect for her effort.

now that's mud!

33 started RASA, 13 withdrawn. Could we describe the conditions this year as benign? I don't think a drop of rain has fallen. There has been no mud or snow. (*images Eugene Nel) The wind has definitely been a factor. Luck certainly plays a major role.

Rider locations as of this morning.

Graham Bird: I wont add to what he posted on FB on June 16, here are his thoughts and his steed - seems he deserves to savour the last couple of days. Huge respect. Graham Bird wrote: "You can checkout anytime you like, but you can never leave." Sport in general has been a major part of my life and more particularly Adventure Racing / Non Stop endurance / extreme sport for the past decade. I have enjoyed pushing my body and more importantly my mind to the absolute limits. I have thrived on what I have taken from these events. My mental strength and focus in dealing with everyday issues and life in general comes from what I learn about myself in doing these events and spending time outdoors training and preparing for them. It is what has driven me. It is my soul food. Whenever I have competed in these extreme events, I have left with my mind and soul refreshed and ready to tackle life’s challenges. Just over two weeks ago, I completed the 570km Expedition Africa in just over 4 and half days. It was beautiful and a true test physically and mentally. Finishing the race, I did not have the rush of emotion and sense of accomplishment that I usually get when completing an event of this nature. I finished without gaining insights into myself or my soul. This scared me. Have I lost the passion? Does it not make me happy anymore? Have I lost my drive for it? Have I got all I can from this and time to move on? I am entered for the 2300km Freedom Challenge and my start batch departs tomorrow. It is a non-stop 2250km MTB race across South Africa from Pietermaritzburg to Wellington, just outside Cape Town. It is extreme. Though you stop at support stations roughly every 100km where you can get food and a warm bed to sleep if you chose. It is a race about getting to Wellington as fast as you can or as slow as you want, within the 26 day cut off. Current record sits at 10 and half days. It is about riding everyday come sun or rain, day or night, hot or cold. I have done two already. One in 19 and half days and one in 13 and half days. I been in turmoil over the past few weeks about actually doing it or whether to withdraw. Sitting in front of a warm fire watching the howling wind and pouring rain outside yesterday, I had serious debates going on in my head as to whether I really wanted to go and push my mind and body to the limits in whatever weather that will be put in my way (there will be a cold front or two that I will need to pass through!). I am just scared as to what my mind will get up to in those deep dark lonely places out there on the track! This is not just a two-three day event that you vasbyt and get home in a couple of days. This is two-three weeks! A friend wrote to me two nights ago: "Tweetles, if your hearts not in it......... We only do it cause we love it and if that's taking a dip then perhaps respect it.... Change is good. Learn new things about life and ourselves by embracing change and new experiences. Don't want you to start, not love it and then if it gets tough put yourself in an unfair situation.... Basically, Do **** that makes you happy....." And someone close to me wrote yesterday: "One never stops being a certain type of person. Extreme sport and the need or desire to push oneself beyond oneself will always be a part of you if that is who you are. Sometimes we need to change focus...but that doesn't change the type of person you are or what ultimately makes you tick." Finally this morning I got this message: "Do what you want in your heart". All very good pieces of advice and all helped me finally decide this morning that I must line up tomorrow and do Freedom. This is what makes me tick. This is what I love. This is what is in my heart. This is my soul food. My head will sort itself out.......it has 2250km and 10-14 days to do it! So either freedom will pull me right or it will make me completely hate extreme sport and drive me away for along time or forever. So my backpack is packed and my Giant steed are ready. "We all just prisoners here of our own device." FREEDOM!

The big news is the withdrawal of Glenn with a thigh injury at Willowmore. So that's Glenn, Tim and Chris as contenders out, with Hanno (trying to locate him) and Marnitz still in, but unless Graham collapses, he should be first. I must take my hat off to Graham - besides being consistent, he seems so strong and determined, with a very solid strategy. Will try and update a leaderboard a bit later this morn.

Welcome - thanks for your contribution.

Ooops I forgot our front runners, Bugs and Allen are similarly enjoying the bar and meal at Montague Hotel. Big decision tomorrow if they go past the new guest house at Good Hope near MacGregor or if they stay and get to Paarl on Sunday. It may well depend on what Graham does - I am sure they want to get there first.

Spot on, that looks like they are making a meal of it

double post, sorry

Glenn looking forward to supper at Willowmore - eish not good news. Sounds like a biggish Di and Steve group keeping him company. Race office/ Meryl celebrating her birthday, I think she deserves the night off from the twitter account. So with Grahams tweet as follows it seems like its up to Marnitz to decide tonight if he wants to do anything tonight after he gets to Dennehof. Graham: "Dennehof at 17.40. Faaaaaaaaaaak. Toughest day on bike EVER. Massive headwind. 166km. 14h20. Graham will be enjoying the 4 course meal of Dennehof, including the slow roast lamb shank, safe in the knowledge that Glenn is a full day behind him now. Mr consistency he has been - all credit to him. Elsewhere Jill and Liehaan are following Marnitz and Graham into PA they are still out there battling the west winds - but they have a nice bed to look forward to. Tomorrow will be another tough day if they dont elect to spend the night in the Hel - there is no let up now. A big group made it through the Osseberg to Cambria, they were probably led by Gawie who has a nose for getting through there, they include Leon, Francois, Gawie, Axel, Daniel, +1 other Philip and George spent the night on the Kloof, understandably they elected to stay the day at Cambria - stories to be told there No word of Tracey and Stu at the moment, probably at Bucklands tonight. I think that's everybody accounted for except Hanno? he's out there somewhere. These evenings of groups forming at SS's are just great, the guys get together and share their own experiences and just relax a bit, its important to take it all in because for some of them it will be over in about 4 days and then it you didn't make memories you will regret it. Hope everybody gets a good night's sleep, especially those still out there.

shoes are critical - look at the start of the thread and you will see what Mike W's shoes looked like at the end. The preferred choice seem to be touring shoes, ie cleated, but with a sole you can hike in. Several also have the shimano boots. Nobody uses carbon soled slippers, those are for the coffee shop. In the past some guys used to take a second pair of shoes for hiking/ portaging, that seems to have fallen away. You still see some guys with lightweight crocs for evening wear etc, but most nights you just put your feet up inside someones home. So one pair of shoes for the whole race is sufficient. There is a big proviso - there has been no mud for 2 years now - swamp mud kills shoes - so they have to be in top condition as they vrot at a rapid rate.

game fence tactics: the problem with these fences is not the 3m height, its the fact that the top of the fence is so wobbly and you dont want to break it or snag anything precious - after all you just have lycra on

Breaking race update: While Graham raced across the Karoo into vicious headwinds with third placed Marnitz, they rode together until Rondawel about half way in the 160km trek to Prince Albert, where Graham then went off on his own slightly ahead of Marnitz, that was at 13:00, Graham must be near PA now. Glenn holed up at Willowmore still, knee issue, race over?........

Some photos finally coming through now, its been a drought of a race after last year, these guys are all far to serious. Some comments: Clothes and warmth: See how well wrapped up Graham is with his coffee and the group are dressed for sun during the day. The mornings in the Baviaans and around Willowmore are bitterly cold. The days are glorious - its all dictated by the rays of the sun, some parts of the Baviaans never see the sun, you will know when you are in those parts. Buying things: The pic through the frame is of a small coffee shop in the Kloof, anyone who doesnt stop there for something to eat and drink is just plain strange. The reason I say this is that you can use cash and carry out a transaction - that may sound silly, but its the way we live out our lives and we are used to it, the FC takes that away from you for days on end, and you feel the need to be able to pay for things - so you buy things/ food you dont really need, strange but true. The Nuwekloof pass: The roads are now wide and sign posted, your challenges are wind and corrugations, you count down the km signs on the fence as you make your way to Willowmore. Willowmore is the first real sign of a town in a week, you get a country hotel meal, your own room and can order a beer at the bar - you feel like a million dollars and your spirit soars, if you are in good physical shape. Very few people quit from here - although the challenge is by no means over, but it becomes largely a bike race from here - think Trans Karoo or Hel and Back for a day or two or five.