gemmerbal

i havent ridden a bmx since like 1991 or something so i wont be of any use commenting on your setup. i would however say to you, given the magnitude of things, if you choose to rather not do it on a bmx, it would still be ok my books. im not passing judgement, just making an honest observation.

any time! i have had so much support from the Hub and the Wilddog Forum, its absolutely amazing and sincerely humbling.

dude, if you do 1132km on a bmx, i will start praying to Jewbacca!

just a sidenote, i might be on the start line, but there is no reason we cannot have 2 campaigns going. i will contribute to your gofundme in the next day or 2.

I see on Johnny Koen’s sm that Velotex was held up this morning. He suffered a pistol whipping and he and his staff were robbed of all belongings. This is ridiculous!

Then you’re sorted! 😛

I’ll be on Capetalk Radio tomorrow at 14:35. I was informed today that my 2 fundraising efforts last year and this year has made me one of the most successful individual fundraisers for the SPCA. This is something that I could not have achieved without the support of all of you guys on the Hub, so i owe each and every one of you who made a contribution a huge thank you. 🤘

You can have my spot on Team SPCA, i might skip a year, although having said that, next year is the 10th edition… But just the thought of that sand and headwind and 55 degree celcius heat is enough to make me double clutch as i type this… 🤢

Makatienie 🙂

Its just difficult for me to come to terms with the personal failure of not completing an event that i have decided to partake in. But in the grand scheme of things, the fundraiser was (probably) a success because we managed to raise over R60k the last time i checked. So maybe i just have to get over myself i suppose. Good luck with your Grit effort! Im happy to share the little bit of experience ive gained over 1 successful and 1 failed Munga effort. Drop me a message any time! 💪

Thank you very much for your kind words. Failure is not something that i accept very easily and having to accept failure in this years campaign was definitely one of the most challenging things in my life. Ive posted a very raw account of my experience on insta, unfiltered. It is what it is, not succeeding means failure, no matter how you dress it up. Appreciate all of your support immensely. ❤️

I can confirm it is so. Hardest 3 days ever, extreme heat, headwinds, sand. Got the better of me, pulled the plug yesterday when my head started hurting, eyes were sore and no matter how much i drank i stayed thirsty. To say im gutted is an understatement.

I have a 2L camelback and 2x 750ml bottles on the bike. Its amazing how many bottles you see lying in the road early in the event.

Hey @Lynskey i didnt take any offence, no worries. I just wanted to give my own account of things, just for some balance so no issues from my side my fellow hubber. Enjoy the dot watching, my friends are still upset with me over my 11h stay over last year at Britstown that caused some of them to have mild heart attacks… 🤣

I do it for the animals that don’t get to experience this… 🙈

I can only speak for myself: the SPCA approached the race organisation for a discounted entry based on our campaign of 2022. We were told to apply for a discretionary special free entry, which I duly submitted with the appropriate motivational letters. Our application was successful so i need to express my sincerest gratitude towards Alex Harris and his team for the generous gesture! As mentioned before in the other thread, I am not funding my participation by disguising it as a fundraiser. I pay for all of my expenses out of my own pocket so therefore each and every cent raised goes to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA to try and cover their expenses when dealing with animal rescue. This has been my sole intention from day one and it remains unchanged. Last year i bit the bullet and paid my own entry, when it was slightly cheaper. If it wasn't for the gesture from race organisation, i wouldnt be doing it again this year. That’s all i have to say about that 🙂

Makatienie 🙂

Thanks @Shebeen! I’ll tell Gary Kirsten you say howsit?! Not out apparently… 🤣

You will also note former Springbok prop Jannie du Plessis on the startline, riding for their cause as parents who have lost kids. I think its called “they ride along”. And another former rugby player Tobie Oosthuizen. Michael Mol also taking on his second Munga. So its quite a field insofar as celebrities is concerned. I’m 💩 my pants. Half excited half scared. Dont know why. But, its all for a greater cause as mentioned earlier, think we are up to around R40k thats been raised so far so Im extremely thankful for the generosity displayed by each and every one. I’ll try my best to upload short videos to my instagram account as I go along, just to keep everyone entertained. Im expecting an emotional rollercoaster but thats kind of the idea behind the munga when i listen to Alex Harris speak about the event. Anyways, hopefully i sleep better than last night. My flight to Bloem is in the morning so here goes nothing…

Pack food. Banana bread, cold potatoes and crummy samies get a bit tired after the second WP. The first WP/CP with decent food was at the halfway mark and that is way too late to start eating proper solids. If I never see another slice of banana bread with 💩 margarine on I would die a happy ginger. This year was a proper mud fest, pay close attention to tyre clearances and consider putting a chain retention device on the chainring. I didnt finish because by the time I went over Rooiberg, I was too hungry to care anymore and just about ready to start pushing my own banana bread. I have a score to settle with this one. But first theres the small matter of a 1000km race in December 😬

There’s a video being circulated of the river-crossing outside Heidelberg that has overflowed. So yes, rerouting the only option at that point I reckon.

We went looking for James Parkin yesterday, coming over Devonvalley Rd. Not bad for a man of 61 (him, not me 😛)