I am not MAX copy and paste from dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/q7c2jvjnywnqbzn/AAC8HuOHo94LSsD0KiT1Uxtqa?dl=0
The Munga – a backmarker’s perspective by Donald Max Menzies
“Looking remarkably fresh in Ceres - 115 hours into Munga …Giuseppe & I”
Sitting in front of my PC two days after finishing 2017’s Munga (I came in third
last in position 79……..hence my title of the article) I have time to reflect on
this amazing adventure that Alex and Erik had given me the privilege of taking
part in. At the same time I realised how unprepared I was for what happened
out in the Karoo. I thought it would really help future prospective Munga
participants to know a little more of this very unusual event, which happens to
have no category status at CSA……go figure.
Upfront I must thank Alex & Erik for putting on this special event, especially
Alex as he continuously looked out for me on the route (he rode it this year to
experience it as a rider first hand) and always displayed genuine concern and
interest in how I was doing – At Sutherland, the 5’th and final RV he was
leaving as I arrived and was very clear in the exact time I must leave to push
on…….”7:20am, and no later. Don’t wait till 8:00am” – that gave me exactly 1
hour and 20 minutes rest.
My cycling background: a really normal & average mountain biker – no fancy
cycling DNA or chromosomes in my blood, although my Great-Grandfather,
Donald McDougal Menzies owned the first bike shop in SA, in Wales Street CT,
back in 1893 called Menzies Cycling Depot. I started cycling only 7 years ago,
now turning 52 years old. Have done most of the big mnt bike stage events
plus the last 4 Cape Epics, finishing around the 75 to 80 percentile. I ride for
the pure joy of being out on the mountain. Four years ago I did away with a
conventional bike and converted over to a steel frame, fully rigid one gear
29’er, using an old Brooks saddle – that is how I wanted to ride and only that
way….it changed my life. I call it “old school heads-up riding”.
Looking for something different I was intrigued by Keven’s article in the Ride
magazine, on the 2016 Munga and tried to do some research on the event, at
that time it had just finished its second year. There was almost nothing out on
social media about it, which added to the intrigue and mystery – I was hooked
& did the online entry and snatched R3000 off with the early bird discount
offering! My goal – to finish on my crazy bike, called Scelerat within the 120
hours, targeting 116 hours - that is coming in at 8pm on Monday four hours
before the 12pm cut-off. At the back of my mind even at this year’s Epic I was
continually thinking about Munga and what to expect. Met some folk at Epic
who had done it and offered some tips, but at the same time I was becoming
more concerned that I was in over my head. I knocked off TransBaviaan,
TransKaroo and 36ONE in preparation and actually struggled at 36ONE – I was
concerned to say the least.
Munga preparation: Started getting the bike ready. Settled on a 35/18 gear
ratio (had a good friend use a CNC tooling machine to make up a new front and
rear 3 mm wide, solid steel chain rings specifically for Munga) and decided on a
minimalistic approach to carrying stuff is what I would embrace. No hydration
pack on my back and as little stuff in my rear pockets. I was planning on using a
Quicksilver pop stud collar surf shirt with pockets sewn on the back and an
Assos bib with orange baggie shorts with no gloves, and a purple flower on my
helmet – keeping it pure and authentic, “old school” like back in the 80’s. Four
metal bottles mounted on the bike with a carrying capacity of 2.6 litres and
some Apidura top tube bags for spares and odds & ends………..that’s it – well so
I thought.
Munga, the event: bang it starts at 12pm in a hot Bloemfontein after our final
race briefing. I quickly fell back in my anticipated nearly last position and
started the grind. The five race villages (RV’s) that are placed along the route
give one the false impression of a place where u would chill, shower, have
some nosh and sleep and then get ready to push onto the next phase – almost
like a typical mnt bike stage event. Not true, you can’t hang around too much
as that time is lost and never made up again. At the same time you are aware
that your electronic devices – Garmin, phone, light, iPod, etc have to be
recharged which can also take time. Plug in straight away, eat food and have a
short power nap and then push on – that is the routine you have to fall in
straight away if you stand any chance in conquering this beast. Besides the 5
RV’s you also get two Water Points (WP’s) between each RV, spaced about 60
to 90 km’s apart……….in between that, nothing. Each WP is basically a farming
family that will greet you with 2 Munga banners and a flashing light at night,
offering you food and drink and very good hospitality like only South Africans
can – when you see those 2 banners your spirits immediately lift. SA is in the
midst of a severe drought and there is not much water out in the Karoo at the
moment. Incredible beauty is matched with scary heat and very windy
conditions that at one moment make you feel on top of the world and then 30
minutes later you at an all-time low, with your body struggling to keep going. It
is a big mind game this event, especially when riding solo and not pairing up
with a fellow rider. My all-time low was probably 40 km’s from Fraserburg, a
small town in the middle of nowhere – I was making my way to the town and
the second WP before reaching the next RV at Sutherland. I was totally stuffed,
had nothing left and was starting to fall behind in time in a big way. A massive
head wind was smashing into me ……….I was moving at a crawling pace. I
stopped at the side of the dusty road under the shade of a shrub/tree and lay
on the ground and cried – I was done! I think I sent a garbled what’s up voice
clip to my “supporters group” following me – they were concerned for my
health. They urged me to push on and I got up to get going again………..I
reached Fraserburg and as leaving the cycling Gods looked down on me and
gave me an offering in the form of two fellow riders, Giuseppe and Ryno who
had bunkered down in a room, probably a brothel of sorts in Fraserburg for 5
hours, hiding from the wind. Re-joining the race they ended up right behind
me – I immediately realised if I was going to do this I needed to stay with them
– what nice guys, Giuseppe a 5 time full iron man had the determination to see
this this thru and I locked in on that. We did the sums and figured out we were
going to have to go flat out to WP7 and then non-stop to Wellington if we were
to make it in time – can the human body even do that? As the evening
approached I realised my Lezyne light was empty – I had not plugged it in
properly at the previous RV. Riding between Ryno and Giuseppe I managed to
get thru the night using my helmet light only. The Friday to Monday stretch all
seems light a blur now, I cannot really remember much. I did lose my two
mates leaving Sutherland – I went the wrong way for a few km’s and when
realising it I could not catch up with the other two. The stomach bug then hit
me hard and I had uncontrollable diarrhoea …..I could not drink or eat without
the runs – when coming to the end of my 5 tissues I carried, the wind struck
and blew my last one away. I gave chase but soon realised I would not win this
one, PLUS I had no shorts on and was running on a farmers land with sheep
roaming around – a difficult one to explain away. Local dry grass did the trick
and I resumed my journey which was starting to disintegrate again until I
reached WP9 in the Tankwa where the gods were looking out for me again.
Giuseppe and Ryno were waiting for me and the medics gave me something to
settle my tummy. Both of them were now wearing 2 bibs to help relieve their
sore backsides. Also, two mini Munga organisers from CT, Alan and Angelo
came all the way up to support the CT riders………..made me some food to take
with, gave me a huge hug and I left straight away with Ryno and Giuseppe – it
was time to now push hard. A massive stretch lay ahead to Ceres nearly a
100km’s and along the way we lost Ryno – he was toasted, nose bleed, runny
tummy – his body was shutting down. He collapsed on the side of the road,
with a space blanket on him and told us to push on. Somehow we arrived in
Ceres, RV5 at sunrise…….we rode and rode and rode till we had knocked off
the km’s. Nothing would stop us now. After some barley soup and chicken
pasta from Anwar the chef, and inflating our tires we left for Wellington with
Giuseppe pushing ahead. We were smelling so bad now after not showering
for over 3 days I think our families who were waiting for us would have smelt
us before seeing us arrive it was that bad. And bang, I rolled in around
11:00am, just before the cut off…….quite worrying for my wife, Isabelle and
supporters who were supporting me on. I became a Mungrel……I did it – so
stoked, an incredible high.
What would I have done differently & recommend to folk contemplating
taking on the Munga in 2018:
Go faster from the start……….you can’t afford to fall behind, period
Do the first two legs back to back (have a short lay over at
VanderKloofDam) and then rest up in properly Britstown. The last two
legs on Saturday (to Sutherland) and Sunday (to Ceres) going thru the
Tankwa are brutal……u need time to manage those
Try find a partner or group early in the ride that you can hook up with –
it makes a massive difference on so many levels. A backmarker solo
effort is huge
Bike prep – a good solar charging device or dynamo rear hub. A careful
selection of what light and mapping device you take. Be very familiar
with your device – you must be confident in mapping! Use quality tires,
just put on a new set 2 months before… Top up generously with tire
sealant the week before. I rode on 1.4 rear tire pressure and 1.2 in the
front – since I had no suspension.
Body prep – get the top of the range Assos bib……..non-negotiable. It’s
R5000 but you have no choice, just do it. Put new anti-bum chaffe on
each day. Use a good pair of cotton socks as your feet will swell, blister
and sweat. Have sleeves, a buff and a jacket as the cold mornings on the
last two legs can takes its toll on you. Temperatures ranged from 3.5
degrees to 51. My no gloves policy sort of back fired on me! Have a
back-up battery operated light, like a small Topeak as well as an on top
of the helmet light. Carry a good power bank storage device. Have a
plug/usb fitting, all ready with separate leads to plug in at the RV’s. Use
the 10 WP’s to also charge up. I would still go with no hydration pack as
to limit the weight on my back, but you have to carry enough water as it
gets really hot out there. Look after your three contact points – hands,
feet and bottom.
General – be aware of the average speed you need to maintain to reach
your finish target. Have a partner (wife/husband/mate) manage a
“what’s up” supporters group back at home – it is a massive help to have
encouragement plus u can send back feedback – voice and video
clips…..they love it. Jeanie Dreyer did it for her husband, Martin on his
2017 FC record chase and he said it was a great help. Set mini goals
between each WP and RV so as to kill the time……I would stop at each
10km mark on my Garmin when riding solo and celebrate with a small
dance, maybe a nibble and sip of water. Find a cause/charity to ride for
and use that to push yourself beyond your limits. Mine was “McGregor
Young Warriors”………a group of young boys and girls I manage in my
village of McGregor where I live. Take music – I had 2 Ipod shuffles plus
back up on my phone. Be prepared to overcome obstacles without
stressing too much – like getting lost, feeling knackered, no lights or
faulty Garmin device, etc.
Food – don’t take too many supplements, try eating plain wholesome
food. The WP’s and RV’s give you enough and offer zip lock bags to take
away – leave each RV or WP with food to last 6 hours at least….you get
crazy hungry. Try nibble something on the hour and keep drinking.
Watch the colour of your urine – if too dark you need to drink more.
Medication – stay awake tablets (regmakers) as the sleep monsters are
waiting for you from day three. Plus I used 4 sachets of BioPlus. Meds for
runny tummy and headaches plus sunscreen. Take two lip balms with
you and re-apply continuously – big help. Small tissue pack for
emergency toilet stops!
Mini Munga’s – 8 rides ( 2 X 6,8,10,&12 hours) are put on each year in
the lead up and are FREE……..it helps to do them as you get a first-hand
opportunity of mapping
Munga is quite an unusual event, unlike anything else out there…………it will
test your resolve. When you arrive in Diemersfontein it will forever change
your life………….you will be a better person for having taken part. Be brave, sign
up. Quoting a very special endurance athlete from the States and current
navy seal & ranger – “you have not lived until you endured pain”. Put
yourself in an uncomfortable position and take part in the Munga
PS Ryno made it as the 81’st and final Munga finisher…………he got up after we
left him and pushed on
Also, you want to see how tired u get, have a look at a short video clip of me
rambling on, that I sent back to my supporters group following me at WP8 just
outside Sutherland using the farmers WiFi, it’s on my FB profile….I was stuffed
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it helps in some small way in
your personal preparation. Feel free to make contact with me as well on any
aspect of the Munga – max@breede.co.za
