walkerr

My buddy, Nico, is riding it both ways this year - there and back. https://bicyclecouriers.co.za/cause-of-the-month-nikamunga2021/?fbclid=IwAR1YUzcO0TFkwXOXfOR8WXAeoiuEETxb6KnKfKE6haXBGtSjmMWmBqtkqDs He may not finish fastest, but he'll definitely finish farthest! (also a part of the riders raising for Nika)

Brilliant! And Afrikaans for Plover is .....

Here we go again - faveourite dot watching of the year!

Happy to say the South African "Mungral" print run is done. Copies are in store at William's Bike Shop in Somerset West, or via online order page if that doesn't work for you: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvyMQDaCBtDfQPCTgyJNK8-tSWeBIuHs-8-1uPlhcl9EOMtw/viewform

Hope this is allowed - but I'm very pleased (and surprised) to say I finally got my arse in gear and wrote the Munga book my late buddy Theunis always nagged me too. Amazon have eBook and print copies for international folk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mungral-Finishers-Tale-Pedalling-Journeys-ebook/dp/B0914ZCMTS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mungral&qid=1617964635&sr=8-1 But there will also be a local South African print copy run which I'm just finalislng the proofs for. Message me direct or reply if of interest.

I was sceptical on the cost until I took part in Munga. You get fed, watered, and treated like royalty across 1,000km of the most barren and empty terrain you're ever likely to see. I came away not thinking about how expensive it was, but how they did so much and took care of each and every rider so well for the price. Honestly, it's a once in a lifetime adventure - when you finish it, the last thing you will ever think about is what it cost.

Definitely save up those Rs and have a go - nothing like experiencing the pain and elation for yourself. Brutal, but worth every penny and kilometre

Last riders almost home - thanks all on here for bringing some life to all the dots, definitely made up for not actually being able to be there.

Those InReach units have got more and more attractive in last couple years. Latest high end model (although crazy expensive) doubles as a full blown navigation GPS too.

You said that right. There's a group of 4 riders at the tail who are digging deep and refusing to let that little b*stard green cut line get away from them (including Chantal, Markus and Derek). They're out on some nasty rocky single track before WP8, with patches of deep sand - and they're doing it in the dark. Respect, Send them some love folks

The section they're on now is quite fast rolling, from memory, where it swings right just ahead the track gets pretty rough and ugly. Then there's a short climb up over a last hill, and some more rough track. About where Brian is now it smooths out a bit and gets faster rolling (aside from the usual corrugations and wind).

She just popped up on scratch list showing on my screen. Sad - fought hard and can be very proud.

Hanno looks to be chasing Brian down hard - there's enough riding left that the 15km between them is very closable. The long straight corrugations after WP10 can easily play into one rider vs another depending on their styles or preferences. And there's a chunk of climb after and some descending into Ceres - not to mention the effects of differing levels of sleep deprivation. 3rd place is far from a slam dunk yet. Edit - just put the wind layer on the map too. Does not look kind! Wonder who has the legs left for a real battle?

Great shame

Patsy has been riding hard and long - would guess/hope she's catching breath. Pierre was in a car at some stage I thought, perhaps he got back (or I got it wrong). I was at the very tail on stage one in 2018, and the ambo was doubling as a sweep vehicle, so may not mean necessarily bad news.

Anyone know the deal with Pierre at the back - he suddenly started tracking again and making good progress. Not showing as scratched either. Did he go and get some medical attention and was able to rejoin? He's flying if he did, although I wonder if it's just him and/or tracker riding in a sweep car.

Brian is on that nasty rocky climb - once he's over that, it's a bit rutted and sandy in places, but it's mostly straightforward. Aside from the wind and/or the heat of course ... oh ... and the fatique ...

Chantal looks to be riding with Cecil still - managing to keep ahead of that little green f*****

Gutsy performance - she's not giving in to that nasty green marker. Willing her on to catch it and kill it

At least one of them has broken out and is rolling again. Gonna be exciting between these guys if they decide to all chase. Edit - the bit that Benky is climbing now is rocky and tough. Could well see the guys behind bunching up on that part. Anyone with full suspension will have a distinct advantage up and over that ridge. It'll be barely rideable uphill on a bike with no shocks.

Barring mechanicals/accidents, 1st and 2nd look unlikely to change now. That little wolf pack at RV4 though I reckon could chase Brian hard for that last podium place. There's still some rough terrain and conditions where that spot could still be up for grabs.

Just a dusty gravel slog into a headwind instead

Indeed - far from easy. I guess we'll see how fresh she feels by the length of stop at Britstown. There's enough faster riding after that she could claw back against the CUT tho today.

They gonna hit the long downhill into Sutherland soon which may spread them out if Michael is far enough back that he is still climbing. It'll probably clump back together though again at the RV. It's an ugly little stretch then to the drop down the pass - there's a short climb out of the town, and then some really nasty corrugations (unless it got graded) and some rough farm tracks just before the pass. Plenty can happen in that bit

Best bit about going down it (apart from a break from pedalling) is WP9 just along the road - proper oasis, where they look at how broken you are and bring coffee and food to your chair because they know your legs don't wanna get up again. All the WPs were great, but this one was beyond.