2013 Freedom Challenge Updates

[GLuvsMtb]

http://www.freedomch...5&Itemid=100202

 

It is almost time for this year's Freedom Challenge. I really admire those who tackle this mammoth challenge. Good luck to all that have entered. This is definitely on my bucket list.

Edited June 14, 2013 by GLuvsMtb (Aka Morewoodmad)

[Li Mu Bai]

Good luck to all those taking on this adventure!

[flymango]

Huge respect to all starters and best of luck. Definately not on my bucket list.

[Dusty]

That time of year again. First batch is off on Sunday

[Shebeen]

and just like every year i will be glued to it!

 

my blanket is almost 5 years old now, it's out the cupboard and on the couch.

[tubed]

Have been chatting to the race office and I will with their help try and do a daily update of the developments in the 2013 race.

 

As mentioned above, the first batch is off this Sunday and thereafter daily, (except for Sun the 16^th when the 80km Duzi trail run takes place, which the triathletes will be doing as their first leg, the FC being the bike leg and the Berg River Canoe Marathon the third leg). The final batch, including the triathletes, and the race snakes will leave on Monday the 17^th.

 

Looking at the field this year, there is no Alex Harris (Great Divide this year) and defending champ Martin Dreyer is doing it as a belated honeymoon with his wife Jeannie who has been recently putting in some impressive mtb performances – hope Martin can keep up.

Glenn Harrison and Tim James are also only riding as far as Rhodes this year – although I suspect someone is going to lay down a serious marker in being the quickest to Rhodes.

 

Without these contenders one may think it might be a boring race in 2013 – highly unlikely, as the Dreyers will probably go for the womens records held by Tatum Loftus and there are sure to be some other dark horses in the field which we can chat about in the coming days.

 

Sure to provide loads of entertainment will be Marnitz Nienaber who on his own is a real card, but this year he will be carrying a tandem across the country having roped in his unsuspecting brother – as they say hkgk!

 

If all of the above does not go according to plan – well then the weather is sure to liven things up at some stage.

 

PS: Steve, looking forward to your contribution too.

 

(*hier kom groot ***)

[Slowbee]

Cold front leaving CT over the weekend. I doubt this front will bother the riders to much.

 

Shebeen, your talk was inspirational ! But being away from home for so long .....

[V12man]

This is going to be interesting - it's on my bucket list in a couple of years, but again - like last year I will be following closely as my brother in law is having a second go after a bout of hypothermia last year and dropping out.

[SwissVan]

Cold front leaving CT over the weekend. I doubt this front will bother the riders to much.

 

Shebeen, your talk was inspirational ! But being away from home for so long .....

 

Were you not hoping to do it this year?

[Slowbee]

Were you not hoping to do it this year?

 

I was indeed ..... but no longer .... it would not be fair on my wife and daughter to be away from them for 3 weeks. Not while the wife is still building up her business and needs me to be the home dad

[SwissVan]

I was indeed ..... but no longer .... it would not be fair on my wife and daughter to be away from them for 3 weeks. Not while the wife is still building up her business and needs me to be the home dad

 

Home dad stuff could be good mental toughness training for FC 2014...

[Shebeen]

Have been chatting to the race office and I will with their help try and do a daily update of the developments in the 2013 race.

 

As mentioned above, the first batch is off this Sunday and thereafter daily, (except for Sun the 16^th when the 80km Duzi trail run takes place, which the triathletes will be doing as their first leg, the FC being the bike leg and the Berg River Canoe Marathon the third leg). The final batch, including the triathletes, and the race snakes will leave on Monday the 17^th.

 

Looking at the field this year, there is no Alex Harris (Great Divide this year) and defending champ Martin Dreyer is doing it as a belated honeymoon with his wife Jeannie who has been recently putting in some impressive mtb performances – hope Martin can keep up.

Glenn Harrison and Tim James are also only riding as far as Rhodes this year – although I suspect someone is going to lay down a serious marker in being the quickest to Rhodes.

 

Without these contenders one may think it might be a boring race in 2013 – highly unlikely, as the Dreyers will probably go for the womens records held by Tatum Loftus and there are sure to be some other dark horses in the field which we can chat about in the coming days.

 

Sure to provide loads of entertainment will be Marnitz Nienaber who on his own is a real card, but this year he will be carrying a tandem across the country having roped in his unsuspecting brother – as they say hkgk!

 

If all of the above does not go according to plan – well then the weather is sure to liven things up at some stage.

 

PS: Steve, looking forward to your contribution too.

 

(*hier kom groot ***)

 

Ja, it is a bit more open this year - but the defending champ is on the line. It will be no ordinary honeymoon with jeannie last year saying she wants to go at 'afkak' pace.

 

Otherwise robbie mcintosh is proabably the highest pedigreed cyclist to hit the route, can he read a map?

 

Andrew 'GI' King did the first ride in 2004, rode it again in 2008. He's been on the route every other year in some form

filming it and has just unogwajed to durbs for training.

 

look forward to your updates...happy to pass the mantle along

[Dusty]

FC Twitter feeds hotting up as the nerves increase. (and the weather gets colder)

Edited June 7, 2013 by Dusty

[paarlmtb]

Has the entry fee doubled (about) over the last couple of years - thought the entry was around 10K now see its R19500

[Dusty]

Has the entry fee doubled (about) over the last couple of years - thought the entry was around 10K now see its R19500

. Not sure about this, but it seems good value as technically you can carry on for 26 days. Cost per day seems much cheaper than the ave stage race.

[tubed]

The start at the Pmb Townhall at 6 am, clock stops at Diemersfontein

Day 1: Pmb to Allendale Farm, 109km

 

Batch A are probably by now all fast asleep at Allendale and by all accounts (twitter: @freedom_trail) it all went according to plan. The day is marked by two main features, crossing the Umkomaas and the climb out of the valley on the Hella Hella pass. Day 1 is essentially about getting going - its months and months (for some years) of dreaming about this event and then before you know it you are not only doing it but you have completed day 1. So there will be some very relieved people enjoying the hospitality of the Waddilove family farm.

 

It sounds like the Umkomaas is full, so there should be some stories (and hopefully photos) of some people swimming rather than wading - once you are in, there is not a lot of turning back and it can flow strongly - with a bike weighing 13kg a backpack another 10kg or so and very rocky underfoot - it gets very tricky. There is the longer way around, but it is getting quite overgrown, but its not dangerous.

 

After the river its pretty much up up and up, the Hella Hella climb goes on for ever and its will be the first taste of walking - yes that's right walking up a road alongside your bike, very soon you lose any semblance of embarrassment and you push when you need to.

 

It undulates toward the end and the overnight is not far from Mckenzie club, recent host to Sani2c.

 

Probably the brewing story is the weather and conditions ahead, Batch A are on to Ntsekeni Nature Reserve tomorrow night - they will know by now that it has been snowing there today and for good measure there has been snow in Rhodes and Molteno. So it seems like they are going to test their cold weather gear early this year and maybe for a long time.

 

Well done to all in Batch A

 

(see also www.freedomchallenge.org.za or freedomchallenge on facebook)

Edited June 9, 2013 by tubed