2013 Freedom Challenge Updates

[tubed]

Glen's in at Rhodes.

Huge achievement, plus on a single speed Edited June 17, 2013 by tubed

[Chro Mo]

That guy is amazing.

[Percyzn]

I went out this morning and caught up with todays batch about 25kms out of PMB. All looking good, a beaut day out of Maritzburg. Martin and Jeannie in high spirits, as well as the 3 guys who did the 80km trail run yesterday.

[Percyzn]

Huge achievement, plus on a single speed

 

Cotic Rocks!

[Heel Drop]

loving the updates thanks - would love to do this one day

[tubed]

Thanks Percy - great pics, smiles all around - so glad you got out there

[flymango]

Huge achievement, plus on a single speed

 

:eek:

[flymango]

@tubed - fantastic coverage and writing!! Much appreciated.

[Shebeen]

Great insights from @tubed, the race is on! Without doubt the best weather for an opening week at fc.

[Iain Olivier]

Some race pictures of Hout Bay big wave surfer Barry Futter climbing the notorious Lehana's Pass.

 

"1 hour up a 3 hour 1000 m climb up Lehanas pass!" Barry

 

 

[SwissVan]

Och!!

 

This event and its participants make most other events seem somewhat insignificant...hell I was proud of some of my achievements but compared to this...joh!!

 

 

Nice pictures and updates

[Warren911]

Thanks for this, it is super cool!!!

Sure here you go:

 

http://www.guardian.co.za/login.aspx

 

username: freedom

password: password

 

Select the rider you want and select latest position, then click on green arrow and it opens a pop-up which will have a link to a google earth map in a new window

 

just be wary there are all sorts of issues with it - I currently cant refresh it to find my mates en route to Vuvu

 

but generally it does work

[tubed]

Day 9:

 

Yesterday could be described as the big shake up and shake out – usually the weather does this in the race and perhaps it did. As Shebeen pointed out it is unprecedented that the whole field has had such good weather since the first guys started – to put it into perspective the word MUD has not been mentioned once in 9 days.

 

MUD is the cyclists biggest nightmare and this race dishes up every variety with some special types too. The MUD found in the brooding Stormberg region after the snow has melted is the worst; it clings, coagulates, clots and sticks until there is so much you have to carry your bike as you weep. Three or four days of incessant mud have broken many competitors in the past.

 

Back to the race – the fantastic weather has probably seen some guys push further than they should have and with that, the hinges (knees) which are not used to riding for more than 12 hours a day, the ankles and the dreaded itb all say hello very painfully – but still they push on because the weather is good and there ends the race painfully.

Having said all of the above – those that are riding sensibly are having an absolute blast, to see guys crossing the Umkomaas in perfect conditions, cresting Lehanas Pass in shorts and shirtsleeves, posing for photos is great. Spare a thought for the Nienaber tandem, they started out in minus 11 near Glen Edward and Werner had retired by the end of the day –“knees blown”, that leaves Marnitz at Masakala with a tandem and no stoker, so he has called for a sensible bike and will continue alone when his bike arrives and he has served some sort of penalty for changing a bike. We will hear a LOT more of him as he makes his way to Paarl. Get better soon Werner.

 

There have been several other abandonments down the course – Rhodes is a popular place to bail as riders get there with a major sense of relief, they are back in some sort of civilisation which they are normally accustomed to and they find the offer of a lift home too attractive for what remains ahead. The other abandonments come in the days after Rhodes, there are about 4 very tough days through the aforementioned Stormberg, where it is freezing every night and morning and surprise surprise there are lots and lots of very high mountains and long valleys. These are the portage stages and back to back they can cause havoc – get the navigation wrong here and you are in a mountainous area after dark, so you probably are going to have to sleep out. Psychologically riders need to be strong through this area as the Eastern Cape does open out a bit going forward, but they need to passage through this region. It is also characterised by some of the nicest hosts on the farms, they are miles apart in distance – but close in community, if you let Christo regale you at Chesneywold , your journey through this region is guaranteed to be sweet – he gets on the phone to his fellow farmers and the word is passed down the trail that you are a decent bloke – your hospitality is assured.

 

An amusing aside – the story is told of a few years ago two successful brothers who brought their Johannesburg corporate mind-set into the race bore the brunt of these farmer hosts when they demanded fruit salad for breakfast – well the only fruit you get in these isolated freezer farms at this time of the year will be in a Liqui Fruit box – they were upset when their request was declined and apparently they registered their dissatisfaction. Nothing works better than the bush telegraph in this region and they were singled out as being precious and treated as a precious person is in this region. It didn’t end there, the race director having sensed something was up – he is also connected – swiftly had a chat, imposed a small fine(very insignificant financially for them – but so embarrassing) and suggested they reread the rules which state that ‘you should consider your entry as a privilege and your race fee as a donation to the development of the trail and then act accordingly. The incident ended there – there is no appeal process or suspension pending an enquiry or all the other things we have to deal with in corporate life.

 

Back to the race – Glenn Missed the record into Rhodes, but still did a phenomenal ride, pic of his single speed included. Hopefully Glenn starts blogging soon and he writes as well as he rides. Robbie Mac is still in it although a bit off race pace, but he has adopted a sensible strategy in my books. There are a number of others making their way to Rhodes more or less on race pace – but looking a little less convincing right now – I sense a sort out coming. Then there are the Dreyers and Andrew King, the Dreyers are going very fast from the start and we have seen Martin can maintain that – this could be a lot of fun to watch if they win as a couple in a new record time. Andrew King is hot on their heels; he bears permanent number 2, being the second person to complete the inaugural ride with Dave Waddilove back in 2004. Andrew has put down his cameras this year and is looking determined – barring any unforeseen issues, he will be in it at the end as a potential winner.

 

Photos are: Andrew King crossing the Umkomaas, Eric Tollner heading up Lehanas (top left corner is summit) and on top of Lehanas, and Glenn Harrison’s steel Cotic SS.

Edited June 18, 2013 by tubed

[bassasdaindia]

Day 9:

 

Yesterday could be described as the big shake up and shake out – usually the weather does this in the race and perhaps it did. As Shebeen pointed out it is unprecedented that the whole field has had such good weather since the first guys started – to put it into perspective the word MUD has not been mentioned once in 9 days.

 

MUD is the cyclists biggest nightmare and this race dishes up every variety with some special types too. The MUD found in the brooding Stormberg region after the snow has melted is the worst; it clings, coagulates, clots and sticks until there is so much you have to carry your bike as you weep. Three or four days of incessant mud have broken many competitors in the past.

 

Back to the race – the fantastic weather has probably seen some guys push further than they should have and with that, the hinges (knees) which are not used to riding for more than 12 hours a day, the ankles and the dreaded itb all say hello very painfully – but still they push on because the weather is good and there ends the race painfully.

Having said all of the above – those that are riding sensibly are having an absolute blast, to see guys crossing the Umkomaas in perfect conditions, cresting Lehanas Pass in shorts and shirtsleeves, posing for photos is great. Spare a thought for the Nienaber tandem, they started out in minus 11 near Glen Edward and Werner had retired by the end of the day –“knees blown”, that leaves Marnitz at Masakala with a tandem and no stoker, so he has called for a sensible bike and will continue alone when his bike arrives and he has served some sort of penalty for changing a bike. We will hear a LOT more of him as he makes his way to Paarl. Get better soon Werner.

 

There have been several other abandonments down the course – Rhodes is a popular place to bail as riders get there with a major sense of relief, they are back in some sort of civilisation which they are normally accustomed to and they find the offer of a lift home too attractive for what remains ahead. The other abandonments come in the days after Rhodes, there are about 4 very tough days through the aforementioned Stormberg, where it is freezing every night and morning and surprise surprise there are lots and lots of very high mountains and long valleys. These are the portage stages and back to back they can cause havoc – get the navigation wrong here and you are in a mountainous area after dark, so you probably are going to have to sleep out. Psychologically riders need to be strong through this area as the Eastern Cape does open out a bit going forward, but they need to passage through this region. It is also characterised by some of the nicest hosts on the farms, they are miles apart in distance – but close in community, if you let Christo regale you at Chesneywold , your journey through this region is guaranteed to be sweet – he gets on the phone to his fellow farmers and the word is passed down the trail that you are a decent bloke – your hospitality is assured.

 

An amusing aside – the story is told of a few years ago two successful brothers who brought their Johannesburg corporate mind-set into the race bore the brunt of these farmer hosts when they demanded fruit salad for breakfast – well the only fruit you get in these isolated freezer farms at this time of the year will be in a Liqui Fruit box – they were upset when their request was declined and apparently they registered their dissatisfaction. Nothing works better than the bush telegraph in this region and they were singled out as being precious and treated as a precious person is in this region. It didn’t end there, the race director having sensed something was up – he is also connected – swiftly had a chat, imposed a small (very insignificant financially for them – but so embarrassing) and suggested they reread the rules which state that ‘you should consider your entry as a privilege and your race fee as a donation to the development of the trail and then act accordingly. The incident ended there – there is no appeal process or suspension pending an enquiry or all the other things we have to deal with in corporate life.

 

Back to the race – Glenn Missed the record into Rhodes, but still did a phenomenal ride, pic of his single speed included. Hopefully Glenn starts blogging soon and he writes as well as he rides. Robbie Mac is still in it although a bit off race pace, but he has adopted a sensible strategy in my books. There are a number of others making their way to Rhodes more or less on race pace – but looking a little less convincing right now – I sense a sort out coming. Then there are the Dreyers and Andrew King, the Dreyers are going very fast from the start and we have seen Martin can maintain that – this could be a lot of fun to watch if they win as a couple in a new record time. Andrew King is hot on their heels; he bears permanent number 2, being the second person to complete the inaugural ride with Dave Waddilove back in 2004. Andrew has put down his cameras this year and is looking determined – barring any unforeseen issues, he will be in it at the end as a potential winner.

 

Photos are: Andrew King crossing the Umkomaas, Eric Tollner heading up Lehanas (top left corner is summit) and on top of Lehanas, and Glenn Harrison’s steel Cotic SS.

 

great post

[bassasdaindia]

@tubed thank you for the updates

[deanbean]

Thanks for the updates. You add flesh to the twitter feed.