[Event] Freedom Challenge 2014

[Wyatt Earp]

thanks Anton - great punt!

 

nice to have someone knowledgeable on the radio

 

Pleasure, people need to know about all this stuff

[Percyzn]

not sure if this link has been posted earlier, great read..

 

http://mg.co.za/article/2014-06-25-racing-to-rhodes-and-other-deprivations&views=1&mobi=true

[Shebeen]

It's what happens when you grow up with a big family of Hollanders.

ha ha, my dutch side of the family left their nederlands behind when they got on the boat (I only know how to blaspheme).

 

But seriously, the cold is not such an issue on this race. If you can ride through a JHB winter then you should be able to hack it.

 

The ideal time to do the route is also not summer - too much of thunderstorms in the kzn/malutis. and blerrie hot in the karoo. Shoulder season rocks, march/september. Which is why the ride to rhodes/touring vibe now goes off in sept.

[tubed]

Some photos finally coming through now, its been a drought of a race after last year, these guys are all far to serious.

 

Some comments:

 

 

Clothes and warmth:

See how well wrapped up Graham is with his coffee and the group are dressed for sun during the day. The mornings in the Baviaans and around Willowmore are bitterly cold. The days are glorious - its all dictated by the rays of the sun, some parts of the Baviaans never see the sun, you will know when you are in those parts.

 

Buying things:

The pic through the frame is of a small coffee shop in the Kloof, anyone who doesnt stop there for something to eat and drink is just plain strange. The reason I say this is that you can use cash and carry out a transaction - that may sound silly, but its the way we live out our lives and we are used to it, the FC takes that away from you for days on end, and you feel the need to be able to pay for things - so you buy things/ food you dont really need, strange but true.

 

The Nuwekloof pass:

The roads are now wide and sign posted, your challenges are wind and corrugations, you count down the km signs on the fence as you make your way to Willowmore. Willowmore is the first real sign of a town in a week, you get a country hotel meal, your own room and can order a beer at the bar - you feel like a million dollars and your spirit soars, if you are in good physical shape. Very few people quit from here - although the challenge is by no means over, but it becomes largely a bike race from here - think Trans Karoo or Hel and Back for a day or two or five.

[tubed]

Breaking race update:

 

While Graham raced across the Karoo into vicious headwinds with third placed Marnitz, they rode together until Rondawel about half way in the 160km trek to Prince Albert, where Graham then went off on his own slightly ahead of Marnitz, that was at 13:00, Graham must be near PA now.

 

Glenn holed up at Willowmore still, knee issue, race over?........

[straatvark]

Clothes and warmth:

See how well wrapped up Graham is with his coffee and the group are dressed for sun during the day. The mornings in the Baviaans and around Willowmore are bitterly cold. The days are glorious - its all dictated by the rays of the sun, some parts of the Baviaans never see the sun, you will know when you are in those parts.

 

What shoes are being used? On this pic as well as Philip's blog it look more like hiking boots than MTB cycling shoes with cleats. Closeup pics would be cool. (No, i don't have a smelling shoe fetish )

[tubed]

game fence tactics:

 

the problem with these fences is not the 3m height, its the fact that the top of the fence is so wobbly and you dont want to break it or snag anything precious - after all you just have lycra on

[tubed]

What shoes are being used? On this pic as well as Philip's blog it look more like hiking boots than MTB cycling shoes with cleats. Closeup pics would be cool. (No, i don't have a smelling shoe fetish )

 

shoes are critical - look at the start of the thread and you will see what Mike W's shoes looked like at the end. The preferred choice seem to be touring shoes, ie cleated, but with a sole you can hike in. Several also have the shimano boots.

 

Nobody uses carbon soled slippers, those are for the coffee shop.

 

In the past some guys used to take a second pair of shoes for hiking/ portaging, that seems to have fallen away. You still see some guys with lightweight crocs for evening wear etc, but most nights you just put your feet up inside someones home. So one pair of shoes for the whole race is sufficient.

 

There is a big proviso - there has been no mud for 2 years now - swamp mud kills shoes - so they have to be in top condition as they vrot at a rapid rate.

[DJR]

game fence tactics:

 

the problem with these fences is not the 3m height, its the fact that the top of the fence is so wobbly and you dont want to break it or snag anything precious - after all you just have lycra on

 

The trick is to cimb directly next to the gate post, next to the gate, where everything is tight, rather than over the the gate itself, which is almost always wobbly.

[tubed]

Breaking race update:

 

While Graham raced across the Karoo into vicious headwinds with third placed Marnitz, they rode together until Rondawel about half way in the 160km trek to Prince Albert, where Graham then went off on his own slightly ahead of Marnitz, that was at 13:00, Graham must be near PA now.

 

Glenn holed up at Willowmore still, knee issue, race over?........

 

Glenn looking forward to supper at Willowmore - eish not good news. Sounds like a biggish Di and Steve group keeping him company.

 

Race office/ Meryl celebrating her birthday, I think she deserves the night off from the twitter account.

 

So with Grahams tweet as follows it seems like its up to Marnitz to decide tonight if he wants to do anything tonight after he gets to Dennehof. Graham: "Dennehof at 17.40. Faaaaaaaaaaak. Toughest day on bike EVER. Massive headwind. 166km. 14h20. Graham will be enjoying the 4 course meal of Dennehof, including the slow roast lamb shank, safe in the knowledge that Glenn is a full day behind him now. Mr consistency he has been - all credit to him.

 

Elsewhere Jill and Liehaan are following Marnitz and Graham into PA they are still out there battling the west winds - but they have a nice bed to look forward to. Tomorrow will be another tough day if they dont elect to spend the night in the Hel - there is no let up now.

 

A big group made it through the Osseberg to Cambria, they were probably led by Gawie who has a nose for getting through there, they include Leon, Francois, Gawie, Axel, Daniel, +1 other

 

Philip and George spent the night on the Kloof, understandably they elected to stay the day at Cambria - stories to be told there

 

No word of Tracey and Stu at the moment, probably at Bucklands tonight.

 

I think that's everybody accounted for except Hanno? he's out there somewhere.

 

These evenings of groups forming at SS's are just great, the guys get together and share their own experiences and just relax a bit, its important to take it all in because for some of them it will be over in about 4 days and then it you didn't make memories you will regret it.

 

Hope everybody gets a good night's sleep, especially those still out there.

Edited June 26, 2014 by tubed

[deanbean]

game fence tactics:

 

the problem with these fences is not the 3m height, its the fact that the top of the fence is so wobbly and you dont want to break it or snag anything precious - after all you just have lycra on

The trick is to cimb directly next to the gate post, next to the gate, where everything is tight, rather than over the the gate itself, which is almost always wobbly.

I hate it when people climb over my gates in the middle or on the slack end, climb over next to the pole, you cause much less damage, and it's more stable.

[deanbean]

Thanks for the updates, I was wondering what happened to Glenn.

[tubed]

double post, sorry

Edited June 26, 2014 by tubed

[tubed]

The trick is to cimb directly next to the gate post, next to the gate, where everything is tight, rather than over the the gate itself, which is almost always wobbly.

 

Spot on, that looks like they are making a meal of it

[tubed]

 

 

Glenn looking forward to supper at Willowmore - eish not good news. Sounds like a biggish Di and Steve group keeping him company.

 

Race office/ Meryl celebrating her birthday, I think she deserves the night off from the twitter account.

 

So with Grahams tweet as follows it seems like its up to Marnitz to decide tonight if he wants to do anything tonight after he gets to Dennehof. Graham: "Dennehof at 17.40. Faaaaaaaaaaak. Toughest day on bike EVER. Massive headwind. 166km. 14h20. Graham will be enjoying the 4 course meal of Dennehof, including the slow roast lamb shank, safe in the knowledge that Glenn is a full day behind him now. Mr consistency he has been - all credit to him.

 

Elsewhere Jill and Liehaan are following Marnitz and Graham into PA they are still out there battling the west winds - but they have a nice bed to look forward to. Tomorrow will be another tough day if they dont elect to spend the night in the Hel - there is no let up now.

 

A big group made it through the Osseberg to Cambria, they were probably led by Gawie who has a nose for getting through there, they include Leon, Francois, Gawie, Axel, Daniel, +1 other

 

Philip and George spent the night on the Kloof, understandably they elected to stay the day at Cambria - stories to be told there

 

No word of Tracey and Stu at the moment, probably at Bucklands tonight.

 

I think that's everybody accounted for except Hanno? he's out there somewhere.

 

These evenings of groups forming at SS's are just great, the guys get together and share their own experiences and just relax a bit, its important to take it all in because for some of them it will be over in about 4 days and then it you didn't make memories you will regret it.

 

Hope everybody gets a good night's sleep, especially those still out there.

 

Ooops I forgot our front runners, Bugs and Allen are similarly enjoying the bar and meal at Montague Hotel. Big decision tomorrow if they go past the new guest house at Good Hope near MacGregor or if they stay and get to Paarl on Sunday. It may well depend on what Graham does - I am sure they want to get there first.

[Ketoorskop]

I hate it when people climb over my gates in the middle or on the slack end, climb over next to the pole, you cause much less damage, and it's more stable.

 

Imagine what the gate will look like after 50 or a 100 people have climbed over it.