Rhino rider Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 500 000km on a bike later and still counting There aren’t many 49-year-old women in South Africa, and in fact the world, who have clocked up over 500 000 km on a bicycle. Yet South Africa’s very own woman of steel, Hannele Steyn recently achieved this massive feat when she completed the third annual Trans Hajar Mountain Bike race in Oman this month. Steyn, who is a former South African mountain biking champion and provincial and Springbok colour holder in five sport disciplines including triathlon, biathlon, duathlon, road biking and mountain biking, crossed the finish line in third place after a gruelling 400 km route that led her through some of Oman’s most spectacular and rugged landscapes. But this race is just one of many that Steyn, a self-confessed adventure junkie has completed over the years. She is the only woman in the world to have completed all 11 Cape Epic mountain bike challenges and won it in 2005 and she has just secured sponsorship from Zurreal for an entry into what will be her 12th Cape Epic for 2015. Steyn has also finished and won many other national and international competitions, including the Drifter series, the Knysna Oyster Race, Sani2C, the Transalps in Europe and La Ruta in South Americas, among many others. Last year, Steyn crossed the finish line of the Trans Afrika mountain bike challenge in first place along with fellow competitor, Dan Hayman. The Trans Afrika is arguably one of the toughest and longest, unsupported non-stage cycle races on the South African mountain biking calendar. According to Steyn, in order to prepare her body for these long rides, she trains for up to four hours on weekdays and over five hours on weekends, burning on average about 12 000 calories a week. She hopes that these unbelievable feats of human endurance will inspire other women to take up mountain biking, which is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. “I want to be a role model to women in South Africa and encourage more women to get involved in mountain biking,” she says. “You don’t have to be as ‘crazy’ as I am but mountain biking really is one of the best forms of exercise and it is a fantastic way to experience Mother Nature. It’s also a family sport so the little ones can join in,” she adds.
javadude Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 Truly inspiring even for men :-) You really said that?
jaxtun Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 I came across this incredible woman in a race ( got extremely excited for 30 seconds to think I was passing her ) only to realise she was pushing her very tall male partner to the finish as his bike had broken and he could not pedal it.... There was still a fair way to go and she happily chatted to me while pushing him up hills!!!
Wyatt Earp Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 You really said that?I don't think he meant it with any ill intent .She is an inspiration fosho .
milky4130 Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 I don't think he meant it with any ill intent .She is an inspiration fosho .Thanks for the backup Wyatt, there must always be one
gummibear Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 She is so small and yet so strong http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsOHaG37l14/UXqDDX8vPyI/AAAAAAAACnw/71mkHHzIsrI/s1600/New+Image.JPG
SwissVan Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 She is so small and yet so strong http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsOHaG37l14/UXqDDX8vPyI/AAAAAAAACnw/71mkHHzIsrI/s1600/New+Image.JPG .......ALWAYS SMILING AND FRIENDLY
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