Shebeen Posted June 20, 2016 Posted June 20, 2016 Theo streched the elastic and made good ground, he caught up with Liehann on Aasvoëlberg and they rode together to Hoffmeyer where they settled just after 21H00. Theo is currently on par with Martin Dreyers rekord of 2012, the elastic have now switched between Mike&Tim and Theo, the ever stretching will continue up to Cambria, where the winners of this years race would be decided.....probably correct. Theo van Dyk is sitting in the pound seats. The two most experience guys , Mike and Tim James are with him, but he has a 24hour lead over them as he started a day later. The fastest rider is Bruce Hughes, who has overcome two time penalties and was ahead of theo yesterday. He chose to take a BIG rest at bucklands, got there 7pm and wanted to leave at 2am. Theo and mike overtook him in the dark, and Bruce only left at 4:30 in the end. The result of this is that he consequently missed the time gate of 6am-2pm at the baviaanskloof reserve (there to keep the night time buffalo encounters away). Bruce will be rearing to go at 6:00am tomorrow, but Theo will be about 130/150km up the road with about 85 hours of riding time to go. It's not quite a 16 hour lead, as Bruce will be well rested. The dark horse is Tim Deane, who is on par with Mike and TimJames but a day behind. If theo and Bruce chase each other into submission then he stands to profit the most. He just needs to make the cambria gate tomorrow morning.
Shebeen Posted June 20, 2016 Posted June 20, 2016 Aha - I rode the Baviaans a good few years ago now and drove it in a normal car. I believe its deteriorated somewhat since...you did not ride the osseberg jeep track in a normal car! (it's off the main road) http://www.meistre.co.za/gallery2/d/16061-1/IMG_2460+_Medium_.JPG http://www.meistre.co.za/gallery2/d/16045-1/IMG_2408+_Medium_.JPG
Jewbacca Posted June 20, 2016 Posted June 20, 2016 Aha - I rode the Baviaans a good few years ago now and drove it in a normal car. I believe its deteriorated somewhat since...This is not on the driveable bit.... There are no roads or any real paths along this stretch of the river. One kind of weaves their way on either side of the river through the reeds and crossing multiple times before linking up with some farm roads, climbing out of the ravine and popping back in again for the riding of the gauntlet. It can be very cold and always wet. Almost no riding, just pushing and carrying and splashing!
Headshot Posted June 20, 2016 Posted June 20, 2016 you did not ride the osseberg jeep track in a normal car! (it's off the main road) http://www.meistre.co.za/gallery2/d/16061-1/IMG_2460+_Medium_.JPG http://www.meistre.co.za/gallery2/d/16045-1/IMG_2408+_Medium_.JPGNot indeed. Looks extreme for various reasons...
Marnitz Nienaber Posted June 21, 2016 Author Posted June 21, 2016 Take my hat off for Bruce, for a first timer he has done exceptionally well, not even one navigation mistake all the way from the start, only one mistake : Missed the Cambria gate. Bruce will put in on hell of a effort to catch Theo, which will only push Theo further ahead, history has shown us to make up 6 hours from Cambria to the finish is nearly impossible. The chase from behind might be just what Theo need to break the record, and to break this record one need a chaser. Theo and Tim James will stick together I think, they rode together last year and in doing so Tim James will have an advantage over his chasers. Only a few days of excitement left, then eventually I will have to losse my slapgatgyt and start training for next year.....
hillbilly Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 Take my hat off for Bruce, for a first timer he has done exceptionally well, not even one navigation mistake all the way from the start, only one mistake : Missed the Cambria gate. Bruce will put in on hell of a effort to catch Theo, which will only push Theo further ahead, history has shown us to make up 6 hours from Cambria to the finish is nearly impossible. The chase from behind might be just what Theo need to break the record, and to break this record one need a chaser. Theo and Tim James will stick together I think, they rode together last year and in doing so Tim James will have an advantage over his chasers. Only a few days of excitement left, then eventually I will have to losse my slapgatgyt and start training for next year..... Bruce is not a first timer, he has a blanket, rode with his father in 2013 (22d 11h), has also been back to reccie parts of the trail this year.
Marnitz Nienaber Posted June 21, 2016 Author Posted June 21, 2016 Bruce is not a first timer, he has a blanket, rode with his father in 2013 (22d 11h), has also been back to reccie parts of the trail this year.Man on a mission, maybe he can change the near impossible, go Bruce !!!
hboli4 Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 I would love to do the Freedom Challenge one day...if only to go and experience the below for myself. Marnitz, hoop nie jy gee om nie maar hierdie stukkie skryfwerk van jou is wat my 'gehook' het. Kan nie onthou waar ek dit gesien het nie (was dalk op verlede jaar se thread) en dit is my inspirasie... "Slaapkrans portage is 'n bliksem, dit begin gelydelik en bliksem dan reguit teen die berg op, reguit sê ek jou, niks se gezig zag nie, pyl reguit en om dit nog moeiliker te maak is dit met polisiehond modder besaai. Jy weet mos wanneer 'n polisie hond byt los hy nie, hy wurg die laaste bietjie energie uit jou uit en dit smaak my ek sleep 'n paar van die honde die berg uit....."
Marnitz Nienaber Posted June 21, 2016 Author Posted June 21, 2016 "Slaapkrans portage is 'n bliksem, dit begin gelydelik en bliksem dan reguit teen die berg op, reguit sê ek jou, niks se gezig zag nie, pyl reguit en om dit nog moeiliker te maak is dit met polisiehond modder besaai. Jy weet mos wanneer 'n polisie hond byt los hy nie, hy wurg die laaste bietjie energie uit jou uit en dit smaak my ek sleep 'n paar van die honde die berg uit....." Dink dis krabel uit my blog uit, moes baie moeg gewees het.... Bly dis 'n inspirasie, soos Steven Burnette sê, ek is nie obessed nie net vreeslik passionate, maar ek dink Obsessed pas my meer, en dis wat met elke Challenger gebeur wat die Freedom klaar maak, jy raak verskriklik passionate en 'n hunkering onstaan om die struggle weer te gaan mee maak, jaar vir jaar vir jaar..... En ek dink 'n gap jaar soos die is net die regte aansporing vir volgende jaar, soms moet mens van ver af loer om te sien waar jyself die pad beister raak op die race, soos die pro's sê, ek moet 10 kg verloor en 'n ander fiets kry.....
Nancy Drew Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 What the heck is happening with Dirtrider? He seems to be backtracking.. or am I confused?
Shebeen Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 Bruce is not a first timer, he has a blanket, rode with his father in 2013 (22d 11h), has also been back to reccie parts of the trail this year.he wasn't really on my radar but had a quick look at his palmares from his blogs on the excruciatingly impossible to navigate bicycling.co.za online site. He's a yungsta, but has squeezed in an FC blanket, a TD finish, a trans europe race (pulled out), an epic and probably lots more. Got the horsepower it seems, has also sat out 6 hours of daylight due to penalties (broke a wheel early on). He's not that far back, six hours seems like a lot, but there's normally a concertina effect with two riders surging and resting - i think it's still going to come down a bit today
Shebeen Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 dirt rider is pulling some miles - still slogging out there right now he's in a bit of a limbo state currently, half a day behind a group but then 2 days ahead of the final autobus of 5. there's a time gate coming up, so might compress riders together http://trackmelive.co.za/api/freedom.php
tubed Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 I love each year watching how each guys confidence builds, especially those who are sketchy at the start and stick with it, by week 2 they are doubling up stages and riding into the night if they need to, this is testament to how individuals develop and grow during this race, fantastic to watch the exploits this year of Fanus, Dirtrider and Gary - and lets not forget Hayden last night or Werner today, putting a setback behind him and charging off into the night to Hadley after his new mates. I bet if you asked these guys at the end of the ride what they thought was of their biggest moments, you will hear them say its those experiences when they had to be rational, get back on the bike and keep going until they found the way to the next support station.
Dusty Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Dirt Rider is on a mission. He's doing exceptionally well. Riding a lot on his own, sometimes getting in late (last night). You can see that he wants that blanket and he's well on his way to getting it!
Slowbee Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Sherbet these guys are in for a tough time travelling through the karoo - the wind really picks up next week! They have a few days of great weather, then sunday/monday it gets hectic, lots of wind, calsm down a bit but by next week Thursday it get crazy again all the way till the weekend. On the plus side for riders, little to no rain.
Marnitz Nienaber Posted June 22, 2016 Author Posted June 22, 2016 I love each year watching how each guys confidence builds, especially those who are sketchy at the start and stick with it, by week 2 they are doubling up stages and riding into the night if they need to, this is testament to how individuals develop and grow during this race, fantastic to watch the exploits this year of Fanus, Dirtrider and Gary - and lets not forget Hayden last night or Werner today, putting a setback behind him and charging off into the night to Hadley after his new mates. I bet if you asked these guys at the end of the ride what they thought was of their biggest moments, you will hear them say its those experiences when they had to be rational, get back on the bike and keep going until they found the way to the next support station. That my friend is the exact reason why the Freedom Challenge has got a return rate close to 60% Before the actual start the blanket might be the main goal, but the unbelievable experience and camaraderie formed between the start line and the finish in Diemersfontein, with lots of sufferings, struggles and mechanicals might be the main bonding liquid. Take for instance yesterday when Werner broke his frame, I was immediately flooded with phone calls from previous Freedom Challengers willing to assist. Why would they like to assist, only because they have experienced the RASA, all of them exactly knew how it feels when something went wrong in the quest for you blanket. We the Freedom Challenge band of Brothers and Sisters, might enjoy a wandering or a stroke of the Picasso paint brush, only because we know how it feel to paint, we know exactly how it feel when you have got a mechanical, we know how strong the wind can get, we know how dark and cold it get, we all have experienced it and that's why we are passionate about the race. Thanks Gaeren Wilkonson for assisting last night, we only shared a day on the Freedom, but that was enough to become FC family for life!!!!!
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