2018 Freedom Challenge

[Marnitz Nienaber]

By the feel of it, it seems that I am fortunate not to race this year, I can see and feel that the competitors are in for a very wet cold race..........

 

Speaking about competitors, racing snakes and dark horses, my eye was caught by a few names:

 

• Graham Tweet Bird, just done the Expedition Africa going to enjoy the ride with Sarah Hearn, he might just pull her to the Stetteyns gate and enjoy a few leisurely day's waiting for the gate to open......
• Bruce Koller flying under the radar, maybe teaming up with strong ox Grant Hill 
• Tim & Didi Dean chasing Tweet & Co
• Andrew Blackburn and Pierre le Roux returning
• Charl van der Spuy, he know's what he's in for.
• Gary Scoular teaming up with Scott Rutherfoord
• Tim James need no introduction
• Jacques Tattersall going and able for sub 11

 

Only time and conditions will tell, maybe I must enter......

 

   

[The Crazy German]

By the feel of it, it seems that I am fortunate not to race this year, I can see and feel that the competitors are in for a very wet cold race..........

 

Speaking about competitors, racing snakes and dark horses, my eye was caught by a few names:

 

• Graham Tweet Bird, just done the Expedition Africa going to enjoy the ride with Sarah Hearn, he might just pull her to the Stetteyns gate and enjoy a few leisurely day's waiting for the gate to open......
• Bruce Koller flying under the radar, maybe teaming up with strong ox Grant Hill 
• Tim & Didi Dean chasing Tweet & Co
• Andrew Blackburn and Pierre le Roux returning
• Charl van der Spuy, he know's what he's in for.
• Gary Scoular teaming up with Scott Rutherfoord
• Tim James need no introduction
• Jacques Tattersall going and able for sub 11

 

Only time and conditions will tell, maybe I must enter......

 

   

Didn't I see a picture of your boxes already or is the hyena se kos an old one? As that was your 2015 racing name

[Shebeen]

A month to go - who else is in besides Bruce?

 

I'm planning to go all the way - but have a 50/50 record with this monster - so making no predictions and hoping for some luck.

 

Vacillate between - 'why the hell am I doing this?' and how privileged am I to get two weeks plus off to do something so self-centered.

 

Searching for some fitness and conditioning in a month - that versus some people who have been doing the lead-up events to get there, ie 36one, RTC, RTW and even TransPortugal. Not that I am anywhere near that aspiration - but it does seem to be that folk are taking this journey a lot more seriously these days. I'm even considering sending some boxes ahead this time....

lekker!

[Shebeen]

This thread is very quiet with Shebeen running about the Hantam this week, I sure he will have some analysis when he gets back

Yes I was busy doing this

https://youtu.be/4QXpnXvYnwo

 

There will be 6 2018 EA finishers riding their bikes all the way to Paarl this year.

 

I clearly need to speak to the boss better, my blanket is ten years old now, I'm sitting under it right now, and pretty happy not to be out there!

[Shebeen]

 

 

 

I guess the race is then between Jacques and Tim.....

 

.....or perhaps Ingrid

This RASA2015, RTC2016, RASA2016, RTC2017, RTW2017, RASA2017, RTC2018, RTW2018

 

Vs this

RASA2007, RASA2008, RASA2009, RASA2011, RTC2015, RASA2015, RTC2016, RASA2016, RTW2017, RASA2017, SRTR2017, RTC2018

[tubed]

This RASA2015, RTC2016, RASA2016, RTC2017, RTW2017, RASA2017, RTC2018, RTW2018

 

Vs this

RASA2007, RASA2008, RASA2009, RASA2011, RTC2015, RASA2015, RTC2016, RASA2016, RTW2017, RASA2017, SRTR2017, RTC2018

Yes, Ingrid's performance is truly remarkable and I look forward to meeting her - she's formidable full stop.

 

I cant look past Jacques times and am intrigued by his progression toward an obvious goal. I look forward to meeting him too. 

[Dusty]

I think that there may just be another dark horse with a late entry . Time will tell

[Zatopek]

I was looking for the start date and went to http://www.freedomchallenge.org.za/ (it is 12 June 2018)

 

Just a comment: It is a bit confusion if you look for the "2018 Freedom Challenge" - this is what I would call the race and also used as the title of this discussion.

 

It seems the organisation marketed it as the "RASA - Race Across South Africa" under the list of events: 

http://www.freedomchallenge.org.za/index.php/2015-01-17-17-56-04/rasa-race-across-south-africa

 

But then also called it "The Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa" on the about page.

 

What is the correct/prefeered name to be used? 

[Zatopek]

Yes I was busy doing this

 

There will be 6 2018 EA finishers riding their bikes all the way to Paarl this year.

 

I clearly need to speak to the boss better, my blanket is ten years old now, I'm sitting under it right now, and pretty happy not to be out there!

Awesome video!

[Shebeen]

Who is going to win this 2018 edition, It's obvious.

 

MARNITZ NIENABER

 

 

 

I was looking for the start date and went to http://www.freedomchallenge.org.za/ (it is 12 June 2018)

 

Just a comment: It is a bit confusion if you look for the "2018 Freedom Challenge" - this is what I would call the race and also used as the title of this discussion.

 

It seems the organisation marketed it as the "RASA - Race Across South Africa" under the list of events: 

http://www.freedomchallenge.org.za/index.php/2015-01-17-17-56-04/rasa-race-across-south-africa

 

But then also called it "The Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa" on the about page.

 

What is the correct/prefeered name to be used? 

 

Freedom Challenge. The original name of the event, which is the comrades/2200km bike ride/berg river canoe marathon - this is now known as the XTC (Xtreme Triathlon Challenge)

 

Now since other events have been started, they all have different names.

The original bike ride of the freedom challenge is now called Race Across South Africa (RASA).

 

but if you call it the Freedom Challenge, everyone knows what you're talking about.

[Percyzn]

By the feel of it, it seems that I am fortunate not to race this year, I can see and feel that the competitors are in for a very wet cold race..........

 

Speaking about competitors, racing snakes and dark horses, my eye was caught by a few names:

 

• Graham Tweet Bird, just done the Expedition Africa going to enjoy the ride with Sarah Hearn, he might just pull her to the Stetteyns gate and enjoy a few leisurely day's waiting for the gate to open......
• Bruce Koller flying under the radar, maybe teaming up with strong ox Grant Hill 
• Tim & Didi Dean chasing Tweet & Co
• Andrew Blackburn and Pierre le Roux returning
• Charl van der Spuy, he know's what he's in for.
• Gary Scoular teaming up with Scott Rutherfoord
• Tim James need no introduction
• Jacques Tattersall going and able for sub 11

 

Only time and conditions will tell, maybe I must enter......

 

   

 

i am going to stay under the radar, dont worry. Taking it easy to rhodes and then enjoying the journey to Diemersfontein. just need to get there in time for my flight, which gives me about 24 days! 

[Shebeen]

so fastest times in RED

 

By the feel of it, it seems that I am fortunate not to race this year, I can see and feel that the competitors are in for a very wet cold race..........

 

Speaking about competitors, racing snakes and dark horses, my eye was caught by a few names:

 

• Graham Tweet Bird, just done the Expedition Africa going to enjoy the ride with Sarah Hearn, he might just pull her to the Stetteyns gate and enjoy a few leisurely day's waiting for the gate to open......12d13h
• Bruce Koller flying under the radar, maybe teaming up with strong ox Grant Hill (RASA novices)
• Tim & Didi Dean chasing Tweet & Co  12d21h
• Andrew Blackburn(19d10h) and Pierre le Roux(22d12h) returning
• Charl van der Spuy(19d08h), he know's what he's in for.
• Gary Scoular(19d10h) teaming up with Scott Rutherfoord (21d12h)
• Tim James need no introduction (12d19h)
• Jacques Tattersall going and able for sub 11 (11d15h)

 

Only time and conditions will tell, maybe I must enter......

 

   

there might be some other dark horses lurking,

 

but basically you got tweet and tim deane touring with their bokkies.

you got tim james and jaqcues tattersall with times in the top20 ever.

 

and the rest are about 7 days behind.

everyone can ho quite a bit quicker doing the race 2nd or 3rd time around, but that is quite a gap.

 

it appears to be the jacques vs tim show according to the bookies, BUT anything can happen on dem trails!

[Barklyboy]

New addition, Mike Woolnough. Will keep Jacques and co on their toes.

[Shebeen]

STARTS TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

 

New addition, Mike Woolnough. Will keep Jacques and co on their toes.

shooe weeee, didn't see that one coming, about time he got that 5th blanket RASA2006, RTR2008, RASA2009, RTR2010, RASA2012, RTR2014, RTC2015, RTR2015, RTC2016, RASA2016, RTC2017, RTR2017, RTC2018

 

 

there's about 5 more days of marnitz saying he won't be doing it, before he admits he's actually doing it!

[Shebeen]

Just had a look at the entry list quickly.

 

might have missed a few, but I see only 3 people under the age of 40 on this startline!

a 1991, 1990 and 1983. average age is probably over 50!

 

 

Race for ballies?

or got too expensive for youngsters? (granted there are plenty of people under 40 racing the marginally pricier epic).

[Dusty]

Just had a look at the entry list quickly.

 

might have missed a few, but I see only 3 people under the age of 40 on this startline!

a 1991, 1990 and 1983. average age is probably over 50!

 

 

Race for ballies?

or got too expensive for youngsters? (granted there are plenty of people under 40 racing the marginally pricier epic).

I think that the ultra endurance races are more suited to more 'mature' riders mentally (and maybe financially). As the race is not only about speed,they also become competitive in non-stop events where they might not be in shorter races. There are exceptions to every rule of course.