Munga MTB TwentyTwentyTwo

[hboli4]

On 1/10/2023 at 8:13 AM, gemmerbal said:

Awesome! Wish I could say that I remember all the faces I met along my journey, but sadly I’m not blessed with a photographic memory. Was that WP2 where I came in after dark? The waterpoint just before Vanderkloof? How did the race go for you from there?

I’ve been back on the bike since, mostly my roadbike though. More hand positions 🤣

Yip that is the one. My conversation with you started with "Is jy nie die berugte Gemmerbal van die Hub nie😁". I'm the plonker who was not concentrating and rode past WP2 for a couple of km's having to turn back.

To answer how my race went from there - some background and before and up to that point. It was actually touch and go whether I was going to start. I rode Wines2Wales early November. When I got back I got bronchitis....3 courses of antibiotics later and just concentrating to get well meant the first time I got on the bike after W2W was the Munga startline - off the bike for 4 weeks not ideal...Doctor did clear me from a medical perspective but I knew it was going to be a slog and vasbyt. 

I've done lots of longer rides(Transbaviaans & 36One for example) and have not had any issues or bad luck during the last 12 years - this all changed during this ride - a couple due to my own stupidity.

I started very slowly but battled keeping my HR low during the 1st 7 hours - luckily got lower when temps went down. Before WP2 - forgot my bumcream after applying at WP1, forgot my one bottle at Joggie's pop up stop after filling up and then rode past WP2 - luckily only an extra 4km's.

After WP2 - was caught in the rain on the way to Van Der Kloof(proper storm) - lost my gilet somewhere when carrying my bike around some rocks and mud(probably did not close my saddlebag properly when taking out my rainjacket). Luckily the Enduroplanet tech support guy at VDK had a bottle and gilet which I purchased. Left VDK in the rain again after about an hour stop and rode well up to the waterpoint before Britstown. Some more bad luck - broke the Boa on my left shoe...Duct taped the shoe to my foot and on I went.

I planned to have a couple of hours sleep at Britstown but could not fall asleep. Rested a couple of hours and left there at about 19.00(catching the back-end of the storm you were caught in). The Enduroplanet guys once again 'saved' me - they were able to repair the boa but had to shorten the wire quite a bit resulting in a battle to get the shoe back on. Rode well through the night and decided to grab a powernap at the WP before Loxton. This is where the major issue struck. After a solid hour powernap I got up from the mattress and a sharp pain/cramp shot through my right leg when I put pressure on the foot. Stretched out the cramp but felt that my achilles was very tight and a bit tender. Nothing like this has happened before(In hindsight - I 'passed out' on my stomach and also had my legs sticking out in the passage with a cool wind passing over me - according to the bio this sleeping position shortened the achilles and calf muscle and coupled with the cold wind resulted in the issue - lesson learnt). I did not feel the achilles at first when cycling but it got worse and worse untill a couple of km's before Loxton where I really battled to peddle and walking was also very painful. I thought my ride was over...To be continued - just realised this post is getting too long🙂

[gemmerbal]

9 hours ago, hboli4 said:

Yip that is the one. My conversation with you started with "Is jy nie die berugte Gemmerbal van die Hub nie😁". I'm the plonker who was not concentrating and rode past WP2 for a couple of km's having to turn back.

To answer how my race went from there - some background and before and up to that point. It was actually touch and go whether I was going to start. I rode Wines2Wales early November. When I got back I got bronchitis....3 courses of antibiotics later and just concentrating to get well meant the first time I got on the bike after W2W was the Munga startline - off the bike for 4 weeks not ideal...Doctor did clear me from a medical perspective but I knew it was going to be a slog and vasbyt. 

I've done lots of longer rides(Transbaviaans & 36One for example) and have not had any issues or bad luck during the last 12 years - this all changed during this ride - a couple due to my own stupidity.

I started very slowly but battled keeping my HR low during the 1st 7 hours - luckily got lower when temps went down. Before WP2 - forgot my bumcream after applying at WP1, forgot my one bottle at Joggie's pop up stop after filling up and then rode past WP2 - luckily only an extra 4km's.

After WP2 - was caught in the rain on the way to Van Der Kloof(proper storm) - lost my gilet somewhere when carrying my bike around some rocks and mud(probably did not close my saddlebag properly when taking out my rainjacket). Luckily the Enduroplanet tech support guy at VDK had a bottle and gilet which I purchased. Left VDK in the rain again after about an hour stop and rode well up to the waterpoint before Britstown. Some more bad luck - broke the Boa on my left shoe...Duct taped the shoe to my foot and on I went.

I planned to have a couple of hours sleep at Britstown but could not fall asleep. Rested a couple of hours and left there at about 19.00(catching the back-end of the storm you were caught in). The Enduroplanet guys once again 'saved' me - they were able to repair the boa but had to shorten the wire quite a bit resulting in a battle to get the shoe back on. Rode well through the night and decided to grab a powernap at the WP before Loxton. This is where the major issue struck. After a solid hour powernap I got up from the mattress and a sharp pain/cramp shot through my right leg when I put pressure on the foot. Stretched out the cramp but felt that my achilles was very tight and a bit tender. Nothing like this has happened before(In hindsight - I 'passed out' on my stomach and also had my legs sticking out in the passage with a cool wind passing over me - according to the bio this sleeping position shortened the achilles and calf muscle and coupled with the cold wind resulted in the issue - lesson learnt). I did not feel the achilles at first when cycling but it got worse and worse untill a couple of km's before Loxton where I really battled to peddle and walking was also very painful. I thought my ride was over...To be continued - just realised this post is getting too long🙂

Ah yes, now I remember! Lekker, we should have taken a photo together, you could have been in my blog 😉

I know exactly where you lost your gilet because I too had to get off my bike and walk around that big mud bath. I still thought, jeez, someone lost a black gilet, maybe I should take it with me in case… sorry man, I didn’t pick it up, my bad. 

Sounds like you had a tough race with all the physical challenges you had. Share the rest of your journey!

[hboli4]

On 1/11/2023 at 8:47 PM, gemmerbal said:

Ah yes, now I remember! Lekker, we should have taken a photo together, you could have been in my blog 😉

I know exactly where you lost your gilet because I too had to get off my bike and walk around that big mud bath. I still thought, jeez, someone lost a black gilet, maybe I should take it with me in case… sorry man, I didn’t pick it up, my bad. 

Sounds like you had a tough race with all the physical challenges you had. Share the rest of your journey!

Aish - then I could have been as famous as Gemmerbal😉

No bad on you - we never saw each other again as far as I remember - actually - I think you signed in at VDK just as I was leaving. The gilet will hopefully find a new home - even only as a dust rag.

Yip - was a battle, or rather a war. Will share more - not so frequent on the Hub anymore.

[white tiger]

Hi

I'm really enjoying the Ride Reports by Gemmerbal.

I've red both of them twice. I'm trying to convince myself to enter the race.

I need some inspiration - When can we get the next post Gemmerbal?

[BigDL]

On 12/30/2022 at 11:58 PM, gemmerbal said:

I am trying my hand at writing blogs, this seemed the most obvious in order for me to share the many photos and videos across multiple platforms.

Episode 1 is up and running, please have a look and let me know if you guys are experiencing any problems viewing the content:

https://tieniemaree.blogspot.com/2022/12/1-windmill-casino-to-rv1-vanderkloof.html

Love the Blog - have bookmarked and will read thoroughly and share 

[gemmerbal]

6 hours ago, white tiger said:

Hi

I'm really enjoying the Ride Reports by Gemmerbal.

I've red both of them twice. I'm trying to convince myself to enter the race.

I need some inspiration - When can we get the next post Gemmerbal?

I have been rather busy but I need to wrap it up, I will try to post the remainder over the coming weekend.
 

Thank you to everyone for the positive feedback! 
 

Just do it. Yes its not easy but hell it was worth it, I would do it again without a doubt!

[gemmerbal]

O ja. Been watching AMR with interest, very keen to give that a go at some point, that is a proper self supported race and the entry fee is a fraction of Munga but the peripheral expenses will be quite substantial I reckon. Maybe in 2024… 🙈

Edited February 7, 2023 by gemmerbal

[Shebeen]

17 hours ago, gemmerbal said:

O ja. Been watching AMR with interest, very keen to give that a go at some point, that is a proper self supported race and the entry fee is a fraction of Munga but the peripheral expenses will be quite substantial I reckon. Maybe in 2024… 🙈

if you want to do a proper self supported race locally but don't want to pay Munga $$$ then Freedom Circuit is a very good option. 

also follow the Sedgefield500 series, very cheep cheep in comparison.

[gemmerbal]

1 hour ago, Shebeen said:

if you want to do a proper self supported race locally but don't want to pay Munga $$$ then Freedom Circuit is a very good option. 

also follow the Sedgefield500 series, very cheep cheep in comparison.

Yes, but… Morocco!

Thanks Shebeen, ja i am aware of the Freedom circuit but I’d love to see some of Morocco, looks a beautiful country! My local barber is from Morocco and he could not contain himself when we chatted about his country. So ja, let’s see what the future holds. 

[gemmerbal]

https://tieniemaree.blogspot.com/2023/02/3-rv2-britstown-to-rv3-loxton.html

The next one is up, it was painful to write...

Edited February 20, 2023 by gemmerbal

[Prince Albert Cycles]

6 hours ago, gemmerbal said:

https://tieniemaree.blogspot.com/2023/02/3-rv2-britstown-to-rv3-loxton.html

The next one is up, it was painful to write...

Dankie ek het weer lekker gelees . Ek is verbaas oor hoe baie detail jy onthou . Wanneer ek baie moeg is onthou ek nie alles nie . Jy was seker nog nie moeg nie 😎

[gemmerbal]

3 hours ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

Dankie ek het weer lekker gelees . Ek is verbaas oor hoe baie detail jy onthou . Wanneer ek baie moeg is onthou ek nie alles nie . Jy was seker nog nie moeg nie 😎

Strava Flyby help om die roete en timing te retrace. Die fotos wat ek geneem het en die videos wat ek geskiet het help ook om my memory te refresh. Die “hi’s and low’s” is nog redelik vasgevang in my geheue. Ek is besig met ‘n rowwe draft van die volgende seksie, al wat ek kan sê is dat die volgende 2 dae se mental battles heelwat taaier was. 🙂

[white tiger]

Dankie Gemmerbal - dis heerlike leesstof vir iemand wat oorweeg om vanjaar die Munga te doen.

Ek sien uit na die vlg aflewering.

[Long Wheel Base]

Didn't see a dedicated thread so thought I would put this here.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpgCzIgoSCT/

 

Saw it on instagram

RIP John

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, Long Wheel Base said:

Didn't see a dedicated thread so thought I would put this here.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpgCzIgoSCT/

 

Saw it on instagram

RIP John

yes, what a trailblazer

 

The whatsapp group I'm on mentioned it as a heart condition.

 

what a loss.

[Pure Savage]

I see someone on insta mentioned John Ntuli passed away, remember watching his dot alot during Munga.