BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share Man! The last 3 weeks in J-bay have been a blast! Only drove back last night. Did some very nice riding around the J-bay area, then met up with Brighter-Lights (BL) and his cycling buddies on the 21st Dec at Heroncliff, just past Patensie. This is part of the route of the Transbaviaans challenge, the interesting hilly bit. I have not done the Transbaviaans (yet), so I was curious about the rumours I had heard regarding the nasty little climb just after halfway of the race. We would tackle the hills from the opposite side, up to a place called Rooihoek, and then back over the hills again. Sounded fairly straight forward at the time! Arriving at Heroncliff with Andrea, David (white shirt) and Adriaan (orange shirt). I'm still all smiles just before the ride. I think it is the only photo where I am smiling! My trusty Anthem served me well during the past 3 weeks. Not one mechanical or flat. Just for the record, the complete bike was purchaced from hubbers: frame, fork and groupset (Haga), seatpost (Hunter), saddle (paulvs), wheels (mtbking81), brakepads (muddee), and tires (carbon911). Thanks guys, everything worked perfectly! Andrea's fine Scott Scale; it weighs almost nothing. BigGuy, David and Adriaan waiting for Andrea to get her tire pressures sorted.BigGuy2009-01-13 06:33:02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share BL was hyperactive, jumping around on his bike and chasing up the hills to take photos, then riding back. He had several extra kms on his odo when we were finished for the day. We encountered this cape cobra along the way. Fortunately it was already expired. We saw several snakes during the ride. I do not particularly like snakes... The first hilly bit and I am already suffering. And this is not even the tough part yet. There are a couple of nasty hills in the 10km prior to the actual 7km climb, shortish but very steep. Their main aim seems to be to sap your energy just before you really need it. Meeting up with the ladies. Annelize (left) is David's wife, Kathy (middle) is Adriaan's wife, and to the right is Cindy-Lee (John-Lee Augustyn's mum). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share The start of the actual climb. I hooked onto Andrea's back wheel, holding on for dear life. The photos do not show how eroded and rocky the road really is. You constantly have to search for the best line. These roads are faster travelled by mtb than by 4x4 vehicles or even off-road motorbikes. On the way up. The incline varies between 10 and 18%, which would not have been so bad if the road was in better shape. Getting out of the saddle is a waste of time, it just results in wheelspin. Waiting for the others at the viewpoint, a welcome rest. 4km of the very steep climb is gone, still 3km to Bergplaas. David reminded me several times: "Not until you see the nameboard 'Bergplaas' are you at the top." Andrea still smiling, I am not anymore. View from the top, beautiful and very satisfying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share At the very top at Bergplaas! Now for the descent into the valley. This wasriviting, white-knuckled stuff. Even steeper and rockier than the climb, one mistake and you are out. At the bottom my calves and hands were cramping, never seated and on the brakes all the time. BL and David (below) playing in their back yard. Halfway stop close to Rooihoek. I did not bring nearly enough food along for this kind of effort.BigGuy2009-01-05 06:54:56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share BL posing in a tree. When asked why he is handing out his food and drinks to others, he replied that he does not get hungry or thirsty when going so slowly! Andrea trying out BL's new Anthem. Just past Rooihoek the road turned into a river, and with almost 50km on the odo we decided to turn around at this point. As we turned around we encountered some bikers, I think they were from Germany. "Yoo guyz arr fookin crazee" was muttered more than once. They were on their way to Cape Town and graciously let us have their bottled water! Andrea doing what she does best: climbing. Again, on the way back to the big climb there are two very nasty spikes, draining energy from the body. And it was turning into a very hot day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dukeblue Posted January 5, 2009 Share hi BG, Man, I have been riding all alone in Paradise beach for two weeks now (when the wind wasnt pumping and when we arent windsurfing or surfing) How did you hook up with the guys and start to ride with them? Did you go out regularly and do you know whether they are still around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share Going up one of the spikes. The first one is about 2km long and very steep and eroded, the second one is a little bit shorter at around 1.5km. I was beginning to suffer badly. At this point BL forced two horrible tasting gels into my mouth. Dare I mention that it was fastfuel? Did not really care much at that precise moment. Gritting the teeth. There was not much wind to help with the cooling, it felt like sitting in an oven. Up to this point I have not used the granny gear, but had no choice, it was just too steep for me. Drinking water from a stream, and washing the glasses just before hitting the big climb. 9At the bottom of the climb, a 4x4 pulling a caravan(!) having problems with traction. The first 100 metres or so of the climb has a gradient of around 20%! The biker could not believe his eyes as we passed him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share hi BG' date=' Man, I have been riding all alone in Paradise beach for two weeks now (when the wind wasnt pumping and when we arent windsurfing or surfing) How did you hook up with the guys and start to ride with them? Did you go out regularly and do you know whether they are still around? [/quote'] Hey Dukeblue, all the people I cycled with are locals from that area. Andrea is from Cape St. Francis, Brighter-lights is from Uitenhage, the rest of the people are from PE. Brighter-lights was in Gauteng beginning Dec for the Northern Farms 24hour race, and he organised for me to ride with him and his friends over Xmas time. I am not sure whether they do this kind of thing too often (although we repeated the exercise on Dec 31). Most of the other days I rode alone, taking the Kabeljous gravel road, going past the quarry, down to the spa and back, and through the first farm gate, then turning right and down into the valley, turning around at the bottom at the burnt-out farm house. Then I would go back, towards town, and go up the hill to the Vrieskas (iow do not turn left into Da Gama road). Stay on the gravel until you reach the top for a special treat, especially if the wind is coming at you at 40-50kph! Turn around at the top and repeat the trip twice more. Good for about 80km and 1200m of climbing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMCfan Posted January 5, 2009 Share LEKKA LEKKA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share The climb back to Bergplaas is worse from this side, even steeper and more erosion and rocks. It is about 9.5km from the bottom up to Bergplaas. Looking back on the climb. The owner of the caravan asked that we take photographs of his ordeal. BL turned around to get more photos. At the top at Bergplaas, the views were stunning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willehond Posted January 5, 2009 Share I remember during the Trans Baviaans thinking that the best way to ride through their must be at a slightly more relaxed pace and that I should come back, take my time time and enjoy the fantastic scenery. Looks like you guys beat me to it. Very jealous... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy Posted January 5, 2009 Share Going down from Bergplaas, the descent is fast and furious. With about 20km to go, the rolling hills tend to be more downhill than uphill, crossing water streams frequently. Andrea and David hitting the water. Kathy's bike weighs more than 15kgs, but she somehow manages to do the climbs! Respect. Time to get out of the saddle because the butt is taking strain. The end is just 3 short hills away. Andrea patting the 2 "jack russels". Johan (left) and Cindy-Lee (front) proud parents of John-Lee. We repeated the ride on Dec 31, with John-Lee, his girlfriend Arien and Ashley, and a few others whose names I have forgotten, joining us for the fun. I felt much better second time around, eating and drinking enough along the way. BL was not there to take photos, but Kathy took a few. I will try and post them tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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