Lord of the Chain Rings, 17-19 November
Hogsback is a little village in the Eastern Cape which hosts the Lord of the Chain Rings MTB Stage race each November. From the Wine2Whales stage race in Cape Town we travelled via Knysna to reach the little hamlet of Hogsback on Wednesday afternoon. As we drove into the town, it felt like discovering a secret place. The village was situated in pristine forestry and had a mystical atmosphere hanging in the air.
The first day we woke up completely surrounded by a thick mist. The race started at 7:30am and upon leaving the start line the heavens opened up. This combined with the early hours mist, caused the trails to be wet, muddy and very slippery. The route was laid out on mostly single and jeep track winding through thick forests.
Caitlin and I decided to start at a fairly fast tempo in an attempt to gain time on our rivals before heading into the single track. This plan worked well for us as we established a good lead on the next ladies team early on. From half way we settled into a steady rhythm intent on maintaining our lead. Our strategy was successful and we managed to win the first stage.
Day two was the longest stage (78km) and also included climbing up to a high spot of 1800m above sea level. Although it was the hardest day, everyone was smiling as we woke up to a beautiful morning with clear skies.
Caitlin and I went into the stage with a buffer of 18min over our main rivals, Team Merrell (triathlete Andrea van Holt and Hilana Marais). Therefore we decided to start a bit easier than the previous day and ended up alongside Team Merrell in the early stages. We stayed together until the first big climb around 20km. The climb required a big effort and lots of concentration as it was very steep on a narrow loose rocky single track.
Here Caitlin and I managed to get away from team Merrell. With knowing we had a proper lead on them we didn’t need to push too hard and just kept our steady comfortable pace to the finish, gaining another few minutes over them by the stage finish. With the weather being more kind to us we were able to take in the beautiful surrounds of Hogsback. When the rain finally fell, it was only 5km from the finish which made it much more bearable.
Weather-wise, day three turned out to be the best with a great route to match. This gave us the opportunity to once again appreciate the beautiful views offered by Hogsback.
Over the last two days Caitlin and I established a lead of 33 min on our nearest rivals. This meant our main goal for stage 3 would be to make sure that team Merrell didn’t take any time back on us.
The final stage was surely a highlight for both of us as it was Caitlin’s last day racing her bike as a professional athlete and I was the fortunate one to share this with her. Next year she will be heading in a new direction and attending a flight school in George. She ‘ended’ her career in style with a third stage win and an overall victory in one of her favourite races.
The organisers put together a great, well organised event providing some of the best trails, lovely accommodation and amazing meals in a superb package. I really liked Hogsback with its enchanting forests and mystical feel and look forward to returning to this quaint village soon.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Contego Wine2Whales driven by Maserati
Wine2Whales is said to be the Sani2C for cyclists in the Cape region as it also provides thrilling single track and spectacular mountain views (Personally I think you can’t compare the two as they are each unique in its own way).
This was my 2nd time competing in event and this year they promised it to be even more enjoyable as they added extra single track to an already great route. To say that I was excited to experience the new route would be an understatement.
Early Friday morning I, together with my partner Caitlin de Wet, took to the start in Somerset West.
The first stage was 68km long and finished in Grabouw. Here we camped for two consecutive nights with stage two’s 63 km route being laid out in the surrounding area of Grabouw. On the 3rd day we would leave our camping ground to finish the last 80km stage in Onrus.
On day one Caitlin and I had a good ride together. We truly enjoyed the fun ascending and descending single track which even counted to our advantage towards the end. In the final kilometres Caitlin and I were narrowly in front of team Fair Cape Ladies Desiree Loubser and Marleen Loubser. Luckily the last pieces of the course were mainly single track and as Caitlin and I could ride them faster helping us to hold off the Fair Cape Ladies in order to take the 3rd spot.
Team Contego’s Mariske Strauss and Ariane Kleinhans finished a mere 13 seconds in front of us to take 2nd place. Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson (bizhub) finished in
1st place.
Stage two consisted of 65 % single track. Again Caitlin and I had fun on the single track as our technical skills were fairly the same. At the end we finished in 4th place on the stage.
On the last day, stage three, gusting winds appeared around 3am. This saw tents being blown to a 45 degree angle. Nobody was able to sleep the night in fear of their tent’s being blown away. To make matters worse, at 5am it started pouring with rain. Unfortunately the rain didn’t want to ease up and caused the stage to be cancelled.
I was content the moment the stage was said to be cancelled as I was soaking went (and freezing) from running up and down loading bags, getting dressed, fetching bikes in the bike part etc.
But on having time to think about it I am truly sad there were no end to this great experience. I do hope to come back next year as there is still one stage left to be explored!
Wine2Whales is said to be the Sani2C for cyclists in the Cape region as it also provides thrilling single track and spectacular mountain views (Personally I think you can’t compare the two as they are each unique in its own way).
This was my 2nd time competing in event and this year they promised it to be even more enjoyable as they added extra single track to an already great route. To say that I was excited to experience the new route would be an understatement.
Early Friday morning I, together with my partner Caitlin de Wet, took to the start in Somerset West.
The first stage was 68km long and finished in Grabouw. Here we camped for two consecutive nights with stage two’s 63 km route being laid out in the surrounding area of Grabouw. On the 3rd day we would leave our camping ground to finish the last 80km stage in Onrus.
On day one Caitlin and I had a good ride together. We truly enjoyed the fun ascending and descending single track which even counted to our advantage towards the end. In the final kilometres Caitlin and I were narrowly in front of team Fair Cape Ladies Desiree Loubser and Marleen Loubser. Luckily the last pieces of the course were mainly single track and as Caitlin and I could ride them faster helping us to hold off the Fair Cape Ladies in order to take the 3rd spot.
Team Contego’s Mariske Strauss and Ariane Kleinhans finished a mere 13 seconds in front of us to take 2nd place. Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson (bizhub) finished in
1st place.
Stage two consisted of 65 % single track. Again Caitlin and I had fun on the single track as our technical skills were fairly the same. At the end we finished in 4th place on the stage.
On the last day, stage three, gusting winds appeared around 3am. This saw tents being blown to a 45 degree angle. Nobody was able to sleep the night in fear of their tent’s being blown away. To make matters worse, at 5am it started pouring with rain. Unfortunately the rain didn’t want to ease up and caused the stage to be cancelled.
I was content the moment the stage was said to be cancelled as I was soaking went (and freezing) from running up and down loading bags, getting dressed, fetching bikes in the bike part etc.
But on having time to think about it I am truly sad there were no end to this great experience. I do hope to come back next year as there is still one stage left to be explored!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Nissan Trailseeker Marathon Series, Van Gaalen
The Gauteng based Nissan Trailseeker Series consists of 5 events with Van Gaalen being the final leg of the competition.
I really enjoy the Nissan Trailseeker races as they always offer more than just the race itself. All the race venues cater for the whole family by having restaurants, child entertainment areas, a bike wash bay, warm showers and much more. Nissan branded umbrellas are also put up providing shady viewing spots for spectators to see the riders coming in to finish. Van Gaalen Cheese Farm which hosted this particular event followed the same blueprint, but with the addition of the Magalies mountains as a spectacular backdrop.
Standing on the start line, I was happy to find out that I was leading the series with a few points over Samantha Saanders. In addition to doing my best at this particular event, I was also determined to hold on to the leader’s jersey.
The first few kilometres of the 70km route consisted of open jeep and single track. Here a small leading group of ladies formed consisting of Yolande Speedy (Team MTN Qhuebeka), Samantha Saanders (Valencia Cycles), Theresa Ralph, Karien Van Jaarsveld (Team USN) and me.
The single track led onto a steep, loose, rocky climb where Karien and I managed to distance the other girls. We crested the climb with a lead of a few seconds and from this point onwards the two of us ‘almost’ stayed together until the very end. On a few occasions I managed to drop Karien, but each time she regained contact whilst we were duelling amongst the men who had started with us.
The final part of the race contained some amazing single track on the Van Gaalen Farm itself. Upon exiting the single track I slipped and fell in the final corner, jamming my chain in the process. I jumped back on my bike, but Karien passed me as I dismounted again and franticly tried to dislodge the wedged chain. Unbeknown to me there was less than a kilometre remaining to the finish line and by the time I got going again Karien was in the final straight winning the race a mere 11 seconds in front of me.
I would have preferred the opportunity to sprint for the win, but had to settle for 2nd on the day. The good news was that my 2nd place on the day confirmed me as the winner of the Nissan Trailseeker series in 2011, adding another victory to team bizhub’s successful season! Samantha Saanders took the final spot on the podium with a fine 3rd place.
P.S. Van Gaalen Farm’s trails are exactly what race organizers said they would be – Awesome!
The Gauteng based Nissan Trailseeker Series consists of 5 events with Van Gaalen being the final leg of the competition.
I really enjoy the Nissan Trailseeker races as they always offer more than just the race itself. All the race venues cater for the whole family by having restaurants, child entertainment areas, a bike wash bay, warm showers and much more. Nissan branded umbrellas are also put up providing shady viewing spots for spectators to see the riders coming in to finish. Van Gaalen Cheese Farm which hosted this particular event followed the same blueprint, but with the addition of the Magalies mountains as a spectacular backdrop.
Standing on the start line, I was happy to find out that I was leading the series with a few points over Samantha Saanders. In addition to doing my best at this particular event, I was also determined to hold on to the leader’s jersey.
The first few kilometres of the 70km route consisted of open jeep and single track. Here a small leading group of ladies formed consisting of Yolande Speedy (Team MTN Qhuebeka), Samantha Saanders (Valencia Cycles), Theresa Ralph, Karien Van Jaarsveld (Team USN) and me.
The single track led onto a steep, loose, rocky climb where Karien and I managed to distance the other girls. We crested the climb with a lead of a few seconds and from this point onwards the two of us ‘almost’ stayed together until the very end. On a few occasions I managed to drop Karien, but each time she regained contact whilst we were duelling amongst the men who had started with us.
The final part of the race contained some amazing single track on the Van Gaalen Farm itself. Upon exiting the single track I slipped and fell in the final corner, jamming my chain in the process. I jumped back on my bike, but Karien passed me as I dismounted again and franticly tried to dislodge the wedged chain. Unbeknown to me there was less than a kilometre remaining to the finish line and by the time I got going again Karien was in the final straight winning the race a mere 11 seconds in front of me.
I would have preferred the opportunity to sprint for the win, but had to settle for 2nd on the day. The good news was that my 2nd place on the day confirmed me as the winner of the Nissan Trailseeker series in 2011, adding another victory to team bizhub’s successful season! Samantha Saanders took the final spot on the podium with a fine 3rd place.
P.S. Van Gaalen Farm’s trails are exactly what race organizers said they would be – Awesome!
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