Posts Tagged ‘Bos Sport’
XTERRA Reunion by Conrad Stoltz
The tropical, volcanic island of Reunion is located close to Madagascar. Reunion, with its distinctly French flavor, is also Adventure Paradise! A perfect home for XTERRA:
Tropical climate with palm trees, warm water, corral teeming with colourful fish, but also plenty of lava rocks, leg bursting climbs, scenic views, technical single track, river crossings, beach sand and of course a very enthusiastic local triathlon community!
Having gleaned the above tidbits from South Africans who raced there last year -and the XTERRA Reunion FB photos, I knew this was going to be my first XTERRA since my retirement from
My first Triathlon since retirement!
I know, I havent blogged in a while. There has so much to talk about this past year! Many fantastic stories and memories, retirement from professional racing, baby Zena, my first winter in 23 years(!?) and new beginnings in the coffee shop and my coaching business. But as any new parent will tell, you – once you have a baby in the house – priorities (and time) change beyond imagination!
Being known as “the sporty couple”, we have been warned that our baby is going to be busy! We thought it was cute at the time, but no jokes! Zena is one busy body!
We also opened CavemanCafé in Specialized Stellenbosch mid December, which is has been really hard work.
However much fun it is, one needs a break from working all that coffee magic…
Then I got an invite to race WestCoastWarmWaterWeekend , a race I remember very fondly. Previous blogs showcasing the scenery & special race here .
Did quite a few 14hr days
Conrad Stoltz aka Caveman returns to Cahors, France, where he started his professional triathlon career 23 years ago. He explores the region on his mountain bike, and as usual, runs into some interesting situations…
Music: “CowboyZ” and “Moomin” by Die Neef: My cousin Stephan van As
Products:
Specialized Sworks Epic with Command Post dropper post, TERRA shoes
Suunto Ambit3 GPS watch HR monitor
Oakley Jawbone
Squirt lube
ClifBar
LOOK pedals
Supacaz grips
GoPro Hero 3
Conrad Stoltz – 2015 XTERRA Hall of Fame Inductee from XTERRA TV on Vimeo.
A touching video of my XTERRA career highlights, which was screened at the XTERRA Hall of Fame induction in Hawaii recently.
To my XTERRA friends, sporting friends, supporters and sponsors: Aloha and mahalo for an awesome ride!
Next up:
- Caveman Café in Stellenbosch
- Stoltz Coaching. Online & camps
- Conrad Stoltz Biography
- South African hour record attempt (Bellville Velodrome)
Caveman Skills Clinic Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria
Surprisingly, the quest to mastering MTB skills starts in the parking lot. Even for a group of Intermediate riders with a few Cape Epics under the belt.
We spent a lot of time on the tar. Its all about mastering the basics:
Even “Stopping 101” is surprisingly hard at first. Here Deryck shows good form and brake modulation.
And he brought the right bike: Dropper post, chunkier tyres, corner friendly frame geometry and a bit more suspension than your typical XC bike. Too many folks are hell bent on riding the “lightest, fastest most responsive” XC bike – which is pretty hard to ride well on trail) and overlook the bikes made for trail riding. (Deryck is on a mid level Specialized Stumpjumper FSR (Elite, I think) for about R40k or US$3800)
Look and learn. Watching and following are powerful learning tools.
Reuben van Niekerk is an ace Para cyclist with a few Cape Epics under the belt, and as you can see, he now knows how to drop bar and rail a corner. (Also thanks in part, to the “trail bike” as described above)
Anton never stopped smiling!
The Dreaded Drop off: First in the classroom…
Then follow the example
Then DO IT! “Hesitation = Devastation!!”
Center of gravity over the BB, off the brakes, look ahead etc…
Text message from Robrecht after he got back from “Class”:
If your Afrikaans is a bit rusty:
“Conrad. Just rode down the stairs by my house for the first time ever. Was surprised how easy it was. Thanks! Robrecht”
Anton drops in on his Enduro…
Jos drops in on his hard tail…
Once we all had a good grip on the skills we hit the Groenkloof trails and put new moves to the test.
Reuben crushing the rock section
Deryck showing good balance and posture. Elbows up & hips forward!
As confidence grew, the guys kept requesting harder and harder trails…
In fact, we kept riding till we hit Single Track Nirvana
There seems to be a great demand for “Free Speed” in the Gauteng area – stay tuned for more Caveman Skills Clinics- I’ll really get into it once my racing schedule calms down a bit later this summer.
#PrincessHotstuff did a great job helping with the coaching (shredding MTB and acing Netball is not far apart!) and for keeping the aid station stocked with cold BOS Sport and snacks, taking photos, organizing the admin, printing posters and organizing goodie bags: Squirt chain lube, Barrier Balm & tyre sealant and also Enduren products.
Hats off to the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria for its fantastic trails and wildlife- it was quite a treat, and very far removed from the last time I rode there. Northern Transvaal MTB Champs, 1997 – Fritz Pienaar and I were racing head to head when I (largely due to lack of skill, but also the “single track” was a footpath) tangled in monkey vine and broke my collar bone. And thus put an eternal end to my status as a swimming ace.
Recon of Groenkloof with Frans the evening before – Africa at its best.
