Posts Tagged ‘Conrad Stoltz’
After racing the Short Track and XC at the Sea Otter Festival, we “lived” in Morgan Hill for nearly 2 weeks. I spent some valuable time at the Specialized HQ and the training was great.
The cut on my hand was healing well, Princess Hotstuff took out the stitches with nail clippers after 10 days, but 1) I didnt swim at all since my crash at XTERRA Vegas 2 weeks ago. (click if you are curious and have a strong constitution) and 2) the inside of the hand does NOT feel good at all. Testing mountain bikes was super painful and I could only do the rock section 2x per day.
Caveman Specialized SHIV on its home ground in Morgan Hill, CA.
As you can see from the pic above, the road riding in rural California is stunning, and my hand needed respite from the jarring, and I needed to get used to riding upside down on a flat bike again.
Motor pacing behind Princess Hotstuff on the Specialized Turbo. This electric bike is WILD! It goes 30mi/h pretty comfortably, and beats most cars of the line at robots. (South African for “traffic lights”) But if you want to go over 50km/h (about 33mi), you’re on your own…
Caveman crash and burn in Las Vegas
XTERRA Las Vegas started off pretty normal- Christine Jeffrey chicked us all, then the 3 usual supects beached – Craig Evans, Brandan Rakita and myself. Josiah fell asleep somewhere in the swim and lost 2.30- more than usual for him.
When I still thought riding no gloves is OK… I started racing (only racing) without gloves- to save time. The new Specialized lock on grips at so sticky- I figured I dont need gloves for grip. And even though I always encourage people to wear gloves all the time- in case of a crash- I thought it I crash, I’ll just take it like a man…
a Caveman car for a Caveman situation…
Caveman’s Stellenbosch Kelfords Ford Fietsta Ambiente 1.4
[Open letter to friend and owner of Kelfords Ford and Mazda in Somerset West, South Africa]
Dear Tristan,
Thank you very much for the use of your wonderful little Ford Fiesta. We love the fuel economy, (5.9L per 100km) the nippy handling, the voice activated, hands free phone and radio system and the fact that it can take 4 bikes (size XL Specialized) plus gear. (2 bikes on the Thule Roof racks, 2 inside the hatch back- padded with the food and equipment needed for a long weekend training camp.)
BUT during our home-stay here in Las Vegas with Saffers Nic and Jodie Sacco, we got slightly spoiled with Nic’s everyday run around bakkie. “Spoilt” to say the least.
We would like to put in a request for your consideration for next years Caveman mobile:
The Ford Raptor F-150 SVT:
Yes, the one with the 6,2L V8 engine (420 Hp) and Fox racing suspension. To name but a few items.
Kayamandi (unofficial) World Mountain bike champs hosted by Songo.info
Nino Schurter (current XC World Champion) Songo Fipaza, (Songo.info founder, visionary, legend, gentleman) Caveman.
Qoute from the Songo.info website: [It all started out with Songo Fipaza’s dream to provide children of Kayamandi with opportunities and a fun and safe place to grow up away from the troubles on township streets. Songo is an exceptional role model for everyone as he works tirelessly in the community to create opportunities for the children. His dream has come a long way over the years where the BMX club and mountain biking group are fully established, participating in numerous events in the Western Cape, and across South Africa. We are all so privileged to work, learn and interact with Songo Fipaza. He demonstrates actions that dreams are possible to achieve.]
Christoph Sauser (who won this 30min plus 3 laps exhibition race) and Songo Fipaza, came up with the vision to create a team with budding star Burry Stander – to race the Cape Epic under the charity – named Songo.info
Songo personally welcomed every rider. I lined up with ex roadie Darren Lill
Clinging to Florian Vogels‘ wheel on opening laps, but after a few steep climbs and hard sprints I was drowned in lactic acid and was relegated to the more realistic part of the race…
After training for the Adu Dhabi Triathlon (3k/200k/20k- blog to follow soon) and seemlingly months of long hours in the saddle at relatively low intensity, the shock of 30min at a 100% Lactic Acid mixture was quite severe!
Railing berms and jumps on the Songo BMX track- built by the funds raised by Susi and Burry on that first Epic in the Songo jerseys .
Kayamandi’s kids make for enthisiastic supporters.
Up to my ears in lactic acid… Pics by Gary Perkin (Flipper)
Songo development riders railing some “Kayamandi singketrack”.
What an amazing story of inspiration (by Susi, Bury and Songo) and judging by the recent success of the Songo development riders at the 2013 ABSA Cape Epic, there certainly is hope for another rider to follow in Burry Standers‘ big footprints…
Photo Credit ~ Cherie Vale / Newsport Media
50th XTERRA win since my 1st XTERRA in 2001. By 6 minutes at that. 50 wins seems big, but yet is a small part in my career as a triathlete. I wish I had kept count of the wins. Since that first one as a 14 year old in 1988 at Ironkids in Pretoria. All those triathlons and duathlons my parents drove me to in my dads new Toyota Cressida. All those triathlons in France from 1992-1999. Some years up to 36 races a season. All those SA Champs and African Champs and Energade Series wins inbetween. All those years on the ITU circuit, racing to 2 Olympic Games. (Not too many wins those years) All those years racing non drafting short course in the USA.
How many wins would there be? 100? 200? How many races? I only started blogging (keeping track) in 2002. The days before were before internet, even cell phones. But I do have many many boxes of medals, old race numbers and newspaper clippings (thanks to my Ouma) to go through with the grandkids one day…
Winning at home is always fun, so it was great to reach the 50th XTERRA win in South Africa, where it all started.
The lead up- 10 days out:
The 10 days “toughen up” training camp in the altitude, heat, rocks and thorns in Windhoek (Namibia) came in quite handy at this tough Buffelspoort race. Heat, hills, altitude, rocks, thorns and amazing single track. Repeat.
During this training camp, I lost a fair bit of weight. Unfortunately I later realized its because of all the bleeding I did through this hard, thorny country. Qoute of the week was by Willie, (Still the Hope of Namibia): “Here in Nambia, the softest part of our bodies is our teeth…”
