Posts Tagged ‘oakley’
It really has something of everything. Scenic single track with loose rocks, pine forest, a deep river crossing, a big climb and a huge climb, and some beach sections where you get to pick your own line.
Caveman 3rd at South African Time Trial Champs
51:46 for 40km. 46.6km/h, 423W. Age 40. All photo credits: Liezel Stoltz unless stated.
Hats off to Louis Meintjes, current U23 World Road Race Silver medalist who actually rode a few seconds faster than me to smash U23 Nationals. Keep an eye on the little climber…
Its a huge honour to stand on the podium next to South Africas’ cycling superstar Daryl Impey from Orica GreenEdge.
Daryl wore the Tour de France’s yellow jersey for 2 days last year and was the 1st South African ever to don the coveted jersey. His team also took 2nd at the Team Time Trail (TTT) World Champs last year and he finished 7th in the Tour Down Under last week.
On the 2nd step there is MTN Qhubeka’s TT strongman Jay Thomson. This is Jays’ 4th consecutive 2nd place at SA TT Champs!
Technical stuff: Pacing, riding to power, warm up etc
Click here for Training Peaks power file: http://tpks.ws/rBP
Course: 5 laps of 8.2km on a flat course with slight wind and 1 U turn and 2 other tricky corners. Hot and humid.
Caveman Lap times:
10.20
10.21
10.23
10.21
10.21
Warm up felt awesome, power was good, legs came round nicely after some much much needed massages earlier in the week. Click here for SA TT Champs Warm Up power file
1st 2.5 laps (of 5) felt awesome and went by real quick – holding 430W was no problem and I was sure it was sustainable. HR was good and low still. Into the windy stretch up the back of lap 3 I overcooked it just slightly,
Caveman wins EAI Val De Vie MTB Challenge
I was totally surprised when called up to collect the first prize in the “Veteran” devision! (for those who dont know – I turned 40 last month) During prize giving, I was chatting to Princess Hotstuff when I heard something about ” Giniel de Villiers 3rd, Linus van Onselen 2nd, and Conrad Stoltz 1st…” I was quite shocked ans hesitantly went forward thinking, “but I raced the laaities (boys), why am I called up for the Vets category?” But when I saw Ryk Neethling waving the the Val de Vie collection of flagship wines, I became more sure of my step and accepted my new prize enthusiastically.
The new Double “O” M won by 15+ minutes.
The route and conditions were tough! Super rocky and sandy and very very hot. Hence the sleeveless shirt, roadie Prevail helmet, non bib shorts and short gloves. I almost went no socks with open triathlon TERRA shoes…
In the 1st place there were some fast roadies turned “Black Socks” on the start line- some freshly flown in from Joburg for the event.
In the last turn of the day my handle bar hooked a cheecky Rooikrans bush and I almost landed on top of the marshall.
Background:
I had no idea of the exsistance of this race and had no intention of racing this time of the year.
I’m currently at the tail end of “Ice Cream and Beer Season” and have done very very little training. The bit of riding I did was fun single track on my Specialized Stumpjumper (aka Fun Bike). The only long ride I did was the day before this race- a 5hr30 route scout for the upcoming POOT Origin of Trails…
Hours and hours of single track so sweet and hills so steep…
We drank Kylemore Supamaket dry (of Coke) and tore through James’ backpack load of peanut butter sandwitches. BEFORE we were even halfway… At the end we tried to drink RideIn dry (of Windhoek) before tackling the huge spare ribs and chips (fries) at Jan Cats, washed down with MORE beer. Then the phone rang – my mate Max Cluer. He says theres a 60km MTB in Paarl the next day I should be doing… But Max, I’m up to my elbows in ribs…
Next morning I was on the EAI Val de Vie MTB Challenge start line:
Hanco Kachelhoffer, Johann Rabie, Jurgens Uys, Linus van Onslin, Giniel Devilliers all smiles before we hit the rocks, sand and hills.
Between ravaging fires and devastating floods, Mother Nature did her best – or worst – to derail this year’s EAI Val de Vie Mountain Bike Challenge in September.
“We spent months searching and manicuring trails in the area and about 70 per cent of these were washed away or damaged beyond repair. Sections of the route just disappeared under water. It was crazy!”
But the hardy organisers from ASG Events pressed on and the event will finally roll out across 21 farms in the Cape Winelands on November 24.
“The Western Cape will become a cycling mecca for that week; it’s going to be an amazing time, this is the curtain raiser for Africa Bike Week, which follows in Stellenbosch.
Stunning scenery with Simonsberg in the back ground. We were truly blessed to be able to ride on so many farms – a welcome trend picking up steam on the local farms in the Boland.
Hanco Kachelhoffer (finished 2nd in a 3 man sprint for 2nd) making the U-turn at the Nelson Mandela Steps to Freedom statue.
The course wound through the Drakenstein Prison where Nelson Mandela was held and did his monumental “walk to freedom” on his release in 1991. Cyclists got to see where he lived and also ride through a working prison, and when I went through I could hear the prisoners singing.
Johann Rabie – Pro Roadie turned Black Sock, pushed the pace on the climbs early on. Unfortunately he brought a knife to a gun fight. Translation: He brought a hard tail to an African race and got a flat tyre in the sea of rocks.
I took my Sworks World Cup Epic out of the travel bag, changed the XTERRA Worlds tyres for “Africa tyres”, (Specialized Control 2.2 Fast Trak – wide and strong tyres) and put some Squirt lube on the chain, and rolled to the start line. The dual suspension, beefy strong tyres and dropper seat post was perfect for these conditions.
Lead moto Africa style! On one of the hairier dowhills I had to whisper in his ear to please go faster. Later overheard him say: “%@* maar die ou kan jaag!”
Suunto Ambit 2S on Movescount heart rate file- click on the link or pic.
Great to catch up with friends: L-R Greg Beadle, Princess Hotstuff, Caveman, Max Cluer.
New friends. Morne Labuschagne from DoitNow magazine.
That blisfull moment – chatting with Princess Hotstuff – seconds before someone called me a “Vet.”
With 2 legends- Cyclist Johnny Koen & swimmer Ryk Neethling.
Encouraging to see the sponsorship behind non rugby/cricket/soccer/golf events nowadays: Title sponsors eai, bestMed and Val de Vie Estate.
“We also had teams from Virgin Active, Vrede Foundation, Raw Nutrition, Scheckter’s Organic Energy, some of the landowners and a host of others en-route to make the water stops fun.
Team mate from Sydeny Olympics- swimming legend turned business man Ryk Neethling.
Looking forward to the 2 day Penny Pinchers Origin of Trails in and around Stellenbosch this weekend.
TriLanai- triathlon on the island of Lanai, Hawaii
On the ferry leaving Lahaina (Maui) for the island of Lanai
After the crazyness and a whole seasons’ build up to XTERRA Worlds on Maui, we were looking forward to a low stress travel & racing experience at TriLanai. We had such an amazing experience at the race (Liezel’s 1st triathlon!) and on the island- read the last years blog here.
TriLanai is about charity:
This year $20 000 was raised from the TriLanai off road triathlon!
10% of the island’s population voluteer at the race. A large part of them from the islands only school- Lanai High and Elementary.
All proceeds from the race goes to local charities, incl buying the sporting equipment and sending the school kids to other islands for sport meets.
Lanai PONO Softball team: “Thanks for the $1,160 to Lanai PONO Softball 12u for ferry tickets to play games on Maui thanks to TriLanai sponsors, athletes, and volunteers!”
The Kamalii softball team looking good!
Lanai High and Elementary school art.
School sport and getting kids active from an early age is close to our hearts, so Liezel and I did a motivational talk at the high school.
“Follow your passion, dream big, be active and healthy for life by enjoing sport.”
Todd Winston (in black shirt) is taking over organization from Chris Levvorn- whos done an amazing job growing the event till now.
Race morning, fresh off the ferry, I saw were my friends from XTERRA Italy- they heard about the race the day before and quickly took the ferry race morning. Forza Italia!
Familiar faces in volunteer shirts. Mahalo!
