KZN MTB Fun 8 hour enduro ride

This past Sunday was the 8 hour enduro held at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg. It was one of the biggest team events and longest events I have ever been too, with about 52 teams comprising 3 (some 2) riders. I teamed up with Alan Hatherly and Carlo Marzoppi. The plan was plain and simple, just have fun and enjoy it. The track was super fantastic and flowing. It was one of the better cross country tracks I have ridden in a long time, but when I heard that Nick Floros was track  builder, i knew it was an event to enter! The track suited everyone and had little hills and lots of flat sections where you could pass and have a lekker sip of water or a cup of tea as it was an fun event... The vibe at the "pit zone" was so relaxed and fun, everyone sat and watched or talked to racing buddies who they haven't seen for about two months or just enjoyed they day with the family. It really was awesome riding out there in the forests with 52 other guys at the same time, each from a different team. In the end it was such an awesome, well organised event that everybody enjoy. Our team ended 2nd in the '3 men' race and we didn't really expect it. This is what put KZN MTB on the cycling map.

Thank you Gavin for the photo!

It is such a good way of starting the season with a fun event like this and to see who still rides and races bicycles. I would recommend it to any cyclist to put on their 2013 calendar! Thanks to my team mates and sponsors for getting me ready for the 2012 season.

Rock on!!

December Holidays...

On the 21st of December my family and I left for the Drakensberg. It was so exciting, because we haven't camped in our caravan for almost two years and we had to do all the packing all over again. We went to Mountain Splendour Eco-Resort and camped there till the 6th of January 2012. In our time there I met some really awesome people and kept on telling myself that camping is the best way to get really down to earth again. The riding spots there are absolutely awesome and the views are stunning! I did my base training there two years ago and it is one of the best places to do it in South Africa. Not only for mountain bikers, but also for road cyclists who I always meet on the roads there. I would go out in the morning and do a 3hour+ ride and then get back and chill with my friends. Most afternoons at 4o'clock there was a soccer game and everyone from the camp came and joined in...even the older dads.

This year I had the privilege of riding with some Canadian folks who also camped there.. I learnt a lot from them, especially as far as racing overseas is concerned and they told me more about a pro-cyclist's life once you have finished professional cycling. Adventure racing is what most Canadian cyclists do. They explained it to me and it really caught my attention and made me think about where I'm going with my cycling career and life. Adventure racing is really big overseas, how they explained it to me is really hard to put onto a computer in a digital way. Imagine being on a bicycle for 2 days and you haven't slept yet, you're all alone and all you have with you is a bicycle, a map and water. Now you have to make your way through the forest at day and night playing a guessing game. I get such an adrenaline rush when I just think of that type of racing!!

I learnt a lot at Mountain Splendour and can't wait to go back at the end of this year. The sad thing about camping is saying goodbye to you old and new friends. I really miss my mates. On to some more base training for now...

Cheers