After months of preparation, the last week was spent repeatedly checking the weather bulletins and seeing dark clouds over The Natal Midlands, the worst being over the area between Underberg and Scottburgh. They were correct and we rode in fairly continuous mist and gentle rain, resulting in mud which varied from watery and very slippery, to thick black treacley mud.
The first obstacle was getting the bike packed into a box, but once I had mastered the jig-saw puzzle it got easier every time. The airlines are very confused - they state the bike must be boxed, but then allow unboxed bikes on. They charged me per kg excess baggage on the way up but not on the way back and Henri was charged both ways? They are also discriminatory, golfers are allowed 12kg, but not cyclists or for any other sport. I enquired at the cashier why this was so, “I dunno “was the answer and the others in the office just shrugged.
The organization was brilliant as usual and the food overflowing, so no weight was lost during the three days. Registration and the race briefing went smoothly in spite of the rain, which started as we arrived. Once we had registered we found our lodgings, a mattress in a small house right at the start, we assembled bikes and prepared for Day 1.
Henri having this image of hot, humid Natal jungles only brought a sheet to sleep under so had to make a plan to keep warm as it was more like the Cape in winter.
Day 1: 92km. We woke to misty rain and grey skies, so straight into rain gear, not to be taken off until the end of the day. In spite of the weather the course on day 1 was great. The plentyful single track was slippery but flowed well and lived up to its reputation and the double track made passing much easier and eased congestion amazingly. The floating bridge was briliant, pity it could not be done twice. Day 1 went well until the sting in the tail, the steep climb with tired legs to the finish at Mac Kenzie Country Club.
The bikes were cleaned and warm showers had with little fuss. There is an endless supply of milk, vanilla milk and yogi sip supplied by Clover , the ideal recovery drink. With the bikes serviced the rest of the afternoon could be spent relaxing and socialising. The cloud and drizzle persisted.
There was a delay in the prize giving as the recce team was out checking Day 2’s route. Sad news came back, we were not to ride the organizers pride and joy, the new and old legendary single track into the Umkomaas Valley but were to by pass it on country roads. It was considered dangerous and the mud too bad.
Day 2: 94km. Still cloudy and raining intermittently. There was also a mass start which went better than we expected as were the country roads winding through farms and villages, where dozens of school children cheered us on. This passed quite quickly and we were soon back on track and into the bush fording four “Crocky/rocky” river crossings and then winding our way through some more great single track with some flattish “Out of Africa” single track, through classic thorn trees in the veldt. This was some respite before the infamous approach UP some tough rocky climbs, with the routine warnings to “Beware of Mambas”, to the Nando’s compulsory 10min. stop. After Nando’s, the worst climb of the day, “ Push Hill”. I pushed and Henry rode most of it. We now passed through more of the great single track for which the Sani2C is so famous, the very fast flowing F1 and others, winding through fields and past dams to the next water point. The water points/ feeding points were fantastic. The people are always friendly and very helpful. Plenty of doughnuts, flap jacks and syrup, potatoes, hard boiled eggs, fruit and the usual energy drinks.
At 10 K’s to go, disaster; I went over a sharp object and had my first puncture in about 5 years of mountain biking. A slash in my tire required a clean out of Stans and a tube. Then 5 K’s to go Henrie’s front wheel wiped out on a steep muddy middle mannetjie, throwing him in my path. Full power brakes and me an endo into the mud! Fortunately nothing more serious than a few grazes and bruises for both of us. Soon after we discovered my hanger had bent as I managed to jam my chain fairly solidly between the inner sprocket and my spokes. So a lot of work was going to be done that evening on the bikes, a new tire and a hanger.After 94 k’s Jollivett farm was a welcome site. Straight to the bike wash, then some recovery drinks and a shower before a very welcome lunch. The rain started again in the afternoon having given us a good few hours respite, so we fixed bikes in the large old milking shed now housing the toilets. We were soon joined by half the camp but there was lots of room.
Supper involved a bit of queuing but worth it for the famous medium rare steaks.
Day3. 75km. Raining again. The start was in batches 10 min. apart the same as day one, to separate the field for the single track, of which there was lots, leading to Vernon Crooks nature reserve. The climb into the reserve was testing and only a few elite and energetic get to the top without walking, Henri made it and had to wait patiently at the top for me to walk ½ of it. From there you can survey the round hills and valleys of Natal and we passed through some of the best bush of the ride in this reserve and some more amazing single track before getting to the punishment of the day, Little and Big Heart Rate Hills.
After the water point at the top the pace is fast and furious downhill to the coast. This year there was no floating bridge across the lagoon at Scottburgh but the really nasty 500m steep climb to the finish had not changed, in fact they made it a few 100m longer and the sun was now blazing. The rain had now gone and the sun was shining. We and the bikes had made it through thick and thin mud. Wannab’s there:
Henri Meier - Jack Ackermann
Anton De Fretas - Lourens
Mark Ableson - Partner
