Training week of the 15th October

This last week was a bit of a disaster as flu hit me on sunday evening after the 117km race for victory race starting at gold reef city. Today I went back to the saddle at Robbies for the first time but I only did 45min easy training in roder to gauge my performance and see how i feel.

The race on sunday went really well, lovely route and a very good vibe. First race over 100 km and it felt great, it took me 4hours to complete withouth pushing too hard. I am still struggling with nitty gritty stuff that happens on a road race, strategy, bunch riding, etc. I kept jumping from one bunch to the next as all of them were very slow. I guess I will have to push harder in the begining to try and stay with the main field were the strong guys are.

I will keep you guys posted in the training.

cheers

Training in october 2007

This has been my training in the past 1 or so:

30-Sep-2007 Sunday Sterling Light race at northen farms 8 172 2223 83.2 02:55 43th 19th 56
1-Oct-2007 Monday Flat out 45 minutes 9 150 758 83.5 00:45 19
2-Oct-2007 Tuesday Training at Robbie's + flat out 45 min afternoon 8 146 84 01:50 60
3-Oct-2007 Wednesday Flat out 54 minutes on mtb 9 156 904 83.2 00:54 1
4-Oct-2007 Thursday mtb on the road cradle 132 2226 84 02:32 56
5-Oct-2007 Friday
6-Oct-2007 Saturday Mogale spring classic 8 153 3185 84.2 02:25 38st 31st 72
7-Oct-2007 Sunday
8-Oct-2007 Monday Sterkfontein and trainer 8 138 83.5 03:00 70
9-Oct-2007 Tuesday Robbie and trainer 8 83.5 03:00 70
10-Oct-2007 Wednesday magaliesburg climb 8 1925 03:19 35
11-Oct-2007 Thursday
12-Oct-2007 Friday loop, quarries, logwood lammermoor 8 82.8 02:14 40

AS you guys can see the training is getting to a point were we are building quite a number of hours on the saddle. From next months we are starting to do some 6 hour rides!

keep it up

Meet Gary Fisher, the father of Mountain biking.

The globally acknowledged Father of Mountain-biking, Gary Fisher, is arriving in South Africa on 6 October and the Just Fun Cycling, the local distributors of Gary Fisher and Trek bicycles, have put together an itinerary for his South African visit.

• Northern Farm - Saturday 06/10/2007 from 08h00 to 11h00
o The public can come and meet Gary Fisher from 08h00 to 09h45
o There will be an outride leaving at 09h45 where the public will be able to go for a ride with Gary Fisher. The ride will be about an hour in length.
o Contact - Wayne Flood (082) 300-7437

• Logwood - Saturday 06/10/2007 from 13h00 to 16h00
o Public will be able to come and meet Gary Fisher, entrance fee to Logwood including a days riding is R50.

• Cycle Lab Nicol Grove - Monday 08/10/2007 from 08h00 to 10h00
o Fourways Johannesburg
o Contact Bryan or Johan on (011) 707-2700

• Cycle Lab Centurion - Monday 08/10/2007 from 11h00 to 13h00
o Centurion Pretoria
o Contact David on (082) 335 1425

• West Rand cycles - Monday 08/10/2007 from 14h00 to 16h00
o Johannesburg
o Contact Eben on (011) 955-4342

• Johnson's cycles - Tuesday 09/10/2007 from 08h00 to 10h00
o Edenvale, Johannesburg
o Contact Kim or Bassim on (011) 453-9586

• Illovo cycles - Tuesday 09/10/2007 from 11h00 to 13h00
o Illovo, Johannesburg
o Contact Anthony on (011) 268-6839

• Sweat and Gears - Tuesday 09/10/2007 from 14h00 to 17h00
o Farrarmere, Benoni
o Contact Lee on (011) 425-1152

• Bowmans Cycles - Wednesday 10/10/2007 from 08h00 to 11h00
o Cape Town
o Contact Shane on (021) 423-2527

• Cycle Lab Westlake - Wednesday 10/10/2007 from 13h00 to 15h00
o Westlake, Cape Town
o Contact Richard or Gary on (021) 700-1060

• Tokai forest - Wednesday 10/10/2007 from 16h00 to 17h30
o The public can come and meet Gary Fisher from 16h00 to 17h00.
o There will be an outride leaving at 17h00 where the public will get a chance to ride with Gary Fisher.

• Crater Cruise - Saturday 13/10/2007 from 08h00 to 12h00
o Parys
o Contact Wayne on (082) 300-7437

Training 28th September 2007

Nice and tough ride to sterkfonteing with pam coming along on the road bike. 4 hours of non stop pedalling on a tarred road, a total of 82km. The hard week is almost ove, tomorrow we are racing at Northern Farms, 60km route, lets see how we feel.

News from the Karoo to coast

Speedy wins comfortably at Karoo to Coast - Own Correspondent << Back
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
South African champion, Yolande Speedy, secured a comfortable victory at the Talisman Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge in the Western Cape at the weekend to move within striking distance of claiming the prestigious 2007 Mazda Series title.

Speedy (IMC Mongoose) rode a steady race to lead from start to finish in the tough 100km event that started in Uniondale and ended in Knysna, clocking a winning time of three hours, 41 minutes and 30 seconds.

Top Western Cape rider, Hanlie Booyens (Jeep Specialized), claimed second place in 03:46:03 with Ischen Stopforth riding a strong second half to finish third in 03:48:53. Carla Rowley (Raleigh MTN Energade) and Christie Pienaar (Fritz Pienaar Cycles) rounded out top five in a large field of almost 200 female finishers.

“I just wanted to have a steady race with no problems and it worked out just perfectly,” smiled Speedy, who is having her best year yet.

It was Speedy’s fourth Mazda Series victory from just five events and it moved her from fourth to second place with just one event remaining. Tania Raats (Maverick Momentum), who has led the Series since January, did not compete at Karoo to Coast and could well see her Series title hopes fade at next month’s Colourpress Crater Cruise where she and Speedy will go head to head in a battle for crucial points.

23-26th September Training.

23-Sep-2007 Sunday Cradle Road race 7 158 84.7 03:55 98
24-Sep-2007 Monday Race at bultfontein 6 171 84.5 02:15 49
25-Sep-2007 Tuesday Ride along the cradle 10 127 84.4 03:11 68
26-Sep-2007 Wednesday ride in magaliesburg with climb to mountain 8 84.2 03:15
This week so far has been very very hectic, with lots of training but I must say with lots of fun too. Sunday started off with the road race at the cradle, I rode it on the Mtb in 3:55, not too bad given the circumstances (my knee was a bit sore then). The following day, Monday, we did the race at Babbas Lodge, Vit-t-Go series and it was fun, very flat and fast. Pamina came third! Not too bad for beginners.

yesterday we did 3:15, again Pam rode her Road bike and I rode on the Mountain bike. It is interesting to do it that way because I was forced to push harder to keep up with the pace, specially on the climbs.

today we finally went to magaliesburg looking for some serious climbing, we found a dirt road that leads to the Mountain Sanctuary park with a nice little climb of 4 km with a 10% inclination.

94.7 Cycle Challenge

A world-class African race - Wynand de Villiers << Back
Wednesday, September 19, 2007

“I would have to be seriously ill in a hospital, or rather to be treated in intensive care, for me not to race the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge. It is the best race in South Africa and it is no exaggeration that it is ‘Joburg’s safest race’.”

These sentiments from Lynette Burger, one of South Africa’s top professional cyclists for the past four years, perfectly sum up where the Cycle Challenge has positioned itself after 10 editions of the race.

The brief history of Gauteng’s biggest cycle race, which takes place on 18 November this year, is a story of unequalled cycling growth and phenomenal individual participation and it has showcased the immense organisational and hosting abilities of the City of Joburg like very few events have been able to do.

From its very recent beginnings in 1997 when 4 000 cyclists decided to take on the challenge of ‘Joburg’s toughest race’ (back then), the event has mushroomed into a race which, in 2006, attracted 28 000 entries.

And it’s a team effort all the way from every one of these individuals who take part and in particular the hard-working members of all the departments of the City of Joburg who, together with the event organisers, Harford Sports Promotions, make sure the Cycle Challenge is a total success.

In its history the race has always promoted the ideal of positioning Johannesburg as the continent’s major sports and business destination. The City of Johannesburg’s slogan is that of a World-Class African City and the Cycle Challenge fits in very nicely with the ideals of this slogan.

Throughout its history – this year will see the 11th running of the event – the cyclist has come first and the race will go all out again to do itself justice as ‘Joburg’s Safest Race’.

Burger goes further to say that the Cycle Challenge is organised better than the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour.

“What makes the event special for me as a cyclist is the fact that the race is organised by people who will go out of their way to ensure that the day is an utterly enjoyable experience for every cyclist that enters.”

The one thing that bothers Burger, however, is the fact that she has not managed to win the race yet. Finishing 7th last year is her best performance to date.

Clint Curtis, a thought leader in cycling who has shaped the careers of most of South Africa’s current top professionals, says he loves his day out in the streets of Joburg on Cycle Challenge Sunday. “You do get to see parts of Johannesburg from the saddle in a way you would never be able to. It’s also a little tougher than most fun rides, and I love the challenge in the safe environment that’s created for the day.”

According to Andre Taylor, a veteran who races nearly every weekend, he wouldn’t miss the event for the world.

“It’s just one of the most amazing races because of the full road closure. It is definitely the safest race in Gauteng. Apart from the cat eyes in the road, it is the most perfect hassle free race,” Taylor joked.

“I raced and still enjoyed every moment. Things really got better with the road closure and what I really appreciate as a veteran is the fact they split the veteran’s classes in 30-34. 35-39, 40-44.

“It makes for more exciting racing because it then boils down to strength versus strength.

“The atmosphere during and after the race is just amazing. It is like one big cycling carnival,” he said.