Cape Argus Pick and Pay Mountain Bike race

It was hard enough getting up at 5am in Stellenbosh after 6 hours sleep and after a road race up in Nelspruit 24 hours earlier without the sound of rain splattering on the roof and eating another force fed bowl if muesli, Leana and myself both wondered if the race was even going to go ahead. 

Heading down there Leana’s tyre burped off the rim and we were left standing in the dark in a puddle of sealant wondering what to do.  Plan quickly in place I rode on in the dark without a clue where I was heading and Leana headed back home to drive down and see if Conrad could work some miracle without a compression pump.  Luckily Nicci saved the day lending her her wheel while I followed a trail of cars down the road and by 7am we were on the start line, the sun now up and the rain over with.

With a descent start I found myself at the back of a small group including Arien.  With the hard efforts the day before I didn’t seem to mind the quick pace and the only thing I struggled with were the constant sprints out of each loose corner. Arien was clearly tired from The Grape Escape even though she was still pulling hard at the front of the group while I hung on at the back, pleased to be on a 29er which seems much faster on the flat tracks.  I did edge ahead on a couple of climbs but then lost contact when I dropped my chain so chased hard again to get back.  Later on the words of advice I have heard so often about ending up where you look were clearly practiced as I focused unintentionally on a large rock on a climb and rode straight into it.  The one thing I do find hard with the bigger wheels is controlling where they go!!  From then we turned into some technical single track with a few rutted sections and damp roots and I never saw Arien again.  Still feeling strong and now with a 2^nd caffeine jel kicking in I started to catch some guys in front only to lose the chain again and stop to put it back before I snapped it.  The course then flattened out and with a few river crossing, sandy sections and rocky tracks there was plenty to focus on and having just sucked another jel packet dry I was surprised to hear the commentator and see the finish line ahead. 

Coming in 2^nd to a World class athlete was good enough for me even if she was tired and I was so pleased to then see a run of Bizhub jerseys take 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.