Join Clarke’s in CT to launch new ‘parklet’ this evening

Join Clarke’s in CT to launch new ‘parklet’ this evening – RIDE YOUR CITY:

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Cape Town need this! Everyone who owns a bike in the Mother City should go and check it out. I wish I could! The opening is this Friday but it's going to be worth checking out all weekend and beyond - I have no doubt.

Last ride in Cape Town

Cycling Nirvana

Here I sit in what is an unseasonably sunny London. The bad news is that the weather is definitely not going to hold out. The good news is that, since the famous exploits of Messrs Wiggins and Hoy, cycling in England has never been more popular. This place is literally crawling with bikes. What it sorely lacks, however, is places to ride them. Places like Chapman's Peak. Sigh.

I am going to sorely miss this little stretch of heaven. Everyone who owns a bike in Cape Town (and beyond) should consider an acquaintance with this road an absolute priority.

New Frontiers

A New Chapter

The end of CTLB (for now)

As a patriotic South African and supremely contented Cape Town resident, I was recently presented with a rather difficult decision. The company I work for offered me a better role, with greater perks and a higher salary (you might wonder at this point where the difficulty lies...). I was told I will be travelling throughout England and Europe, with frequent visits to Canada and Australia. I will enjoy the benefits of flexi-time and every modern convenience (still looking good...). 

And I will be moving away. To London.

The land of the Frozen Pond

Admittedly, I've been to London before, and just about every South African has a friend or two who call the Big Smoke home. I am therefore not a completely lost soul. But this does have implications for my favourite pass-time. Cycling in London cannot possibly compare to cycling in Cape Town. Cannot possibly...

OK, there are the Borris Bikes - those fantastic ubiquitous 3-speeds (named after erstwhile Mayor Boris Johnson) that can be ridden between conveniently situated racks. London also has 12 wonderfully named Cycling Superhighways following all major routes. And there are literally tens of thousands of cyclists in London who appreciate the bicycle for the thing of beauty it is.

Someone's trusty ride, enduring the cold on Fulham Broadway

So London appreciates the bicycle and perhaps it's not all doom even if I can anticipate a hefty dose of gloom. One of the first things I plan to do on arrival is find myself a city bike and a safe cycle route to the office. That should soften the landing. I want to see for myself if any of the joy I get from cycling in Cape Town can be transplanted into cold, busy London.


Who knows? From the ashes of this blog on cycling in Cape Town, perhaps a new, anglicised version will arise.


London Loves Bikes?

Cycling Heaven

Filming from a bike - Part 2

This short film was taken on the downhill run between Llandudno and Camps Bay just after sunrise. I mounted my Canon Legria video camera on my handlebars using a Joby Gorilla Pod - not as steady as a helmet-mounted GoPro, but hey, the best camera is the one you have on you, right? 

Franz Ferdinand provides the background music and hopefully, maybe, if I'm lucky, you will get a glimpse into how awesome cycling in Cape Town can be! 

Suikerbossie

Proof that there's no place like Cape Town for an afternoon ride

A Bike With Infinite Gears

An innovation 520 years in the making

Testing the Novara Gotham: A Bike With Infinite Gears | Popular Science:

Today I stumbled upon the article above, which is worth a read if you like bikes, gadgets and history! 


I've been following the progress of this awesome development since it first went online in 2007. The back-story is too good to be true: Leonardo da Vinci himself designs the perfect belt/chain-driven transmission system, but sadly (for the entire post-renaissance history of the planet) fails to build it... 


Jump 500 years later and a far-sighted US inventor / realtor (Estate Agent in SA-speak) casts his eye on the design and asks, "What if?". The result - the marvel of an infinitely adjustable gearing system for bikes (and soon, other vehicles) as demonstrated below.

This is as close to real-life sci-fi I think we'll ever get. It reminds us that that as a species, we aren't getting smarter as the centuries roll on... We are only developing more and more materials to manipulate, and ever more complicated tools to assist with the manipulation. Imagine what ol' Leonardo could have done had he lived today. Conversely, imagine how many Leonardo's are out there with no access to the kit they need to make their inventions a reality? 

Enough rambling - back to the bike... I can't wait to see versions of this transmission become mainstream. Not because I dislike gears in any way. Quite the contrary - I think I'll favour gears on a bike as they are the best way to set pace and provide a tangible "comfort zone" to jump in and out of on a training ride. 

Rather, I think this is the kind of development that will hopefully get more people on bikes, riding greater distances with fewer reasons to want to stop. 

Moonlight Mass Cape Town - review

How cool was that?

So, last night, after a hearty dinner at Andiamo's at the Cape Quarter, I took the ol' Giant TCR to Green Point to participate in the Moonlight Mass. I had heard and read about this increasingly popular event, and was very keen to give it a try. The balmy weather didn't exactly discourage me from staying indoors, either! 

Not me

As I rolled up Somerset Road towards the starting point, I could feel the excitement building. Everywhere, people on bikes of all descriptions were making their way to the start. 

After a brief stop at Hudsons to meet up with a friend we found ourselves under the turning circle near the stadium and ready to go! 

The reports say that there were well over 900 people on the ride, and I can easily believe it. It was awesome seeing bikes of all shapes and sizes being put to use on such a good cause. What cause, you ask? Your guess is as good as mine, but whatever message we were trying to make, I have no doubt that we made it.

Still not me

Seeing the throng of illuminated bikes and their friendly riders slowly snaking along the flat route was a real pleasure. Highlights for me included the look on the Sea Point promenade Security Guard's face when he saw a unicycle rider (Pure joy). And no-one can claim not to have enjoyed rolling down Long Street in a chain of solidarity as revelers and party-goers practically hung off the balconies to wave and take photos of the scene.

The ride ended at Greenmarket Square where the awesome Puma funk bike was won by a lucky participant. The way the crowd reacted to the announcement of each consecutive number was a hoot - the number of cheering voices growing smaller with each digit (and replaced with laughter and finally a VERY loud cheer for the winner).

Seeing the success of these events and their almost inevitable growth, one can't help but feel that the future of cycling in Cape Town really is in good hands. Well done to the organisers and thanks to those behind the scenes who made the ride the success it was. As I said to my mate while rolling down the fan walk, Everyone in Cape Town who owns a bike should attend this event - it is impossible not to enjoy! 

Moonlight Mass Cape Town

Moonlight Mass - 4 June 2012

Monday 4 June 2012 will see the next Moonlight mass taking place in Cape Town. The event sees a "mass" (hence the name) of riders meeting up under the Green Point traffic circle on the night a full moon (eureka!), to socialise and ride their bikes through town.

The event apparently started off small but, as with most things awesome, has gone viral and last year saw over 250 participants. All expectations are that this month's ride will boast an even bigger turnout. I think it's a great idea, even though I (like many others) am not really sure what the idea is all about...

I will be participating on Monday, and look forward to the experience. I also look forward to spotting as many Hipsters as possible. They always seem to put a smile on my face. It's not that I find Hipsters intrinsically funny, but because of this awesome parody of the hipster-way that I read at Hayibo.

Photo courtesy of www.hayibo.com

I once saw an ad on TV in which a bunch of people rode neon, glowing bikes through a city at night. The effect of the glowing paint, in stark contrast to the harsh orange streetlights, was very pleasing on the eye. Here's hoping we'll see some of that on Monday! 

Night bike pic from Instructables

And, here's hoping that the moonlight mass goes from strength to strength and ultimately achieves its purpose, whatever that may be...

Land's End to John O Groats 2

Here's another write-up I did of my epic cycle tour through the UK as part of the Ubunye Challenge. This one was "commissioned" for the blog-roll of the Ubunye site itself. 

THE CYCLE LEG OF THE UBUNYE CHALLENGE

NOTES FROM A MONOPOD

There is a lot to be said for the tremendous simplicity of spending all day on a bike with nothing more significant to worry about than how far away the next food stop is. I discovered this through the incredible experience of participating in the cycle leg of the Ubunye Challenge, after Cameron Bellamy invited me to join his 7-day group. We each experienced so much in those seven days that it’s difficult to even begin to describe. Of course, the challenge meant different things to everyone and the things that stand out in my memory, now that almost three weeks have passed, will naturally be different to those for everyone else.

So, instead of trying to imagine how my fellow riders felt on the tour, and instead of setting out a day-by-day account of the experience, I will focus on those highlights…

DISTANCES

Before the Ubunye challenge, I considered a 90km ride to be a good day’s work. This comfort zone was smashed on day 2 of the ride, when we rode from the curiously named town of Westward Ho! (yes, there is officially an exclamation mark in its name) to Gloucester. I managed 140km that day, and that was just the morning’s ride. Stuart took my bike, and Cameron, Hayley and Greg carried on riding to complete 240km. This marked the furthest distance any of the riders had ever ridden. After that, anything less than 100km was just a warm-up and many of the days saw us reaching the 200km mark.

WEATHER

I confess to secretly harbouring hopes of balmy weather in the run-up to the ride. This naivety was thoroughly corrected as we woke up on Day 1 to what can only be described as a screaming Arctic headwind. Conditions could not have been worse as we set off that morning. The wind turbines along the side of the country roads looked as though they were about to lift off, and the icy rain fell almost horizontally as it drenched every layer of clothing we had on. Fortunately, we managed to outpace the misery over the next 2 days. 90km into Day 2, I managed to see my shadow for the first time since arriving in England, and by day 4 we had some wonderful clear skies. The riding gloves and leggings stayed firmly on, though!

Scotland presented the best weather conditions of the tour, as we encountered clear skies, brisk tailwinds, flurries of snow and sleet, rain and bright sunshine – all in the space of a couple of days. The irony of encountering the best weather at the most northern end of the ride was not wasted on any of us.

CRASHES & INJURIES

It is inevitable that when one spends so long on the saddle, the odds of wiping out are dramatically increased. At a roundabout intersection in Windermere, Greg hit the brakes so hard to avoid a reckless driver that he went over the handlebars. Luckily he avoided all contact with the car, but this didn’t stop him from standing in the middle of the street bellowing obscenities at the sheepish driver while he held up traffic. An experience the driver is unlikely to forget! Cam also managed to hit the tarmac on a fast stretch of country road on day 2, after wheel-sucking too closely and clipping my back wheel when I slowed down to stop.

The sheer quantity of kilometres travelled was our guarantee that nobody would complete the tour unscathed. Saddle sores, stiff legs, aching backs, swollen knees, wind-burn and numb hands (still recovering in my case!) all manifested themselves. Greg once again took the cake in this category as the only rider to hospitalise himself: Upon arriving at our B&B at Inverkeithing just north of Edinburgh, we found Greg in a pitiful state with an ambulance on its way to treat him. Too much exertion and not enough nutrition (not to mention heatstroke) had caught up with him and his system could take no more. Sadly this marked the end of Greg’s tour but he recovered well enough by the next day to continue in the support van with his characteristic good spirits.

SCENERY

The UK revealed itself to be surprisingly full of very charming scenery. Most of us had never ventured too far into the English countryside before. Everyone knows that there’s no better way to experience a landscape than to cycle through it. Without the cocoon of a vehicle or a full-face helmet between you and the elements, it finally becomes possible to soak up the passing landscape. I was very pleased to finally get the chance to become more acquainted with this often maligned country.

We all expected busy roads and service stations (of which there were many), but the true pleasure came from the ribbons of country road and quiet villages that we breezed through. Town names became blurred as we passed so many of them, but I will never forget the joy of riding into the famous Lake District in Cumbria. Rolling hills and low stone walls separated fields of fluffy white sheep and lambs, interspersed with streams running with clear fresh water. The Lake District tested our legs as we traversed Kirkstone Pass (all of 1497 feet), but the relentless climb was rewarded by a blistering descent into the lakeside town of Glenriding. We arrived with wide smiles that day!

Scotland stands out in my memory as having some of the best roads in all of the UK. We were hardly aware of the height of the fabled Scottish Highlands as the roads meandered past snow-capped peaks and forested valleys. Scottish engineering prowess certainly made for an easy passage through this majestic terrain. The distance between Glenriding and Inverness on day 5 was enormous, and we could not avoid arriving in the dark. Cam and I rolled into the YHA after 23h30, way after sun-down and in near complete darkness. If it weren’t for the smooth, wide highway we would almost certainly have had to call for backup as we were essentially riding blind.

EVERYTHING ELSE

There were so many other experiences I gained on the ride that can’t be so neatly categorised. Seeing Edinburgh Castle; gliding along the shore-side road of a lake so calm that the reflection on its surface was as bright as the sky itself; eating my own body-weight in chocolate; fixing a flat tire with Cam on the side of a quiet highway; taking seven pain-killers on the last day of the ride; trying to squint through the sleet as I wondered if I’d ever regain the feeling in my fingers on day 1; learning a Chinese nursery rhyme about a one-eared tiger. All of these memories are bundled into a wonderful montage that I will carry with me forever.

Of course, the tour would not have been possible without the hard work of Lauren Pienaar, Mirka Fortunova and Bhavna Sadarangani, our tireless backup drivers. Their hopes of a casual road trip through the UK didn’t survive past the first day! But they never faltered in their support and without them the tour would not have been possible.

If I ever had any doubts that Cameron had the ability to complete the enormous challenges he’d set for himself over the course of the Ubunye Challenge, they have been authoritatively crushed.

All doubts were finally cast into oblivion as I watched Cameron and Hayley pedal up to the grassy mound at John O Groats that marked the end of the ride. Cam, who on day 5 couldn’t tell if he was riding uphill or down, accompanied by Hayley and her entourage of pain-killers, represented all eight of us when they dismounted their bikes for the final time and we gathered for a photo.

And while seven of us raced back to the support van to shelter from the freezing wind, Cam was testing the water to see if he could fit in a cold water training swim before supper. The Ubunye Challenge is in good hands!

Finish line at last! 

Cam, already onto the next adventure...

Land's End to John O Groats 2012

For the sheer amount of road-kill on England’s country roads, you would be forgiven for thinking that the nation is populated by lunatic drivers. This thought crossed my mind more than once as I weaved my bike’s wheels past the pitiful remains of some recently despatched creature. Long distance, multi-day riding certainly is the best way to get to experience a place, and if this means coming into close contact with ex-pheasants, hedgehogs, foxes and badgers, then so be it.

My reason for getting up close and personal with so much of Britain’s deceased wildlife was to participate in the Ubunye Challenge. Organised by my old friend Cameron Bellamy (an ex Capetonian living in London), this triathlon of continental proportions will see him cycle the length of England, swim the English Channel and row across the Atlantic Ocean. To the best of our knowledge, these epic feats have yet to be accomplished by one person within the space of one year, and Cameron hopes to be the first. Along the way he will raise money for the Angus Gillis foundation in the Eastern Cape, supporting early development in rural children.

About to face the headwind at Land's End

The cycle leg took place in late April to early May 2012, and saw two groups of riders (a 10 day group and a 7 day group) accompany Cameron from Land’s End in the South West to John O Groats in Scotland, a stone’s throw from the Orkney Islands. The total distance we covered over 7 days along this popular route was approximately 1400km - in weather ranging from screaming headwinds and driving rain (day 1) to merciful tailwinds and bright sunshine (day 7). Throw in snow, sleet, sunrises, sunsets, urban mazes, rural nirvana, streams, lakes, mountain passes, castles and beaches, and you have a short taste of what the trip was about.

  

And yet, the trip was about so much more… I have never bonded as much with my Giant TCR road bike as I did on those 7 wonderful days. It held up its end of the challenge beautifully and on many occasions I found myself sending grateful vibes to Jason Lind and the team at Olympic Cycles for uniting me with this fantastic machine.

Somewhere on the A7...

Make no mistake; the trip took its toll on all of the riders, and some of the bikes. There’s nothing like frozen rain (affectionately referred to by the Scottish as “sleet”) to work road grime into a bike’s more sensitive bits (not to mention the riders’!). By the end of day 5, I could barely see the individual links in my chain and my brake pads were carrying their own volume in oily black mud. I suffered 2 broken spokes and a bent rim, and my speedometer and right knee rattled themselves apart…

Coastal cycling nirvana in Scotland - looking back

Although none of the riders completed each kilometer, reaching the beach at John O Groats gave us all an undiminished sense of accomplishment and a lifetime of memories. Friendships were strengthened, bikes were celebrated and tired legs and clawed hands were given a chance to finally thaw. And while my physio tells me I shouldn't ride for 2 weeks (grumpy knee), thanks to the guys at Olympic Cycles my bike is looking as good as new and ready to hit the road on its next adventure.

Filming from a Bike

How To: Film Your Solo Cycling Expedition | Moving Image | Tom's Bike Trip:


'via Blog this'

As I've already mentioned, at the end of this week I will be setting off on a traverse of the UK by bike. A lot of excitement has built up around the trip, and I'm keen to make sure that the memories of the event are properly recorded. 


And so it is that I've been reading up a little on filming from a bike. My trusty Canon Legria is now safely mounted to my handlebars via my new Joby GorillaPod Hybrid (meaning it can tilt its tripod head in any direction). From this favoured perch, my camera will hum along quietly to itself, recording everything it sees.


From the basic experience I've accumulated so far, I am conscious that some decent thought needs to go into the filming process - I don't want to risk boring any viewers into a stupor! Let's not fool ourselves, long roads and grey skies at 25km/h are probably not what kept Stephen Spielberg up at night as a child...


So, quite apart from the obligatory sweeping panoramas of Middle Earth Middle England, here's what I'm hoping to capture: 

1. Rolling vistas strung with quiet roads
2. High speed descents
3. Quaint villages and pubs
4. Wipe-outs and mechanical failures (with a bit of gratuitous aftermath, maybe)
5. Weather conditions (hopefully not all bad weather, either)
6. Interviews with the team
7. A sense of the hardships and thrills 

This may not be the only multi-day bike trip I embark upon, but it is the first and one I know I will (with a little help from the camera) remember forever.

Bug on a Bike | Colossal

Bug on a Bike | Colossal:


'via Blog this'


Love this! 

Cape Town to Hout Bay on Google Maps

http://g.co/maps/gpzmb


Google Maps has launched an awesome "update" to its legendary service in the form of an 8-bit console-compatible release. The release is an April fools day joke, but the maps work! To prove it, here's my trusty weekend route - CBD to Chapman's Peak in all it's 8-bit glory.

Like an 80's TV game, but better!

And while I'm on the topic of maps - here's the route I will be cycling at the end of April for the Ubunye Challenge. No April fool's joke here - just 1400km of suffer-fest which cannot come soon enough.

The Adventure of a Lifetime

My obsession with all things pedal powered extends beyond Cape Town, and so it is that on the 27th of April 2012 I will be heading to the UK for an 8 day traverse of the landmass that is the United Kingdom of Great Britain.


The route from South East (Land's End) to the North West (John O Groats) follows secondary roads and helped along nicely by the prevailing trade wind. The total distance covered is almost 1000 miles (1,407km to be exact, thanks Wikipedia). Most people traverse the route over 10 to 12 days but my Giant and I will try to make the trip in a mere eight...


Eight days is by no means fast, nor even close to the insane cycle record of 44h4m20s, held by an apparent masochist in 2001 (again, thanks Wikipedia!) However, it does mean travelling between 180 and 230 km per day, which is certainly going to be a test.


The ride is part of an unprecedented global triathlon put together by my friend Cameron Bellamy, in support of the Angus Gillis Foundation in South Africa. The triathlon has been dubbed the Ubunye Challenge, and it's worth knowing about. If all goes to plan (and with Cameron in charge, somehow it will) this will be the first time in human history that a person, under his own power, cycles the length of the UK, swims the English Channel, and rows across the Atlantic in one year, or at all.

I love a good cause, and a good challenge! Cameron has kindly opened the challenge to certain invited guests, and I was thrilled when I cracked a nod. The kit-list is growing but ultimately I hope to make it through with a minimum of admin and fuss, learning as I go.


Needless to say many lessons will be learnt along the way, so keep coming back for updates on the progress of preparation and of course the tour itself.

An Amateur's Tips for riding your Best Argus

Anyone can Beat their Best

I am still on a natural, endorphin-driven high after destroying my personal best Argus time by over 1 hour. In two years I have brought my finishing time down from 6h30 (2010) to 3h41 (2012). 


But there's an irony in this downward trend: Each of my three Argus attempts have been easier than the last! Experience, that masterful old teacher, has taught me a few tricks: 

1. Get into a Group: For free speed, get into a group at all costs. If no group is near, suggest to the nearest similarly paced riders that you form one. There is nothing like the thrill of riding in formation with like-minded athletes. Cycling may be an individual sport for most of us, but there's a reason the best riders are in teams. Wind resistance drops to negligible levels in a well formed group - you'll be amazed at the resultant increase in speed.
2. Pump your tires up: The harder your tires, the less rolling resistance you will experience and the faster you will go. Properly inflated tires are also less likely to suffer "snakebite" punctures from rim-pinching.
3. Check your legs: If you are wary of cramping, get out of the saddle and stretch your legs before you get to the start of a climb. Check often for cramps and massage them out when the going is good. You will appreciate the precaution later when the group pace forces you up out of the saddle.
4. Drink fluids and take on energy: Drink and eat regularly, before you feel thirsty or hungry. Ration yourself so that you don't run out of sustenance before the end of the race. 
5. Carry everything on board: Stopping at the water-points may seem like a great idea, but ideally you want to carry everything you need to last the distance on board with you. Stopping for any reason will damage your finishing time.
6. Pace yourself: Plot your goal time against the various checkpoints (the organisers actually give everyone a really useful sticker which does this) and don't succumb to the pressure to outpace yourself in the early stages.
7. Give thanks: This is a tip I learnt in 2012. It's incredible to see the support that local Capetonians and riders' families give to all riders. Best of all, the support usually comes on the climbs, when you need it most (Suikerbossie is the best example). Take the time to shout a word of thanks to the supporters, and watch them erupt in acknowledgement of your heart-felt appreciation. Believe me, there is no better energiser than a crowd of people directing their support and well-wishes, however fleetingly, solely at you.

Everyone rides SA's biggest cycle race for different reasons, but I would confidently argue that everyone, whatever their motivation for cycling, wants to have their best ride. I hope I never fail to beat my PB, and it's tips like the above that are going to keep me on track.

2012 Cape Argus Cycletour

South Africa's Best Bicycle Race

The Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycletour (let's just call it the Argus) is without a shadow of doubt the best bicycle race in SA. I am by no means an impartial judge, but the numbers don't lie. No other race boasts a higher head-count, greater TV coverage, more prestige and more vibrant crowd support.

This year I had my best ever result of this best ever race. My 2010 Giant TCR Advanced was the true hero of the day as it skated along the tarmac at an as-yet unprecedented average speed of 31km/h. Credit must of course also be given to the weather gods who played their role impeccably, and last, but not least, my two legs deserve an honourable mention for not failing me once the entire day.

For anyone interested in cycling the Argus, Go For It! You will never regret the experience - arguably even if you have a nightmare of a time on the day. 

My experience of the ride was characterised by speed, stunning natural beauty, willing co-riders who formed accommodating bunches, exhilaration and the pure, unadulterated satisfaction that forms the reward of obliterating my personal best time by over an hour.

2012 Argus strategy

Goal time: sub 4 hours

Previous PB: 4h45m

Reasons to go fast		Reasons not to go fast
New bike	4km/h faster	Poor weather conditions	Lose 3km/h?
Route experience		Mechanical failure	Lose 20-30 mins
Diet experience		Poor nutrition on day	End race
Good weather conditions		Crash	End race
Earlier start time	Add 10 mins
Faster riders in group	Add 3km/h
Group riding skills	Add

Sustained average speed over 110 km:  = 28km/h

Previous sustained average speed: 23.2km/h

Route Profile

End of M3	21
Boyes Drive	26
Kalk Bay	30
Glencairn	36
Simon’s Town	40
Millers Point	46
Smitswinkel	50
Perdekloof	59
Misty Cliffs	65
Noordhoek	80
Chapmans Peak	85
Hout Bay	91
Suikerbossie	95
Maiden’s cove	103
Green Point	110

Splits (240 minutes to use)

Marker	Distance	Mins to arrive	Stage time
End of M3	21	45m	45m
Boyes Drive	26
Kalk Bay	30
Glencairn	36
Simon’s Town	40	85m	40m
Millers Point	46
Smitswinkel	50	107m	22m
Perdekloof	59
Misty Cliffs	65
Noordhoek	80	171m	64m
Chapmans Peak	85
Hout Bay	91	195m	24m
Suikerbossie	95
Maiden’s cove	103
Green Point	110	235m	40m

Breakdown

Marker	Distance	Mins to arrive	Stage time
End of M3	21	45m	45m

From the start of the race to the arrival at the end of the M3 will be fast. Groups will be big, and energy levels will be at the highest for the day. The temptation will be to exceed the average pace, and this is permissible only if it does not require muscular strain. Freewheeling and bombing of the hills is fine, as is clever drafting on the blue route. Avoid strain on Edinburgh Drive (the first hill). Have fun and enjoy the crowds and support. Arrive at the end of the blue route within 45 minutes, with NO feeling of strain or exertion.

Keywords: Relax, conserve, draft.

Marker	Distance	Mins to arrive	Stage time
Boyes Drive	26
Kalk Bay	30
Glencairn	36
Simon’s Town	40	85m	40m

This leg starts with the climb over Boyes Drive. This can be a tough climb and I must expect to encounter the first blast of the South Easter. Speed will definitely drop over boyes drive due to bunching, headwinds and hills. If there is extra time in the bag from the blue route, then it can be used here. At the shark spotters, climb back on the bus. Drafting will be important after Fish Hoek as the road gets wider, straighter and more level. Stay in a group no matter what. Let them work for me. The wind is the enemy on this leg.

Keywords: Draft, back on bus.

Marker	Distance	Mins to arrive	Stage time
Millers Point	46
Smitswinkel	50	107m	22m

From Jubilee Square to the top of Smitswinkel is a steady climb, but one I’ve done many times. Others will be slacking off either at or directly after the water point. I mustn’t worry about them. This is my race. This is where I turn the screws. Smitswinkel is a trek and it will be ok to feel ragged and out of breath. But it is not ok for my legs to start talking back to me at this stage. This 10km stretch is my first killing field. Average speed will drop to sub 24km/h here, and this is acceptable.

Approaching Smitswinkel, the headwind (if any, will drop as the gradient rises). Attack Smitswinkel at 16km/h and be at the top in no more than 25 minutes.

Keywords: Killing field, strong legs.

Marker	Distance	Mins to arrive	Stage time
Perdekloof	59
Misty Cliffs	65
Noordhoek	80	171m	64m

From the top of Smitswinkel the pace will quicken dramatically. This is an almost effortless leg. I don’t want to feel any exertion at least until misty cliffs. The trick will in staying safe over the rough road surfaces. Don’t worry about groups at this point, but look for one towards misty cliffs because the short hop over to Kommetjie will be felt. Use the break to appreciate the joy of speed.

The slog from Kommetjie to Noordhoek will re-introduce the almost forgotten south easter headwind. This is expected, but if I’m early, this won’t be as big of a factor in past years. If so, pounce! Find a rider who matches the golden 30km/h target pace and work together. Possibly communicate. Rehydrate and zone out during the grind, because everyone will have to go through it. There is an hour to reach Chappies from Smitswinkel, which is exactly 30kms in distance. Gains here can be used on Chappies.

The Kommetjie – Noordhoek leg is killing field 2.

Keywords: Recovery, joy, grit.

Marker	Distance	Mins to arrive	Stage time
Chapmans Peak	85
Hout Bay	91	195m	24m

This is a slow stage, and the first time it will be ok to feel the deeper lingering burn in my legs. An 11km stage, but the speed is going to drop to average 17km/h. Expect this… Remember that chappies is not actually that hard of a hill, and relish passing all of those people!

Once over chappies, climb back on the 30km/h bus but do so by freewheeling and pedalling lightly. No need to bomb, but don’t get cold. Arrive at the bottom of suikerbossie in good spirits – almost home!

Beware cross winds on the down-side of chappies and the hill through Hout Bay. If there are groups at this stage, find them and use any advantage available even though there won’t be any wind. This is an 11km stage with an average speed target of 20km/h.

Keywords: Earn the pain, relax, cannibal.

Marker	Distance	Mins to arrive	Stage time
Suikerbossie	95
Maiden’s cove	103
Green Point	110	235m	40m

No strategy here, just ride it in. Stamp on pedals at Maidens cove and once above glen beach, take it home!

At the top of Ssuikerbossie, look at the splits. Llandudno to home takes under 30 minutes. I need to be at the top of Suikerbossie at 03h30.

Keywords: Strong finish

Actual average speed requirements

Milestone	Distance	Ave Speed	Time
Edinburgh Drive	1.5	17	0.09
Boyes Drive	3	16	0.19
Simon’s Town	6	23	0.26
Smitswinkel	5	17	0.29
Kommetjie	10	23	0.43
Chappies	6	16	0.38
Suikerbossie	3	14	0.21
Maidens Cove	0.5	17	0.03
Climbing	35	17.88	1.88
Remainder	75	35.45	2.12