Around the World Party - ABSA Cape Epic Party

Elisca and I met some of the other volunteers that were going to work at Waterpoint 2 just by randomly finding a spot to sit out of the rain Ferryman's Restaurant & Bar, V&A Waterfront. I became good friends with Jan, Kathy and Amanda over the course of the Epic. 

Dolla & myself

The closest I got to anyones calves. :)

With our friend, British Ray Hince.

On our way to meet Ray whilst he was chatting to Kevin Vermaak, Elisca almost took Joel Stransky out without knowing who he was.

Lourensford's best wine

Unofficial World Cup - Kayamandi

Christiaan posted this on my Facebook wall, I already saw it and thought how cool it would be to watch the race. It gave me that extra confidence to make a plan to go especially as it would mean less time with the family.

Ray Hince that will also be working on Waterpoint 2 happened to be in Stellenbosch last night, so I text him and asked him along. His surprise was big when he realised what he was going to attend as when I asked him along to the Unofficial World Cup he thought the mountain bikers were going to play football against each other.

Kayamandi is a township in Stellenbosch and this is where the charity that Songo Fipaza started is located. Songo.info is also the charity that Christoph Sauser & Burry Stander road for in the ABSA Cape Epic. Specialized is heavily involved and provide equipment for the kids.

Christoph Sauser & Songo.info hosted this event for the first time last year.

It is basically a XC race in Kayamandi, with a world class line-up also giving local kids the opportunity to race with them on the same course at the same time. They started with 2 laps around the football field, 30 minutes + 3 laps out on the course through the township, between houses, down stairs etc.

The line-up:

Rainbow striped, Nino Schurter, World Champion 2012

Note that all 3 Olympic medallists was present. Nino Schurter didn't race, but he was there kitted in his white world colors. I had the cheek to ask him why he is not racing, to which he answered he only landed 2 hours ago. It was still nice to look at him, I mean see him there. :)

Jaroslav Kulhavy, Christoph Sauser, Manuel Fumic, Philip Buys
Photo: Ray Hince

Manuel Fumic, Christoph Sauser, Jaroslav Kulhavy, Marco Fontana, Florian Vogel

Conrad welcomed by Songo, founder of Songo.info

A lot of the young South African stars was also competing along with the Caveman, Conrad Stoltz. I finally had the opportunity to see him race. He was trying out a new bike with  the new grip shift technology gears. His saddle unfortunately broke during the race and he didn't complete the race.  

With the Cave couple, (Conrad & Liezl Stoltz) and Benno Willett
Photo: Ray Hince

Jaroslav Kulhavy was leading most of the race with Florian Vogel (Nino Schurter's teammate) blowing in his neck. Yamahato, Fontana & Sauser on their heels. On the last lap Kohey broke away and before we knew it, it was the 3 Songo boys taking 1, 2, 3. Sauser won! Vogel & Fontana 4th & 5th.

Winner Christoph Sauser!
Photo: Ray Hince

I ended up chatting with Manuel Fumic afterwards, he will be partnering Marco Fontana in the Epic and they are riding for Cannondale. Fontana came 3rd in the Olympics even after his saddle came off 1.5km from the Finish. Manuel is so down to earth and so excited about the Epic. He was saying that people told him last night would be a fun race, but that it was actually hard. I'm not a Cannondale fan, purely because of their a-symmetry Lefty forks, but I'd like to re-phrase Lance's quote, "It is not about the bike, it is about the person on the bike." #mountainbikecrush #itmustbethebaggies

Kohey Yamamato and Marco Fontana
Photo: Ray Hince

We also spoke to another guy on the Cannondale team, Jerome Clementz, he specializes in Enduro racing and are just in South Africa for some filming at the moment. He won the Trans Provence endurance race in 2011 and came 3rd in 2012.

Candice Neethling, South Africa's Women's XC Olympian and Cherise Stander was amongst the spectators too.

Ray taught me how to speak to people, before I knew what was happening he asked some of the pros to pose for photos with me. Here we are with Alban Lakata. 

Ray Hince, TC and Alban Lakata

With Olympic Gold Medallist, Jaroslav Kulhavy
Photo: Ray Hince

Highlights & Observations:

1. Meeting up with the Cavecouple again. Conrad & his lovely wife Liezl

2. Speaking with Manuel Fumic

3. Seeing Nino Schurter

4. Florian Vogel also likes chocolate milk,  he drinks the wrong brand though... should change to Chocolate Sterristumpie

5. These guys are all smaller than what they look on tv or photos

6. Ray was on a mission to get me on photos with these guys... watch this space & make space for my head, I was completely starstruck!

7. Spectator friendly course, reminded me of the Olympic course

8. An absolute privilege to watch this in SA - the perfect setting

9. Mountainbiking transforming the kids and the community

10. Mountainbikers are down to earth!!!

See link below for photos by Gary Perkin, well-known mountainbike photographer

http://flipper.co.za/gallery/Songo/RaceOfChampions/

Homework for those who don't know who I am talking about

http://www.songo.info/about-songo/?id=15
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nino_Schurter
http://www.cape-epic.com/news.php?news_id=441&title=/2012_Olympic_Bronze_at_2013_Epic/

My next stop is mountainbiking for the first time in South Africa tomorrow afternoon with Beth Cartledge. Jip, belief it or not, it is true. Followed by Around the World Party tomorrow night with Elisca & ABSA Cape Epic people at the Waterfront in Cape Town.

My 1st Cape Argus Cycletour - Results

The stats are out...

Results For: Cronje, Tharina

Event Date:	Event Name:	Race Time:	Position:	Gender Position:	Start Group:	Group Position:	Age Group:	Age Position:	Avg Speed:
10/03/2013	Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour (110km)	04:33:31	15636/31305	1867/6114	JJ	267/573	F 30-34	240/790	24.13

Cecilia, myself, Elisca & Simon set off to the start line. Elisca & I bumped into Ray Hince that Elisca has met in 2010 whilst training for The TRansAlps, it is so nice to see a familiar face. Ray is also working at the ABSA Cape Epic with me on Waterpoint 2.

As we stood at the start line all my favourite songs played, Rihanna - We Found Love, Yeah-Yeah-Yeah from Chris Brown I think, Pokkeltjie's Waka Waka and off course Eye of the Tiger.

I got told, keep right, whatever you do, do NOT get caught in the middle. So I stayed on the right most of the time and if I was anywhere else I soon realised why I was supposed to keep right, so I quickly made my way right again.

After working hard on my own to get back to my group I decided this is going to be a long & tiresome day, so I jumped onto the slip of groups as they came past, shoo-wee that made a difference, I was sommer quickly back in a bunch.

Realistically I thought 5 hours would be do-able for me, so when I got to St James station at the 26km mark, I saw on the race pace chart that I was on track to finish in 4:30, so I wanted to do my best to finish in that time.

Now when we packed my bike, they guys wanted to mark my saddle and I said, no don't worry about that, but then when I got to this side, my sister's friend, Niklaas saw the state of my bike. By the way according to my standards, my bike was clean... As we put the bike together Niklaas went home to get grease, on his return he only then saw my cassette and at that point he told me the following... "Tharina, I'm going to put your bike together now and then I'm taking it home and you can pick it up later today." He also wanted to mark my saddle to which I said, no don't worry. So on Saturday night we picked up my bike, I have never seen any bike let alone my own bike SO CLEAN. It was as good as new. I felt ashamed that someone else that I don't even know that well washed my bike so well, but I also felt so PROUD and CHUFFED about this new bike of mine. #inmynoppies.

Just after Fishhoek I realised I will have to stop and adjust my saddle as my knee was getting sore. If only I marked my saddle, but no I knew better and thought I'll be able to see the marks of where I usually have is, but as a matter of fact, Niklaas washed my seatpost so clean, that there was NO TRACE of any markings.

A guy with calves, hairy legs and not a fancy bike came past me and made a comment, he just sounded so happy, I saw that he had a nice pace that I could keep up with so I sat in his slip for a bit and he paced me back into some faster groups, Simon then caught up with me as we approached the 40km mark, he started about 8 minutes after us. We stayed together for a while before he went off again. It was so nice to have some company for a while.

I also made this deal with myself that if I have to stop it will only be after half-way.

On the decent of Smitswinkel my knee really started hurting, it was fine whilst I was pedalling, but when I had to free, it was so painful, so I stopped at the waterpoint with 54km to go. It is incredible how you are in auto-pilot when you are on your bike, I was like a druggie asking for coke, on a normal day I don't even drink coke. I then saw physio's... ahh physio's. A little boy took hold of my bike and a lady started sorting my knee out, I was so grateful. I tightened my saddlepost as I think it was sliding down whilst riding and off I went. So I lost valuable time on this, but I just thought I'm not risking going through so much pain for the next 54km to the end.

It took a while to get some nice rhythm again and I've also lost my group again... at some point on the back of the mountain, I'd like to refer to this as the 'darkside' of the mountain I cycled passed an old man who looked up and told me, "You are going like a boeing." This made me chuckle, but lifted my spirits so much.

The next 20km I tried to figure out where I was on my race chart, if only I studied the map, but then I do better when I don't know what lies ahead of me. I was subtracting distances, adding them etc etc, it made me forget about the pain. Just before Noordhoek, there was a few easy gradient slow hills and the wind was blowing a bit, I moved to the left of all the riders, using them as wind shelter and made up some time.

As we got to Noordhoek everyone knew Chapmans Peak is next up, now I've never even driven round this way so I did not know what to expect and I didn't even look in the starter pack at the route either. It's a good thing and a bad thing. I felt good, my knee was fine, I've popped a few shot blocks down the road. I overtook people as we were going up, we got to the top & I thought, is this it? So I asked a guy was that Chappies? He said no-no-no... I now know that, that hill is referred to as fake Chappies. At the bottom of fake Chappies, I also witnessed my first crash of the day from the corner of my right eye. A mountainbiker was getting tired, not thinking, not indicating, sitting on the right of the road, stopped dead and another mountainbiker was overtaking him on the right. BOOM CRASH!

Soon I went round the bent and knew what people were talking about, a young guy came round the corner and saw the long line of people at the same time as me & he was just so deflated. I said to him, don't look up, look in front of you & just keep on pedalling. Half-way up Chappies, a guy came passed me and said good going or something, I looked up and saw it is the mountainbiker that crashed, he was back on his bike and had only a hole in his tights, he turned out to be a brother of a guy that I studied with who's name I still can't remember, they all look the same that is how I knew who he was. It was nice to see someone you 'know or know off'. Chappies is a nice climb, the gradient is fine, it is nice in the shadow with the overhanging rocks and you just keep pedalling till you get to the top.

Now I was riding my mountainbike with slicks, so that justified wearing a camelbak. Sorry Bonty & Andy. I stopped after Chappies to fill up my camelbak as I didn't know what to expect from Suikerbossie & it was getting warm by now. Descending Chappies - KEEP RIGHT! On the left there are no barriers and if you fall there, you will end up in the sea. We have such a beautiful country, only one place like Cape Town.

This leads us to Suikerbossie. Suikerbossie is just unnecessary, by now I was running behind schedule to make my 4:30 and I just wanted to get it out of the way so I can get to the Finish. I didn't know how long it is, how much of this suffering I still had to endure... There was thousands of people sukkeling to get to the top, this is the only time I made use of my granny gear. The people on the side encouraging us was irratating me, you can do it, do this, do that. I just wanted to shout back, come climb on my bike and DO IT THEN. I think the heat played a role here and by now everybody was tired and people couldn't think anymore, they were doing silly things. Little boys were pushing larger people up Suikerbossie, that is against my principles though. If you get pushed or dragged by someone once, your mental battle becomes so much bigger, that is just my opinion.

I got to the 16km to go mark and had 30 minutes left, now I knew that I would've been able to make 13km in 30 minutes, but wasn't sure about 16km in 30 minutes. I just kept going...

When we got to Camps Bay all the Cape Argus poster were referring to it as Cramps Bay. I thought ha-ha that is funny, thinking no cramps for me today... Mmm just as I started freeing again, a little cramp in my left hammy appeared, so I quickly decided, you SHALL PEDAL TO THE END, no cramps today!

It was the longest 16km of my life... I stopped looking at my watch at 4:22 and decided to go all out and see where I end. My ETA in my head after my pitstops was 4:37/4:38... the last 3km ended up being a sprint and I even went passed a few people.

I FINISHED 4:33:31 and I am very happy with that!

Facts, tips and lessons of the day:

SPUR!!!

1. It was great seeing my Dolla again and starting the race with her
2. We have a beautiful city - only one Cape Town
3. Mark your saddle
4. Prepare better - look at the route so you know where you are on the race pace chart
5. Seeing people you know lifts your spirits
6. It sucks getting to the FINISH and there is NO-ONE there to support or receive you
7. Spur burger, chips and Spur sauce is the best after race food I was able to dream off
8. Always keep right and carry on
9. Agree a meeting place to find your friends afterwards before the race
10. It is very well organised and everybody is so helpful
11. Grateful I did it on my mtb - would've been much more nervous on my roadbike

Quote of the day:
You are going like a boeing. (Unknown man who finished his 12th Argus - I saw him in the bikepark afterwards again)

Ps. Sorry technology not working with me, that is why there is a lack of photos... another lesson to be learnt, time to upgrade to a smarter phone. #stubbornness

Bikepark for 35000 bikes

All the FINISHERS!

A Light Traveller is a Happy Traveller - FACT!

My first trip travelling with a bikebox was on 8 March 2013.  

Zane kindly borrowed his very cool bikebox to me and him and Jason packed it for me. I was so grateful that I was not left to figure this out by myself. I know what to do with my bike when it is put together, NOT when it is taken apart...

I ambitiously thought that I could brave getting to the airport with by taking 3 different buses while pushing dragging 3 pieces of luggage with wheels. Thankfully Tim, my little brother from another mother gave me a lift to the airport after we were up into the early hours of the morning playing around on my blog. Tim jazzed it up for me, thank you.

Bikeboxalan - REVIEW
The boys made it look so easy to pack the box. What makes this box so good is that the frame goes on the one side and the wheels go on the other, they get screwed onto the one side even and they get seperated with a sponge from the frame and there is a little pole in the middle that needs to be alligned in the middle that keeps the box from squashing inwards, so the bike won't get squash if something pushes on either side of the box. The box itself looks bigger than it is and fits into small cars. The only negative thing I can say is that there are no real handle where you can pick it up or drag it with and for us short people that is a bit of a problem. www.bikeboxalan.co.uk

Everything went so smoothly, everything fitted in his car, we left in time, we chatted up a storm, we arrived in time. Africa here I come! 

I got to the airport, chose my bagdrop desk carefully, thought if I pick a man hopefully I can utilise some of my communication skills. #tosstoss This man got me to way my suitcase and bikebox and informed me that they were both overweight as if I didn't know that. Madam I will have to charge you £40 per piece on extra baggage. I said, NO-NO-NO, I will just repack it, thank you. My TC-charm was going to get me NOWHERE today.

I went across to the otherside of the floor, took everything other than bikeparts out of the bikebox, bikeshoes out, pedals out, tubes out. From my own luggage I took out everything that had some sort of weight to it, all the chocolate that I could get my hands on came out.

After lieing flat on my stomach on top of my hand luggage suitcase and giving my fingers almost blisters I managed to get the zip on my hand luggage closed. I'm sure that this was even weighing more than the allowed 23kg, but they were not going to weigh that, thankfully.

I went to the desk of a lovely lady, that greeted me with, Oh you must be going to Cape Town. Now, THAT is how I wanted to be greeted! Yes, I am. I put my checked in luggage on the scale and it came to 21kg. Wow I got rid of 5kg!!! As I went forward to put my bikebox she said to me, Oh no don't worry I'll come round and put the tag on for you. Seriously, did I just repack my whole suitcase and emptied my bikebox for it not to be weighed???

As I had a few spare kilograms in my checked luggage, I quickly took out my D-lock from my hand luggage and stuffed it into my checked luggage. Unfortunately I could'nt find the big heavy cage that it connects into. Checked in my suitcase, dropped off my bike at the big items and off I went to security. Great.

Off to security... Hand luggage through to scanner, TC stripped from my belt and shoes through the metal detector and came out clear on the other side waiting for my hand luggage suitcase.

It ain't coming...waiting, seeing that security are staring at the screen very intently. Every time up another security member is looking at the screen... OH-oh... About 6 men were looking at the screen at which point I walked over and asked if they are looking at my suitcase. I informed them that it could be the cage for D-lock that they are looking at or the cleats of my cycling shoes.

The one man brought my suitcase to me and informed me that Madam we have to search through your suitcase. What, seriously? Please no, I just repacked it and will never get it closed again. Sorry Madam we really have to.

So he put my suitcase down on the 2 tables at the end of the conveyor thing and started opening it. I could'nt belief this was happening to me, I panicked because I knew that all the stuff I stuffed in that suitcase won't fit on the two tables and also I did not want the whole of Terminal 5 see my personal stuff (underwear), come on a girl needs her privacy!!! So I said, do we have to do it here? And I actually also panicked cause I knew that if anyone else's bag had to be searched we won't fit in on the two tables and I couldn't cope with the idea of my 'personal' things falling around and I have to claim them in front of strangers etc etc. So he said, would you like to go to a private room? I thought this sounds a bit ominous and strange or makes the matter sound more serious than it is, but I agreed and said yes please. I also asked how long it will take as there was only 50 minutes before my flight left.

We went to this private room and started unpacking my suitcase. I dread the thought of re-packing it and informed them that they would have to help me re-pack it. We went through everything and couldn't find what they saw on the screen, the suitcase was empty and it was not there. So we started packing it again, I got the security man and women to roll up my spare tubes. He picked up a packet which had a jacket for my brother-in-law in it and FOUND the culprit, the D-lock cage was trapped all the time. It looked like ammunition to them. This strong man helped me to get my suitcase close again - thankfully.

Off I went to dutyfree to get my brother-in-law and dad whisky and pimms. On my way out I heard the last boarding call for flight BA043 to Cape Town..... SSSSSCCCCCCHHHHUUKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSS! I had to still get the transfer to the gate. I started sprinting towards the transfer train and almost fell over my own suitcase. That would've been a disaster.

Get off the transfer run to my gate, B36. There is NO-ONE and I mean NO-ONE to be seen at Gate B36. I started going down the escalator when a lady came towards me and asked me where I'm going. I was taken a back, what does she mean where am I going? I'm going to Cape Town. The lady said sorry this is not the gate for Cape Town. In my head what does she mean it is not the gate for Cape Town. She looked at my boarding pass and said your boarding gate is B48. I was like where is it, as she directed me I started running whilts shouting after her to ring my gate and tell them I am on my way!

I turned left at the corner as she said and started running this GATE was the furthest away that  you can imagine. Out of breath I got there calling to them, I'm here, I'm here as if they were specially waiting on me. They said don't worry you are here now, I asked them, can I walk now? Yes you can walk. Phew.

I started walking to my plane, having to choose a corridor, I wasn't sure if I chose the correct on, it kept going forever and ever and there was nobody to be seen anywhere. I doubted myself, what if this plane doesn't go to Cape Town? As soon as I got to the end of the queue I asked the passengers where they were going. CAPE TOWN... And Relax.

I got to my seat and saw my neighbour occupied my seat, I quickly advised him that he is sitting on my window seat. I got onto the seat and started re-arranging their stuff in the overhead locker as it was taking up redundant space. The one guy kindly offered to put my suitcase in, so I bossed my Columbian neighbour who turned out to be Greek around to put my suitcase in correctly and finally sat down into my chair soaking wet in sweat – NICE… I’m on the plane and I am going to Cape Town and I will be able to ride the Argus and volunteer at the Absa Cape Epic. 

I saw Ray Hince on the plane, he was also going to volunteer on at the Epic.

Getting off the plane I flew through passport control and then waited for a long time for my bikebox. There was about 7 of the same boxes on this plane. Alan’s Bikebox is a real popular brand. I walked out with Ray and thought, good I’m distracted customs won’t pull me off, also they have never stopped me before and in all fairness accidents happens in 3’s and I had 3 almost showstoppers yesterday. But my hopes was crushed. 

A SARS lady pulled me over. She was so friendly when she asked how I was on which I responded very well thank you. It felt like I had personal welcome back into South Africa. She asked if I’m visiting family on which I said oh yes I’m visiting family. Did you bring the gifts, off course I bought them gifts, what does she think? It was only at this point where I realised… Oh-oh Tharina, you don’t want to unpack more bags and show her all your gifts. She asked me where the gifts was? I said in this suitcase, pointing to my hand luggage. Can you show it to me? What are you serious? I’ve already unpacked this bag 3 times in the last day. I won’t be able to close it again I told her, to which she said I’ll sit on it. I thought you won’t sit on my suitcase, you will squash everything I have in there! J So ja once again I opened it and showed her “some” of my books and chocolates that I brought as gifts. She was happy with that. Madam did you bring any spirits? Yes I did, whisky and pimms. Madam I’ll have to charge you tax on the Pimms as you are only allowed to bring in one litre of spirits. At this poing I was so over it, come on, did I really have to go through all of this just to get home. They took their time to work out how much I had to pay. I said to her that they can keep the pimms, I paid for it once and I’m not paying for it again. No sorry we are not allowed to keep it Madam. Ahhhh. I got charged R40 tax on the pimms. I agreed to get a receipt as I suddenly thought my R40 cash will be going through the SARS books.

FINALLY I WAS HOME AFTER ALL OF THIS… My poor sister thought something happened to me as everybody was out already.



Lessons learnt:

1. I overestimated my charm
2. Bad luck comes in 4's too
3. TRAVEL LIGHT

Summary in the words of my Facebook status:

what a drama...enough for 2 more blogposts... over weight luggage, repack, strip search of heaviest hand luggage in the world in private room, enough time to get whiskey for my dad, FINAL call, train, get to gate NO-ONE there, WRONG GATE! But on seat 36A & heaviest luggage in overhead locker after delegating my 2 Columbian neighbours. I am going home now!

I'm here #allthatmatters... after getting stopped @ customs... SERIOUSLY unpacked same suitcase 4 times on the same trip. Turned out my neighbours were actually Greek & lovely. Never had any of this drama in the 9 years I've been in the UK. Makes a good story at least

ABSA Cape Epic Excitement!!!

Projecting my excitement on our fridge at home! :-)

So finally I'm in final digits of counting down the time before I go home to be part of the ABSA Cape Epic. THREE SLEEPS only!

They have announced the Riders Guide today.

http://www.cape-epic.com/content.php?page_id=238&title=/2013_Ride_Guide/

See page 50-51 for some interesting stats.

I'm trying to contain myself...

BUT I am very exciting especially about the following...

1. To meet these people (or to look at some of them from a distance)
2. To see & learn what nutrition will be served
3. Just to be part of it
4. Observe all the logistics - watch & learn

My biggest worry was that they are going to put me on timing in the field, that would've been a disaster, I talk way too much for such a responsible job, but thankfully I will be working at Waterpoint 2 each day. My biggest fear is the sun and this now 'british skin/britse wit velletjie, but after this winter, overdosing on the sun can not be a bad thing. :)

BRING IT ON!!!

I would love to pick a team to win the Epic, but it is so hard to pick one..
Christoph Sauser & Kulhavy will turn on the gas, but then Nino Schurter is just a MACHINE. I like Manuel Fumic & Marcon Fontana as they are different and has some personality, but then you also have the likes of Karl Platt & Jose Hermida, it is just too hard too choose. :( I'm sad that Ralph Naef has broken his collarbone & that he won't be riding the Epic anymore, he looks like a guy with LOTS of guts.

After the sad and terrible passing away of our favourite and local hero, Burry Stander, his wife Cherise & brother Duane will be riding together, they will be known as team Africanmtbkid1, his father, Charles and other brother, Charl will be riding as Africanmtbkid2.

Tip Off:
I found Twitter the best way of following the events in previous years, it it the most up to date information that you will get.

Who to Follow on Twitter:
@AbsaCapeEpic
@TeamBulls
@ManuelFumic
@nschurter
@Plattos
@sauserwind
@songoinfo
@MaxKnoxcycling
@kleinhansmuesli
@Josehermida
@taylorchick1
@conceptkzn
@Mr_TREAD
@dannicholl
@tangocycling (me :-)) Updates through the experience of a volunteer

Which channels to watch on Youtube:
Absa Cape Epic Channel
Specialized Bicycle Components
Team Bulls official
GoPro South Africa

Putting it out there

Please meet Skelmpie. Confession over. The End.

 

Snow Riding

Picturesque Peaslake

It's been such a cold winter with so much snow. Not knowing if Summer will ever arrive we thought well at least with the snow we won't get wet. We as South Africans are the only people who still get excited when it snows in London. 

I ordered overshoes from Wiggle and they e-mailed me to say they can only deliver in April, well technically it should be Spring in April and they will be redundant by the time I receive them. Jason lend me a pair of his. 

The first time I rode in snow was last year with Simon, that was an experience in it's own. Riding in snow is hard work. It is such a weird consistency. Last year we were slipping in sliding a lot more as the snow was thick and lose. This year the snow was more compact and the consistency of a ski slope. It was awesome. 

Saam met die Van Niekerke

I wasn't that cold, I used some instant hand warmers that my cousin had left over from playing golf in the cold and was actually quite toasty, but my feet were ABSOLUTELY freezing and I even said to the others, I wish I could defer some of the heat to my toes, my ankles was warm, but my toes so cold that I was on the brink of tears. When I heard that they mentioned tea, I overruled the option to carry on riding, cause my feet was just so cold. 

A visit to Peaslake Village Store is always a highlight, but this time I was just so relieved to be there. I said hallo to Trudy, walked to the back of the shop and took the booties off just so that I can wiggle my toes. I discovered that my toes was literally on ice... The booties were to big, so the snow came in from underneath my shoe and formed a layer of ice. I'm not lost for words often, but my toes was so cold and started to defrost whilst I was having my tea at the bus stop in silence. :(

My poor tootsies were on ice

Tea at our usual Hangout

We went all over our local playground, it was totally different than normal. So serene, so quite, so peaceful. It was snowing softly all day and you were able to hear the snow falling... tap-tap-tap... It was so beautiful and a once-in-a-lifetime-experience. 

Video Footage compliments to Simon Osborne

Rich, our token Brit shows us in which gear you should ride in this weather - he is nuts

Steph & I on top of Pitch Hill

Albert on Barry Knows Best

Steph on Carpetland hanging onto Jason's tree