Wheeler conquers the Munga challenge

Sean Wheeler beat his personal best time to complete this year’s Munga Mountain Bike Race in 98 hours and 50 minutes.

He shaved off two hours from his time despite the route being 45km longer this year.

Known as one of the toughest races on earth, the Munga is a non-stop, single-stage, semi-supported mountain bike race through the remote and rugged Karoo.

Riders have 120 hours or five days to ride around 1 125 km and make the cut-off.

The race took place in the first week of December.

As usual, Wheeler rode to raise funds for Rand Aid’s Thembalami Care Centre.

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His father Mike was a resident of Thembalami for many years before passing away this year, during the lockdown.

Wheeler says he rode in memory of his dad and all the care centre’s amazing caregivers.

“I, unfortunately, missed my goal of 80 hours but was extremely glad to finish the race within the 120-hour mark,” said Wheeler.

Of this year’s race, the Greenstone resident says apart from the additional 45km, there were hundreds of kilometres of soft sand and rocky sections.

“I was going well until the 400km mark and then it felt like both my thighs had been smashed hard with a baseball bat.”

“I think the soft sand and strong headwind did the damage and it took me a day to recover.”

“Picking up a saddle sore at the 400km mark also added to my misery. I then settled into survival mode to the end.”

In his last Munga in 2018, Wheeler raised R45 000 for Thembalami but the financial uncertainty and economic downturn of this year meant that less than half that amount was raised this year.

The amount of money raised was not the only casualty of South Africa’s economic crisis. On returning to work after the race, Wheeler learnt that he was being retrenched, after four years with his company.

“We are extremely grateful to Wheeler and stand in awe of his achievement,” said Thembalami manager Esme van der Walt.

“Despite the challenges he has faced this year, he remained committed to helping Thembalami. This shows incredible strength of character. The money raised will be put to good use.”

Wheeler’s statistics:

•Average moving speed: 16.3km per hour
•Average heart rate: 135.
•Maximum heart rate: 235.
•Minimum temperate along the route: 8°C.
•Maximum temperate along the route: 53°C.
•Average power: 90 watts.
•Maximum power: 666 watts.
•Elevation: 6 886 metres.
•Total distance after a few navigational errors: 1 135 kilometres
•Actual sleep: Around even hours.

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