Tandem winners full of spirit

A car hit Benoni business owner and Boksburg cyclist Steven Oberholzer in March while heading to a training ride early one morning on his bicycle.

A story of hope if you will, as this cyclist, despite all he went through, won the Mixed Tandem 947 Ride Joburg on November 21 alongside his friend and cycling partner Jaclyn Bilson.

The accident was a hit-and-run, and as Steven lay on the tar on the corner of Elgin and Atlas, he realised he needed to get himself out of the road even though at the time he had sustained a severely broken femur and pelvis.

“He dragged himself to the pavement where he called his friend to come to help him,” explained Bilson.

“The car that hit him drove away with no regard for what he had just done.”

Oberholzer underwent surgery, where they placed a metal rod inside his right femur to hold the leg together and screws for the pelvis.

“Doctors didn’t think he would walk for a very long time; however, against all odds, he was back on his bicycle eight weeks later,” said Bilson.

Later in the year, the opportunity arose to race tandem, a race they had done before.

“Eight months later, after a severe crash that almost cost Steven his life, a few training obstacles, sweat, blood and tears of joy and we did it,” said Bilson.

Oberholzer and Bilson won the race in an astonishing time of two hours and 37 minutes, breaking all records, proving that pure dedication, consistency and willpower finds you exactly where you want to be.

The two of them are a part of a Benoni Cycle Club.

“Please join the Stop Killing Cyclists Facebook page and help all cyclists undertake safe journeys to their destinations. Although Steven fought through his accident, many haven’t been so lucky,” concluded Bilson.

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