Almost free to be ‘behind bars’ again
With lockdown currently on level 4 and with level 3 (hopefully) approaching soon, she is really enjoying being able to ride outdoors again.
Hayley Smith has been hooked on cycling since she was 12 years old.
It started when her uncle Gary dragged her along to a morning ride and she hopped on a bike loaned by Mark Bolton at Dura Cycles.
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From that day on she begged her parents, Nicky and Bev, for her own bike and she has never looked back.
Well, until the recent Covid-19 enforced lockdown and even then, not for long.It’s always been her passion to be ‘behind bars’ (a cycling expression, of course), as she says, but lockdown has given this a new twist.
Still, it hasn’t been enough to see her move towards couch potato status, and she has been keeping as fit as possible.She’s formerly from Uvongo, but is now living in Durban and working at Specialized Umhlanga (Leigh’s Cycle Centre).
Hayley has been trying to ride competitively as much as possible but has also very much enjoyed being part of the industry on another level.
“It’s amazing to be part of the brand I have always loved to ride and race,” she said.
She was supposed to race the Maluti Double 90 in Clarens with the team last month but that was cancelled for obvious reasons.
However, thanks to the TIB insurance cycle group, they had a few tough challenges and training sessions together, virtually, using Zwift.
“Since we were not able to go, the group decided to do it on Zwift – and 180km later we completed the challenge. This took about six hours, all indoors. It was a lot harder than the real deal,” she said.
After that, they did the Tour Durban virtually, this time raising funds for charity.
“It’s always nice to be able to give back to those in need, doing what we do best, riding our bikes to raise money.”
With lockdown currently on level 4 and with level 3 (hopefully) approaching soon, she is really enjoying being able to ride outdoors again.
“I’m looking forward to racing again in the new kit of sponsor long-time sponsor, Bell Equipment,” she said.
“If all goes well, racing will return towards the end of the year, so hopefully in time for one of my favourites, the Sani2C.”
Hayley has thoroughly enjoyed her career to date.
“It’s been quite a journey through the years. It’s amazing the simple pleasures you can enjoy and the places you can go on a bicycle. I have experienced so much but yet there is so much more,” she said.
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