Mountain bikers gear up for 12 hour inter-club challenge
That seems like the way to do a Sunday morning ride right.
FOURTEEN Amanzimtoti Cycling Club mountain bikers met up on the grass patch in Illovo on Saturday morning, raring to go and hit the hills.
The group started off at an easy pace, allowing for some of the new riders to experience the Illovo routes.
They then broke into groups that did a few different routes and speeds. Remarkably, the groups kept meeting up with each other along the way.
Next Saturday morning, there will be a specific ride put together to introduce new riders or the less fit to a perfect training course in Illovo. Meet on the grass at Illovo at 7am if you are interested.
Next weekend is the very popular Illovo Eston and it seems as though there are quite a few members entered into the various distances.
The mountain bikers are preparing for an inter-club social 12 hour challenge up at Virginia farm. This will be happening on 16 August. Riders will put together a team for themselves and see how many laps can be done in 12 hours. The aim of the social is for the clubs to get together and meet each other and have a blast. It is geared towards families being involved. There will be camping, food, music and bonfires. A fantastic 16km loop will do a figure of eight and go through the spectators area twice. The clubs involved will be Toti, Scottburgh and Cyclelab Durban. If anyone is interested in finding out more, contact Caryn on 082-357-5287.
The club rides leave Engen garage in Rockview road at 5am Tuesday to Friday and Saturday and Sunday for any road riders, and the mountain bike group does a variety of rides during the week and the weekend. To find out more about these rides contact Caryn on 082-357-5287.
Last weekend’s cycling started off with Rocky Bay Trails hosting a brilliant night ride around their track.
Distances of 20kms and 11kms were available to explore and there was a good, warm bonfire and excellent food to warm the bones afterwards. Once again, it was enjoyed by all.
Saturday morning saw a few Mambas set out for a good, chilly training ride at Virginia farm. The groups rode at a good, consistent pace, with only a few pauses during the ride. One being Giovanni Rizza doing an endo over his bars on an uphill. That is a new one for the books. There were a couple of other oopsies on the ride, just to make it interesting. Distances of 40 to 60-odd kms were covered on this training ride.
There were two different rides on Sunday. One was held in the morning at the track at Lords and Legends, where the guys did a good few loops of fast riding. The track seems to prove quite punishing when done at some speed. The second ride left Scottburgh beach at 3pm led by Phil Barker. He showed the Mambas all of the new track that has been cut at Renishaw. It is nice, rough and quite challenging track to ride. He then decided to stretch the bravado of the group and took them on some hair-raising, dusty, rocky switchbacks in the near dark. The group finally got back to the beach at 6pm, with adrenaline rushing through their blood – and a few war wounds to brag about.
The roadies did a great ride to the Bluff. They averaged an easy speed of 27kph. There was a steady climb up Marine Drive with the reward afterwards of the flight down to Tara Road. They stopped for coffee at the BP garage on Tara Road before making their way home. That seems like the way to do a Sunday morning ride right.
For more club information, go to www.amanzimtoticycle.co.za
