Sani2c 2018 - Lucky number 7 - #DnASani2c

It actually didn’t start in Underberg. It started way back at the end of 2017 when Erno decided to ride Joberg2c this year and I found a substitute partner in Hannes. Due to work commitments Hannes also had to cancel and I was left ‘partnerless’ a few weeks before the end of 2017. Step up Adél! I could always count on her, that’s why I married her!

I gave her the option towards the end of the year of doing Sani2c with me in 2018. It took some careful consideration as juggling work, our family and now the training would take its toll but is definitely far from impossible. She said yes (AGAIN!) and so the journey started. We had roughly 5 months to prepare that started with some shortish social rides in December, just to get into it, and then a structured 16 week training programme that kicked off in January. From the first moment Adél was determined and committed. She got on the spinning bike after work to do her intervals, she got up early on weekends for our longer training rides and she pushed her limits every time she got on her bike. The new Cannondale Scalpel most certainly helped with the motivation, although it was something she wasn’t short of. Trust in your equipment is a must if you’re going to ride in some remote and rural places.

The 16 weeks flew by and soon enough we were at Glencairn for the Registration and Race briefing. Seeing Adél’s excitement when she could open her own goody bag was something special. She’s been at registration 6 times before and have watched us open our sani boxes filled with goodies year in and year out and now got to open up her own goody bag for the first time. Yes, it’s all about the ride, but everyone loves free stuff! The new kit always adds to the excitement and this year was no different.

All the excitement eventually culminated into us standing on the Sani2c start line on Tuesday morning. Adél was excited yet I could sense her nerves. She had prepared well but was now riding into the unknown, so some nerves were understandable. We started right at the back of the B batch and let the racing snakes go as soon as we hit the tar. Riding our own comfortable pace was our game plan. From the start our aim was not to finish in a specific time or position but to finish comfortably, to take in the experience and to have fun. Our training plan focussed on getting Adél across the finish line without her having to wish for the long days to end but to be fit enough to enjoy the experience and finish comfortably.

We rolled through the early rolling hills in a steady pace whilst enjoying the views of the countryside and the southern Drakensberg. The first real test of the day came as View climb where Adél rode the whole climb in her steady manner, making it to the top without too much effort. The trail sections after view climb is something to behold as it snakes its way through the plantations before the big feature of the day, the PG Bison Floating Bridge. Adél was nervous about the floating bridges, as she hadn’t ridden one before, but made it look easy as she crossed the Mosbank Dam. From there we rolled through to waterpoint 1 where we filled up and grabbed a bite to eat. The middle section of the day is a bit of a slog with a few long but gradual climbs to negotiate. Adél kept on punching them out and rode strong into the second waterpoint at the 66km mark. I could see she realised that her belief that she could do it now turned into something more concrete as she was now actually doing it. After the waterpoint Adél smashed Bowmans’s climb after which we enjoyed the 7 odd kms of flat and downhill freeflowing track taking us to the foot of the hills atop which Mackenzie club, where we were to finish, is perched. It’s a tough end to a challenging day but Adél kept her steady rhythm and we rolled into the finish at Mackenzie Club in a time of 5 hours and 28 minutes. I had expected us to ride around 5 hours and was very impressed with our day.

We had a shower and lunch and spent the afternoon lounging underneath the massive oak trees at the club before having our massages, dinner and making it an early night. The next day was going to be a big one.

We started Day 2 at 7:55 and headed down to the infamous Umkomaas Valley. Adél have seen many photos of the place but this would be the first time that she’d experience the majesty of this place herself. Man, it just never gets old! The Umkomaas Valley in all its splendour is something to behold. The weather was perfect, due to our later start the sun was sitting high and the trails were in the best shape I’ve seen it. Adél was by no means a speed demon on the downhills but all the training at Wolwespruit meant that she was able to ride everything comfortably at a decent pace whilst enjoying the magnificent views. We soon bottomed out next to the mighty Umkomaas River and proceeded to make our way to waterpoint 1 at the 39 km mark. I had mentally prepared Adél well that the next 27 km to waterpoint 2 was the most challenging of the entire race and would be the most challenging riding she had ever done. See, the first 20 km takes you down to the bottom of the valley. After spending some time next to the river you now need to get out of the valley, which means only one thing… climbing… and lots of it! Hill after hill batter those weary legs as it gets hotter and hotter in the valley. The big climb of the day was named Iconic climb. It was introduced into the race in 2017 and Erno and I smashed it on our way to our personal best Day 2 time that year. The climb is steep and relentless for 2.9 kms but gets you to the top so much quicker than the old route. It’s a lot of pain condensed into a very short distance. This year, however, the race organisers had given us another option in the form of a climb called Hlegabafazi. A longer but more gradual climb that ends up at the same spot as Iconic. I knew there were spots on Iconic that topped at 24% where Adél would battle to ride and getting back on after stopping on that hill is also very difficult. We weren’t sure just how long the second option were but decided to rather ride Hlegabafazi. It would suit Adél’s riding style better and is also a part of the race that I’ve never done so we went with it.

The climb turned out to be 5.5km long and rose 55 metres more than Iconic. At first I wasn’t sure that this was the best option, just due to the length of the climb, but it hindsight it was a good choice as Adél was able to ride the entire climb. It was by far the most challenging climb she had ever done and she smashed it. We stopped twice to take a breath but she did not push her bike for a single meter. Seeing her ride passed all of the guys pushing their bikes definitely made her feel strong and realise just how fit an strong she was. She has however said that she now needs to go back to conquer Iconic.

We eventually made it to waterpoint 2. Even though the bulk of the climbing was behind us we still had 26 kms to negotiate… and they weren’t all flat. Adél started having a niggle in her right shin which bugged her for the rest of the way. Thing is, even though we prepared well, there isn’t much you can do in and around Pretoria that can prepare your for a day like this and the constant climbing of Day 2 can turn niggles into injuries.

After getting some medical attention at Waterpoint 3 we eventually rolled over the line in an impressive time of 7 hours and 18 minutes. Adél was an absolute machine on the day. Even when the going got tough she did not complain once. She just kept on keeping on in her determined and never give up manner. Sitting here behind my desk today looking back, that was one of our best days spent together ever. The scenery, the experience, the pushing through. Just a great day together on our bikes.

As is the tradition we had a great steak for dinner at Jolivet and Adél had her shin strapped by the physio in preparation for our last day down to the beach.

We started the last day in J batch so could sleep in a bit as we only had to get going at 8:30. The amazing greenery that greets you as you make your first left turn out of Jolivet never lets up until the beach. The bright green sugar cane plantations outlined by the bluest sky makes for a spectacular canvas for the start of the last day. We had a great start, even though the bodies felt the effects of a tough 7 hours the previous two days. Adél smashed Clint’s climb, the first big climb of the day, and I knew that we were in for a good one. We made our way through the sugarcanes and coastal valley roads grabbing a quick bite at waterpoint 1 and pushed on. I couldn’t wait for Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve. One of my favourite sections of the route and one that I couldn’t wait to share with Adél. The climbs are big but the views awesome! That was my biggest goal of the day… to ride up the ‘Work to be done’ climb in Vernon Crookes. Wichard had showed me that there’s a different line to the left as you near the top of this steep beast that takes you away from all the traffic. Except for being really steep and loose at the top, the biggest problem has always being people pushing their bikes on the only riding line. There’s no space to go around someone and when you stop your off. I proceeded to take the line to the left and rode to the top… comfortably! It was a big highlight! We continued to push on through and crossed the beach still feeling good. The climb up to the school wasn’t too bad and seeing the boys when we crossed the finish line was a big highlight! We did it!

I was worried beforehand that something would go wrong, whether it being weather, illness, mechanicals, etc. But everything fell in place perfectly! The weather was perfect, the colds and flus  were kept at bay and our Scalpels were faultless! What a privilege to do this together. Adél was committed and positive throughout and that by itself made this experience such an amazing one. Not only did we spend three amazing days on some of the best trails and some of the most scenic places in the country but the build-up and 4 months leading up to the event brought us closer together. What a privilege to share this experience with your wife. Are we going back next year? You bet!

Cause baby when it's you and me, we don't need guns to fight a war,
We will never lose,
If it's you and me, we've got a chance to live for more,
We could make it through

                                                                                                - Lost Prophets