Dedicated to The Moose....
I would almost predict that if you're reading this blog,
you’ve done a Pick n Pay Argus Cycle tour at some stage. And the Argus is all
relative, for the elite rider all the way down to the ZZ plonker who leaves
Cape Town at 11am, it’s a great day. But then there’s a small bunch of riders
near the top of the field who have one aim – to ride the acclaimed Sub 3.
Indeed, many amateurs riding careers are defined by this single achievement.
But what of those who miss this elusive barrier? And only just? That group that
sprints over in Green Point realising that they have fallen seconds short of
this goal?
Sub 3 is clearly 02:59:59 or less. 1 second more, and it’s
no longer Sub 3. The invisible line that you have been chasing around the Cape
like a madman determining your sub 3 split times has won. You trundle over the
line, spent, knowing it has beaten you.
If you have ridden in any group between A and E, you are an ideal
candidate for this fate to befall you. But the real pain sets in when your
riding buddies ask how you did….the obvious “what was your time?” expression
turns to one of pity as you explain that you're in on 3 hours. Not under 3. Not
over 3. But ON 3. ThreeDead. The ThreeDead group is that small group who
crossed between 03:00:00 and 03:00:59. The Dark Minute. The Eye of the Needle.
Everything past that can be expressed as an hour and minute again (“I rode a
three fifteen”….”I'm very chuffed with my four thirty two”…). But the
DeadThrees are the only group where seconds are demanded. And as your riding
buddy cocks his head and frowns at your misfortune, he will ask “oh no ways!
But how many seconds were over 3 hours?”. I know this because I’ve been there.
I am there. I am one of the DeadThree riders of 2012. I moved into the
DeadThree zone after a 03:01 in 2011. And it makes no difference if you sub
2:30 any other 100km races; or if you break other very achievable milestones –
to come so close and fall into the DeadThree zone is not pretty. Crestfallen. 4th
place at the Olympics.
So I have decided to embrace this fact. I am not ashamed of
the DeadThree anymore. In fact, there are less DeadThree riders in the whole
Argus than any other group. We, the chokers, who felt that this ride would be
the one. So for those of you who are new DeadThree riders, or have a PB set in
the DeadThree Zone, let me explain the impact of the DeadThree Phenomenon and
how to manage it best:
1.
Make peace – and quickly. Accept that you fell
short. Blame no-one or nothing. The scoreboard doesn’t lie.
2.
You are not alone in this.
3.
Use the energy constructively. When you start
training for your next Argus (or any other race), the DeadThree Ghost will come
to haunt you. You may find yourself turning a pedal in anger at the thought of
those ghastly seconds denying you that Sub 3 status. Refer to rule 1 – make
peace. Just man up and ride stronger. You will ride stronger in every other
race you enter because you will want to put that ghost to rest.
4.
Enter something a lot tougher than an Argus. We
all know that the Argus is not a difficult course (in the wider range of
cycling races). Its certainly not as tough as a multi-day MTB stage race that
you're riding hard. Or the Transbaviaans. Or the DC. Prove to yourself that you
can ride hard for 6 hours plus non-stop.
5.
When asked what your Argus time was, proudly say
DeadThree. Not 03:01. Not 02:59. You are a DeadThree.
Now go and get even.
The three DeadThree Members in the Smooth Knobblies: Epic John (36 sec); Rens (41 sec); and Moose (42 sec)