Accept the fact that you are going to get regular updates about our morning rides. Hopefully they will either inspire to get out there and ride (if you don't already) or even join us for a ride (if you don't already!).
We like to rotate the "Ranger" duty - that person who needs to determine the route. Well, we say rotate, but we have had only a limited number of Rangers in the past. Formally Renn was original Ranger. His rides were characterised with ad hoc stops. We would be cruising along a path or jeep track only to find Renn a short distance up ahead; at a halt. Naturally we would all stop as we arrived in dribs and drabs and await further instruction from The Ranger. But Renn would not engage with us. He would be taking in the view, a smirk on his face, and he would then declare "beautiful!", and then proceed along the route. This was how he would take in the scenic beauty and ensure that we too partook in the splendour of our surroundings.
Of course all good things come to an end and then The Nutcracker joined the group. As an unknown entity in the Smooth Knobblies, we naturally obliged when he informed us that he knew a few routes around Cape Town and would we be interested in checking them out? We agreed enthusiastically and set off. I suppose when Gavin D threw in the towel after 14 minutes of riding we knew we had bitten off a bit more than we could chew. The Bo Kaap has some serious knobbled climbs tucked away in between the colourful street side houses!
The Cracker once again lived up to his reputation when one morning a Black South Easter had blown itself into town. With the tablecloth cloud flowing down the face of Table Mountain Cracker suggested we try the Camps Bay Pipe Track. Without too much detail, this is where we first coined the term bhiking - going hiking with your bike. It didn't help that it was dark either. I guess it was when Two Tone went over the edge and was saved only by grabbing hold of a steel pipe that we again knew we were riding in tough terrain.
Twakkie is by far our most accommodating Ranger. He normally listens to the group - even if the group doesn't always listen to him (yes Twakkie - we all turned left down Baby Head Alley and you went straight and we remember and we're still sorry for Usurping you!). This morning Twakkie inflicted some pain on us in memory of our Epic riders: Up FMD and Dead Man's Scream is a shock to the system! Well done to The Oracle for not putting any feet down up Dead Man's Scream!
So if you're keen on joining us, just get hold of The Oracle (post a comment) and know that you will be in capable hands!
The Smooth Knobblies plateau before FMD, overlooking the waking Cape Town
This mindblowing photo was taken by The Moose on his fruity phone.
