The Double
Century 2012 was a great event! Now I
fully understand that is a relative statement. Your personal level of fitness,
ability, support, team camaraderie, and luck, all have a part to play in the
overall experience. This being my 4th one, I can look back over the
past and reiterate – 2012 was my best DC experience. There was no particular
singular event that leads me to make this declaration – rather it was a
combination of all the usual drama that accompanies an event of this nature and
how we managed it leads me to this conclusion.
I
approached the CrackMan in July to lead our DC team. I said that, based on
historic times, we should aim for a sub-8 hour ride, preferably closer to
7hr30. He had a single response: “we’re doing the DC in less than 7 hours or
I’m not riding”. Well – the stake was in the ground. Personally this meant I
needed to shave a mere hour and half off my current DC PB. That’s a big jump
mentally… But the die was cast and it was time to get a group of riders
together. Looking within the Smooth Knobblies group it came as no surprise that
the following riders agreed to the challenge:
·
The
Moose
·
Sif
Gav
·
Woody
·
Slow
Shaun
·
The
CrackMan
·
Epic
John (also affiliated to one of our smaller associate groups Team Fat Bob)
·
Andrew
Koen
·
Nic
Stopforth (a fringe Sknobblies rider)
·
Warren
Morton (at the last minute!)
The other
riders who had not been a part of our riding set-up before but had ridden with
the CrackMan in past DC’s were:
- Ollie
Williams
- Andreas
Krensel (the East German Task Master!)
- Joppie
Mills
The first
big challenge of any DC team (especially a non-professional outfit) is
determining the strengths of the respective riders. Its pointless putting 4
sub-three Argus riders together with 8 five-hour Argus riders (as a point of
reference). There will be blood! You know you’re in a well-balanced team when
you’re convinced that you are possibly the weakest link in the group but no-one
else thinks so. That way there’s no clear rider who is weaker than the rest.
Throw in a few 100km-plus training rides with as many of the group as possible
and very soon those who are out of their depth will politely inform the team
captain that they are not ready for this challenge. Cut them loose quickly and
get replacement riders. When I had committed to riding the DC, my personal training distances were hiked up as my training graph can attest to:
 |
| The mileage increases over the months leading up to the DC |
We had a
few jittery moments leading up to the race. Nic was commuting and this was
affecting his training. He nearly pulled out but opted to give it his best
shot. Another rider also bailed at the last minute and we called on Warren to
step in. With weeks of Epic training already banked, Warren was coming off an
endurance programme based in the mountains – so a road sprint of 200km was a
slightly different kettle of fish! But all credit to him as he joined the team
at the last minute and was prepared to wear the XXL jersey of the withdrawn
rider over his Medium frame….AND Shani and their daughter Allison took up the
support vehicle duties! That’s like bringing on the substitute flyhalf with 5
minutes to go against the All Blacks and he slots the winning drop goal from 55
metres out! Bonus.
 |
| The DC Route as cycled in 2012 |
Let’s get
to the race. The format is that the best teams are seeded in a way in which
sees them leave later in the day. Team number one, for example, sets off at
5am. The best team is Team number 250 – and only gets away after 7am. Unlike
conventional road races, if the DC allowed the fastest bunches to leave first,
then the social slow pokes would be crossing the line after dark! We were
seeded at 187 with a departure time of 6:33am. That’s in the top third of the
field and accurately reflected our potential.
 |
| The Umlungu Express in action down the R62 |
Come 6:33am
and off we went! With a cool tailwind for the first 40km or so we blazed along
to the foot of the Tradouw Pass. As we were passing through the last portion of
the pass, Gavin’s wheel broke. With a snapped spoke brushing against the carbon
frame, unrepairable damage was imminent and he was forced to withdraw. It was a
blow we all felt as Gav had been exceptionally courageous taking this challenge
on. His work demanded that he was in the USA, France, or some shit-hole in
Africa for good lengths of time whilst the rest of us managed to get training
rides in. Gav had worked extra hard to make sure he was up for the DC and to be
stopped by a broken spoke simply wasn't justice – but that’s the nature of the
beast. We debated for about 40 seconds what we should do and, with a forlorn
looking Gavin in the background, we pressed ahead. Gavin did say that he made
some good progress in his efforts to communicate with the various troops of
baboons whilst he was waiting for Shelley to come and pick him up. Apparently
the little baboons go ape when you feed them energy gels!
 |
| Gav's new buddies in the Tradouw Pass (Gav is the big one...) |
Nic also
found the pace exceeded the training effort he was able to put in and opted to
shift to an easier gear a bit further down the line. This left 10 riders – we
had 4 left as flotsam until we reached the minimum number of 6 riders who had
to finish the race together in order to gain an official time. And that’s when
the rain came. Heading into a bleak headwind along the scenic R62, the heavens
opened up. I took my glasses off as they simply sprayed and misted up – but the rain stung
my eyes and face to the extent that I was barely squinting through them. All
this going on whilst we’re flying along at 50-plus km/h, in massive groups
jockeying for position – the margin for error was minimal! It was thrilling
riding.
 |
| In the thick of the race! |
The wind
took a further victim from the group as Warren was literally blown off the back
– but he managed to catch us at the halfway stop again.
At the
160km mark the CrackMan had a puncture. It was here that the group fractured
up. Andrew and Moose opted to continue to ride ahead at a slower pace. Epic
John and I also took advantage of the breakdown and proceeded ahead at a sane
speed. I didn't know this, but we lost Joppie somewhere before this….so we now
had two single riders ahead, John and I a few minutes behind them, and then four
other riders attending to the puncture.
Slowly the
CrackMan’s puncture group caught John and I – making the group six riders
again. We caught Moose and had seven. The big rollers near the end starting
coming – and there was still no sign of Andrew. He had put a steady pace down
and opened up a good distance between us – which was the best strategy we
could’ve employed – we just didn’t know it yet….
 |
| Maximising the break at the 110km mark |
 |
| Coming in to the stop |
 |
| Ollie looking far too relaxed - must be the effects of the Ginger Mo! |
PRODUCT PUNT
We were very lucky to be sponsored by Wedgewood Race Food. They provided us with their new nougat packaged in convenient and sexy wrapping. We were fortunate to have a enough supply for various training rides as well as on the day. Everyone knows that nougat is a great form of energy food but it was difficult to keep on you when riding. This problem has been taken away and instant (and good tasting!) energy is but an arms reach away. Its available at all good cycle stores. Go and buy some!!
 |
| Wedgewood's Race Food - great stuff!! |
BACK TO THE RACE......
The portage
point came at about 190km. Earlier floods has washed away part of the R60 road,
and a temporary dirt road was cleared next to the tar. We rode over the rough gravel
– only for Shaun to puncture as we got back onto the tar! 10km to go – and we
have a blow out. Ollie stayed with Shaun and the remaining riders all looked at
each other…five of us. We needed six. And that’s when we remembered that Andrew
was somewhere ahead. We ejected Shaun and Ollie as they repaired the wheel and
the five of us put our heads down in an effort shut the race out well under
seven hours. The last 10km of the DC are fantastic! Its fast; cool; downhill.
We put everything we had into the peddles and ploughed our way towards the
finish, always on the lookout for our insurance policy of ensuring that six
riders cross the line. We caught Andrew with about 3km to spare and continued
our headlong rush to the finish…
 |
| The Moose contributing to the unique blend and taste of Overberg Merlot |
The six
Umlumgu Express riders crossed the line in a highly respectable 6hours 40
minutes, placing us 47th overall. We were very chuffed with that
time. Ollie, Shaun, Warren, and Joppie all came in under seven hours and we had
achieved our goal across the board.
 |
| Woody, Moose, and Andrew cross the line in 6:40 |
Next year
we plan to race as Team Fat Bob under the governance of Epic John…and a 6:30
is a possibility (weather dependent!)
Thanks to
all the riders for the great camaraderie. Thanks to our families who supported
us throughout the journey – and I'm talking about the hours of weekend time
sacrificed so that we could go riding! It is appreciated…
Until next
year!
