2014 - Its a wrap

(This post is not yet complete as more pictures are due to be coming in until 08 December 2014....)

This year has flown by. As they all do. Without being too melodramatic or philosophical, it really does feel like the years move by at sub 3 speed nowadays. Perhaps its since I've entered the 40 year "veteran" category. I have been warned about this perceived time acceleration syndrome. But as Axel Reichertz said, "You don't quit riding your bike because you get old; you get old because you quit riding your bike".

Lets take a look at some personal as well as Smooth Knobblies milestones for 2014:

Cape Epic entries:
For a small social club, we entered a significant group of riders into the 2014 Cape Epic:

First timers:
Repeat offenders:
Shaun limps home, crank in hand...
A happy crew after completing the 2014 Absa Cape Epic


Team Fat Bob (Epic & CrackMan) make their way on a cool Epic morning
Pick n Pay Argus Sub 3:
CrankMan Payne and Woody Rezelman dipped below 3 hours this year, with Woody doing a second lap to celebrate. Shaun was due to join on the second time around but his fork broke at the start of the second lap! (It couldve ended rather badly...) Epic also did a second lap - both sub 4 rides and on a MTB.
The following Smooth Knobblies also wear the Sub 3 badge:
Our crazy pre-Argus dress up ride. Its becoming a very unique tradition...


Double Century
There was a massive improvement in DC times in 2014. Great weather and the new format meant good times. Team Fat Bob were aiming for sub 6:30 and rushed home to a 6:02. I think we all know what that means for next year....
Team Hammer saw Dots Cilliers coming home under 7 hours, whilst Dr Phall in Team Robin Hood came home under 8 hours.
Team Fat Bob wheelies off the line on their way to a respectable 6:02 ride.

Gawie ("Pompie") for once doesn't need to nurse a flat tyre. He is the flat tyre....

Epic John looking ready to get behind the wheel of a tow truck....

Dots and his Hammer Team fuel up on the DC

Wines2Whales

The Smooth Knobblies had a massive presence across the 3 formats of the 2014 Wines2Whales. Chanan; CrackMan & Ernesta; Pompie & Twakkie; Dots & Chris; Dr Phall; Rocky; and Woody and Shaun. Shaun and I had a great race, slipping under the 11 hour mark and claimed our first cycling podium finish of 2014 - a second place (by 4 minutes) in the Tread Buffalo Category and the 16th Veterans team overall.

Pompie shows the unsuspecting photographer the directions to the closest portaloo

(From L - R) Dr Phalls partner (?), Dr Phall, Twakkie, Pompie, Dots, and Chris on the W2W Ride

Shaun and Woody cross the finish line on W2W Race day 2

Confirmation that Shaun and Woody come second overall in the W2W Race Buffalo Category in a time of 10:49

Podium glory on the W2W Race!
Imana Wild Ride

Epic John, Chanan and Mandy all trekked off to the Wild Coast to enjoy the much sought after Imana Wild Ride. So popular is the event that getting onto the start line normally means payment by kidney donation or giving up ones first born. These pics tell you all about the amazing adventure that it is:


The famous Hole in the Wall

The beautiful Wild Coast

Unless you are like Twakkie and use someone elses bike for water crossings, its a good idea to have your bike well greased up before the event...and after it again!
Karoo 2 Coast

Another crowd pleaser, the K2C saw a host of Smooth Knobblies racing the event.
This photo is almost like a Sherman Tank with a Vespa on either side of it. ZeSquirrel; Dr Phall, and Warren.
Lesotho Sky

Mandy tackled the unforgiving terrain of Lesotho, following on CrackMan and Andreas' good work there last year.
Mandy "Princess" hangs out with some local Lesotho folk


Random Shots

We are always reminded by how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful place. Here are some random pics taken to capture some of that beauty....

Dawn rises in Tokai
Our shadows fly by the cement support between Glencairn and Fish Hoek

The Deep South riders hug False Bay as the dawn breaks

Epic took this pic - somewhere...?
A typical Tokai sunrise snapped by Shaun- very pretty!

Rocky cruises along in Simons Town

Shaun takes a shot of the morning view just past Millers Point

As a Northern Hills rider, Twakkie captured the distant Table Mountain peeping over into one of the many well-manicured northern wine farm trails

Tokai will always be a popular Cape Town MTB stomping ground. Here members of the Absa Cape Epic corporate group wind their way down the Cobra on a training camp  (one of the riders fell about 3 minutes later a broke a wrist!)

CrackMan impressed us all with this impressive shot. Great mood!

The riders on the Origin of Trails. Alison won the short stage 2 day MTB race - an amazing achievement for a young teenager!