TRANSFORM!!!

I wish I was a Transformer. Though, if I was one Id like a better name than Bumblebee.

I am in the process of moving from Paarl to Somerset West. However, I still have my business in Paarl and soon I will have to commute everyday between these two towns. I have been commuting on and off for the last two weeks by mountain bike. It is one way of getting some hours in the saddle.

Wind is one thing to deal with, but peak hour traffic can be fatal. I know most people reading this ain’ t cyclists and you may have strong views on cyclists taking up the road. This topic is after all a age old debate. All I can say is that I have come close to being run over on four different occasions within two weeks. I keep in the yellow, I keep aware of vehicles around me and I don’t jump traffic lights. That said, it really does feel like a battle field out there on the roads and respect for each other is lacking big time. I don’t want to dwell on this topic for much longer (I might start getting hate mail), but know this; If I was a Transformer ( Bumblebee or not) there would be a certain truck driver, driving a certain truck with a certain number plate s#$&*ng his pants right now.

So the Epic is 31 days away. That is one month. For some it will be too soon. Others (mostly Pro’s) will not be bothered. For us, well we would want to start next week if we could. Every year we get to this stage where we just cant wait to have a crack at it. Yes, we are tired from putting in all the hours. I am personally hurting at the moment and need some tlc for my legs (Im a bit of a wuss when it comes to massages). All in all though we are ready. Nico is on the up and is clearly stronger than ever before. He has dropped a bit of weight, and whilst I was initially sceptic, the people at PVM has helped him with his diet and it seems to be working wonders.

If you feel you are not ready yet, I can honestly say, you will struggle to get there within 31 days. There will always be the guys who will have a go at it with minimal training behind them…only talent and awesome genes (not the levi type) will get them through it. Every year numerous teams drop out. Not just because of mechanicals, bad luck or injury, but because they didn’t put in the hard yards. I always say that anybody can finish this race. Some people disagree. But if you are willing to train hard and be dedicated you will finish the Cape Epic. It truly is a beautiful race in many regards. I wish more people had the opportunity to take part in it.

This will more than likely be our last Cape Epic for some time. Whilst the Epic has been a priority for us the last three years we now have different ones to consider. We want to make this our best one to date. That’s a shame for Nico, because he can only go as fast as the weakest link in the team…and that’s me! I will give it my all to keep up though!

Happy training boys and girls. A Epic time is around the corner!

Jaco

Snakes+Training= Good times

I am considering carrying toilet paper with me on rides. Strange you might might think, but a month ago (we really should update our blog more often) I managed to ride over a live Cape Cobra. Some of you know about this, but I cant help but write about it. The short of the long is that Im still alive…which is good right? I only went over its tail and although it “flaired its cheeks”, for some unknown reason it didn’t have a go at me. And so our “wild life files” continue…

This time of year most Epic riders ask themselves, is it all worth it? Why do I have to get up at 4:45am? Why does “milk’o balm” feel so cold at 5am in the morning? (don’t ask) Do I really want to go cycle 5hours tomorrow after cycling 5hours today? Can’t I switch from “light” to “lager” tonight? Will motor biking not be more fun? For us normal folk training for this event really tests ones love for the sport. That said, we are on course for our 3rd ABSA Cape Epic and when thinking about it we cant help but get excited!

We have BIG news in that PVM Nutritional Sciences (http://www.pvm.co.za/ ) has come on board with Cranks of Glory. They are well known and respected for their training and race nutrition products. We have been using their awesome products for the last 3years and we managed to convince them that we are awesome too! : ) We really are very privileged to be sponsored by great brands such as adidas, Bemer, MET and now PVM.

It has been a very up and down year as far as training is concerned. We have done more mileage and put in more hours than any other year. However, I have been battling with flu, sinus and a stomach virus whilst Nico has not been feeling very good on the bike lately. We both managed to finish the MTN Attakwas (135km and 2750m climbing from Oudtshoorn to Grootbrak). Its widely regarded as the toughest one day race in South Africa. I had a solid race and was quite happy with a respectable time of 7hrs35min. Nico had a poor race by his standards, battling with cramps and general tiredness…however, he still beat me by 12mins!!! I don’t know if I should be embarrassed or just in awe of him.

Lastly, we just want to say that we hope everybody are safely back home and into the swing of normal life again. May 2010 be a good year for you all with many blessings!

49 days till ABSA Cape Epic 2010 … nice …

Jaco

PVM Nutrition

Thanks allot to PVM for helping us out with all our nutritional requirements for this years ABSA Cape Epic presented by adidas. They have an awesome range of nutritional products catering for a wide variety of sports. (www.pvm.co.za)

Its been ages since we have done a proper update and I have made it my mission to do so this weekend!

Later

Nico

Check out our new Header!

Hope you like our new blog header. Thanks to Sven Martin for the awesome pic!

Got to http://www.svenmartinphotography.com/ or page through any major bike mag to see more of his awesome pictures!

Later

Nico

Attakwas 2010

Our next big event is the 2010 Attakwas Extreme Mountain Bike Challenge on the 16th of January.

The guys at Dryland uploaded the route details and profiles a few days ago and it looks like they have tweeked the route a bit. In 2010 it will now be 135km long with 2950m of climbing! I have now officialy renamed the race to Atta"eina my"kwas! Considering that we have set ourselves a goal to do a 6:30 hour ride, it's going to hurt allot!

Training is going very well for myself and very bad for poor Jaco. He has been struggling with his sinuses for three weeks and has skipped some longer rides. I have had a really good month clocking over 1000 kms on the mtb, nearly twice as much as I did last year.

Here is the route map and profiles. Read more about the race at www.dryland.co.za

Later

Nico

Belgium Summer

The 2010 route has been announced and again the Epic has not disappointed with their continued quest to re-invent themselves year after year. Here is a short run down of the stages:

Stage 1: Diemersfontein (Wellington) to Ceres, 117km / 2190m

Stage 2: Ceres to Ceres, 90km / 1625m

Stage 3: Ceres to Ceres, 115km / 2280m

Stage 4: Ceres to Worcester, 86km / 1640m

Stage 5: Worcester (TTT), 27km / 860m

Stage 6: Worcester to Oak Valley (Grabouw), 123km / 2230m

Stage 7: Oak Valley to Oak Valley, 99km / 2160m

Stage 8: Oak Valley to Lourensford (Somerset West), 65km / 1640m

Total: 722km / 14625m

Get the full route detail here:

(http://www.cape-epic.com/content.php?page_id=164&title=/The_Route/)

At first glance the route does again look a bit easier. It’s definitely shorter, there is less climbing and its one day shorter than last year! I again do not think it will be as tough as the 2008 race but it is definitely not going to be easy!

The team time trail on day 5 looks like a lung buster, 860m in 27km is no mean feat, but we will have some extra precious hours to recover that day. We are definitely going to be in a warmer environment for the first few days. Ceres is well known for its high temperatures and rocky technical riding.

Training is again in full swing. Getting back in to the early morning training routine is not going to bad. We came through our winter hibernation in much better shape that last year. We both started this years training leaner and stronger than last year. I’m now just desperately waiting for summer to start! We have had a mixture of gale force winds and rain for the last couple of weeks!

The strong winds caused havoc in Eden forest, one of our favourite riding spots. An insane amount of pine trees were blown over and is now littered across the trails. The trails are pretty much unrideable at the moment.

For the moment it looks like we are going to be missing the Desert Dash in Namibia. This is an awesome 340km non-stop race from Windhoek to Swakopmund (http://www.desertdashnamibia.com/). We did it as a four-man team in 2007 and were looking forward to trying it solo this year!

Our next major race is the Attakwas Extreme MTB challenge on the 16^th of January (http://www.dryland.co.za/). It’s a gruelling 126km / 1220m race from Outshoorn to Klein Brak. It always a great way to see how your preparations for the Epic is going. This year we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of doing a 6:30 ride!

So happy training to all our Epic comrades!

If you are looking for a truly unique, awesome African mountain bike experience go and check out houseMARTIN Mountain Bike Adventures (http://www.ridehousemartin.com/). Anka and Sven are putting together an unforgettable trip through South Africa and Botswana in March 2010.

Oh and one more thing! Lisa had been given the opportunity to re-open the restaurant on Eikendal Wine Estate (on the R44 between Somerset West) over the December holidays (http://www.eikendal.com/website1/main2.htm). Please come out and support her! They have an awesome breakfast and lunch menu and they do pre-packed picnics! It’s a great coffee stop whilst training or bring the misses for a picnic on a Sunday afternoon to make up for all the time spent away on the bike!

Later

Nico

Reality check in October

The Lourensford mtb race came and went over the weekend. Like I said last week it is a special race for Cranks of Glory, as it happens to be in Somerset West, our hometown. There were the usual faces, some seriously fast and some simply they’re to conquer this mighty beast of a race. It really is a privilege to ride in Lourensford wine estate. There is so much history within the borders of that farm.

Earlier this year rampaging fires caused havoc on the farm. The farm still carries the scares and it will do so for quite some time. Even so, with the backdrop of the Helderberg mountains, seemingly unending vineyards on rolling hills and water streams its beauty is very striking indeed. It is a very fitting finish for the ABSA Cape Epic!

Coming back to the race, what a dynamic sport don’t we have!?! One moment you may feel as strong as Mr. Armstrong himself cycling like a demon and then later, maybe not even 5minutes later, feel as if all the power has been drained from your body. It humbles you. In this sport you reap what you sow. That is the beauty of cycling…and it seems I need to sow a little more.

Nico had a fantastic race. His time 3h33min, and from what I heard on the day 16th overall. Truly a very good result! Hein, my cousin, also had a very impressive outing finishing only 7minutes behind Nico. Myself though, managed to NOT finish the race. A first for me. Maybe I needed my coffee last week after all OR make it an espresso next time? : ) At 38km’s I was struggling and fighting to stay positive. Soon after I got a flat on a downhill. I tried fixing it…but I couldn’t manage.

I then walked for little over 20minutes before Jane Seggie and Henning (from Merida) came to my rescue. He got his hands “dirty” on my Trek and sure enough, I was mobile again. “MAGIC” I thought, only to remember that I needed to take my parents to the airport at 13:00pm. By now it was 11:25am and we had about 700m’s of climbing left. To tell you the truth…I was “gatvol”. I slowly cycled to the next water point and from there I got directions on the shortest possible route to the finish. Disappointing all in all for me…but still a great day out! Thank you to Jane and Henning for helping out, I owe you!

Even though I didn’t finish the race I now have a clear idea of what to work on over the next few months. I need to do LOTS and LOTS of base. NO, not the Mitchell’s Plain Taxi type of base… I’m talking long slow miles in the saddle. So YAY for me…. Ha! It’s officially October and now we start training specifically for the Epic. This will be our third and I can’t believe it’s that time again.

For those embarking on their Epic adventure for the first time I want to say ENJOY it. The Epic itself is the tip of the iceberg…its your “holiday” and “reward” after months of gruelling training and sacrificing. See these next few months as EPIC. You will meet many interesting people on your journey to the Epic…one always do. When you lose a bit of heart along the way, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be able to do this race. Many dream of doing it but never gets the opportunity or cant be it physical reasons, financial etc. So give it your all!
Cranks of Glory will be stepping it up in training now. Bring on the mountains!

Jaco

Coffee drought...

It has now officially been 30hours since my last cup of coffee. I’m hurting.

You see I love my coffee. There was a time when I loved all five my cups of coffee per day. However, after reading that going without caffeine for a set period can boost your cycling performance up to 6%, I was all ears. Who knows, maybe it improves performance all round? ; ) Anyhoo, apparently its been proven that going without caffeine for seven days and then having that one cup race day morning can achieve such results. I’m going to go without for three days… so I’m hoping for a improvement of 3%! : )

This coming Saturday we are doing the Lourensford Classic MTB race in Somerset West. Its our “home race” for the year and one we always look forward to. Normally its a tough 58km’s but also a rare opportunity to experience the beauty of what Lourensford Farm has got to offer. I do hope the wind dies before then. This week it has been rather tough training and I literally got sandblasted yesterday in the mountains.

It has been quite a while since we last updated our blog with a proper entry. However, those following our “new” twitter account will know that we, particularly Nico, have been very active in updates ranging from us to cycling in general. I you haven’t visited our Twitter page you can find us at: http://twitter.com/CranksofGlory

I hear and see that guys are in full training for the Epic 2010. We clearly are still very relaxed about it all… but the upside is that we are enjoying our riding at the moment. It can become very mundane putting in all the hours and luckily for us we know what is required.

All the best for you guys out there training, and if you see us on the trails say hi! Epic 2010 promises to be another special race…and the excitement is growing!

Jaco

The trilogy is coming!

21-28 March 2010

Its about time we sent a update out…atleast a short one will do for now. Some of you might think we have dropped of the face of the planet. We have not sent an update out since the Cape Epic, and we apologise for this. Life after the Epic has been quite eventful. Nico and Lisa got married to name but one. Congratulations to them both! What a party we had and I even got to karaoke Roxette! GREAT SUCCESS! WHOOP!

How did we do in the Epic? We came 95th overall and are quite chuffed with this as a top 100 position is always something special to achieve in this race. In my opinion the race this year was more enjoyable and dare I say it…easier. Easier but certainly not easy! The race organisers did a great job in putting this route together and I think it will only make the race more popular with riders.

Just so you know, Cranks of Glory is still spinning. We have managed to put in a few hours in the saddle this year following the Epic. I am doing a 100mile ride with the Paarl MTB club this Saturday and Nico has also managed to do the “Sani2C non-stop” early in May. So fitness levels aren’t looking to bad and I look forward to riding in Knysna next month.

Id like to thank our sponsors again. Adidas, Bemer and Supersport Cycles, thank you very much for your contributions, excellent products and amazing support. To all the friends we made again, we hope to see you more than often out there and perhaps again next year at the Epic. Thank you to our support team, our families, Lisa and Anika… we love you and owe you allot.

Jaco

Hot Stuff!

I expected the international super starts to set the prologue course alight but this is insane!

Last night a massive fire broke out on Table Mountain. It looks like it's under control now but a lot of damages has been done. So far very little information is available.

Here's what the Epic had to say  (http://www.cape-epic.com/news.php?news_id=106&title=/Fires_on_Table_Mountain_-_Latest/)

Read more on news24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2487231,00.html)

We will keep you posted.

Later

Nico

Its GO time!

I cant quite put it in words what you feel when you line up to start a race like the Cape Epic. You are filled with emotion…excitement, anxiousness, fear and a strange hunger to demolish everything and anything it can throw at you. Rest assure the Epic will bombard you with hundreds of kilometres of loose rock, sand, mud, mountains, river crossings etc… But that is all ok; after all you knew this when you signed up.

Saturday we, team ADIDAS BEMER (race number 102), start our second ABSA CAPE EPIC on the slopes of Table Mountain. We will start the prologue (time trial) at 9:26am. This time round we are stronger and more experienced. It has yet again been 7months of hard training for this event. I will not lie, if you want to do something like this it will take LOADS of commitment and sacrifice from oneself. We have stuck to our guns, gritted our teeth and now we are definitely ready!

On a lighter note…. I keep wondering about a few things. Like what music will they be playing on route this year? Hmmm…maybe Nico will get to hear his beloved Jonas Brothers. : ) What food will we be on the menu? I’m quite fond of those low fat yoghurts. What will the colour of our tents be and will this clash with our teamshirts? Haha…I try to occupy my head with these thoughts so that I don’t have to focus all my energy on the race itself. I remember last year on Day3 I started singing to myself just to keep my thoughts from dragging me down. My singing ended up dragging everybody down around us…great race tactic! : )

The last few weeks we really have been spoiled so much. Not only are we now officially sponsored by Adidas and Bemer, but Supersport Cycles have also come on board supplying us with top of the range MET helmets. Thank you to Natasja Halley for sorting us out in record time. I asked Nico last week…is there anything we must take with for the Epic, his answer to me was “only your bike, your toothbrush and a couple of undies”. We really do look like the professional outfit now and cant thank our sponsors enough for their contributions. Photos of our team gear have been posted so feel free to have a look.

I want to urge people out there to go see the race for yourself this year. It starts in Cape Town on Saturday and will be going through Gordonsbay, Villiersdorp, Greyton, Grabouw and lastly Somerset West. It is CLOSE to Cape Town this year…so try to make it for atleast one day and soak up the atmosphere of this world class sporting event. There is special spectator viewpoints set out on route and you can find more information by following this link: http://www.cape-epic.com/content.php?page_id=41&title=/Spectators/

Thank you again for all the support we have been getting…locally and internationally. It helps to keep the tank fuelled! We really hope to see you on route. Best of luck to all our fellow Epic riders. James and Simon, Noel and Louise, Nico P and Alison Sydor…enjoy and have fun. To Burry and Christopher…GIVE THEM HELL! To Hein my cousin, YOU CAN and WILL DO IT!

Lastly, to Nico… thanks for sticking by me. I will give this my all and hope to do you proud!

Later… : )

Jaco

Christmas in March!

We have been very quiet the last few weeks but we have been out there packing in the miles. Since our last post allot has happened. We both are rolling around on new steeds. I’m the proud owner of a Santa Cruz Superlight. The bike is incredible, it just rips down singletrack. I’m now finally converted! The days of hammering away on a hardtail are gone forever. Jaco’s cruising around on a new Trek Top Fuel, although it was not exactly a planned purchased! Jaco’s bike was stolen out of his car!

 

February saw us doing some big miles and my body is definitely screaming for it all to stop. Luckily this week is our last big week before we begin our taper towards the start on the 21^st, just 18 days away!

 

We have been doing allot of riding in Jaco’s home town, Paarl. I must say the Paarl mountain biking community is very well organised, go check out www.paarlmtb.co.za.

 

Yesterday we tackled the Boschendal MTB Challenge, a tough 55km race. It was a hot, dusty day in the saddle and my legs definitely felt the last months of training. I started of conservatively but managed to finish strong. Jaco put in a solid performance but the tough ride on Saturday and the big miles put in during the month left him a bit flat on the day.

 

Yesterday we went to pick up our kit that adidas had sent over from Europe. WOW! I felt like a kid at Christmas rummaging through the piles of kit and casual wear that they sent us. The riding gear is awesome, super tech fabrics, awesome bib shorts, amazingly stiff carbon soles shoes, Gore Tex ski jackets, the list just goes on and on! So if, in the next few weeks, you spot a couple of guys kitted from head to toe in adidas gear with goofy smiles, riding their bikes, it’s probably us! Thanks so much to everybody at Bemer and adidas for making it happen!

 

I will try and post some pics of us in our new gear!

 

Later

 

Nico

Give me Ace of Bace...

This past week I managed to take my stupidity to another level. Some might say I do that on a weekly basis…I wont argue with those some. However it became quite clear to me that I really should try to think things through more often before acting OR even opening my mouth.

I received an email from a certain Christa Koekemoer, a student doing her Masters in Biogenetics at the University of Stellenbosch. She was looking for volunteer cyclists to take part in a study she is doing regarding recovery after intense endurance rides.

To cut this story short I volunteered and ended up doing THREE 100km time trials, a 40km time trial, a VO2max test and TWO windgate tests in the space of a week. All this is done inside a room on a stationary bicycle with a complimentary fan in front of you to cool you down. Come to think of it, if that fan blew from behind I might have finished in faster times. In between all that Nico and Hein dragged my deflated body out for a long ride.

During these tests you are not allowed to eat or drink anything BUT water. During each time trial I lost more than 1kg in weight. It was quite tiring and yup…. VERY boring. However, Christa did a great job at motivating me with ACE OF BACE blaring through the lab! Anika also came through to support me on day 2. I have to admit that the results of all these tests will definitely help in preparation for the Epic. I am definitely in better shape than last year and I think it is safe to say that Nico is too.

Those who have seen the photos posted by Nico lately would have noticed that he is parading around on a flash new ride. It is called the Santa Cruz Superlight… it is also called “Jaco’s Dream Bike”. As far as Mountain bikes go this bike is a true classic. News just in is that my cousin Hein will now ALSO be getting his Superlight next week. Oh… I am just so ecstatic for these two boys to be riding these superdooper bikes. I am not…I repeat…NOT jealous at all. Who am I kidding; I can’t say that with a straight face!?!?!

On a side note, this morning I went for a ride with a number of guys from Paarl. This group of riders included Andrew Patterson and Fritz van Heerden, both ex Western Province and Springbok rugby players. To me, a sports fan, I find it incredible that I get the opportunity to meet people like this who share a common love for mountain biking.

Lastly, our group is growing at a steady rate and I find it… to be quite honest astonishing! What I mean by this is that us Cranks are by no means professional cyclists. (Sure we are now big time Adidas sponsored athletes but…. Nah, I’m just joking!!! I’ve just been waiting to use that line!) We are really just two best friends who enjoy riding their bikes! So to all out there following our posts on our blog and on Facebook we thank you. We cannot do it enough… it is fantastic to get support from all over the world.

48days…17hours to go to EPIC 2009!

Jaco

Missy Elliot, The Royal Tenenbaums & David Beckham

This weekend saw the Cranks making light work of one off the toughest one day races in the country when we traveled to Outhshoorn to do the Attakwas Extreme Mountainbike Marathon! We both managed to smash about 30min off our times from last year, making light work of the 126km and 2600m of climbing! 

We are both extremely happy considering that this years route was allot tougher and technical than last year. I also managed to cut open my back tyre and had to stop three times to plug the damn thing before it sealed properly! Jaco clocked a 7:32 and I rolled in in 6:54 and collected my silver medal (sub 7 hours) which I am extremely chuffed with. 

Congratulation to Nico Pfitzenmaier who again had an awesome race. He finished 3rd overall in 5:48 only minutes behind 2nd place Kevin Evans. Francois Theron managed to pull off a surprise win after an early breakaway with David George in a blistering 5:36. Our new traing buddy, Hein, also had a very impressive ride, finishing in 7:47. 

So the big news……………… 

What does Missy Elliot, The Royal Tenenbaums, David Beckham and now Cranks of Glory have in common? 

Easy…..we all roll in super fly adidas tracksuits! Yes the rumour is true! Bemer, our main sponsor, have given as the awesome news that adidas will be providing us with riding kit for the 2009 Epic! We are extremely exited and can not wait to get our asses into some silky smooth adidias spandex! Thank you Werner for all the effort you put in and congratulations buddy! Werner dropped the bom on all of us last week when he got enaged to his long time girlfriend Ute! 

I’m not sure how to end the update so I’ll do it in the words of Missy…………… 

“Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it” 

Later 

Nico

Racing Snakes and Crazy Countdowns!

Congratulation to Nico Pfitzenmaier for winning the Terra Firma at this weekends Total Sports challenge! The Cranks was part of his support team for the day and it was awesome to see him and all the other competitors in action. 

We met up with the German Multi-Sport legend at last years Epic were he won the Mixed category with Ivonne Craft. Since his move to Stellenbosch we have had the opportunity to get to know him allot better and have even dragged him along on some Cranks training rides just to ensure that he gets some higher intensity rides in every now and then………….just kidding! There is some big news regarding who Nico will pair up with to defend his Mixed title this year! Be sure that you will be the first to get the breaking news as soon it is made official! All I can say is that the other mixed teams thinking of taking the title is: be afraid, be very afraid!  Go check out Nico's website at www.epix-sports-tours.com.

Although we got to see “The Sauserwind” race at the Total Sports challenge it ment we missed seeing Burry Stander blow they local XC racing field apart at the first National in Jonkershoek, winning by over 7 minutes!. It was his first race on his new Specialized Epic sporting his all new, all red, all Specialzed kit! I think the “Specialized” combinations of local boy Burry Stander and legendary Christoph Sauser is going be a very marked team at this year Epic!

On Sunday Somerset West hometown hero Andrew Neetling, racing for the international Trek DH team this year, took top honours in the Downhill racing. He was on his all new Trek Session 88 (It was only released from customs on Wednesday!). Best of all he won it by 5 minutes on his “feeler” run as he made a bit of a hash of his final run.

Don’t worry the Cranks did managed to get in some riding this weekend. After the Total Sport challenge Jaco, Hein and myself went out and battled with the legendary south easter wind for just over three hours, great fun!. Sunday morning we drove out to Grabouw to tackle Groenlandberg. I love this ride! I don’t think there is a more scenic ride in the Western Cape.

This weekend we tackle the Attakwas (www.dryland.co.za), a 126km race from Outshoorn to Klein Brak. With 2616m of climbing its sure going to be a tough one and a good way to gauge how our Epic preparation is going!

So with less that 5 days to Attakwas, less than 70 days to the Epic and less than 100 days before I get married I think I have a couple of crazy months ahead............wish me luck!

One more thing I want to mention…………..

For the last few years I have been trying to find a way to fit my prescription into sunglasses for riding. About two months ago I was up in Pretoria and was strolling through Menlyn Shopping Mall when I saw some Rudy Project banners outside an optometrist. Trying my luck, I started to chat to the representative about prescription sunglasses, after some consultation between him and the optometrist they had come up with a solution! I couldn’t believe it!

Less than two weeks later I received my pair of awesome Rudy Project Rydon’s with Photochromic lenses and RX insert with my prescription! Even more incredible if you think I live 1600km from them. What a difference to finally be able to ride with sunglasses! The Photochromic lenses are awesome, they transition from clear to dark according to the light intensity within a few seconds, I am even able to do night rides with them!

A big thanks to Simon Edmons (simon@rudyproject.co.za) of Rudy Project and Bernadine Flynn from Melins I-Style in Menlyn. If you need prescription sports eyewear give these guys a call! 

Stay jolly...

This is the season to be jolly….ehhhr… or it was! We sincerely hope that each of you gained at least 5kg’s over the festive season, were spoilt for Xmas and that 2009 greeted you with a bang! If you are still on holiday… keep it to yourself! Ha! We have been slack in updating you with how things are progressing with the Cranks. We apologise as this was a bit of a silly season for both of us regarding work etc.

What have we been up to? Well, in between gathering with friends and family we have been training believe it or not. In two weeks time we are doing a race called the Attakwas. It starts in Oudtshoorn and ends in Greatbrak. The distance of 126km has 2612m of vertical ascent and features rolling gravel roads, rough jeep track, many river crossing and washed out rocky descents. Oh did I mention that they threw in the Outiniqua Mountain range for good measure? It is arguably the toughest one day mountain biking event in South Africa…ok enough of that, I get nervous and sweaty thinking about it. It is going to be a good 7 to 8 hours in the saddle.

This past weekend we went riding with our friend Nico Pfitzenmaier, 2008 Cape Epic Mixed winner. By the way, this prestigious pro athlete has joined Cranks of Glory recently. Anyways… in our attempt to keep up with mr. Pfitzenmaier, Nico van Zyl managed to break his saddle post. Obviously this would be a quite an awkward moment for any guy, but it was a clean break and luckily he escaped serious injury to his… well, you know what I am getting at. In the end Nico did 3hours with a shortened saddle post putting his knees and quadriceps through some serious hard work!

Lastly it has to be said that we officially welcomed Nico to the 30’s on the 27th December. His party was on the 26th, but the less I say about that the better. Shaggy says it best…”it wasn’t me!” Anyhoo… it has been said before, we have known each other all our lives. We share a special bond. Not as special as some would believe though. However you are my best friend… and the best one could ask for. 2009 will be a great year for you my friend… enjoy it all the way! (Ps…can you please stop with the fat jokes???)

Later everybody!

Jaco

Whoop Whoop!

Every now and then you just have to slap that eject button on the big old toaster that’s life and get away from the heat! Even if its just for a short while until some idiot grabs hold of you, covers you in peanut butter and eats you alive……………I think I might have lost myself in that analogy!

Anyway what I’m trying to get to is taking time to reflect on your life, were you came from, your current situation, and in some peoples case the precious few years you have left in life. My oldest friend ,excuse the pun!, turns 30 today, which means I have known him for 30 years! Well actually 29 years, 10 months and 8 days. I hope you have an awesome birthday buddy, and many more joyful Zimmer frame walks.

One of my great mentors in life once told me that to have a well-balanced life you should visualize the different aspects of your life as water tanks lined up next to each other. Each tank representing a different part of your life, for example: work, relationships, sport, friends, etc. The key is to keep these tanks at the same level, trying to divide your time equally between all of them. The problem is we have a 500 000 litre reservoir as our “Epic Tank” and my “Work Tank” is giving the Steenbras dam a go! Bottom line is I am spending all my time at work and watching the other tanks slowly drain from a distance!

Last night I decided to give my “Epic Tank” some much needed attention and joined Paul and the guys from Helderberg Cycling World for their weekly night ride. My last night ride was about 10months ago at the 24hrs of Wiesenhof so I was a bit apprehensive as to what I was getting myself into. I one word AWESOME! We did loads of singletrack, allot of it that I have not even seen in daylight. On most sections I was desperately trying to hang onto their wheels as they were just ripping down the trails. It was loads of fun and I will be back next week!

To all our Comrades in training, good luck for the big double this weekend! As it’s Jaco’s birthday party on Saturday we will be hitting the beers relentlessly and doing tequila intervals untill the sun comes up!

So to end of this post I thought we could all join in song to once again congratulate my “old” friend Jaco! The last 30 years have been a blast and I’m sure the next 30 will be nothing but spectacular (as long as you keep riding, I can pretty much guarantee it!)!

So here we go 1, 2, 3…………”Geluk liewe maatjie omdat jy verjaar!……………………..”

Later

Nico

What we are up against!

We don’t have much to report on this week. Unlike last year we have had no wildlife attacks, muggings or run ins with the law….yet! We are also struggling a bit with the work and training balancing act. However, this was always to be expected and its safe to asume we arent the only ones.

I did want to share next years Cape Epic route with you. The following race description is taken directly from the ABSA CAPE EPIC website (http://www.cape-epic.com/content.php?page_id=36&title=/The_Route/ ). This will give you a much better understanding of why we are training so hard and what we are training for.

ABSA CAPE EPIC 2009

Total Distance: 743km

Total Climbing: 16 650m

"One of the most famous natural landmarks in Africa, Table Mountain, marks the beginning of the pioneering, tough and beautiful mountain bike race. The race then heads into the Overberg region in search of the most exciting, beautiful and challenging routes. Always innovating, the 2009 Absa Cape Epic visits stage locations in which riders will be staying for 2 consecutive nights, allowing them more time to experience single-track and technical routes that make this race legendary.

Prologue

Date: 21 March 2009

Start/Finish: Cape Town

Distance: 24km

Climbing: 740m

Table Mountain will host the prologue, which was introduced at this year’s race, on the first day of the event. The 24km ride against the clock will take riders from the edge of the City Bowl towards Tafelberg Road. The Cobra is a steep switchback climb averaging 15%. Once they crossed Kloof Nek, riders will climb Signal Hill and head along the spine. If they have a moment to look to their left they’ll see the Atlantic Seaboard and to the right, the city and the harbour. The prologue will give riders a chance at a good seeding position in the start chute of the first stage the next morning.

Stage 1

Date: 22 March 2009

Start/Finish: Gordon's Bay - Villiersdorp

Distance: 110km

Climbing: 2770m

Gordon’s Bay, the small, idyllic seaside town on the Eastern edge of False Bay will see the start of Stage 1, taking riders over 110km and 2770m of climbing to Villiersdorp. The first stage of the Absa Cape Epic has never been easy and will be no exception next year. The early steep ascents will stretch out the field, just in time for some rocky single-track. Participants will visit a familiar highlight of the Absa Cape Epic, Groenlandberg. The 10km climb will start off at over 10%, but will level out near the top. Riders will need to save their energy for the last 15km, which will take them into Villiersdorp, where they will settle in for 2 nights.

Stage 2

Date: 23 March 2009

Start/Finish: Villiersdorp

Distance: 120km

Climbing: 2108m

Villiersdorp, the "The Pearl of the Overberg", is graced by oak trees and surrounded by tranquil fruit and wine orchards. Sixteen degree slopes are perfect for crafting fine wine but will make for tired legs early in the stage. This kind of climbing will require expert balance and poise just to avoid having to climb off and walk. In a loop that circumnavigates the valley visiting the Brandvlei Cellar, there will be several more steep climbs. The ruts and loose shale that characterises the Karoo region could end a rider’s race on a single corner.

Stage 3

Date: 24 March 2009

Start/Finish: Villiersdorp - Greyton

Distance: 85km

Climbing: 1950m

The third stage will take riders from Villiersdorp to Greyton, an 85km route with 1950m of climbing. Their legs will remember stages 1 and 2 all too clearly as they tackle a long ascent up a rugged 4x4 trail. It will be another day of tough ups and downs, breaking the riders’ rhythm. A portage section with 180-degree mountain vistas will ensure that their spirits stay intact as they head to the next town, Greyton, another gem in the Overberg.

Stage 4

Date: 25 March 2009

Start/Finish: Greyton

Distance: 101km

Climbing: 2303m

The fourth day of 101km and 2303m of climbing will begin on the open roads with a steady climb followed by a tricky section on fast rocky tracks, testing the reactions early in the morning. After crossing the causeway, a windy trip through the farmlands will take the field back towards Greyton. Much of it is rideable but with some 20 degree slopes, testing their technical skills. This devastating series of hills will deliver a knockout combination to ill-prepared legs. Riders will have earned their second night’s rest in Greyton.

Stage 5

Date: 26 March 2009

Start/Finish: Greyton - Oak Valley

Distance: 113km

Climbing: 2405m

Stage 5 will take riders from Greyton to Oak Valley, a 113km ride with 2405m of climbing. Early on, some jagged climbs will strike a cruel blow to the morale, but riders will be rewarded with the beautiful flowing dual tracks alongside the railway line. This will offer a temporary respite as Elgin / Grabouw appears on the horizon. When riders see orchards they will see more steep climbs on the way, but not before passing through another Cape Nature Conservation area. With several kilometers of swooping forest single-track, even the most tired competitor will be smiling and as they leave the forest, they will arrive home for the night in Oak Valley, Elgin/Grabouw.

Stage 6

Date: 27 March 2009

Start/Finish: Oak Valley

Distance: 120km

Climbing: 2604m

The second last stage of the Absa Cape Epic, will take riders on a 120km journey with 2604m of climbing. This stage is the most technical in the Absa Cape Epic’s history. No sooner than leaving Oak Valley, riders will encounter more hills heading towards the N2. Riders will be traversing through Kogelberg - a world-famous biosphere featuring some radical descents and narrow tracks with unique Fynbos grabbing at the handlebars. After a river crossing and more steep climbs, riders once again find themselves in the single-track heaven of Lebanon. They will then return to Oak Valley to cap off a very demanding day in the saddle.

Stage 7

Date: 28 March 2009

Start/Finish: Oak Valley - Lourensford

Distance: 70km

Ascent: 1770m

Finally the last day of the taxing Absa Cape Epic has arrived and riders will end their adventure at Lourensford. Traditionally the last stage is always the shortest, but never easy and will take riders over 70km and 1770 m climbing. Again, they will see short, sharp climbs and then some longer and even steeper ones though Nuweberg. Soon the riders will begin to smell home as they near the bottom of Gamtoe Pass. As any Absa Cape Epic veteran will tell you, it is a compulsory portage section through this National Heritage site. A close look at the path will reveal Voortrekkers’ wagons tracks, heading down to the railway line. Through wine country, riders will head home to Lourensford to collect their finisher’s medal and a well earned rest."

So…that’s it. All in a weeks work…ehhhr… and 8months training! : )

Jaco

Getting on with it...

It has been nearly two weeks since our last update. We have been training and getting on with things…well mostly.

Nico went to race the Cederberg Escape two weekends ago. That same weekend did not work out as well for me. That Friday at 10:00pm I got a frantic call from Grant, a good friend. It turned out Grant was stuck on the N1 with no petrol. Naturally, also trying to be a good friend, I rushed to his rescue. It soon became clear that petrol was not the problem. Apparently you should not try to jumpstart another car when your own battery is on its last legs.

What was supposed to be a routine rescue mission ended up with both of us stuck on the national highway up until 1am. It was cold, windy and not the place to be on a Friday night. Plus I was really longing for the bottle of red wine that I had left all by its lonesome at home. Björn Geiger ended up being our saviour. Thanks Björn! I ended up being without a car until the Monday and somehow training took the backseat over that weekend.

Personally I am still waiting on Nico’s Cederberg Escape race report. I only know the “short of the long” and it includes two flat tyres (on his car on the way there) and a long list of mechanical problems with his bike. The result was him not being able to finish the 3rd and last day of the race. While obviously disappointed he still managed to enjoy the weekend of racing. Not only is this race running through a spectacular and beautiful part of our country, but also the race itself was also superbly organised and enjoyed by all whom I have talked to. It is interesting to note that this race is organised by the very same organisation that is responsible for the Cape Epic.

This last weekend we managed some good training including the Four Passes route. It is a 130km loop by road that includes Sir Lowries Pass, Viljoens Pass, Franschoek Pass and lastly the Helshoogte Pass. The pace was fairly intense upfront as we did it with a bunch of roadies training for the Double Century (a 200km race). Well done to Zayne who pitched up with knobblies and kept up with everybody!

Big news is that the ABSA Cape Epic 09 route was announced last week! I still need to go study the press release more closely before I can comment on it fairly. But from what I have seen it looks to be an extremely exciting route. Feel free to go have a look at it yourself in the meantime at http://www.bicycling.co.za/articles/racing_news/3796/ .

Thank you for the feedback and messages of encouragement we have been getting. It is really appreciated! Enjoy your week everybody!

Jaco