Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Legendary!

What a week! First Burry, and now a true legend has joined the ranks. For those that have been with us for a while will remember our legendary rides in places like Jonkershoek, Lebanon, Tokia, Thandi, 24hrs of Wiesenhof, Boschendal, Greyton Tarentaalkraal Festival, Delvera, Lourensford, Nelson’s Creek….. a never ending list of trails and events that makes the Western Cape one the best places to mountain bike! Few, if any, will argue that one man has been the architect, the pioneer, the mastermind behind it all, a true legend, Mr Meurant Botha! Welcome!

Go to www.amarider.co.za and join today to ensure that this prestine mountain biking heaven we stay in can keep on expanding! Check out www.dirtopia.co.za for some of the best events on the SA mountain bike calendar.

This weekend I’m heading to Malgas, with the soon to be in laws, and hope to get in some quality hours. Everybody knows how much I love De Hoop Nature Reserve and its sandy roads from this year Epic, I’ll give it a skip this time, thanks!

Keep the rubber side down!

Later

Nico

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Welcome mr. Stander!


Breaking news is that Burry Stander joined our Facebook group (pretty much the same as our blog here) and officially became a Crank yesterday! So welcome to him! Burry is a PRO mountainbiker, this basically means the following; he weighs half of Nico's weight (not that difficult), he has impressive calves (like me), his bike is faster than my Corsa Bakkie, he trains a little (allot) more than the Cranks of Glory, you can invite him for a pasta chowing evening...ehhhr...and offcourse he gets moola for riding his steed!

He certainly does not need much of an introduction. At 21 he is fast becoming a South African mountain biking legend! He has had a very impressive year so far with a win on the World Cup Circuit and a 15th place in the Beijing Olympics to name but a few. Go check out his blog at http://www.burrystander.typepad.com/ .

Apart from that we dont have much to report AGAIN this week. We had a awesome ride with friends in jonkershoek on Sunday. The new singletrack is really something to experience if you are into moutainbiking. We are looking to step up a gear or two in our training this week...wich basically means that we need to work according to our program and no slacking off.

Thanks for the support people! Will keep you updated as we go along.PS: Burry, thanks for joining...I wasnt REALLY going to stalk you and serenade you outside your front door if you didnt! : )Jaco

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Lets swim for it!


16/09/08 I never saw the band Wet Wet Wet live (thank goodness), but it feels like they have been playing here for the last three weeks straight! The rain just wont quit! Needless to say we battled with getting the hours in last week. Nico gave his bike in for repairs, and I tackled the gym. Apart from a good session on Saturday morning we havent got much to report. This week doesn’t look better at all.

What I have realised is that the only thing more boring than road cycling is spinning on a gymbike or indoor trainer. No offence to the roadies out there! Again I have to admire the commitment of people, like Anke (http://www.ankameganadventures.blogspot.com/), who have to train through extreme winter conditions mostly on a indoor trainer.

I have realised another thing. I will never look “cool” in bikewear. The photos we are posting this week is testament to that. A helmet it seems serves a dual purpose for me. Protection being the first and then secondly offcourse, making my head look like a potplant.

So yes people, this week’s update is pretty much useless. I might swim home tonight to get a bit of exercise in.

Jaco

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Ahh Spring!

Spring is in the air! Well not exactly……I think in the 10 days of September we’ve had 7 days of non-stop rain, 2 days of gale force winds and one absolutely awesome Saturday! Quin was lucky enough to be down from Jo’burg that day and we headed straight to Jonkershoek from the airport.

It was my first time on the new upper-upper Canary walk and it’s awesome! Taking someone to Jonkers for the first time always make me realise how easily we take for granted the awesome trails we have right on our doorstep, poor flatland Jo’burgers! Quin and me attended the Silverback launch on Saturday night. These guys must get an A for effort and enthusiasm. The 2009 line up looks great and seems to be good value as always.

I have to set one thing straight, excuse the pun! I think Jaco’s the only “social butterfly”, yes that’s his self-proclaimed title! (flashes of pink and rainbow flags come to mind), I’m much more of a recluse so the only thing keeping me off my bike is my warm duvet and lazy ass!

Yesterday I took by bike in for some repairs, and to see if Fred could do a pedal boat conversion, considering that yet another Tsunami was hitting the Western Cape and today, as Murphy would have it, it’s a perfect day and I have no bike! I must admit I am very comfortable with the idea of sleeping in and doing nothing until Friday and then hitting the trails over the weekend!

I am waiting for my copies of 24hr Solo and Off Road to Athens and if that does not get me amped to ride then I don’t know! Expect a review of both in the near future!

Keep the rubber side down!

Later

Nico

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Sip...Sip...Sip...

Looking at the weather outside I am rather comfortable sitting here indoors with my glass of port. Port is kind to me as it has never given me saddlesore. Those of you who knows me well would know that I enjoy my wine(hush Robert!) and my bike. However, myself and Nico perhaps should have enjoyed our bikes more over the weekend.

Both of us managed to get a fair bit of time on the saddle this week. As I said last time this was our first official week of training. It went well concidering the weather and social aspects of our life. Being social butterflies do come with a bit of responsibility you know. BUT when you have sponsors backing you for a major sports event you soon realise that you would not like to let them down in any way. Although we did not cycle as much this weekend as we would have hoped for we can still feel happy with the effort of our first week.

I would like to state that I am certainly more unfit as what I would have liked to be. Im sure Nico would echo this statement. Last year this time we definitely had a better level of fitness. This year, although our legs are physically stronger, our lungs and heart are battling a bit. However if we keep to our programme I am very confident that we will hit our rythem within the next two to three weeks.

The general view is that you suffer more on your second Epic than your first. Although you have been through it all you still find yourself thinking..."Ive done this, I can do it again". This is absolutely true, but I believe most people do not train as hard for there second attempt as their first. I honestly hope we do not fall into that trap. We both like to do better next year. Nico even mentioned a top 100 placing in which I replied to him with a blank stare...then I walked away. But yes, I would love to do better! Why shouldnt we? We have alot more know how this year, its just a case of putting it all together and committing to a common goal.

Lastly I would like to congratulate Nico and Lisa for getting engaged. I should have mentioned this last time, I apologise. Lisa often refers to me as Nico's fiancé...naturally this flatters me(im sorry this may be a inner circle type of joke). But the time has come for me to step aside and let true love blossom. Nico normally makes fun of me and my timekeeping or shall I say lack of timekeeping. However, after 8years Im sure glad he finally made his move!

Have a good week everybody!

Jaco

Monday, September 1, 2008

So it starts...


This is our first blog entry here on blogspot. Please note that in addition we have a group on Facebook called Cranks of Glory that was our main blog for all of last year.

So today our training started officially. We have been rather inactive on the bike lately...so we started slow today with a hour spinning session. Dont worry, the intensity will increase.

Having been through all of this last year we now have a better understanding of what is to come. There will be tears, crashes, cramps. blood, sweat, CLIMBING, sacrifices, cursing, aches and pains. BUT there will also be laughter, enjoyment, stories to tell and at the end hopefully there will be another successfull Epic completed.

We will continue to diarise our training and progress and will keep you all updated! Thanks for the support people!