There comes a time in our life where things don't works like we want it and we would sit down and argue of every little situation we're placed in. One thing someone taught me is that we should turn our situations into a challenge because if we win the battle, we'll come out a stronger person on the other side. Its never easy to go through pain but I would say this is our way of becoming a stronger person at the end of the day. Lets take cycling, you would watch cycling races on tv and say hey but thats easy but when you get on the bike yourself you realize that its never easy at all. You go through lots of pain, you feel how your heart is beating and you breathing is starting to change as you push yourself to the limits. There was a time that I had to coach a young boy to become a cyclist and he thinks its really easy to become one but I told him that it takes lots of courage and determination to become one and if you don't understand the whole concept on cycling nor race with your hearth instead of your head, you'll never become a true cyclist.
After a long battle with a illness in 2007, three weeks of not be able to get my nutrition into my body, the doctor gave me lots of medication but at the end of the day nothing helped me get any better and I was lying there with a body that I can't feel, I couldn't feel my heart beating and have no energy to get up, I knew I could die at anytime now. But deep inside of me I knew this is not the right time for me to leave. I kept on fighting and I was planning of giving up either. My body was in so much pain and my fever was over 40. For three weeks I had no food. It wasn't the greatest thing that happened to me after we moved from the Kalahari to a small town in the Western Cape named Robertson. All I wanted to do was to get back on my bike nothing else mattered to me.
After my battle, I finally started to get better and I was starting to eat small portions of food to get my nutrition back into my body to get my strength back. This journey taught me lots of things like realizing that at any moment something can happen to you and you should appreciate those around you and the things you have while you're still alive. I told my friends my experience of what was going on and what I was going through, they got inspired by the fact that I was on the point of leaving everyone behind but I kept on fighting. When I got the go ahead to start training again, I could still feel a bit of pain in my lungs but even though I feel pain, I kept on telling myself that this is the start of a new chapter in my life and that is not the right time to give up. There was this will inside of me that kept on telling me go on Yolande just have faith in yourself and everything will fall into place at the right time.
I had lots of fear for a very long period and I was scared something worse will happen again soon but I know that God is on my side all the way. After a couple of weeks, I came 3rd in a race and that proved that I was strong. My legs hurted so much but deep down inside of myself was ready for a challenge. I attacked on one of the steep climbs and no one was planning on catching me. The headwind was a factor but I kept on turning my legs and push myself to the limits. When I went over the finish on top of the climb, everyone was saying congrats on my 3rd place. I couldn't believe it myself till I went on the podium. That was the highlight of my cycling.
One thing is for sure, if there's a will, there's always a way. No matter what your situation is, there's always a time in life that worth living for.
On my next blog, I'll be writing my journey towards the start of my racing as the mountain biking season starts very soon.
Till next time.
Cheers
Yolande
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
A typical day of a life of a cyclist!
In my previous blog I was updating on the African Cross Country (XC) Continental Champs down at the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve just outside Stellenbosch but as I was mostly writing on the racing, I clearly forgot to explain the part where 3 people was trying to lie down on a picnic mat but as Ryan was unfolding it, we saw it was actually in fact not a picnic mat but a beach for mat that was made for one person. Surprisingly we all manage to share it that includes me, Ryan Ellis and Hilton Frost aka Frosty. I'm talking here from "Behind the scenes of the African Champs) Now as we all know this area I'm living in is known as the "Little Karoo" so you might expect some dry areas as I mean there absolutely nothing but thanks to some vineyards etc, the place looks quite nice during the harvest times with all the green leaves etc but one thing is for sure, this place can be hot at times not even to mention over the weekend of racing at Jonkershoek. Now for those who have never been to Stellenbosch or Jonkershoek itself, you'll be surprised to see how dry it is. The forest makes this place looks nice but when you see the typical roads of a forest, you'll probably wet your pants when you see the rocky/technical sections.
For a person who never passed on bottles for a rider at a big event such as this one, it was definitely a new experience for me to be honest I had to stay focused for nearly than two hours and with the UCI watching you with every possible move, you were surely scared at times! With me walking up a mountain with a set of 29er wheels, a backpack and a cool bag with 7 water bottles, I had to think back to our practice run between me and Ryan to pass on the water bottles and to keep in mind lots of other things. Thanks to Evan van der Spuy another Team Jeep rider who was kind enough to keep me company for a few minutes and Team Contego's people was also kind enough to give me something to drink while I was waiting for Ryan to arrive.
Now for us sitting in front of the tv watch all these big international events, it does seem quite easy for us but then you see in the reality that the who's who of cycling is also in pain but they keep on turning those legs. In Ryan's case, he crashed two times but it didn't make him withdraw from the race, he was in so much pain but he kept on going and I was supporting him at the Feed/Technical Zone while my parents was cheering him on at the Start/Finish line.
This was my kit on race day.
Ryan's race number was 60 and if you saw someone coming out of the single track, I can surely spot Ryan easily!
Ryan is certainly very focused at this point!
Ryan concentrating on the rocky single track!
Remember to check out Ryan Ellis,Brendon David, Evans van der Spuy and new rider Travis Walker on Team Jeeps website or follow them on twitter and facebook!
Hope you guys enjoy this!
Till next time!
Cheers
Yolande
For a person who never passed on bottles for a rider at a big event such as this one, it was definitely a new experience for me to be honest I had to stay focused for nearly than two hours and with the UCI watching you with every possible move, you were surely scared at times! With me walking up a mountain with a set of 29er wheels, a backpack and a cool bag with 7 water bottles, I had to think back to our practice run between me and Ryan to pass on the water bottles and to keep in mind lots of other things. Thanks to Evan van der Spuy another Team Jeep rider who was kind enough to keep me company for a few minutes and Team Contego's people was also kind enough to give me something to drink while I was waiting for Ryan to arrive.
Now for us sitting in front of the tv watch all these big international events, it does seem quite easy for us but then you see in the reality that the who's who of cycling is also in pain but they keep on turning those legs. In Ryan's case, he crashed two times but it didn't make him withdraw from the race, he was in so much pain but he kept on going and I was supporting him at the Feed/Technical Zone while my parents was cheering him on at the Start/Finish line.
This was my kit on race day.
Ryan's race number was 60 and if you saw someone coming out of the single track, I can surely spot Ryan easily!
Ryan is certainly very focused at this point!
Ryan concentrating on the rocky single track!
Remember to check out Ryan Ellis,Brendon David, Evans van der Spuy and new rider Travis Walker on Team Jeeps website or follow them on twitter and facebook!
Hope you guys enjoy this!
Till next time!
Cheers
Yolande
UCI African XC Continental Champs 2011
Being kicked out of bed by your dad at 3:20 am in the morning after you only went to be after 1 am is no joke but with all of the excitement to know you're going to the event of the year on the mountain bike calendar. I was so stoked to head off to Jonkershoek Nature Reserve for the very first time and if you're a mountain biker and live in the area of Stellenbosch, I'm sure you'll know this course very well and for most of us we'll see it as a "Mountain Bike Heaven." With the beautiful mountains surrounding not only Jonkershoek but Stellenbosch as well and I couldn't stop looking at this most amazing area. Now if you're a huge fan of Cross Country racing short name in the cycling community is XC, you'll love to check out Africa's best riders battling it out not only to become African Champ but to earn points to qualify for the World Cup in Europe. Most of us dream to be able to race against the worlds best riders but its never as it looks.
As we all know there's always favorites for the event. Burry Stander, Yolande Speedy, James Reid, Candice Neethling and Luke Roberts but no one mentioned Brendon Davids of Team Jeep as also one of the favorites. The first battle was on between and Davids and Roberts, this is surely one to watch out for and I was sure that Davids can take the win on the day. As for Brendon, you can see the grind on his teeth as he was coming at a very fast pace through the Start/Finish line and all he left was dust as he was riding down that short downhill. For me this was surely more than interesting to watch. Everyone was asking "what happened to Luke Roberts?" I knew at that moment people was starting to wonder if Roberts will take the win or not. Brendon was focused out on the course and it didn't even looked like he's tired at all. With the UCI who made the course tougher for the competitors, it surely an easy one as it was a dry, sandy and rocky course with a steep climb the riders had to face. The most difficult thing for the riders on the day was if they had any mechanical issues they couldn't get any help outside the Technical Zone and it surely didn't make things much easier for the riders as they lost time on the other riders. While I was waiting on confirmation of Brendon, I knew he won. Brendon won with a time of 1:22:02 with Luke Roberts taking 3rd with a time of 1:24:53 with 5 laps of racing in the Junior cat.
With the sun showing its face and the blue open skies with a few clouds, the heat on the day was unbelievable and riders out on the course suffered. Everyone seemed to try find a shade in the forest next to the Start/Finish line but was surely not very comfortable to sit there and miss out on the racing. The worst thing is there's no phone signals so when you try to avoid not get cut from the line while taking to the person on the other side, they'll surely think you're being rude or something. While I was chilling, I walked into my friend Renthea Boshoff who also rode in the Junior Women cat and I was stoked to see her. Most of my friends told me how stressed they are for the racing and some of them didn't even had a chance to really train on the course a couple of days before the race and they keep in mind of their tactics to insure them a good position at the end of the day. With racing going on since 7 am the morning and there wasn't much of parking space left, you saw vehicles everywhere and riders doing their warm up for the race and getting ready themselves ready to prepare their minds for the race. With spectators everywhere, the vibe at Jonkershoek was something that I can't simply describe to anyone. With family, friends and teammates supporting them and pushing them to go on even if their bodies are screaming of pain. With a few accidents that happened out on the course, the ambulances of Tygervalley Hospital was on standby to take the riders to Stellenbosch Medi Clinic. Famous sports doctor Jeroen Swarts was also on standby to help the riders and giving the support they need.
While I was waiting for Ryan Ellis of Team Jeep to arrive, I was chased away from my seat under a tree in front of the coffee shop because its only for riders etc and I thought by myself but hell I'm Ryan's Support Rider so they can't say I'm not part of the African Champs. As Ryan arrived, it was time to chill for while before having our practice session to pass bottles just to make sure there won't happen something causing some problems in the end. Time was running out and it was time to get the wheels, backpack and cool bag ready to head off to the Feed/Technical Zone up at the top of the climb. The worst part is that there was being said that there was a vehicle taking up people up there but in my case I had to walk up with 2 spare wheels, a backpack and a cool bag containing Ryan's water bottles etc.While Ryan is giving me some instructions on what to do, I had to focus and remember to give 2 bottles of energy drinks, a water bottle, 2 energy drinks and a bottle of water. At that moment I clearly forgot to take food + drinks with me with me but in my case I had to find way to spot Ryan to pass on the bottles but you really need to focus and remember what you did during the practice session otherwise it can cost Ryan's time. With me shaking of being nervous, Ryan was surely impressed with my job so far.
With everyone shouting at their riders, I had to focus on Ryan and insure that not one bottles falls when passing it to him. I had to calm myself down and say everything will be good just focus. First lap done, Ryan was happy to see the progress and I was supporting him all the way. With riders dropping out like flies, I knew Ryan had a good chance of getting a good position. Sadly Ryan crashed twice and it cost some of his time but he kept on going. With my family down at the Start/Finish line, they kept cheering on Ryan.
With drama happening at the Feed/Technical Zone, most guys had punctures or others had problems with a broken derailleur that broke off, it surely didn't stop this guy from keep on riding. With the heat getting worse by the hour, there was no shade to stand and if you get one, the UCI guys will surely have something to say and I didn't want Ryan to be disqualified for nothing so I kept on doing my job. With Ryan doing 6 laps as he's racing U23, he kept on riding at a good pace and with Brendon standing under the gazebo of BMC and Evan standing on the other side of the road in the forest. I was most likely looking for a guy with a red Specialized helmet with a team jeep shorts. Trust me with all those people up there, you had to keep on a close eye on the riders passing by and with people standing in your way it didn't make it any easier.
I must admit this was the first time for me to experience something like this as it not always happening in our area. I met so many new people and made new friends in the process.
With Burry Stander of Team Specialized riding up a storm, I was supporting from Erik Kleinhans to who's who of cycling. I was starting to count down Ryan's laps and I simply got confused at some point. As Ryan took all his bottles without one dropping, it was a success and now it time for me heading back to the finish line. But while I was getting the things packed to head back, I received news that Ryan got 5th position and the best part he qualified to go to the World Cup.
Ryan Ellis cruising through the finish line after over an hour of tough racing!
While I was asking around for a lift back, I had to walk with all the things down a downhill. Thanks to Team MTN Qhubeka and Nicole Allan, they was friendly enough to give me a lift. Just would like to thank them. While James Reid won the U23 in a time of 1:36:33, Ryan received 9th place in a time of 1:46.34. Top 6 for Ryan Ellis and Team Jeep.
Burry Stander took the win in the Men's Elite while Yolande Speedy took the win in the Elite Women, Brendon David took Junior Men, Ashleigh Parker took Junior Ladies, Candice Neethling took U23 Ladies, James Reid took U23 Men.
All the categories winners!
U23 Ladies podium finishers!
Elite Men podium finishers!
Elite Women podium finishers!
I would like to thank Ryan Ellis for this most amazing opportunity and well done to Team Jeep with their great results.
Hope you guys will enjoy reading my behind the stories of the African Champs 2011
Next up I'll get myself prepared to start racing again and I'll update everyone on how the progress are going so far.
Till next time!
Cheers
Yolande
As we all know there's always favorites for the event. Burry Stander, Yolande Speedy, James Reid, Candice Neethling and Luke Roberts but no one mentioned Brendon Davids of Team Jeep as also one of the favorites. The first battle was on between and Davids and Roberts, this is surely one to watch out for and I was sure that Davids can take the win on the day. As for Brendon, you can see the grind on his teeth as he was coming at a very fast pace through the Start/Finish line and all he left was dust as he was riding down that short downhill. For me this was surely more than interesting to watch. Everyone was asking "what happened to Luke Roberts?" I knew at that moment people was starting to wonder if Roberts will take the win or not. Brendon was focused out on the course and it didn't even looked like he's tired at all. With the UCI who made the course tougher for the competitors, it surely an easy one as it was a dry, sandy and rocky course with a steep climb the riders had to face. The most difficult thing for the riders on the day was if they had any mechanical issues they couldn't get any help outside the Technical Zone and it surely didn't make things much easier for the riders as they lost time on the other riders. While I was waiting on confirmation of Brendon, I knew he won. Brendon won with a time of 1:22:02 with Luke Roberts taking 3rd with a time of 1:24:53 with 5 laps of racing in the Junior cat.
With the sun showing its face and the blue open skies with a few clouds, the heat on the day was unbelievable and riders out on the course suffered. Everyone seemed to try find a shade in the forest next to the Start/Finish line but was surely not very comfortable to sit there and miss out on the racing. The worst thing is there's no phone signals so when you try to avoid not get cut from the line while taking to the person on the other side, they'll surely think you're being rude or something. While I was chilling, I walked into my friend Renthea Boshoff who also rode in the Junior Women cat and I was stoked to see her. Most of my friends told me how stressed they are for the racing and some of them didn't even had a chance to really train on the course a couple of days before the race and they keep in mind of their tactics to insure them a good position at the end of the day. With racing going on since 7 am the morning and there wasn't much of parking space left, you saw vehicles everywhere and riders doing their warm up for the race and getting ready themselves ready to prepare their minds for the race. With spectators everywhere, the vibe at Jonkershoek was something that I can't simply describe to anyone. With family, friends and teammates supporting them and pushing them to go on even if their bodies are screaming of pain. With a few accidents that happened out on the course, the ambulances of Tygervalley Hospital was on standby to take the riders to Stellenbosch Medi Clinic. Famous sports doctor Jeroen Swarts was also on standby to help the riders and giving the support they need.
While I was waiting for Ryan Ellis of Team Jeep to arrive, I was chased away from my seat under a tree in front of the coffee shop because its only for riders etc and I thought by myself but hell I'm Ryan's Support Rider so they can't say I'm not part of the African Champs. As Ryan arrived, it was time to chill for while before having our practice session to pass bottles just to make sure there won't happen something causing some problems in the end. Time was running out and it was time to get the wheels, backpack and cool bag ready to head off to the Feed/Technical Zone up at the top of the climb. The worst part is that there was being said that there was a vehicle taking up people up there but in my case I had to walk up with 2 spare wheels, a backpack and a cool bag containing Ryan's water bottles etc.While Ryan is giving me some instructions on what to do, I had to focus and remember to give 2 bottles of energy drinks, a water bottle, 2 energy drinks and a bottle of water. At that moment I clearly forgot to take food + drinks with me with me but in my case I had to find way to spot Ryan to pass on the bottles but you really need to focus and remember what you did during the practice session otherwise it can cost Ryan's time. With me shaking of being nervous, Ryan was surely impressed with my job so far.
With everyone shouting at their riders, I had to focus on Ryan and insure that not one bottles falls when passing it to him. I had to calm myself down and say everything will be good just focus. First lap done, Ryan was happy to see the progress and I was supporting him all the way. With riders dropping out like flies, I knew Ryan had a good chance of getting a good position. Sadly Ryan crashed twice and it cost some of his time but he kept on going. With my family down at the Start/Finish line, they kept cheering on Ryan.
With drama happening at the Feed/Technical Zone, most guys had punctures or others had problems with a broken derailleur that broke off, it surely didn't stop this guy from keep on riding. With the heat getting worse by the hour, there was no shade to stand and if you get one, the UCI guys will surely have something to say and I didn't want Ryan to be disqualified for nothing so I kept on doing my job. With Ryan doing 6 laps as he's racing U23, he kept on riding at a good pace and with Brendon standing under the gazebo of BMC and Evan standing on the other side of the road in the forest. I was most likely looking for a guy with a red Specialized helmet with a team jeep shorts. Trust me with all those people up there, you had to keep on a close eye on the riders passing by and with people standing in your way it didn't make it any easier.
I must admit this was the first time for me to experience something like this as it not always happening in our area. I met so many new people and made new friends in the process.
With Burry Stander of Team Specialized riding up a storm, I was supporting from Erik Kleinhans to who's who of cycling. I was starting to count down Ryan's laps and I simply got confused at some point. As Ryan took all his bottles without one dropping, it was a success and now it time for me heading back to the finish line. But while I was getting the things packed to head back, I received news that Ryan got 5th position and the best part he qualified to go to the World Cup.
Ryan Ellis cruising through the finish line after over an hour of tough racing!
While I was asking around for a lift back, I had to walk with all the things down a downhill. Thanks to Team MTN Qhubeka and Nicole Allan, they was friendly enough to give me a lift. Just would like to thank them. While James Reid won the U23 in a time of 1:36:33, Ryan received 9th place in a time of 1:46.34. Top 6 for Ryan Ellis and Team Jeep.
Burry Stander took the win in the Men's Elite while Yolande Speedy took the win in the Elite Women, Brendon David took Junior Men, Ashleigh Parker took Junior Ladies, Candice Neethling took U23 Ladies, James Reid took U23 Men.
All the categories winners!
U23 Ladies podium finishers!
Elite Men podium finishers!
Elite Women podium finishers!
I would like to thank Ryan Ellis for this most amazing opportunity and well done to Team Jeep with their great results.
Hope you guys will enjoy reading my behind the stories of the African Champs 2011
Next up I'll get myself prepared to start racing again and I'll update everyone on how the progress are going so far.
Till next time!
Cheers
Yolande
Friday, February 11, 2011
Standing between being clean or simply dope and think you'll never be cought.
Earlier this week news came out that former House of Pain rider, Michael Pepper used banned substances and was tested positive during a cycle race last year October. Usually you'll hear about International Tour de France riders get tested positive for the use of banned substances but hardly South African riders. Michael Pepper used the exact same banned substance than Contador but riders do disagree with the fact that Contador came away with a 1 year ban while Pepper is facing a 3 year ban. The question is why is this happening? We all know this the answer why our sport is on the point of going nowhere and why riders decide its time to do a other sport than to face this drama day in and day out.
Thanks to Bike Pure, a organization against the use of banned substances in any sport besides cycling. If you wear their armbands, you'll show your support again doping as well by listing your name you'll show to the world that you're a clean rider. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to be a ambassador for Bike Pure and spread the word of why you shouldn't dope and the side effects of why not do use banned substances. Potential youngsters for the future of pro cycling is also facing the consequences of being target of doping. Some team managers have also been caught for giving banned substances to team riders etc when the riders don't even notice it. Thanks to the Drug Free Sport which forms also part of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) they're catching riders who doped and so far its a success. As riders we would like to see a difference in our sport.
As I passionate cyclist, I follow the rules and regulations based on WADA. By doing so, I know that I'm a clean rider when they test me in the near future. Sometimes riders are tested positive due to the fact while you're in hospital or after visiting a doctor, the medication also have drugs in it which makes it also more complicated. Riders who got injected with medication or are on medication due to some issues with illness can get a letter from the doctor that can be send to WADA or Drug Free Sport to notify them in this matter.
The more we spread the word on doping the better the chance is that we'll clean up the sport. I think now its a crucial time for us to sit down and have a discussion on this matter. If no one is going to stand up and talk about these things then we'll never see a positive outcome.
Visit http://www.bikepure.org/ or http://www.drugfreesport.org.za
My next blog will be about the UCI African Cross Country Continental Championships down at Jonkershoek.
Till then!
Cheers
Yolande
Thanks to Bike Pure, a organization against the use of banned substances in any sport besides cycling. If you wear their armbands, you'll show your support again doping as well by listing your name you'll show to the world that you're a clean rider. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to be a ambassador for Bike Pure and spread the word of why you shouldn't dope and the side effects of why not do use banned substances. Potential youngsters for the future of pro cycling is also facing the consequences of being target of doping. Some team managers have also been caught for giving banned substances to team riders etc when the riders don't even notice it. Thanks to the Drug Free Sport which forms also part of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) they're catching riders who doped and so far its a success. As riders we would like to see a difference in our sport.
As I passionate cyclist, I follow the rules and regulations based on WADA. By doing so, I know that I'm a clean rider when they test me in the near future. Sometimes riders are tested positive due to the fact while you're in hospital or after visiting a doctor, the medication also have drugs in it which makes it also more complicated. Riders who got injected with medication or are on medication due to some issues with illness can get a letter from the doctor that can be send to WADA or Drug Free Sport to notify them in this matter.
The more we spread the word on doping the better the chance is that we'll clean up the sport. I think now its a crucial time for us to sit down and have a discussion on this matter. If no one is going to stand up and talk about these things then we'll never see a positive outcome.
Visit http://www.bikepure.org/ or http://www.drugfreesport.org.za
My next blog will be about the UCI African Cross Country Continental Championships down at Jonkershoek.
Till then!
Cheers
Yolande
Tranining ride with a interesting end!
As we all know there comes a time when you have to lift your butt from the couch and start doing some serious training to stay fit. So yesterday while I was like any other average person spending some time on the couch watching some tv, I though as the weather cleared up and there's absolutely no wind as we speak, it was the perfect time to get some training in. So I'm preparing myself to make a good comeback into the sport after I ended up with an injury and forced me to stay off the bike for quite some time.
These days you won't easily see me on a road bike as I'm more into mountain biking and I love it more than anything else! Down in the Cape, there's always a mountain bike race happening. Its a family sport so you'll see so many youngsters riding with their parents during the event which is great to see because those are the future stars of the sport. Mountain biking is more exciting in a way, its fast, hard and its always technical. It takes lots of concentration and focus.
Yesterday I decided instead of lying on a couch and watch some tv and you know you'll end up getting lazy, I got my cycling kit ready, got dressed and most importantly get my helmet because like our PPA says "No Helmet, No Ride!!" Got my mountain bike out of the garage and the path way was covered in water so I had to find a dry path to get to the gate. With clouds covering the skies and some sun showing its face. It was time to turn those legs. To those who don't know...I love my mud, so if it stopped raining, I would take a spin on the bike.
If you know these roads from everyday training, you'll know where to find the best mud patches and trust me its sometimes deep and really thick so if you're taking a risk by riding through it, then you need to know how to handle your bike otherwise your face will be covered in mud! This time around I found some awesome mud patches. For me cycling is all about having fun and experience nature at its best, cycling is enjoying yourself and meet new people on the road during a race or just on a training ride. Others take cycling very seriously and its all about winning races.
So while I was enjoying my ride and riding at my own pace, one of our local club riders came past me and asked me if I want to join them. As I joined them I decided to go hard on the climb before I'm turning around heading back home. As I stopped to look if its safe for me to turn around at one of the farms, the farm workers children was all over the road and before I knew it, they were standing around me greeting me and would ask me all kinds of questions. One thing about Robertson is the fact that wherever you may be riding even if its on the road or on the gravel roads, they'll always greet you when they see you. If they see you have a mechanical issue or something, they walk up to you and help you with a smile. The other thing is you must also be careful because you never know when they want to steel something.
As I turned around to head back home, the little children would shout at me asking me "Girl can we maybe run behind you even if its just a few meters?" I though well if there's no on coming traffic and its safe then its fine with me otherwise it can be dangerous not only for the children but for myself as well. So they run besides me and behind me and after a while they said goodbye with a lost of breath as they couldn't keep up with me anymore. Makes me realize that no matter whats going on your life, you'll always find a person who'll take some time to put a smile back on your face.
This time around I decided that because there wasn't any traffic this time around (thats after 6pm last night) I'm going to take a longer route to get back home than then average route (the faster one). Strangely enough there was this massive splash of mud on this short piece of gravel road leading back to Van Zyl street. So I rode through it and I could feel how my tires are slipping on the slippery rocks beneath the water and it was super deep as well. Thanks to some bike handling skills, I rode through it with no problems are although my legs and socks was covered in mud including my bike. My bike's brakes made this squeaking sound when I brake.
My mom knows me so well that she knows when I get back home from a muddy ride, I'll be covered in mud. She always says: "Only a mother can love her child." when she sees a cyclist covered in mud. This comment comes all the way from the 2009 Robertson Winery MTB Challenge down at Paru farm. It was raining non-stop and our bikes was so covered in mud that we had to walk up the climbs, when we're on top we use some lubricant on our chains just so that we can ride for a while. The roads are slippery and we had to go through one of the farm dam's and trust me when its raining, the water is rising fast and the dam was so deep that it reached my hips! The water was freezing cold that I even didn't feel my feet! When we finished you only could see our eyes other than that everything was covered in mud!
Yesterday was an amazing ride and I would like to thank everyone for making it awesome!
Up next I'm off to the UCI African XC Continental Championships at Jonkershoek this weekend to see the best riders battling it out to become African Champ. I'll not represent our country but instead I'll be handing out bottles to Ryan Ellis of Team Jeep who'll be racing the South African colors.
Well thats it for now.
Hope you guys enjoy my latest blog.
Have a safe ride!
Cheers
Yolande
These days you won't easily see me on a road bike as I'm more into mountain biking and I love it more than anything else! Down in the Cape, there's always a mountain bike race happening. Its a family sport so you'll see so many youngsters riding with their parents during the event which is great to see because those are the future stars of the sport. Mountain biking is more exciting in a way, its fast, hard and its always technical. It takes lots of concentration and focus.
Yesterday I decided instead of lying on a couch and watch some tv and you know you'll end up getting lazy, I got my cycling kit ready, got dressed and most importantly get my helmet because like our PPA says "No Helmet, No Ride!!" Got my mountain bike out of the garage and the path way was covered in water so I had to find a dry path to get to the gate. With clouds covering the skies and some sun showing its face. It was time to turn those legs. To those who don't know...I love my mud, so if it stopped raining, I would take a spin on the bike.
If you know these roads from everyday training, you'll know where to find the best mud patches and trust me its sometimes deep and really thick so if you're taking a risk by riding through it, then you need to know how to handle your bike otherwise your face will be covered in mud! This time around I found some awesome mud patches. For me cycling is all about having fun and experience nature at its best, cycling is enjoying yourself and meet new people on the road during a race or just on a training ride. Others take cycling very seriously and its all about winning races.
So while I was enjoying my ride and riding at my own pace, one of our local club riders came past me and asked me if I want to join them. As I joined them I decided to go hard on the climb before I'm turning around heading back home. As I stopped to look if its safe for me to turn around at one of the farms, the farm workers children was all over the road and before I knew it, they were standing around me greeting me and would ask me all kinds of questions. One thing about Robertson is the fact that wherever you may be riding even if its on the road or on the gravel roads, they'll always greet you when they see you. If they see you have a mechanical issue or something, they walk up to you and help you with a smile. The other thing is you must also be careful because you never know when they want to steel something.
As I turned around to head back home, the little children would shout at me asking me "Girl can we maybe run behind you even if its just a few meters?" I though well if there's no on coming traffic and its safe then its fine with me otherwise it can be dangerous not only for the children but for myself as well. So they run besides me and behind me and after a while they said goodbye with a lost of breath as they couldn't keep up with me anymore. Makes me realize that no matter whats going on your life, you'll always find a person who'll take some time to put a smile back on your face.
This time around I decided that because there wasn't any traffic this time around (thats after 6pm last night) I'm going to take a longer route to get back home than then average route (the faster one). Strangely enough there was this massive splash of mud on this short piece of gravel road leading back to Van Zyl street. So I rode through it and I could feel how my tires are slipping on the slippery rocks beneath the water and it was super deep as well. Thanks to some bike handling skills, I rode through it with no problems are although my legs and socks was covered in mud including my bike. My bike's brakes made this squeaking sound when I brake.
My mom knows me so well that she knows when I get back home from a muddy ride, I'll be covered in mud. She always says: "Only a mother can love her child." when she sees a cyclist covered in mud. This comment comes all the way from the 2009 Robertson Winery MTB Challenge down at Paru farm. It was raining non-stop and our bikes was so covered in mud that we had to walk up the climbs, when we're on top we use some lubricant on our chains just so that we can ride for a while. The roads are slippery and we had to go through one of the farm dam's and trust me when its raining, the water is rising fast and the dam was so deep that it reached my hips! The water was freezing cold that I even didn't feel my feet! When we finished you only could see our eyes other than that everything was covered in mud!
Yesterday was an amazing ride and I would like to thank everyone for making it awesome!
Up next I'm off to the UCI African XC Continental Championships at Jonkershoek this weekend to see the best riders battling it out to become African Champ. I'll not represent our country but instead I'll be handing out bottles to Ryan Ellis of Team Jeep who'll be racing the South African colors.
Well thats it for now.
Hope you guys enjoy my latest blog.
Have a safe ride!
Cheers
Yolande
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