The month of June means Wacky Wine Weekend for our local cyclist its not about the wine but the most amazing race on the mountain bike calendar! When it started in 2007, I was there on the start line while its raining cats and dogs and all you hear is the squeak of the brakes behind you. It was so cold that I couldn't feel my legs or anything.
With the route that have a bit of everything from jeep tracks, climbs and single track, its a race for the whole family to enjoy. While you walk out the steep climbs, you can take some time to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the wine valley. Robertson is known for its famous wines from Bon Courage, Robertson Wines, Rooiberg, Graham Beck who passed away from cancer, Van Loveren and for those who likes brandy, Klipdrift is also here.
With the pouring rain, we was clearly not warned of walking with our bikes through a dam and with your mtb shoes and socks getting wet, your feet was freezing off. When you got to climbs there was no chance of changing gears nor brake on the fast down hills. We don't want to crash and end up getting injured at all. With parents watching over their young ones we grouped up with the 12km route before turning off into the bushes of the little karoo. Its dry and all you see in front of you is mist. This was making racing difficult as you couldn't see where you are going at all.
While I must stop to wipe of the mud from my chain and have some lube on my chain ring to carry on riding, it was surely not easy and I all I want to do is finish. At that moment I want a hot bath and a warm cup of coffee. That time there was no chance of doing it. With my glasses covered in mud, the water on the roads was rising quickly as it wasn't stop raining. With no phone signals in the area, you simply keep on pushing yourself to the next water point.
There was a point I wanted to give up but I was pushing myself and telling myself you can do it you are not that far from the finish. As I waS climbing out the last climb, I could hear the music and the screaming of the people at the finish line. That made me pedal faster and my heart was pumping with the adrenaline rush.
I could see in my mind how I'm going to throw my arms up into the air from being proud. My family is standing next to the finish line waiting for me to come in. Like I know them, they will shout at me and do all kinds of things. With my cycling kit soaking wet and see myself covered in mud while all you see is my eyes and my teeth. It was hilarious to think what my mom will say. Coming in at a high pace into the finish I had watch out for the slower riders in the single track and find a solution to past them without putting not only myself in danger but them as well.
While doing some bunny hops over the pot holes and keep on pedaling, the end of the long day out on the bike in the rain, I finished it under 2 hours. It was first time to take some pics and get my bottle of wine. I forgot to bring some clean clothes with so I had to walk around it dirty and smelly cycling kit. My mom came up with the comment “Only a mother can lover her child” after she realized that she have to wash my clothes. But man getting a prize for the best youngster was a honor.
Thanks Barry Kok organizer of the event for this insane race, Robertson winery for sponsoring the event and the owner of Paru Farm for hosting the event on his farm.
Hope you guys enjoy this blog.
Till next time!
Cheers
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