Countdown to Sani2C

Last year we knew nothing, we over trained and over prepared. A year of endurance events later and we might have become too relaxed. The race is next week and up until today, I did not think to look for accommodation the night before the race. Last year we squatted in the Underberg Primary school hall (see picture). I assumed that if all else failed we could do that again. I was wrong, there is no room at the in. Looks like we might have a spot on the floor in a classroom nearby. Sheer luxury!

Mike at the One & Only in Underberg last year

Anger and Glutamine – serious performance enhancing combo

At 4.40 this morning, where I am normally feeling sorry for myself on account of sleep deprivation, something made me really angry instead.  By time I hit the spinning class at 5.10 my anger was almost getting in the way of my breathing.  As we started warming up, realised how strong I was on the bike.  Turns out that riding angry is like a performance enhancer.  We had a fairly solid 2hr15 ride around the Spruit yesterday evening – my legs should have been poked.  I have been using the amino acid Glutamine to speed up muscle recovery – it seems to really help.  So with recovered legs and my momentary anger … there I was riding like a bike thief.  So far my most highly rated performance enhancing emotion.

The clip below is of the new section called Yankee Doodle on the Sani2C day 2.  If you don’t get mountain biking – you should watch this to see what it is all about.

Zen and the art of mountain bike maintenance

Thanks to Morningside Cycles and Stephen Mulholland a group of about 12 of us were privileged enough to get some race day bike maintenance tips last night.  We cover endless km’s of track with the vague ability to fix a puncture.  After last night we can all safely say that we can repair and replace disc breaks, attend deraileur issues, broken chain issues and gear clicking hassles.  Thanks guys.  My photo’s are shocking but capture the flavour sufficiently.

Bike service with a smile – Dunkeld Cycles

I’ve been clocking up miles without a service.  In the process I stretched my chain which in turn did the usual damage to the cassette and 2 of my 3 front rings.  Nothing unusual about this except that if I had changed my chain sooner I would have got much more wear out of my cassette and rings.  A chain costs about R320 – ideally it should be changed after about 700km – I have done closer to 1,500km since December.  Note to self … remember to replace chain sooner rather than later.  That’s a new chain every 3 weeks or less when training is at our target levels.

Thank to the guys at Dunkeld Cycles for squeezing me in.  At this time before Sani2C it is easier to get an audience with the President than to get a service slot.  Bottom line – support your local bike shop – chainraction wouldn’t help now would it.

Workshop @ Dunkled Cycles

Dunkeld Cycles

Made a plan…

I thought travel meant no exercise. Someone challenged me on this (thanks Si). I found a spinning bike in Jeddah hotel basement. That is the Red Sea in the background.

Lesson: if it is important, make a plan.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea