Posts in category Race Across South Africa

Freedom Challenge-pt X

Day 21: Anysberg – Montagu Johnny, Estelle and I had breakfast together, Estelle seemed a lot more chirpy after a good night of sleep. Just for a change we set off in the dark and it was chilly. The day promised easy nav and a fairly easy 70km ride to Montagu including the long descent down Ouberg pass. I’d been looking forward to [...]

Freedom Challenge – pt IX: To H...

Day 19: PA – Gamkaskloof Another pre-dawn exit into the cold and dark. I managed to get away a little before the other riders that had stayed the night in Prince Albert. We’d all had a great night around the warmth of the log fire, great dinner and warm welcome from Ria, Lindsey and Johann. In any other circumstances I would have [...]

Freedom Challenge – pt VIII

Day 14: Kleinpoort – Hadley I woke with sore legs, no surprise there then after the previous couple of days. I took my latest start of the trip, waiting until 7am for the road side cafe to open for breakfast. Then took a gently ride to Bucklands for second breakfast. ” Ohh we were not told people are coming today” as I walke [...]

Freedom Challenge – pt VII The ...

Day 13: Gegun – Kleinpoort Around 1130pm I was startled awake by noises in the house, then I heard the tick, tick, tick of a bike freewheel and the rustle of a waterproof jacket. “I should really go say hello”. I rolled over and went back to sleep. Martin Dreyer is course record holder for the Freedom challenge and probably [...]

Freedom Challenge pt-VI

Day 10: Romansfontein to Hofmeyr I woke with a throbbing headache and feeling like crap despite a good night of sleep. The food the evening before had been too nice and I’d over indulged on the carbs, finishing off with chocolate cake and custard. I’d been walking a tightrope all week with the carbs, just managing to stay low enou [...]

Freedom Challenge – Pt V

Day 7: Rhodes to Slaapkranz “Seems that Shane is not sure there is enough beer at the stations. Being the first one is a good strategy.” ~Sjirk Another day another pre dawn exit, another day chasing the sun. The next few days would be mainly on district dirt roads with the occasional hike over a mountain, making the nav generally [...]

Freedom Challenge- pt IV

Day 5 : Malegonlonyane – Vuvu On the road again at 5am, the 8 hours of sleep had done wonders. Zooming down the concrete road was an absolute pleasure. Well, until I almost crashed avoiding some cows. Things went well all morning. I hit the turn off at 10km at daylight as planned and took a good line off the mountain after Koaring (tak [...]

Freedom Challenge-pt III

Day 4 : Masaka – Malegolonyane ————————————————- “Whilst you are on the spur look westwards towards the mountains. Below you you will see a floodplain. In the distance, on the far side of the flood plain (if your eyesight is good) you w [...]

Freedom Challenge-pt II

Day 2+3: Allendale-Ntsikeni-Masakala —————————————————————– At 4am we were gently woken by Xavier Rudd singing from my phone: This song would wake me daily and remind me that my mission was to chase the sun. Each [...]

My Freedom Challenge. A story about a...

The Race Across South Africa takes place in June/July each year. It is a 2300 km ( with a total cumulative ascent is over 37000 metres), non-stop, self-navigated mountain bike race starting in Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal and ending in Wellington near Cape Town. Riders are allowed a maximum of 26 days to complete the ride. Blistered sore f [...]

Shane Cycles the Freedom Challenge?