Click the link below to have a wee listen to my interview on Mix FM recently.

2012-08-30 Mix FM interview with Saskia V [Mic]

Saskia is so much fun and it was so golden hanging out with her – we spoke of the Karoo heat and skin falling off ones bum – yummy!

Before I start this post I need to qualify that this is a true story and in no way fabricated to punt my sponsor. In other words this is not a  cheesy sponsor pressured product placement post (how’s that alliteration).

I went riding on Saturday for the first time in my new First Ascent kit and it literally made all the difference. As you cleverly lay warm in bed listening the cold front bring in its miserableness on Saturday morning, I, desperate for a ride, headed out into the unpleasant and nipple drizzle. Without my First Ascent Magneeto Jacket I would have got seriously drenched and probably sick. I would more than likely have cut my ride short and found an obvious excuse to get off that BMX. I remained dry (and extremely visible) though and actually ended up having so much fun in the rain because I was comfortable – ther really is something to be said for having the right kit!

Check out the glorious brightness that is my new Magneeto jacket – oh and how cool is that name – X-men come to mind for some reason!

First Ascent - Magneeto Jacket

In addition to all the socks and no sweat bandanna’s, First Ascent has amazingly sponsored all the following incroyable products. Incroyable is French for incredible – things seem more expressive in French and go someway to helping explain just how excited I am. Picture me saying INCROYABLE out loud…and in a French accent – you will see!

All donations to One Gear go directly to CHOC and we are funding this initiative entirely out of our own pocket. This sponsorship from First Ascent has therefore been an absolute life saver and I can do nothing right now but thank them…them…wait I am searching for the right word. Let me find another French word to do this justice…hang on a sec while I use the Google machine to translate for me…

OK I am back..got it – “beaucoup” (again, this needs to be read with a French accent in mind). I can do nothing right now but thank First Ascent beaucoup (so so much).

We are going to be on the road for over 23 days consecutively and will need gear to get us through the many many kilometers of changing landscapes and conditions. First Ascent could not be a better partner to soften the pain caused by exposure to the Cape winds and Karoo sun:

First Ascent - singletrack - MB Shorts

mmmm soft cushioning for one’s bum

First Ascent - Lunatic gloves

Must be able to grip and rip

First Ascent - Free thinker black

Don’t want to catch a cold after the sun goes down

First Ascent - Magneeto Jacket

No chance of not being spotted with this luminousness – safety never takes a day off people!

First Ascent - thermal leg warmer-

Early starts each day may require leg warmers for my little pins

First Ascent- sun-off-arm-protector

You know how deserts are cold at night and baking in the day? Well once it starts to heat up these bad boys will protect my arms from the angry rays of the sun.

First Ascent - yac sac duffle

One problem…where do I put all this cool kit First Ascent has so kindly sponsored? Oh wait look they also gave me the raddest duffle bag to put all my kit in.

INCROYABLE!

You know that feeling you get just before you start a race? The one where the mixed emotions of excitement, some nerves and the inexplicable need to go the toilet (even though you just went) make you want to wet your pants? Well that’s how I have been feeling ever since First Ascent jumped on board to support One Gear!

We are so many kinds of excited to announce that First Ascent are now an official partner to the One Gear initiative and our efforts to raise as much money as possible for CHOC!

We will keep you up to speed on what performance gear they will be supplying to help me ride for 25 days consecutively but for now check out their website…oh and they also have a really cool FB page…check that out too – you must!

First Ascent