So the BMX has just been fitted with a new set of knobbly tyres which should hopefully go someway to making the 55 km of technical off road riding on a single speed BMX a little easier. I had, until this point, the same tyres on the bike that rode all the way from CT to Joburg with me – those bad boys are slicker than ever; I have been getting punctures on almost every ride lately and I just want to send out so many kinds of gratitude to BMX Direct for hooking me up. They have also supplied a new set of slicks for the 95 km road ride I will be doing on the 17th of November!

I also need to chuck out a massive thank you to Kevin from Cycle Fusion who just serviced the bike for me…guess I have no more excuses – the bike is riding like a dream, new tyres and all shiny, it’s only me that can now screw this up!  It’s going to be fine! eeeeeeeeeeek.

Cycle Fusion

You must also check out Cycle Fusion’s Project 44One – amazeballingstuff!  - http://44oneracing.co.za/

We just got in a very generous personal donation in from Ross Thomson – thanks dude – you are a rock star. I am running out of time to train and you guys are running out of time to donate. Let Ross be an example to all of us to get on it!

Donation

We have just secured an anonymous sponsor

…who will be taking both stages! They are so many kinds of extremely generous, altruistic and unbelievably philanthropicous (its a real word…look it up) – we wish we could make an absolute fuss about them but the nature of their business is such that they need to protect the anonymity of their clients. But let me just tell you that they awesome!

I always believed that no act can be truly altruistic – you always get something out of it for yourself  (even if only the satisfaction of having given and the acknowledgement of your contribution) – but this act is bordering on truly selfless.

Thank you Amazing Anonymous!

Anyone else out there keen to match the contribution? As we effectively still have the  2 stages up for grabs; you could help us satisfy our desperate desire to make fuss of people who donate to this incredible cause!?

Donate to this cause

A selection of pictures from our final stage taken by Trigger Monkey Photography:

Leaving Bothaville - these okes are legends! Rode with me for 20 km's!

Perfect riding conditions

Legs tired = more sitting

Crossed a few rivers on this trip

Got a wee bit wet

Not so flat anymore

Rain behind us...thankfully

We got to Parys...and just kept going

Reckon I might make it

Made it! too surreal

Getting wet...but by choice this time!

Can't believe it - 215 km in one day!

Go Team!

This stage was very kindly sponsored by Storsure:

Storsure

Neither had we, but that is what has stood out for me on this adventure so far; going to places you would not normally and having the chance to meet amazing people you would never have given yourself the opportunity to. We rode from Loxton to stay with Wilma at her guest house “Victoria Wes Guesthouse”. Hers is the building that is blue and white, where all the others are green and white (this is how we were told to find her). It was the promise of a swimming pool there that had me riding the last 20 km into Victoria Wes like I was on a time trial bike. It was one of my best and most refreshing swims in memory. It is also one of the most memorable Guest Houses I have ever stayed in. If you ever find yourself in this part of the world you HAVE to stay there and let Wilma entertain you and let her place envelop you in comfort and character – a true Karoo gem!

Check out the details of the ride to Victoria Wes below (shhhhhh – did you know that you can push play and watch the ride like you were there with us?? You can even control the cyclist and check out the speeds for different parts of the ride).

Oh oh, also…the Physiology Lab have supplied me with a heart rate monitor for the One Gear Challenge. With the V02 Max test results from earlier this year they have determined my optimal heart rate riding zones that I need to remain in during each stage to allow for optimal recovery. In a single day event, recovery is not key and you can push your heart rate into the higher zones in order to do a quicker time but having to ride on consecutive days it is vital for us to recover well. I was advised to spend as much time as possible in Zone 2 but as you can see I let the flat roads and possibility of maintaining an average speed of 23km/h get the best of me on this ride and I spent most the ride in Zone 3! Sometimes the boy in me takes over – Sorry guys! Guess I will feel that in the morning!

Stage 7 Heart Rate Results

The long flat roads of which I spoke:

Long and flat (yes I am talking about the road)

A selection of pictures taken by Triger Monkey Photography on Stage 05:

No serious...how did this get here

Water in the Karoo - document that with a picture

So little in the big Karoo

Which way?