Time: Around 5h 42

My scheduled starting time was 9:29 am and since this was my first Cycle Tour my race number was PH 34085. Got to the start in what I thought was plenty of time but found that there were earlier birds. Found myself at the back of my start group. The start was delayed overall by fifteen minutes, due to poor light conditions at 6:00 am. The atmosphere was absolutely electric, everyone faces aglow with anticipation.
Being my first Argus Cycle Tour, needless to say, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of participants (36 000) and my nerves were shot. The moment for us came at 9:45 am and the DJ started our countdown and HOOPLA!!! our group was sent on its way. I found myself waiting as the front rows started moving off and almost three minutes ticked away before I finally pushed off.

The start was slow, and initial overtaking opportunities were scant, as we climbed the onramp onto the Eastern Boulevard. Once onto the Eastern Boulevard, I started to overtake the slower markers in my group and arrived at the top of Hospital Bend at 10:00 am. Just before the rise to Hospital Bend I saw four riders colliding and taking a spill. Then the quick drop down and onto the M3 past the University of Cape Town. Already the Route started taking its punctures toll, and the thousands of fans lining the roadside were worth their weight in gold as their shouts of encouragement gave me the necessary lift I needed up Edinburgh Drive / Wynberg Hill.

This was the first major climb, and as I approached, I saw thousands of cyclists ahead bunched up, and had to slow down. The climb itself was not so bad, but found that I had to brake at least twice going uphill, when caught behind slower climbers, and the stream of screaming riders passing on the right. It was extremely intimidating hearing people shouting “hold your line, keep left,” from behind. Crested the Hill at 10:15 am, then the quick drop down onto the Blue Route.

Now there was space again and I charged on, trying to make up the time lost on the Hill. The weather was superb, just a light south easterly breeze, and I latched onto a quick moving bunch and we pushed on up the Freeway. It was not long before I realised, that this bunch was going at a pace that was faster than what I could sustain, and I dropped back. Nature called saying that the trees lining the Blue Route needed watering and I obliged.

The end of Blue Route was up ahead and then onto the Tokai Main road, my legs were feeling strong as I powered my way up towards Muizenberg, which came up and was passed in a flash, as I latched onto another bunch just before St. James. This bunch was going at a good rate, and I stayed with them, passing Fish Hoek circle at 11:00 am until Simonstown Golf Course, where nature reminded me that the bushes required hydration again. Maybe too much fluid intake after breakfast?

At Millers Point we were informed by one of the supporters that we were doing better than the Cricket Team, for what that was worth. The weather was better than any cyclist could have hoped for and the Ocean was flat. Then the slog up past Smitswinkel Bay with magnificent views, crested the top at 12:15 pm. Got sucked all the way down and passed Scarborough and Misty Cliffs, (rather aptly named) but on the approach to the Soetwater watering hole my back started acting up and I realised I should have put more into my training.

Arrived at the Soetwater watering hole, with both of my water bottles depleted and I stopped there. However, the queues for water were too long and I decided to push on as I realised that I would lose too much time by staying.

At this stage I was past my best and this section took me a long time. My first photo’s were taken on the climb before Ocean View, and this gave me a well needed lift as I tooled along wearily onto Sun Valley, and the four way stop. Was greeted by the announcement that there was no water available on Ou Kaapse Weg and that we needed to refill our water bottles now.

Dutifully stood in line and got my refills and a welcome offering of chocolates. Pushed off again and started the tortuously steep climb, of Little Ou Kaapse Weg and got my second photo taken, which inspired me to continue climbing, passing what appeared to be a march rather than a Cycle Tour as thousands of weary cyclists decided to walk up the Beast. Powered on up to the short drop and on to Ou Kaapse Weg proper. This is a soul destroying, seemingly never ending slog, and just before the Refreshment stop at the top, my back and lungs decided the argument, and I bailed. I did not need any refilling but took the opportunity to rest at the stop for about five minutes.

Gathering all my will power I mounted my steed (Avalanche Sirocco Mountain Bike, 21 speed) and set off for the top, which amazingly, was just a mere three hundred metres or so on, having been fooled by the peak jutting up above, since the road bypassed it on the left hand side, at 2:15 pm. The sharp left turn, signaling the descent, came up very quick, and I had to brake quite sharply there. The views of the Southern Suburbs and the Ocean, can only be described as magnificent from this vantage point, (320 m) and have to be seen to be appreciated.

The descent was a long and fast one, and I dropped my head low onto the handlebars and literally flew down. Just before the right handed hairpin bend, some Marshalls warned me to slow down and thank goodness for that. It was quite a tight turn given the speed I was doing. Then a sharp right, and on down, past Westlake Golf Course and onto the Blue Route for the home run.

Whew! As I took the left turn my legs felt stiff from non activity after the long descent and then I faced what looked like a hill, at that time, just before the Constantia offramp. At this stage I just tooled along wearily, my body fully aware that eighty odd kilometres was done. Supporters now lining the Blue Route were singing our praises saying, “you’ve done it, you’ve done it!”

However, there was still Wynberg Hill to conquer, and the Blue Route was littered with cyclists who had either thrown in the towel or had mechanical problems. Wynberg Hill supporters chanted, “downhill coming up” from the foot of the Hill already and their voices really and truly lifted my spirits and my will to continue. Crested the Hill at 3:00 pm and went through the shower tent at the top. This was extremely cooling, and I felt like a new man after passing through this.

The drop was quick and fast, and then the slog up towards Newlands Forest approached. By then I just dropped my head, shifted to the lowest of the low gears, and tooled on up, and on. Hospital Bend was the last barrier left between myself and the finishing line and I attacked it with all that I had left. The descent into the city was a long and steady one, and I just layed on my handlebars, recovering.

At the right turn into Adderley Street a cyclist headed straight for the curb and took a bad spill, and within seconds, Marshalls and First Aid Helpers rushed to his assistance. At the Fountain Circle in Adderley Street turned left, and then the short quick climb, past the Western Boulevard Freeway to Nowhere bridges, and stood up pumping on my pedals knowing the end was ahead. The last of my photos were taken just before the finish line and I finished at 3:25 pm, in total, five hours and forty minutes.

This Cycle Tour was extremely well organised and is the Largest of its kind in the World. It is considered by all cyclists to be a huge challenge and is not for the faint hearted as many have discovered going through their private hell of unfitland. Local and International participants attended this event and I was very proud to have participated and to have finished. After all the blood, sweat and gears, next year will see me at the start line again aiming for a sub five hour time.

The Road to the Pick `n Pay Argus Cycle Tour 2000
At age 39, and a confirmed couch potato, getting me into entering for an International Cycle Tour with entries of 36 000, covering a course crossing mountain passes and coastal roads with a total race distance of 109 km, was indeed a daunting task for my buddy, Kader.
Yet, he succeeded in convincing me to enter, citing that he had done the event last year. The last time I had been on a bicycle was at age 16 and I was an armchair sportsman. The last four years had been devoted to studying and I am a qualified Computer Technician, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Linux and FreeBSD (UNIX) user and currently studying to achieve Cisco Router and WAN Certifications.

I intially purchased a Mountain Bike off a supermarket shelf and was amazed that I still knew how to ride a bicycle. I still remember my first ride to work (9.9 km) when it felt like my legs had turned to jelly. That is an indication as to how unfit I was at the time.

Training for the Cycle Tour started on the 14 January 2000 after I had returned from a trip to Durban. After having driven 1 400 km through the night with only three hours of sleep, my “slavedriver” buddy, Kader took me on my first long ride …. 35 km to Muizenberg. This took us along the Main Road via Claremont all the way to Muizenberg. On arriving at Muizenberg and riding into a headwind I was ready to throw in the towel as I was completely bushed.

My buddy, Kader (should have been named Job) had all the patience in the world and we took it easy on the way back. Needless to say I was feeling quite sore after this experience and felt like tossing my bicycle on the scrap heap.

Well, two days later there I was, back on my bicycle again, and doing the same route again with `ol slavedriver’ Kader in attendance again. This was a much better ride (beautiful weather) and I started to enjoy being on a bicycle and experiencing the smell of the sea and the wind as I have never had before.

Thereafter we extended the length of our rides by ten to fifteen kilometres each time and also started doing hill climbs like Wynberg Hill, Constantia Nek and Suikerbossie. I was really enjoying cycling now and it was around this time that I decided to get a better spec bike and decided on an Avalanche Sirocco Mountain Bike, 21 speed. Old leadbelly,18 speed, is still around and I am using it for training.

With Kader and myself both working shifts we took every opportunity that we could to go cycling which was not much since our off days were not always in sync and this was when we did our solo runs. However when we were off together we always trained together. This was where Waleed, my other buddy came into the picture and we did some rides together as well, though he worked normal shifts. Waleed was an experienced cyclist and was now heading for his third Cycle Tour.

Just two weeks before race day we did a full 105,4 km round trip and I survived this though Ou Kaapse Weg was not included as we doubled back to Fish Hoek again. This I did in five hours and eight minutes and gave me the confidence that I would at least be able to finish the Cycle Tour.

My other buddy, Waleed, took me along to do the Cape Talk Bay Fun Ride. This was the first Fun Ride I had attended, and it gave me some valuable experience of riding amongst large groups of cyclists. This is highly recommended, and I will be attending as many of these events, shifts allowing of course.

Cycling has changed my life. I now feel fitter and stronger with more zest for life. My only criticism of myself is that I did not start sooner. Thanks to Kader and Waleed.

Time: Around 4h 42

I will not do another pedal by pedal stroke account here again.

My account of the the 2001 should suffice, see below.

Argus Cycle Tour 2001

It’s all in the timing…… yep, so what time did I do it in? Naa …… it goes much deeper than that.

You see, this year I did the Cycle Tour on a road bike, as opposed to using a mountain bike last year, and knocked off exactly an hour, and three seconds, off last years time.

This, against my physiotherapist’s advice, since I had a misaligned right knee which came about due to incorrect cleat adjustment.

This caused muscle imbalances since the inner thigh muscles were not developed as well as the outer quad muscle was, thus pulling the knee cap out of alignment.

One learns new things each day in cycling and mistakes are paid for dearly.

Not enough sleep the night before the Cycle Tour because of all the pent up excitement.

This year I was seeded in group GG 24709 scheduled to start at 8.53 am. A glorious day, though a South Westerly wind blowing at 25 knots was going to have an influence on us having a Sub 5 hour target.

As always the vibe at the start was sensational, everyone flushed with excitement, and anticipation. With both knees patched with Transact plasters I bravely set out hoping at least to finish the Cycle Tour.

Started off and hit the Freeway, people dancing and shouting encouragement from the bridges, smiles everywhere.

This is what we come back for every year. The Cape Vibe could be felt all the way up Wynberg Hill. Supporters clapping and shouting encouragement every pedal push up the hill. Amazingly, there were two foreigners with Touring Bikes laden with bags, pumping their way up Wynberg Hill. This hill is tough enough just with yourself on the bike.

Onto the Blue Route with a headwind and pumping at 45 km/h, no one in front to latch onto and everyone behind refusing to pass me and pull. So I just put my head down and went for it.

About half way down the Blue Route a bunch started coming past us and I latched onto this group though by this time we only doing 28 km/h. Stayed with them and took my turn twice at the head until we got to Jubilee Square where nature called, as the pressure had been building since the end of the Blue Route.

The vibe at Jubilee Square was really great and the support absolutely magical. Just short of the climb up Smitswinkel Bay the photographers were snapping away. I was happy that I was not experiencing any pain at this stage and decided to just keep going at a reasonable pace. Got to the top of Smitswinkel Bay climb in 2 hours and 5 minutes.

Going down to Scarborough was faced with the brisk South Westerly. Mistly Cliffs, the local refrigerator was nice and cool. The Cycle Tour was not as hot as it was last year. Even Ou Kaapse was bearable, with cloud cover.

This year there weres stops at the crest of Little Ou Kaapse, in the middle of Ou Kaapse proper and just before the summit. Bit of a traffic jam in the middle as people were now pushing their bikes and stopping at the Bar One rest. I was kinda forced to stop and get off my bike and push past this section for a few minutes and got back onto my bike just before the summit again.

The descent had my adrenalin rushing again but I think next year my training should factor in the last 20 km. There’s just is so much to do before the end. The climb up to the Constantia turnoff and then Wynberg Hill are very challenging, not forgetting the rise at Paradise Crest. Very challenging, considering that 80 odd kilometers have been done by then, and that the old thief, Ou Kaapse having already robbed you of your legs.

Granny gear for Hospital Bend was the way to go before the drop into the City peddling into the wind again.

After cresting the final bump before the finish line the euphoria, the joy of finishing, made me forget all the pain endured over the last 4 hours, forty two minutes and 11 seconds. Exactly an hour and three seconds faster than last year.

Will I be back again next year? You bet I will, aiming for a sub 4 hour time. There is something about the Cycle Tour that words cannot explain. This can only be experienced. And everyone who has ridden the Cycle Tour will tell you the same thing. In a nutshell, a magical experience.

Training for the Pick ‘n Pay Argus Cycle Tour 2001.

During December 2000 I did not even look at my bicycle at all. Even though I had entered online for the Argus Cycle Tour my previous ride was at the end of November 2000 but I really needed the rest. On the 31 December 2000, my buddies, Kader, Waleed, Gary and I kicked off our training for the Cycle Tour.

Our first ride was LSD ie. long, steady distance to Simonstown. What an excellent day that was for riding a bicycle. Perfect weather and it felt really good smelling the sea as we passed through Muizenberg and St. James.

There were cyclists aplenty on the road all focused on their training for the ACT. On our way back though we all knew that we should have set our first ride target to Muizenberg at least because the legs were fairly leaden by then.

Two days later we set off for Muizenberg but this time we had recovered and were feeling more stronger than the previous ride. Depending on which shift I was working I did some solo rides and when I could I joined my friends.

It was around the end of January that I decided to buy a road bike and settled for a Trek 1200, 2001 model. This was an excellent piece of machinery and great value. Full Shimano Tiagra groupset and fire engine red in colour. I rode this bike for about three weeks and found that it was fairly responsive but the ride was extremely rigid. This is to be expected from a full Aluminium frame though. Not being as young as I used to be my back started complaining about all the road bumps I was asking it to handle.

I then opted for a blue Giant CFR Pro Series bike. Though a 1999 model this frame is composed of Carbon Fibre with full Shimano Ultegra components. My back loved this bike, it was the wallet that was complaining this time though.

Riding a road bike of this quality after getting off of an Avalanche Sirocco and the Trek 1200 took some getting used to. I rode at each and every opportunity and ramped up the kilometres to more than double what I was supposed to, but such was the pleasure that could be had from this machine. In the end I got to know my physiotherapist rather well because my knees were taking a pounding. Not to mention the overtraining syndrome.

Having used clipless pedals and shoes (incorrect cleat adjustment) for the first time along with incorrect bike set up I ended up with misaligned knee caps, particularly the right knee. It seems that my outer quad muscles were more developed than the inner thigh muscles and caused the knee cap to pull to the right. Agony … yeah been there done that. Here I was on the Friday morning before the Argus Cycle Tour faced with the news that it is not advisable for me to do the Tour given the knee trouble, and if I insisted on riding, to just go for a finish … easy spin.

I had covered in excess of 2500 km in training. During the course of one particular week while on leave, I covered 608 km. The various routes I rode were, 1) Wynberg Hill, Constantia Nek, Suikerbossie, up to Table Mountain circle from Camps Bay and Home. 2) Wynberg Hill through Constantia Village and up past Pollsmoor Prison, past Ou Kaapse Weg to Lakeside Main Road, then up over Boyes Drive and on to Fish Hoek before returning Home. 3) All along Claremont Main Road, Simonstown, Smitswinkel Bay climb to Cape Point Reserve and Home. 4) Same as 3 but carrying on past Misty Cliffs, Scarborough, Soetwater, Ocean View and then doubling back to Fish Hoek circle and then Home. Having gone through all of that I could NOT not ride. So I rode and completed the ACT.

The moral of the story is to get Professional advice regarding bike setup along with proper cleat setup. Even if you if have to pay for it, it is always going to be cheaper than paying the price of an injury. A lot wiser now, I have learnt much and will ensure that the same mistakes are never repeated again.