Cape town is buzing today. The excitement of race tomorrow can be felt. Over 35000 riders expected to ride.
Registered in Cape Argus cycle
Reply
Author Archives: krfarmer
New pages to blog
Take a look at the sub pages of countries travelled in to see impressions of Countries travelled in .
Have also streamlined pages to give room for more bicycle adventures to come.
Did this by adding page on trip Via Alma to Vaalwater. This will make it easier to find different trips.
New page
Take a look at my new page for thoughts.
Entered in Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour
My boss Kobus and the vets from CS vet have been pushing me to do the Cape Argus race. I tried to wriggle out of it as I have not ridden a cycle race yet. Well they got it right and I received an email from the organizers that said the following.
You are now entered for the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour taking place on 9 March 2014.
Website: http://www.cycletour.co.za
The Cycle Tour forms part of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Lifecycle Week and is organised by the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust.\
Now all I must do is ride, as there are sponsors that covered the entry fee, hotel and cycle clothing. There are some others from our farm that will be ridding also. I am looking for a 6 hour time over the 109 km distance. However some say I should be able to do it under 5 hours. I will be ridding my mountain bike so do not expect such a good time as the people who ride road bikes. Follow this blog to see how this goes down.
Few photo’s from Malawi
Domwe Island Lake Malawi(Niasa). Rented a kayak and spend two nights here. Had a good rest on the hammock on front of tent. Did some snorkeling in the lake.
Planning next big adventure
I have been asked a number of times, where you going next? Lets put it out there. Before going to Malawi, I was thinking of doing Johannesburg to Windhoek. Now that I have been to Malawi, I have been thinking to go some were in South Africa. Are there any trips that somebody would like to do? The next adventure I would like to do with other cyclists. Is there anybody that would like to join in an adventure?
Home from Malawi
Well this was a fast moving trip. The wheels of the bus pushed me deep into Africa. First leg was up to Lilongwe Malawi. The bus straight to Karonga did not run anymore so had to take one to Mzuzu. From there took a mini bus taxi to Karango. At one time there was 19 people plus bicycle and all their luggage. My back wheel was hanging by a string from the mirror on the back of the taxi. 
Then there was a rope with fish hanging from the two windscreen wipers.
Well for more details of trip go to bicycle trip page. I will be posting actual costs and distances done there. I will also be posting pictures there once I have condensed them.
malawi on my bicycle
I have tried to down load pictures from my cell. They do not want to go on my media file. I only have my samsung galaxy s4 active with me on my trip. So when I get home on 20th January I will post them. Well it has been a wonderfull trip so far. Only a few small deviations to trip plan.
Well crossing three African borders in less than 48 hours is a book on its own. I had a clean pass but other passengers had to pay bribes and import duties.
Bus and taxi rides in malawi is amazingly simple. Never the less to a person that gets around on their own car it can be a little nerve racking.
Took 4 days by bicycle, bus, train then 2 buses and finally a small high ace taxi to get to starting point.
Karongo malawi is a dusty town with more bicycles in it than I have ever seen in africa.
On to chitimba camp. Nice cheap get away on the beach. They have about 12000 visitors a year as the overland tour operators stop here.
Then on to mzuzu over the monster of a hill, rising more than 800 m. Not to mention the ups and downs along the way. I am now sleeping at Mzuzu after 130 km on this road. Temperatures rising to 43 at on time. I also met another couple from the Netherlands on the road. They had been on the road from Namibia then Zambia and now Malawi. They had previously worked here so know people and the area.
Sorry for the poor typing but phone does not do it as well as a computer. I will keep you up to date as best I can.
Titanic
The second time I took the Titanic out for a ride was on the farm where I live. Well that brown dog in the photo was running with me. He decided it was time to stop and look me in the eye. Well there was not enough time to stop the Titanic or to change the course. I hit him in the middle. He just gave one small yelp and carried on running. As for me nearly broke my arm. Arm has been out of use for two days now. Hope it will have mended before my trip to Malawi.
Titan sport 29er size XL
Saturday 30/11/2013 I went to collect my new bicycle. A new Titan sport 29er size XL. Had my cleats moved over from my old Mongoose. Put some bar ends on. Moved cycle computer over. Mounted two bottle holders and my pump. By this time it was dusk and was fixed on taking it for its maiden voyage. Got geared up and took the photo.
Think I will have to call it the Titanic. It was 14 km into the planed 35 km round trip when it started to get dark. So I was putting on my head lamp just as I hit a big rock at the start of the road works. I took a good roll, surprising just a few scratches on the back. I was going about 25km/h. The Titanic however got a puncture, saddle came loose and the chain came off. In the light once I got home it looks like it did not get any further damage. Will have to check the wheel alignment, to see there is no dent in the rim.
In the dark, patched two holes and knowing that they did not look like they were going to hold I turned back the way I had come, as it was the shortest route home. I had to stop three times to pump the wheel in the 14 km back home. Then there was the snake I nearly rode over and a porcupine that crossed the road in front of me.
When I was looking at the bicycle in the shop, I had said to Jimmy the owner, that I will have to change the tyres. I did not think they would hold out in Africa. Well, there you have it, on the maiden voyage they gave in. I would like to put Maxxis crossmark on. This is what I have on my Mongoose. They did Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Not even a puncture on that trip and back home the thorns have given them a good go (I live in the African Savanah, lots of thorn trees).
Anybody got some comments on the best tyre they have used?
Long day safaris 