Waterberg roads

Posted on Jun 1, 2014 by krfarmer

This weekend rode bicycle into Nylstroom and did some business. After which I took the Vaalwater road. Just out of town I found this new sign.

This touches my heart as I am a farmer and people do not know what goes into putting a plate of food on the table. Some way down the road I took a right turn at this sign.

Not more than 2 km a right at the next sign.

Now at this corner stood a herd of cattle that were crossed with an indigenous breed called Inguni. I see the owner has chosen not to burn the horns. There was a study done which found animals with horns could handle more heat than those with out. As the horn acts as a type of radiator for the blood. That is also why they stopped cutting off Rhino horns to prevent poaching. However due to the number been poached they had to resort to removing them again.

This road had a good surface but after some way it became very sandy and corrugated. At one point there was a steep down hill which I used to my advantage but due to the rough surface it felt like I damaged my front wheel bearings. The down hill in the distance is what damaged the bearings.

Passed some dams up in the mountains. Here is one of them.

Rattled my way to the end of this road and decided could go no more until I had taken a closer look.

Could not see or feel what was making the strange feeling so had to carry on home as there was another 50 km to go.

Pity the impala ran away from in front of this dam before I got my camera out.

This just looks like a dirt road but was trying to show the straight road. The road on the horizon can be clearly seen with the eye but not by my camera. From this point it is about 20 km home. This road also gave me a puncture forcing me to stop and pump wheel up once. Tried to make it home with out pumping again but could not ride any more when I got 200 m from my gate.

Did 125km for the day. The sand roads and hills had pushed my heart rate quite high for most of the day. By the time I got home it felt like I had just run the Comrades marathon. I had also tried to use Energade for the second time. It gave me the same problem as the first time. It gives me a head ache when I first drink it, then once it gets to the muscle it burns. I then have to drink extra water to try to get the extra energy out of the muscle to stop the burn. Looks like I will have to stick to Game. What is nice about Game it is a powder. So can pack extra with me on the long cross border trips. I use one packet per 100 km. I also mix it weaker than recommended taking into account the day temperature. The hotter it is the more I dilute it.

Well as always when pushing yourself to the limits. You make a decision to never do it again. Now a day later I am planning my next route into the hills.

The Munga race

Posted on May 25, 2014 by krfarmer

There was a new mountain bike race launched this week. 1000 km from Bloemfontein to Stellenbosch, all in one stage. You must take a look at http:// themunga.com. I would like to take on this challenge so if there is anybody out there that can help with $10000 entry fee for a team of two. I would also be needing a partner. There is enough time to get some training in as it starts on 3 December 2014.

If you looking to do something to set yourself apart from the thousands of cyclists, this is the race. I think it will be making more of a splash than the Cape epic is doing at the moment. It promises to have a lot of international entrance as it has some good prize money.

Is there anybody willing to sponsor and /or team up with me to take on this challenge?

Sondela cycle race weekend

Posted on May 18, 2014 by krfarmer

This weekend I rode the Sondela Bela Bela challenge which is a road race. Did 102 km in 4 hour 10 min on my mountain bike. This is my personal best for a tar road surface. This was my second race that I have ever done. To busy riding to take photos on the road. Here is a after photo.

Then did the Sondela Bela Bella mountain bike experience of 40 km. This was my first mountain bike race. The course was flat snaking around in the African bush of the Nature reserve. Passing many wild animals on the way but was to busy negotiating the turns and sandy sections that I did not see any. This is a very well known reserve where you are allowed to do walking trails and cycling on your own. So I would recommend to come back and do the cycle routes at a much slower pace. They only have lions in a rehabilitation center.Well here is a photo of people gearing up and getting bikes ready outside the venue.

Note the save the rhino shirt. Here is a photo of the start.

Again was to busy negotiating the trail to take photos but here are some after photos. Must say the mountain bike riders are more friendly and laid back than the road riders.

Finished the race in 2 hours and 10 minute time.This is unofficial at this time but is close enough for me. Here are the two medals to prove it.

Is there anybody that has done this race and what do you think of it?

Nylsvlei

Posted on May 4, 2014 by krfarmer

Took a ride up to Nylsvlei Nature reserve this weekend. I left my bicycle at the restaurant and my stepson left his motor bike there also. We took a walk in the reserve to do some birding.

Lunch rest after a long walk

Breakfast the next morning.

Camp from another angle.

Camped the night at the farm where I live.

Waterberg

Posted on Apr 22, 2014 by krfarmer

Had a good ride in some nice hills of the Waterberg. Did 220 km all together. That is counting 105 km from the Nylstroom side down a fair amount of dirt road. Some stony stretchers and other sandy patches.

Then there was about 18 km riding around the farm.

Came back home past Naboomspruit and Cresy.

Down hill to Naboomspruit. With Springbok flats stretching out in the distance

Was very disappointed to see the tar road that was ripped up by a contractor who ran out of money or was it ran away with the money. Ripped the tar road up in about 2011 has not even been taken to court or the government has not got another contractor to retar the road. There is about 5 km of dirt road now. It used to be one of the main roads to transport grain, fertilizer and other goods out and in of the Springbok flats. Now transport company’s have to use other longer routes.

Can see what road looked like before it was ripped up. This piece of road was left untouched

Road after been ripped up.

Cannot say too much about the fishing. Did not even get a bite. We tried all different baits, worms and lures.

As can be seen from the pictures it was in a lovely setting. The winter temperatures are on their way in. Night was a little cool (6 degrees celsius) and day time temperature going up to 30 degrees celsius.

Well there are lots of nice off-road places in the Waterberg. Game farming is reclaiming the bush and cultivated lands are returning to bush.

Africa is at Gautengs door step. Malaria free and close to the big cities.

Camping in the Waterberg

Posted on Apr 17, 2014 by krfarmer

On my bicycle for the long weekend to another farmers farm in the Waterberg. Plan is to cycle there and do some fishing and camping for the weekend. Then ride back home on Monday. Not to many km for the weekend. It should be about 160 km. Will get a chance to test the heart rate monitor out on a longer road. Will be interesting to see what it does to my over all time and different terrain covered.

My step son and his wife will be going on his motor bike. Well it promises to be a bit of a caveman weekend. No shaving and just hanging out by the fire and river.

Will bring back some pictures of Africa and life in the outdoors of South Africa. Looking at posting again on Tuesday next week.

Cape Argus cycle tour photos

Posted on Mar 25, 2014 by krfarmer

Take a look at the back ground to get an idea of what scenery is like.

Start of race

Chapmans peak

Sukerbossie

Settler to Belmoral

Posted on Mar 24, 2014 by krfarmer

I did not post a post this weekend as I took a long weekend to visit my sister. I did 332 km by bicycle for the weekend.I will post a few photos.

Had to cross a few mud puddles. I landed up been covered in mud. Some were a foot deep.

I will not try my luck going through this fence, if there are lions in this game farm.

Stopped to take photos

No doubt they are serious. Just wonder how this sign will help in court if they did shoot a person

Highveld of South Africa. My view at lunch time.

Highveld. My lunch time view.

Bicycle also had to take a rest at lunch time.

The weather was good and the wind favored me. On the way there I managed to cut an hour off my best time and did 166 km in 9 hours 10 minutes. The way back is more down hill and managed to cut 1 and half hours off best time, came in at 8 hours 40 minutes for the 166 km.

Cape Argus cycle tour

Posted on Mar 13, 2014 by krfarmer

What a nice weekend I had. Rode my first ever cycle race. The Cape Argus cycle tour is the biggest timed race in the world. There was over 36000 entrance. 31046 finished within the cut off time. It takes place on the Southern tip of Africa. Starting and finishing in Cape town. Route is 109 km passing through some of the most scenic parts on the cape peninsular. Having lots of hills and sometimes strong winds. Locals line the streets and encourage you on your way.

Cyclists waiting in check in holding area

Adriaan and I at the check in holding area

Behind me at start

In front of me at start. This is the OA starting group

Entered in Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour

Posted on Feb 12, 2014 by krfarmer

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.