2-cycle-320

• By: Rose Owen
• Short URL: http://www.backabuddy.co.za/2-cycle-320

Personal message

(If you’re new to this page scroll to the bottom for the first entry!) 

Update 11

DONE! (warning this is a long one)

That which was thought to be un-do-able, is now DONE! Every kilometre I rode, I was able to know that you all were backing me (in fact the songs on my ipod reminded me of each of you at different moments :-)). To have such a strong support base is not something to be dismissed. The ride was amazing and here are a few highlights, but believe me I could quite happily talk about this ALL DAY!!

Wake up call 3:30am (crazy!)

It was misty and rainy at the start which meant a slight delay to the start and a slow descent down Oliviershoek pass. We had “rain/drizzle” on and off all day.

Griffins Hill (aka Warthog Hill) as expected was tough on the legs, and the stop at the top, welcomed! A hot milo at Mooi River 1Stop got me up, over and through Rosetta easily. What bliss the road down past Nottingham Road through to Midmar/Howick is!

Lunch was a most welcome sight, as my Husband joined us at this point (in the car!) and he had my favourite Peanut Butter Sarmies, Black Cat is really a source of “power!”. Blasting down Townhill was, as always, a pleasure, and the roads at this point were dry so we got to really enjoy it. At the Alan Paton Ave / Alexandra Rd intersection our back up crew Ambulance looked after us by blocking the cars and flashing their lights and sounding the siren for all to realise we were there! It was quite a sensation knowing those lights and the siren were for you, so that you could have right of way without being harassed.

Fox Hill... Was not pleasant, with 220km in your legs you feel every centimetre of that climb. And that is all I will say on that!

As always I thought Inchanga was perfect. Seriously the civil engineers need an A+ for that, however they get an F – for Alverstone! Our last feed stop was at Pot & Kettle and we noticed the weather turning Mizz again. Heidi’s felt so simple after all the riding and climbing of the day.

What was freaky was that the down hills of Botha’s hill, Fields Hill and the M19 were NOT easy! Not easy?! Yes, you read correctly, NOT easy. By this time my legs knew exactly what to do, round and round and round... however my brain was starting to “check out” and it took everything in me to concentrate on the road, the corners, the water, the “road furniture” etc and staying upright became a conscious activity!

I was privileged to have people along the route supporting me and it felt amazing. To see them waving and hear them cheering, really made me feel great!

Seeing the bluelights at the bottom of the M19 was bittersweet... it was nearly over. BUT I had a HUGE GRIN on my face, I felt amazing. Tired yes, but amazing. As we rode through Springfield and into Durban with a bluelight brigade it felt surreal, as our average speed climbed to 45km/hr and we were buoyed in by spirits of joy and delight at having completed the challenge. There is a cheeky little ramp up onto the roof of the station were we finished, but having been warned about it well in advance, I made sure I geared correctly and it was easy.

The welcome home, of cheering and clapping took my breath away! We had done it, I felt like crying and laughing all at once. And still that Stupid HUGE GRIN was there! I LOVED IT, EVERY SINGLE KILOMETER (even Fox!)

I will be doing it again next year, so if you want to experience it to... I would STRONGLY recommend you do it!

If any of you were planning on donating and haven’t yet, you sure are welcome to still do so.

THANK YOU AGAIN to everyone who has supported me in this adventure!

( Update 1 - 10 have been removed to make space for new updates :-) )

Introduction

320km on a bicycle in 1 day? But why Rose, why? Plainly put why not! Seriously though, the HABIT 320 challenge is just that: a challenge, but the reason is more important. Raising funds for a trust that is looking after HIV Abandoned Babies and Infants.

“We were not sent into this world to do anything into which we cannot put our heart”

I am putting my heart, and body into cycling 320km in 1 day. And all I am asking of you is to put your hand into your purse and put some cash (any amount will do) behind this “crazy” idea!

Over the next 16 weeks I will be training with this one objective in mind. I will be updating this page and having fun generally (as much fun as you can have when training for 320km!) and putting all the info here. Visit back regularly to see how things are going and you never know what you might find! I am aiming to raise R3200 this seems appropriate as I will be riding 320km, so that works out neatly to R10/km.

One last thing... Please, when you donate, give your contact details so that I can keep track of who is who in this crazy zoo.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!