I actually forgot to say thank you for the motivation to the bloke with the big mouth on the expensive road bike at last week’s Norie Cradle Challenge out in Krugersdorp. It’s a bit of a long story but bear with me. I haven’t done a cycle race since the 94.7 Cycle Challenge back in 2005 (I think – it may have been even 2004). After Comrades this year I decided to give a couple of triathlons a go so I pulled my mountain bike out a few weeks ago and hit the road.

I’ve been putting in a couple of spinning classes a week and then a longish ride on the road on the weekend. I entered the race out in the cradle last Sunday to see how I was progressing. I am great on the downhills. My hefty frame was built to speed down a hill. Even the guys with their super aerodynamic techniques battle to keep up with me down the side of a mountain. The old saying “what goes up must come down” is very applicable, although in my case the reverse is true. It’s the ups that cause the problem. And that’s where my appreciation for the tonsil last week comes in.

The race had a pretty quick start. From Noordheuwel Hoerskool we headed out towards Munsieville. We screamed down the hill past the Sterkfontein Hospital (at least I did) and then headed out into the Cradle of Humankind. On the first longish hill of the race there was no shoulder on the road at all. There was a bit of traffic and passing was pretty tough going up towards the turn off to Maropeng. There was a bit of dirt on the left hand side of the road but it was really uneven and wouldn’t have been very pleasant to ride on. Even on a mountain bike. A group of about 4 or 5 riders on really nifty road bikes came past me on my right and one of the guys had a bit to say. He pointed out that I was on a mountain bike and told me to ride on the dirt on the left so that they could pass without having to risk being knocked over by a car. That is the polite, family friendly version of the exchange. I didn’t say anything. I gave what he said a few moments to digest. I had two options. The first was to do what he said or to make sure he never had to pass me again. I’m not a huge fan of off-roading. So I change up, got out of the saddle and quietly passed him and his mates without saying a word. I never saw him again. My suggestion to him if he reads this: Ride with your mouth closed chop because it’s creating some serious wind resistance.