In the shadows of signs................

The Annual World Extreme Funride Championships came and went in a haze, it's always a great opportunity to ride what must be one of the most stunning scenic routes in an urban environment............................without cars.

Actually that's only partly true. Argus for me means getting bikes ready for people. This year I had the pleasure of sorting out an old tandem for Storm and Julia. This tandem has a history with the Durr girls, I guess they now own it. Under very difficult circumstances, Storm and Julia completed the ride. No training, nada, just attitude. Ballers of note. (But Julia's my god-daughter, so she has to be). In the footsteps of her older sisters who aren't exactly slackers themselves. All on old steel real deal road bikes.

Julia and Storm

Having completed the Argus our real mission was to ride from Prince Albert to Montagu, along the route used by the Freedom Challenge.

Sweetie and Pumpkin planning the ride

The usual suspects, Sandra, Kim, Adino and I. Yet another cross-border raid right under the noses of the imperialist forces, by the time they had wiped their eyes, we were gone. Gorilla raids, a la DC http://drunkcyclist.com/2010/05/21/the-dirty-biker-cometh/

Getting to the dam, then over the dam, then spending a night with the legendary Fox Ledeboer. Somebody has to do it.

Last time I rode up Bosluiskloof it was with the two Curts von Keyserlingk. That time I lost six - love to the mountain. This time it was only slightly better. The last 5km gradient was not made with cyclists in mind.

The Freedom Challenge narrative says something along the lines of "by this time you will have learned that the Karoo is many things. Flat is not one of them". Yes, indeed, David.

Sexy Red Niner

Past Jaco Hunlun's farmhouse for water, unfortunately he wasn't there. The Freedom Challenge is many things, one of which is a loooong network of really good people, Jaco being one of them. All along the trail are farmers and others who welcome riders at all times of the day. A transect of good people.

Vleiland if you must. Yes, you must. Stop and buy a coke and chips at Ockie Olivier's shop. This is another world.

Rouxpos, after the last climb in that heat, then swooping down to the cool lawns and the renowned Rouxpos hospitality. To put it in context: People on the race generally try the ride from the luxury of Dennehof directly to Rouxpos. Up the Swartberg pass, into Gamkaskloof, up Die Leer, and then still quite some ride to Rouxpos. Now I know why they do it. Baie baie dankie Gerhard en Ronel.

'Twas a warm night, filled with mosquitoes. When I went out at 5am, I walked into rain, we'd been sleeping under a thatched roof and hadn't heard a thing.

The generally downhill ride out of Rouxpos is made even better with light drizzle and a tailwind, then a short sharp climb and before we know we're on Wagendrift asking for directions. It's in the rules http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/ somewhere.....the bit about asking locals for directions. Ask them all, and after the heated debate, obey the consensus.

Hard-core zealots in action

Back on the district road, we hit a recently re-surfaced section. Clay isn't used as a road surfacing material in many parts of the world, I guess it's just a local speciality. Clay that has been wet, rolled and then left to dry makes a better riding surface than smooth concrete. I won't be here when the winter rains change all that.

The problem with smooth roads is that the distance flies by faster than you want it to (well almost!) It wasn't long and we were in the pool at Anysberg. Having met Kevin setting up camp under the gumtrees. Kevin had been cajoled/bribed/forced into this by his sister. At least he did it with a smile ;) That afternoon was one of the last summer thunderstorms, with a cold front on it's heels.

Across the open plains after Anysberg into the teeth of a north-wester, with rain, starts to feel like "The Race" again. I am still in awe of people who ride all this in the middle of winter. I have to stay in Prince Albert to fix their bikes, so I will never be able to do "The Race". That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Oh yes, certain South African landowners have a nasty habit of putting "No Entry" signs on gates across public roads. This makes visitors to Anysberg drive a huge detour, because they take these signs literally. Others take the signs, literally.

As the instigator, I had three cyclists constantly putting pressure on me to deliver. Well, I did. I did deliver them unto the Ouberg Pass. They're still smiling.

Into Montagu in the rain and mud, where the Wimpy has outdoor plastic seats for the likes of us.

And so, we rode to Montagu for coffee at the Wimpy.

Liam's Bike Build

About a month ago, my cousin Karen asked if I could help her son, Liam put a bike together.  On condition that Liam paid for everything and that he could do pretty much all of the work himself. OK.

I pulled out an old Gert Visser frame, handed it to Liam and said "Sand". Lots of water paper and even more elbow-grease later, he produced a well-prepped frame. Some time to get the primer in place and then we were ready for the matt black. Black, particularly matt black is a good first colour for a spray job.

At this stage Liam had to head back to school for a few weeks ( Rev Dick- See what I mean?) In the interim I was able to collect some bits, in fact quite a pile of pretty decent bits. (Big thanks Steven and Fiona )

When Liam and Karen returned, we were ready for the final big build, not sure who was the most excited. By this stage the frame had acquired a coat of clear matt lacquer and most of the gubbins were pre-prepped, this is not the time to discover that something doesn't fit.

.....a bit like Lego, but you can eventually  ride it!

It's important to note that Liam has saved and worked to earn the money to put this baby together.

Early on the Saturday morning, things looked like this...

This is it, let's get started!

Getting that headset in where it belongs

Lubed seatpost

Stripped thread

Reverse the frame into the workstand and get the fork in, headset adjusted, and the stem in place. At this stage we discovered that the "B" on the stem stood for "Buggered"  (It had ended up in the parts box because the threads in the bar clamp were stripped..) Fortunately there was another stem in the box. My entire credibility had been hanging by a stripped thread........



Turn the bike around in the workstand so that real work can start.

Crank bolts

No low-end chain lubes in here please....

Liam had by now installed every component himself, I only supplied the intelligent use of brute force (like shoving the grips on). Putting a bike together like this can be a tiring experience, so we stopped for a break before the final assault, but not before Liam had put his wheels together (rim tape, tyres, tubes, valve lined up with the tyre logo) I am also a detail person ;)

While polishing the rims and spokes (every spoke), Liam noticed that one of the rims was knackered, so I'd replaced it. That's why you clean your bike by hand, because that's how you get to know it. Personally. If the bike really means anything to you, that is.

Then that magical moment!  It works!
The clicker clicks and the gorilla does what it's meant to do. (And what's that I hear someone chirp? The gorilla, my friend climbs up and down the cluster )

Finally.

On yer bike!

For the record

The dangerous realisation that these bitchin' machines can take you anywhere................

Karen, Liam and I will be doing a 230km fundraising ride from Prince Albert to Plettenberg Bay. Fundraising for a science teacher at his school.

Special thanks to:

• Steven and Di Thomas of  Daytrippers, 
• Fiona Coward of  Sabie Experience , 
• Steffi Rohrbach

Photo Credits: All photographs by Karen Rissik

The Route

The Black Mamba

OK, so this is where I am on this one...

Stripped it down the other day, grinding, sanding polishing, priming and spraying. I have parked the idea of the Desert camo Sharki colour for now (it's not available in the Prince Albert powder coating booth, but rattle can matt black is ;) Thanks to the soft focus ability of my Nokia talking camera, you can't even see the high quality welds. Probably better that way.

I have also installed a new crankset and chains, well, chain and a half. Yes, new chain and new cables are half the way to solving a lot of cycling problems.

Also back on is the SLX chain tensioner (thanks to Mechanical Ray, http://fiforiders.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-freedom-challenge.html). It turns out that chain tension is an issue when you have a crankset with three functional rings. The trick seems to be to set the "middle-rear" derailleur in the middle (strange that) using the limit screws and the ubiquitous piece of tying wire.

The "cockpit setup" is almost edzachary the same as the 29r, so we are off to a good start. In fact they are so similar that I reached out to change gear on the 29r...and a voice from above said "sit and spin *^%**&^%"

All that clutter on the bars? Mary Bars, Ergon grips, Deore brake levers and R40 (about $6) friction shifters, think I have all my bases covered there, except the bell.

So, just the luggage to sort out. Di is making two frame bags (she of XtraBag fame) one for the front triangle (100mm wide) and one for the third triangle (250mm wide). And maybe a pair of panniers for the back.

And then I suppose I'll have to do the long trip this bike was built for.

"My" Freedom Challenge

It's that time of the year again. Winter. Something I associate with biting cold, chapped hands, eating oranges by the dozen and the crisp silence of the Karoo nights. There is another iconic association that has crept onto that list. Meeting the Freedom Challenge riders.

Every year it's different, but usually a combination of cold, wind and rain along the route from Willowmore to Prince Albert make it a somewhat dreaded stretch. THAT road, 168km of relentless slog has a special surprise this year; sand and corrugations as they have not been in recent years. The road has become synonymous with the "Coffee Shop", but things have changed and now the site of the famous Annie's Cuca shop is deserted...........Annie you should know that Marnitz stood there and cried. He had ridden all the way and all he found was this.....

This section takes riders into the Western Cape (the name Koup is another story on it's own) and onto the psychological home stretch.

You Kouping ?

First rider I met was Glen. Singlespeed Gentleman Extraordinaire. I consider myself fortunate to meet people like Glen (and honoured to help sort out niggling technicals on his bike).

Exiting the mobile coffee shop

Fresh out of the Karoo Singlespeed Workshop

And then Ray, Mechanical Ray to some. The call came in to say he had a trashed rear gorilla but he was carrying a spare one (yes, I know the image of Ray riding along with a spare gorilla in his backpack may confuse some readers, but he was!) After trying to do the "over-the-phone" DIY number for a few minutes, I realised that Ray needed my help. 93km out on the road was another special meeting. Special for me and special for Ray. It gives me a huge amount of pleasure to head out there, meet complete strangers and just click. One time. Thanks Ray.

Racing again...Mechanical Ray

Two Wheels. One Dark Lord

We cruciFix your bike

Anytime. Anywhere

Mobility

Gert Swarts and his trailer

Mobility can mean different things, depends on your situation, I suppose.

One of the greatest limitations of bicycle transport is humping your "stuff" along with you, and that stuff can be anything from your slinky little Apple to a whole pile of garden tools and pretty much anything in between. Well, Gert Swarts is one step closer to overcoming that hurdle.

Bike trailers are nothing new and there are a host of variations on the theme; single wheel, double wheel, short, long, light, heavy, side hitch, top hitch..........
The only thing is that they appear to be few and far between (I only know of one person who has one) and I have never seen one in this neck of the vlaktes.

So that's probably what motivated me to make this trailer for Gert.

Appropriate branding !

The detail of how I made it is in an earlier post, with some rather poor quality pictures, but you'll get the general idea. If there are any "rules" then they must be:

• weight centred over the axle
• strength over weight
• made of locally repairable materials

For the rest, the trailer can be made to order, depending on what's available. Some of the Northern Hemisphere sites talk of using wood (but with Black X SA Pine rather not!)

Interesting to note that both of these frames were about to go off the scrap recycling depot in Oudtshoorn, talk about saved from the knackers!

And what has it meant to me?

Quite a lot in fact, to take two scrap frames and fabricate a pretty decent trailer is very satisfying. And helped along by the legendary Jame Marshall Hendrix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ_Kip3FP0Q

and.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwCBh0z3Hs&feature=related

... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GydN5VDDBMM&feature=related

So, if you have two old steel frames in sight, you'd better tie them down or they could just end up in the Karoo as a trailer. If you have two old steel road bike frames even better. (In fact we've closed in on the old steel frame futures market!)

Hasta la vista, Gert

Daily Trippers

It all started when Steven Thomas of Day Trippers mentioned that he had a number of old mtb's which needed to find new homes.........
Being the persuasive person that I am, I eventually arrived in Prince Albert with a trailer-load of bikes and parts. Thank you Steven and Di.

As many of you will know, owning a good bike (even an old one) can be a life-changing experience. Add to that the fact that most workers in Prince Albert walk to work and you can see where we're heading. Initially we had thought of starting a "cycling club", but after a few false starts I realised that these bikes would have the most impact if they were owned by people who had job, people who were walking to work.

I started a process of identifying people who would make the most use of the bikes, but almost more importantly, people who would take care of the bikes and act as role models for other potential cyclists

So often, when introducing resources (in this case bikes) to resource-poor communities, a range of factors come into play which can cause more harm than good. My years in the NGO world were spent working with impoverished rural people, there I learned the importance of not introducing resources faster than they could be assimilated meaningfully. It's a very fine line between wanting to "help" and causing an undignified scramble for the new resources. We've all seen it and it is both de-humanising and frustrating for all concerned.

After careful consideration, I decided to do this one differently. Bike recipients would be responsible people who have a clear, identified need for a bike while being the kind of person who would take care of the bike. I eventually identified ten people from a broad range of Prince Albert's community, people who are seen as role models, people who would effectively be ideal "marketing agents" for the cycling lifestyle.

My thinking was that these initial bike recipients would pave the way for any future cycle transport work in Prince Albert; and that is exactly what has happened.

I now have daily requests from people who wish to part of what's "going on". My response is simple: "Speak to one of those who has a bike and they will introduce you to the "scheme".

This way we have a network of people who are introduced to the "scheme" who have undergone some form of vetting or approval by existing cycle commuters. This distances me and filters out any who might be tempted to trade the bike for a papsak (a very real prospect in this part of the world!)

Well now that we have the first ten cyclists out there strutting their stuff, I feel that things are finally moving. An extra ten bikes, ten more people who have more time in their day, ten people who might be getting fit while riding, ten more people who have dramatically improved mobility.

Here they are:



Neels and Shuleen


Jan and Gollie


Gert and Arrie



Anna and Abie


Valencia and Petrus