---

One Helluva Ride

Charlotte Danby / 17.06.2009

Saturday, 13 June 2009 - As the Pietermaritzburg City Hall clock chimed 6am, 13 cyclists waved a fond farewell to their families and set off on the Freedom Challenge. Some would be gone for 6 days on the Ride to Rhodes, some for as long as 3 weeks on the Race Across South Africa and a few absolute crazies doing the Extreme Triathlon would only be heading home in a month. And this was just the first batch – soon 70 cyclists will be battling the fun and frustration that is South Africa’s premier cycling challenge.

The Race Across South Africa is the Freedom Challenge’s flagship race and takes adrenalin junkies and adventure seekers along 2300km of rugged, off-road terrain from Pietermaritzburg to Paarl through KZn, Eastern and Western Cape. It’s a mountain-biking experience without comparison. The scenery is incredible and for those not so focused on breaking records, there is plenty of history and geology to absorb. At each lunch-stop or overnight stop, locals providing food and shelter while entertaining the ravenous, aching cyclists with stories such as that of tribal chiefs defying a mad British Commander in 1905 and all being shot – their bodies flung from the cliffs just over there. Of a dog that survived a puff adder attack due to a certain ‘medicine’ that can clean guns as well as cure snake-bites – but be careful when you go to the bathroom because there might be a puffy in there and there’s no more ‘medicine’...

As the cyclists prepared for their descent to Hella-Hella, the warning ringing in their ears was “Watch out for the black mambas!� Apparently the ones in these parts are cheeky buggers who like to give chase! Depending on the local communities for food and shelter gives the challenge real flavour. Not only are the cyclists taken way out of their comfort zone, they meet amazing people and provide income generating opportunities for many in need.

Day one of such an event is perhaps the hardest. Most of the cyclists, from all over South Africa (as well as one Australian on his honeymoon!), have been training for months and as Extreme Triathlon cyclist Andrew Barnes put it “have legs like a couple of pistons�. Some of the ‘pistons’ cruise like well-oiled machines and others are well, a little rusty. Being an unsupported race means that you have to be able to navigate and look after yourself should you fall behind and by midday the 13 had spread apart by hours with the whereabouts of one or two a little unknown. But that’s just part of the challenge.

Despite his lack of cutting-edge gear, Siseko Marareni, a Freedom Trail guide from Matatiele, has shown up his fellow cyclists in their big sporting labels by maintaining an impressive speed in his Converse All Stars while wearing a borrowed helmet. Siseko trained by cycling everywhere in Matatiele – not only is he now super fit but he’s saved a fortune on public transport!

See All Stories On This Race