Avianto 12 hour enduro - with Marcel and Edwill:

After a couple of hard training weeks, Marcel Marais and I decided to team up for this 12hour enduro challenge as a two man team for some quality time in the saddle and having fun while doing so. We didn't really discus any team tacticts, but after a chat with coach Paul, we decided to take it on in 2hour shifts at a time. This is propably not the fastest way of doing things, but looking at the bigger picture with a few longer races lined up, it seemed like the way to go.

I haven't done any relay type races in a while, so I was sort of excited about this idea. Well atleast until we had to load the bikes in the rain Saturday morning before heading out to Avianto. It's hard enough to look forward to a normal race once it's wet, but 12hours in mud... Not my idea of fun!

As we arrived there were some nervous looking faces, one of which is also a PYcycling athlete, Edwill O'neill. He teamed up with Ben Viljoen from Epic Sports and also two of the country's fastest juniors, Ferdi Botha and Werner van Heerden racing in the 4 man relay team - Die Frikkies.

Luckily as the start time came closer the rain moved away and the spirits lifted. I knew there were going to be some racing snakes hamering it from the gun, so I let Marcel start while I enjoyed some coffee. I was pleasantly suprized by the consistent lap times he was riding over the first 2hours or 5 laps, not bad for a matriculant currently in the middel of prelims.
　

　
It was soon time for myself to get ready and after a proper route recce with Tiaan, better known as Mr Mountainbiking, I started my 5 lap journey on the 8.5km course with 150m ascent per lap. I soon forgot that I had to do 6hours in total and went out cross country style on the first lap, must have been the excitment of the fast and flowing single track. I tried a new tire, Continental Race King and it was perfect for the course, might just be a new favourite for myself. From the second lap on I settled into a comfortable rythm and managed to keep a decent pace clocking my fastest and slowest lap only 30 seconds apart.

 Meanwhile the game plan for Edwill and the other Frikkies was to go out really hard and then swap every lap. They soon realised that it takes about half a lap to get going or to lose the lactate build up from the previous effert so they changed it to two laps per shift.

''Werner did a great job at the start of the race setting the bar really high on his first lap. Ferdi then didn't have any hassels matching that. Handing over to me the challenge was on to keep the pace high and remain on top of the leaderbord'' Edwill I must admit they were pretty quick!

As Marcel was busy ticking over the laps for us on his second 2hour shift, I had some time to refill. All the tannies did a great job with the food and kept us well hidrated at all times. Fatigue started to show all round, but my partner kept fighting and completed another 5 grueling laps. Once again as I started round 2, I got excited and started racing guys like Bryce Munro and some other fast guys that were doing one or two laps at a time. Even though the legs were burning, I was happy with my consistent lap times.

Back at the base, Die Frikkies called a team meeting '' The interesting part of the race came when the sun started to set. We got ourselves geared for the darkness with all the lights we had. We had a team caucus and changed our game plan again, from 2 laps per rider to 1 lap per rider''

After the first 8 hours, Marcel and I started to lose the second spot over all as fatigue took over. This didn't bother us to much, I mean 4 legs cant really compete against 8 or more.
He managed 3 more laps in the dark and I decided to take over with about 2hr40min remaining in the race. At this point I must admit I was over it, but the adrenalin of riding in the dark kept me going. The first two laps were fun, but then half way thru the third or thirteenth in total the wind started blowing with severe clouds covering the venue. The organisers decided to call it the day after 11hours, just before the storm hit. Unfortunitly for some, they were still out there on the course, including poor Edwill ''I was caught half way through the course in this crazy storm! Everybody was soaking wet and cold but this did not ruin the rider’s spirits. They all waited for the prize giving."

 After all it was a fun day out with good results from PYcycling athletes. Edwill and the Frikkies taking the over all win and Macel and I finishing 4th over all and winning the 2 man relay."It was an amazing experience. A great 8.5km course with a bit of everything. A few sharp but short climbs, some tight corners and fast straights - nothing overly technical but challenging. Our Mountain Bike skills were definitely tested. Fantastic track!" Marcel

Big thanks to all who made it possible
Arno