Day 2: Can you hand me your lube please?….

DAY 2

Hartenbosch to Albertinia:

Today was a hard and sweaty 75km. Unlike the sideways rain and mud laced roads with Zebra dung of yesterday, today saw blue skies and sunshine. Filth streaked grimaces gave way to red faces, excessive sweating and the craving for electrolytes. A poor clothing choice by Catherine meant a mid-morning outfit change of full-length pants to hot pants. See the elevation profile below for the evidence of how challenging today was.

LOOK AT SOME OF THESE CLIMBS!

Extremes in environments from mountain climbs and treacherous river crossings, to near impossible beach traverses left riders both challenged and entertained.

Today’s river crossing was long and deep. Even the privileged few that managed to stay rubber side down had wet feet by the time they reached the far bank. Deep, fast running water and slippery rocks proved a recipe for disaster, with Manish promptly serving himself up a snack of face plant pie. Unfortunately for him, though lucky for us, he stayed submerged long enough for waiting cameras to capture his moment of shame for all eternity. Thanks Manish.

Manish going fishing. A quality shot.

Dave today gets a special mention. He has now earned himself the title of “road runner”. Unlike the rest of us slogging up the hills, Dave has mastered the act of cruising up behind everyone and yelling “BEEP BEEP” while casually riding through. Unfortunate for Dave however, his skills aren’t as easily transferred in the sand traverses as he had two stacks, both within the space of about 3 minutes.

Everyone slogging it out…..
oh and the horizontal bike is Dave tasting the sand quality. 

Dave Tapley or Andy Schleck….you decide. 

The afternoon saw mechanicals aplenty. Crossing a free-range game farm **gulp** laced with Devils Thorns meant he downfall of many a tubeless tyres. Unfortunately for the recipients of this dastardly flora, the only remedy was to pedal faster. The sealant in the tyres needs the wheel to turn in order to seal the holes from the thorns. The steep ascent following the game park meant many of the flyers had to live up to their namesake. Unfortunately some couldn’t quite cut it, Barry had to roll in to lunch on just wheel rims and cramping legs.

We had many new animal encounters again today. The major ones including ostriches and baby ostriches running closely behind, a baby tortoise, porcupines (or at least the quills of a terrified porcupine), terrifying bumble bees who made a bee-line for Catherine, weaver birds and blue cranes. Slowly throughout the ride we are learning more and more about everyone’s riding style, and one unfortunate trait is that the baby tortoise is probably faster up the hills than some of the riders (*cough Conrad and Fiona *cough)…

Mamma ostriche. 

Bub's chasing after mumma. 

Lex came off second best after his porcupine encounter.

This baby tortoise beat some of us up the hills. RESPECT.

Today’s stack tally:

Manish – 2

Dave – 2

Catherine – 2

The day finished with double dropping magnesium pills, nik-naks, and Amstel (carb loading).

"Someone" @ 3pm. It was a hard day. 

For donations, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/phoenixflyers2014/