TRIgon
mQC10XX haRD TaIl
TRIgon
PERFORMAnCE, AFFORDABILITy, PRESTIgE
Trigon builds frames for leading Italian and French brands. Carbon manufacturing processes used by the company are supported by the most modern technologies and processes, resulting in super light carbon frames with the highest fatigue levels available.
The MQC10 is a stylish design with compact geometry resulting in a bike which dispels the notion that 29ers do not handle well when turns are tight and technical. The ride is firm but forgiving, making it a great choice for many ex 26er full suspension riders who are looking for the happy medium between the traditional 26er hardtail and full suspension. The MQC10 is released with X9, X0 or XX group sets fitted with Rockshox Reba or SID suspension forks. RRP is R 31 500 for the X9 version, R 38 500 for the X0 version and R 48 500 for the flagship XX version.
TRIgon
SQC01
Full SuSPenSIon mTb
SQC01 XX with SID XX Fork, 2x10 XX group. Weight 10.3 kg.
FoR moRe InFoRmaTIon
SQC01 X0 with SID Team Fork, 2x10 XO group. Weight 10.8 kg.
ConTaCT The ComPany on
SQC01 X9 with REBA RLT Fork, 2x10 X9 group. Weight 11.4 kg.
www.TRIgonSouThaFRICa.Co.za
Priced from R37 500 to R56 000
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www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 81
inGEAR:
Words by Hannele Steyn, former Absa Cape Epic winner Photos supplied by Makadas Overland Challenge
The Triple Challenge Q: What does a girl do to get more of the same adrenaline fix after her ninth Epic? A:
She accidently enters three of the longest mountain bike races that are one week apart, the first only three weeks after the Epic, and all three as a solo rider! Being extremely ADHD, I enthusiastically entered the three races as they appeared in my inbox and only took notice of the closing date for entries. Imagine my surprise (horror) when I realised that I had entered the 285km Makadas Overland Challenge, then the 240km Trans Karoo race and last up was the 36One MTB Challenge, the first just three weeks after the Epic and they were all one week apart! But I have done the Freedom Challenge, a few Ironmen triathlons, the MTB World Cup, the Namibia Desert Dash and a few stage races - so bring it on ‌ I thought!
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Makadas Overland Challenge (285km) This challenge starts and finishes in the small town of Montagu, and the organisers, Mitzi, Louis and the rest of the crew, did an amazing job of making you feel incredibly welcome and special. The race started at 08h00 the following morning and although it was supposed to be by navigation, the route was so well marked and maps so accurate that I could just give myself to the enjoyment of the ride. All the water points were well stocked with savoury and sweet goodies to eat, and thirst-quenching liquids. Being a nutritionist, I have to give you some race eating tips, which I did J in the my Clever Nutrition for Mega Long Races article on page 84. But enough about eating, let me get back to the race.
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www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 79
The route was not an easy one, but that is why we do it, and the scenery is also simply breathtaking. The first 40km stretch was fairly straight forward and a little undulating as I headed out of Montagu. I found the first water point at the foot of a major rocky climb just as you enter the San Bona Nature Reserve, and this is where the real fun and stunning scenery starts. After many ups and downs and 140km still to go, I reached the Anysberg Nature Reserve, which I remembered as one of the stops from the Freedom Challenge. From here I traversed the Ou Wapad Pass, which led to the next water point, my lights and warm clothes. With the sun beginning to set, the temperature had dropped and I realised that the actual race was only starting now. My bum was sore, it was getting dark, it had started to rain and I still had another 80km to go. But the good news was that 40km from here was an uphill and then a glorious 30km downhill and flat section to the finish. I finally arrived in Montagu cold and wet, but happy with my time of 13:40. One event down and two to go. The plan was two days of rest and the next three just spinning the legs in preparation for the Trans Karoo.
Aspen Trans Karoo (245km; from 550-1450m above sea level)
In the cover of darkness I left Ceres for Eselsfontein and the start of this race. Armoured against the cold and with a good, balanced breakfast of Passion4Wholeness muesli to sustain myself, I was as ready as I was ever going to be. Amongst the 220 riders at the start of the race was Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and the CEO from Aspen, Mr Stephen Saad, who was the main sponsor of the race. Minister Motsoaledi was participating in this gruelling race as part of an ambitious project to raise funds for underprivileged children who don't have access to quality healthcare services in the country. He was only supposed to ride for a few kilometres, but was enjoying himself so much that it took more than 15km to get him to stop J.
80 • DO IT NOW Magazine August | September 2012
Setting off from Eselsfontein the route took us via the Swaarmoed Pass (hectic!) to the first water point at 39km. From here it was quite an undulating and testing stretch, but absolutely beautiful as you ride through the Tankwa Karoo National Park, with the Roggeveld plateau in front, the Cedar Mountains to the one side and the Roggeveld Mountains hugging your back. Riding through the vastness of the Karoo is like food for the soul, especially if you are a solo rider with only yourself to talk to (sometimes somewhat boring, but I started quite a few companies during this time J). A surprise awaited us at around the 190km mark; the Ouberg Pass climb. This climb is a 10-15km rocky, zigzag climb with gradients of 14-27% at times. It's the never ender! Reaching the top, I was going to stock up on some food, get my lights and warm clothes for the last 40km, as it was getting cold and the sun was setting. To my horror, they told me that the seconds missed the water point and there was only a few snacks, no lights and no warm clothing! I grabbed some popcorn, crisps and a muffin (against all my nutrition no-nos) and headed off at the speed of lightning to try and outride the darkness. I managed to get a fleece top from a spectator next to the road and could already feel the hunger setting in. The race organiser had told us it was more or less downhill, which it was. But unfortunately for us it was less downhill and more climbing. By this time the sun had started to set over the Karoo and you tend to forget how much you are hurting because the beauty absolutely envelopes you. Just after that thought though, the reality of the 'beauty' of total darkness made me push through the pain that was starting to take over my body. My eyes were straining to see and I was just focussing on how I was going to appreciate a hot bath at the end. Finally I saw the lights of the 'big' town of Sutherland and the flashing light from a traffic cop at the start of the 2km tar stretch to the golf club. The mind is a powerful thing because all of a sudden there was no more pain and it even felt if I could 'see clearly now that the dark was gone'. I even had a sense of humour and told my own joke to myself: "Pain is just a weakness leaving your body, so I was only detoxing when I felt the pain." Icy cold and tired I crossed the finish line first in the Ladies Solo category in a time of 11:32.44. Two down and one to go. I spent the next two days resting and did three days of spinning before leaving for Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo, and my biggest solo challenge yet. 
36One MTB Challenge (361km)
The 36One race is 361km long, you have 36,1 hours to finish in and it's sponsored by 36One! It starts at 21h00 on Friday night and you have until Sunday morning, 09h01 to be precise, to cross the finish line! It was bitterly cold when I arrived at the Kleinplasie Caravan Park, but the welcome was warm and accompanied by hot coffee, fresh roosterkoek and boerewors. The organiser, Carel Herholdt of Dryland Events, really went out of his way to make everything perfect and had even phoned me the week before to make sure the food they were going to serve would be what the riders wanted, as well as nutritional. My suggestions of real, hot food, sweet things for fast energy, protein and fat rich foods, coffee, hot chocolate and flavoured milk were delivered plus much, much more! With a prayer from Carel and the crack of the gun lighting up the night sky momentarily, we set off. The first 60km of tar road took us towards the Cango Caves, via Oudemuragie Guest Farm, and the first stop at Dysselsdorp. I arrived here at around 24h00 and after a steamy cup of soup, hot chocolate and a sandwich (there were frikkadels also on offer), I was back in the seat and heading towards Daskam. At this hour I would normally be fast asleep, but here I was riding in just 3°C and all by my lonesome self. To keep awake I started to sing, my repertoire even included some gospel songs, sometimes out of fear, but mostly because I actually felt so blessed for having the opportunity to do this! The tranquillity and full moon were food for my soul once again. One of the things I really liked about this race is that every time a rider had to make a turn or was about to make a wrong turn during the night, there was a marshal with a flash light to warn you. After the marshals there were still more arrows with reflector lights on, so you just couldn't go wrong! How wow is that?
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The route then took us through a place called Zebra, via Mount Hope, to the next big checkpoint at Volmoed Guest Farm, where you could shower, go to a real toilet, have a swim (in a chilly 8°C) or take a nap. You could also order hot coffee, lasagne and sandwiches with your choice of savoury or sweet filling. I arrived at around 06h00 and had some of my own muesli, like a good nutritionist should. Back on the road I switched off my lights and enjoyed the most amazing sunrise over the Klein Karoo. Next up was Bankhoogte and then the feared Rooiberg Pass that goes on foreverrrrrr! Once at the top, I flew down towards Calitzdorp and arrived more or less in time for lunch; a delicious braai of Ostrich kebabs and fresh roosterkoek. I planned this sooo well; “Steyn … Hannele Steyn … James Bond, eat your heart out, as well as Horatio.” At this point I knew it was not far to go … things become so relative on these long distance races because since when did the last 100km seem 'not so far' after 260 odd kilometres? I was hurting, but at least it had warmed up and a few more water points awaited me at Grootfontein, Kruisrivier and Langlaagte, the ninth (yip, nine fully stocked water stations), and then the last stop before Oudtshoorn. Thumbs up to the organisers for knowing what a rider needs after 350km - and that's a flat tar road to the finish! Thank you people. I rode into Oudtshoorn with a feeling of pure joy and finished first in the women's solo race in a time of 19:43.24, of which 17:30.00 was riding time. The more than two hours of stoppage time can be put down to the quality of the water points and goodies on offer, because I normally stop, grab and go. This time I stopped, grabbed, grabbed some more and then slowly went.
All three races done and another box ticked. So what's next? My 10th Epic next year and then my big dream of the Tour d’Afrique in 2014. •