members' ac hievements
Several Muthaiga Members recently took on the Rift Valley Odyssey cycling challenge. Here one of them breathlessly peddles the upside of this long, gruelling ride (great views, clear air, being fit) and freewheels the downside (numb bum, lycra and surprisingly - 'bonking').
If you share disdain for Mamils (middleaged men in lycra) and are even more despairing of Fosils (frighteningly old specimens in the same slinky stuff), then this might not be for you. On the other hand, if you have a mountain bike and are hankering for a challenge, then the Rift Valley Odyssey is worth thinking about. In late September, several Muthaiga Members took part in the Rift Valley Odyssey, riding between six and ten hours a day for five days (there is a three-day version, but if you’re in for a penny then you might as well be in for a proverbial), and it was tough. All off-road, mostly on narrow tracks and remote paths, the route was never flat. But here’s the thing: it took us through some of the most outstandingly beautiful parts of Kenya, finding places and viewpoints that we would otherwise never have seen – and that’s why it’s recommended.
Climb and distance This year, the route was about 450km. More intimidating, there were nearly 8km of hills to climb. That’s at least 1,500 metres of ascent every day, sometimes pushing bikes up through steep woods, sometimes slogging up long stretches of gradual incline. Still, what goes up also comes down and there were some thrilling sections, which those of less nervous disposition would hammer down at 60kph or more.
Training Needs to be done, otherwise – as the blurb has it – the Odyssey will be an Ordeal. You’ll need to be riding between 10 and 22
Muthaiga Country Club January - March 2023
15 hours a week before the event and, crucially, you should be accustomed to longer rides of at least four or five hours at a time. This particular fosil put in the hours but regretted not having practised longer stints because saddles can become bum-numbingly sore.
Pick your partner For safety, you’re required to enter the Rift Valley Odyssey in teams of two or three. My partner was patient, practical, easy-natured, good company, and onethird my age; he fixed punctures, took pictures, stayed calm, poured beers, kept smiling. Other teams comprised either semi-professionals (people flew in from South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, even Alaska), geeks (turns out some people really know and care about bicycles), or enthusiasts who like a challenge. One competitor from the UK admitted to only recently having tried out a mountain bike; the wrong side of 60, living at sea-level, he loved the countryside, the companionship and the challenge. That’s the kind of hardy person you need in your team (he later admitted it was the hardest thing he’d ever done). In 2022 (the event has been going www.mcc.co.ke
