Written three weeks ago...

So 2011 is well on the way and it is noted that some guys have been riding hard and long. For the first time I can remember I had a forced month rest for various reasons, one being that I  tried to jump off a meter high wall, chickening out half way and flying over my handlebars bruising my back in the process. It was a spur of the moment decision based on the fact that my brother in law had just done it, and even though I was leaving to go skiing 10 days later, it looked easy. Actually I think I pulled my front brake too quickly, or rather the wrong brake as 5 meters further on was where I dumped the doggy doo, lots of it…panic set into this usually cool, calm and collected head and the next minute I was groaning flat on my back.

That was the 20^th December after having done 25 hours in the saddle, not because I wanted to, but because I had Tony Starke, Mike and Hilton Frost joining me for some awesome riding on the border of Lesotho, just below Tiffendal in the Barkley East, War Trail area where we have our family farm. I needed to pre ride some of the routes (hence the extra hours) as they were new to me, and as Goose well knows, I don’t have a very good built in GPS system. It was the right decision as we never got lost and I put in some solid hours in the saddle with a virtually seized rear wheel hub. It was only on the penultimate day that bike mechanics Frost and Starke checked out my back wheel and found that I had been riding with seized bearings. Up until that stage, Tony and Mike had felt really good on the hills, dropping me at will. I put it down to the hours I had sacrificed in the saddle before they arrived, however the next day, with bearings well greased,  I had time for  a cup of tea and a sandwich with Hilton at the top of each hill  while we waited for Tony and Mike! This was day 4 in a remote valley between Lesotho and South Africa. Sublime mountain biking and awesome scenery.

On the 31^st Dec we left for Livigno, Italy for two weeks of skiing and sadly Nicky, my wife slipped on some ice, not even on the slopes and broke her radius just above the wrist of her right arm  just as she was finally getting the hang of turning on the snow. Her right arm is out of action and in plaster…and she is right handed. It was a fantastic couple of weeks however, very reasonably priced as Livigno is a duty free town. Prices were very similar, if not cheaper than in South Africa.

The question on returning was how to fit in some mountain biking whilst having to run the house. Unfortunately, for the first week back it was a case of adapting to my new role as housewife, husband and caregiver. I took another week off riding to recover from the skiing but then with drawl symptoms setting in,  I decided I had to get myself up to join the roadies on Tuesday morning. Only problem, I sold my Cervelo R3 road bike so that I could afford to have my carbon Niner frame built up at WSquared. So with mtb tyres pumped up to 4 bar I was back on the road despite a little drizzle, 4:50 am and hoping that I can hold onto the B group on their road bikes. Having ridden from Scottsville I was warmed up and already into my ride past Virgin Active when the B group pulled slowly into Victoria Rd to start their warm up. I decided to carry on with my pace as I knew that once roadies see a mountain biker ahead of them, their warm up would be curtailed and they would try and haul in the red Giant…which of course they did, nonchalantly riding past me on the way up Swartkop Rd.
I hung onto the back and they dragged me up the hill, actually dropping a few of the group in the process. Perhaps they were trying to drop me, but it was a friendly, chatty bunch of roadies and so it was probably me just thinking that. They all slowed at the circle to wait for the rest of the group, and I, being the mtb gatecrasher decided to carry on down the hill, knowing full well that nobbly tyres on a downhill are no match for slicks. Once caught, and feeling better than expected I settled into the peloton as we made our way up past Cascades at an ever increasing pace until there were just three of us, with me hanging on for dear life until the usual turnaround point. It was at this stage that I remembered my role as housewife, husband and caregiver and I gave it horns, alone on the way home. I made a mental note, that I had felt quite good on the saddle, not too much damage done by the layoff.

6.15am and Nicky has to be at school by 7.20am and is still waiting for her tea in bed, as is my daughter, Jaime-Lee. Whilst the kettle is reaching boiling point, I shower, dress and deliver tea at 6.23. Now to make  lunch. Jaime-Lee doesn’t like butter, peanut butter, jam, marmite, tomatoes…so its cheese spread and…
“Steve, can you come and wash my hair” calls my wife from the bathroom. This is back breaking work because I have to lean over the bath whilst holding the spray (shower) and then wash her hair whilst turning at an acute angle to get over to the other side of her head. “Careful Steve, you are rubbing too hard”, “there’s soap running into my eyes”, “careful you’re spraying the bathroom floor” “it’s a little hot”…my lower back throbs as I slowly stand upright to get a towel. Now there is a special way women like to have the towel turban style around their head. “Thanks my darling…” Hope I didn’t bugger up my back for my Wednesday afternoon ride!
Back to the sandwiches…my light is still flickering on my bike so I run outside to turn it off…what else for my daughters lunch. “Steve can you help me with my bra” Now this has definitely been a learning curve, although I have to admit I have thoroughly enjoyed the process. “It’s upside down Steve…ok just back to front now” Having had many years practice of taking all shapes and sizes off, I would have thought putting them on would be easy! “Ok not the first hook, put it on the second hook” I am just about to start Nicky’s slimmers cottage cheese and salad sandwich…”Steve I can’t get my zip up”

7.00am “Jaime-Lee are you out of bed yet” No answer, she’s gone back to sleep. “Steve, would you mind bringing me some cornflakes, I can’t get the lid off the milk…sorry darling..you’re such a star” Yeah right! I drop Nicky off at school and am reminded to buy bread for the gardener and more milk. Also to pick her up at 2:30 and then take Jaime-Lee to gymnastics in Hilton from 4 to 6. And have I decided what’s for supper tonight.  There is at least a consolation prize at the end of it…I get to shower my wife every night, even if she has a head ache.
Bring on the Wednesday afternoon ride from Crossways!!

Cheers

The Riding Reporter
www.rideawaytours.com