A ride for Dylan
December 27th, 2007 by Dan Hugo
I have this friend who over the past three years has done a lot my training with me, as well as being a partner in crime through much mucking about and procrastinating. We have a semi unwritten code, and understanding of sorts, most of which revolves around ‘looking the part’. Which in turn is probably just rooted in some insecurity or pride or something of the sort.
Odd intro I know, but its important to understand the context of this ride I did yesterday. Got a Four Passes invite from Christoph Sauser - the current mountain bike World Marathon Champion, and the class Andreas Raelert - double Olympian and top ITU triathlete, and Fraser Cartmell - UK 70.3 Champion. Not the kind of invite to turn down.
Smurphs law, I’d just had the old road bike tidy’d and the front wheel was playing up sounding more like a bird chirping. Alas, the rest of the crew were just going to have to grin and bear. The roads around the Bosch have also become increasingly busy, and to have an option of hoping onto the tar alongside sections without a good shoulder, I had some proper ‘tractor’ tires put on. They’re meant to be pretty puncture resistant, and in theory the greater rolling resistance is good training… Mmm. But probably not ideal to join the rainbow ribbons with.
We stopped in Franschoek to visit my misses. Ruth’s been working at a jewelry boutique there, the South African Diamond and Tanzanite shop, for two weeks now. Only too happy to see her as always. She showed us a piece of unpolished platinum, worth R700 per 100g or something stupid, and it looked like a shit bit of metal. Perhaps most of us are like that, just a bit of re-shaping, some new lines, some polish, and then we’re a sort after bit of art.
(Sauser with his custom helmet outside the boutique in Franschoek)
Up Franschoek pass, the second of the four major climbs, the screws were tightened. I was near my limit - definitely not where one is supposed to be after a good ten day break, and on the first long ride back, but I thought to myself, self, for Dylan’s sake, you need to hang on, so I hung on.
There’s a little spring at the top of the climb, and I doubt Andreas, Fraser or I needed any water, but we commanded Sauser to stop for a refill… Just at the bottom of the descent we went past two cyclist standing by a support vehicle. Pro tour riders training here stand out like a sore thumb, as they’re always very tanned, ride in team kit, and never wear a helmet. Not far on, the two tag on the back of us four. Note this please… They’re on my wheel!
Twas Andreas Kloedenand Danilo Hondo. Two names in cycling even I know. World Icons really. On my wheel. You’ve got to love that. Me, my hairy legs, fat tires, squeaking front wheel, and Kloeden is on my wheel. Aiai. With their car behind us we could ride in the centre of the road without worry, and I felt a real class act there for a moment.
But not far on, they di d their first turn on the front, and I realised I’d have to let Dylan down and break the code and show weakness by declining my turn on the front. I’d pop off soon after if I didnt. Hondo in particular just looks very impressive, as a sprinter does I guess. Legs more chiseled than Michel Angelo’s statues I’ve seen. He has muscles on the outside of muscles. Road map veins. As he’s on the two year ban, I’m not sure how much of it is natural… but very impressive all the same. Kloeden was just ticking along, looking very composed in complete Astana kit.
Going up the third climb, I’d run out of gears, and Hondo was still in his big blade doing some power work, with a rpm of maybe as low as 40. I was yoyo’ing, but I thought to myself, self, for Dylan’s sake, you need to hang. So I hung.
Three quarter through the ride, there is a stunning farm stall called the Orchard on the N2 corner to Grabouw. Its half the reason one rides four passes. The pies, pastry’s and treats are worth the four hour plus ride. I knew we always stop, so I finished my two bottles not far from the honey pot. As we approached, the guys had been talking in German, and Sauser turn his head to ask if Fraser and I, who’d now been on the back for ages, needed to stop. But it wasnt really a question…
I was hot, thirst, starving, and mentally been focused on the delicious bits and pieces I was about to devour. But I thought to myself, self, for Dylan’s sake, you need to dig to the bottemest mostest depths. You need to hang, so I hung.
(Sauser and Raelert on the front, with Kloeden and Hondo on their wheels)
Some special ride. Pretty far out really. I eventually cracked, admitted defeat, and turned into a petrol station not long after the two Pro Tour riders turned off for some water. Dylan would have killed to be on the ride. Perhaps next time.
(Four Passes Details)
(The Four Passes loop)
Had another stunning ride this morning in Jonkershoek with Christoph Sauser and Tim Don -2006 ITU World Champion. I learnt so so much from mountain biking with Sauser, especially on the bike setup side. Always great to be reminded that one is barely starting out, and that there is so much to learn and so much scope for improvement. Tim and I were both just laughing at how far out of our depth we were with Susi. He laughed at both our pop-lock’s being mounted the wrong way. I wouldnt know… Aiai.
Christmas was stunning. Had a really special time down at Langebaan for the day. Will blog about it soonest, but I left my camera with my family and am without the photo’s at the moment. Hope you, o faithful dghugo.com reader, had a blessed Christmas day, and got to spend it with some folk who love, adore and support you like I did.
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