Boca Road Race – As cold as

15 km spin out to Boca, 40km road race, and 15km spin home. Sounded manageable. But it became one of the biggest fights I’ve survived. A battle royal against the coldest cold. Eish. Once I realised I was in trouble, what could I do? No where to go, no phone to call on, no option but to hit the race as hard I could and race home even harder.

As cold as a witch’s … Well, its not hot. My Specialized Trivent shoes should of had covers over. My ears needed a beanie, they hurt so much, this painful sting that made my head dizzy. My fingers felt like there wasnt a glove covering them, but there was. There are gloves and then there are gloves. Seems I had the ‘fine for summer in Stellenbosch’ gloves.

 Thing is, to my defence, I was biking in more kit than I ever have. I just didnt have a clue.

I rode in a transparent thick wind jacket that’s non-breathable and although I could see some condensation on the inside, I wasnt heating up. I thought of bailing before the start, but was keen to have a hit out, and it seemed at the time like my fastest option to heat was to race. So I joined the A group.

I was fumbling round at the back, too cold to get the legs going, and figured I was going to pop on the first rise. But by its crest, I was surging in front. More to get heat than to push the pace. On the next climb, where the King of the Mountain Prime was at $15 (thats a lot back home) I couldnt respond as needed. Went over in 4th. Five of us got away, and worked well together to build a lead. It was hard steady turns, till the attacks started 5km from the end. I thought I could be in the mix, but misjudged the line totally, and the legs werent in need of speed either really.

I would have taken a video clip of us doing turns, but the others might not have appreciated the coverage and my fingers wouldnt have managed. So no photo’s or clips… Sorry. Next time.

I pushed home, an thankfully wasnt feeling the cold as much (as I now was numb) and defrosted in a bath tub with a hot chocolate. Never again. Joking aside, the coldest I’ve ever been. Its just feet, fingers, and ears. So I learn.