Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

On Wednesday 08 March 2017 I started my journey to Dullstroom Limpopo to attend the Special Forces Mountain Bike Event.

I stayed over at 44 Parachute Brigade in Tempe, Bloemfontein.  During the day I had to see my through numerous truck trains on the N1.  It was clear to me that, the once mighty railway system that South Africa had, is of no value. As I past Richmond I fall in with three motorcyclist that were on there way to Lesotho.  I introduced myself at Colesberg to them, being asked "Who are you, where do you come from?"  They thought I was their friend of Malmesbury who also has a amber cover over his headlight.  I replied "He is coming", after refueling I continue my journey to Bloemfontein.

The following morning at 05h30 I had the pleasant purprise to listern to the troops of 1 Parachute Batalion singing while running to the mess for breakfast. I heard them coming back at 06h30.  Once all my luggage has been packed I left for Pretoria, with my rain suite on hand.  It was not even a 100 km outside of Bloemfontein I had to make an emergency stop to put my suit on. It was bucketing down. In Kroonstad at the Shell Ultra station I had breakfast. Back in my rain suite I continued to Pretoria, once again I had to deal with the traffic between Johannesburg and Pretoria on the N1,  my word, what a nightmare.  I am so glad I am staying in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town. I stayed over with my brother-in-law on Thursday night.

On Friday I continued to Dullstroom, where I was pleasantly surprised to see so many ex military colleagues.  Myself and JJ Prinsloo shared a chopper tent, we did formative course together in 1987 at Army College, Voortrekkerhoogte.  Nobody visits Dullstroom without having the best trout on the menu at a well known restaurant, and we adhere to the tradition. 

On Saturday 11 March 2017 at 10 o'clock  108 cyclists started the grueling 200km mountain bike event, 200 km in 22 hour's time. It is a typical Special Forces event,  hard, no mercy, rough terrain, extreme climbs and - descents. Only one rider had to be air lifted to hospital after an accident.  But the complete course was very challenging. Many of the riders could not complete the full course,  they managed to do only half it. That includes Special Force operators and ex operators.  The cut off time for the event was Sunday morning 08h00.  The last 2 riders that completed the course came in at 07h45. Cycling through the day and night, with only 6 water points and check point along the route. Only 54 cyclist completed the full course.

I had the privilege to pillion the TV cameraman on my GSA.  In my discussions with the race organizers I asked that the pillion must not be more that 100kg and that he has to have previous experience of filming off a motorcycle. His first words to me were "How do I get on this thing" after informing me that he does not have a helmet.  I will not repeat what I said to him!!.  Nevertheless we continued with the leading group of cyclists.  We had tar road, good dirt roads, bad dirt roads (Dullstroom had 180mm rain the previous week) , Jeep Tracks, no tracks, long grass that was higher than the bike,  mud pools , river crossings, extreme rocky terrain.... ect ect..  By midday their batteries run flat and we needed to went back to base to recharge it.  Then we decided to skip some of the route and proceed to the 2nd water point and catch the leaders.  On our arrival there they informed us that the leaders are long past the water point. We continued on the route to catch up with them, but to no avail.  The route did not allow as to ride faster than the average cyclist.  After water point 3 we meet a black man and his family, I asked him what is the best dirt route to the tar road to Belfast. He gave us some directions.  We continued till dark on the dirt road and luckily we reached the tar road before dark.  We were about 30km from Belfast, with no one with a helmet.  I decided it will be easier to convince a traffic official why we do have helmets than being air lifted with serious injuries to myself and the cameraman. In Belfast we drove past the SAPD, but they did not see us.  We stopped at he garage and the coordinator of the camera team brought me my helmet and picked up the camera man. One of the challenges that we had is communication.  There is no cell phone coverage, the emergency personnel had satellite radios along with the helicopter. 

The sunrise on the Sunday morning was a huge relief to numerous cyclists and support personnel.  Everybody were extremely tired and over worked.  

At 09h00 we had a closing ceremony led by Gen Les Rudman, a previous General Officer Commanding Special Forces. They winner of the race was a 26 year Pharmacist, in 9h14.  UNBELIEVABLE!  The race organizer thanked me in person, but did mentioned in his speech that I am unhappy about he route. I mentioned it to him,  if a cyclist is not able to ride the technical sections, he put his bike on his shoulder and walk though it, I have to ride my GSA with a pillion through that same terrain.  That was by many occasions not possible, we fell twice but were not injured. Nor any damage to my bike.

The race organizer said to everybody not to decide that day if they will be back next year but to give it a few weeks.

At 11 o'clock on the Sunday I return back to Pretoria. 

The Monday morning at 06h15 I continued my journey back home. That evening I slept over at a farm near three sisters. On my way there I had to experience the morning traffic on the N1 from Pretoria to Johannesburg, AGAIN!!,  unbelievable. After refueling in Richmond I had to safe the lives of two mountain-tortoise that were crossing the N1. I never realized that a tortoise of about 30cm height is so heavy!! I had to give my best to lift it and keep it away from my body, for that urine releasing system.... but I managed to put them in the field about 15m off the road. 

On the farm I had the privilege to meet the two nicest people, the farm owner and his wife.  They were extremely hospitable, I had a three course dinner and pleasant company. I also had the opportunity to  take a few interesting photos.  

I continued home the Tuesday morning to be safe back at home just after 13h00.  Thank you Lord for keeping Your hand over me for 3700km!!