Local tips on safe training for races
WITH the Daily Dispatch/Spar Cycle Tour coming up on February 24 (see below), here are some local tips on safe training gleaned from experienced riders and local Springboks Jevandre Pauls and Reynard Butler at yesterday’s memorial ride for Burry Stander:
Train on dirt roads; closer to race day use tarred roads regarded as safer than others;
Choose low-traffic times. Safer tar routes: N6 from Merrifield School; R72 but beyond the airport; the Cove Rock race track area, but with friends or support vehicles to avoid crime; BCM’s Amalinda cycling track.
Avoid: Oxford Street, Settlers Way, Amalinda Main Road, the Black Road in Wilsonia, Gonubie Main Road during peak traffic, East Coast (Schafli) Road;
Beware of the dreaded splinters on the Esplanade;
Use dedicated mountain-bike routes on farms, such as Ocean View and Lavender Blue, and district roads starting from Crossways village near Kwelera;
Join a cycling network. Funt runs a 200-member e-mail group which arranges training rides;
Drive to a safe and ride from there;
Join group rides, such as the 5am and 5:10am rides which leave
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area from Spar, Beacon Bay, daily;
Use organised races, such as the Dispatch/Spar, for safe training, road, and dirt events, which offer full road closure and a safe single track;
Join a club, such as Old Selbornians Mountain Bike Club, Amathole Mountain Bike Club or Cambridge Harriers;
Mine your local cycling shop for information; Try not to cycle alone; Ride in single file and yellow line on tar; Do not jump robots; No earphones, and keep your right ear open;
Be vigilant and visible (flashing lights, reflector tape and kit);
Frequent resorts which offer cycling information and routes, such as Thomas River.
The 100km and 45km Daily Dispatch and Spar Cycle Tour will take place with full road closure for the fourth year in a row and on excellent freeway tar leaving from the Esplanade at 6.25am (100km) and 7am (45km), Eventpro race organiser Sharni van Zyl said.
The Daily Dispatch and Spar Bova Mountain Bike Challenge (65km, 30km and 10km rides) the day before, on Saturday February 23, will take place on single tracks through private farmland starting from Nahoon Dam. There will also be a cart and soapbox darby, a kiddies’ mini-tour and a 1.5km scooter dash. Call (043) 726-3116.
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