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Dischem Ride 4 Sight: A report from the back. The Argus of the East Rand or Parkrand Proper was a sign we noticed on the way in (we laughed, “Proper” in our best East Rand Acsents) 
I was a tad late getting to my start pen, you can read the sob story on Bron’s FB page. The summary is: don’t try take Giant Gavia tubeless tires off an American Classic Rim with sealant inside and attempt to put a tube in with 20mins before your warm up time... Not enough time. Sorry Bron, Next time I’ll check bikes before 5:30pm Saturday eve. OK... So, the RACE Proper! It was FAST on the way out (tail wind mostly), so much so that we covered 47.5km in the first 60mins. I’d like to say that Nic White (Biogen) and I were making things quick upfront inside of the first 5 to 10km’s but I didn’t look behind me so it may have been a Sunday stroll behind. Frozen bottles jettisoning on many occasions in the first 20kms. Peloton (80 strong) taking avoiding action. I lost my water, so down to one bottle for 116kms then (dammit). Coincidentally Marc Sallie (Deliotte) lost his bottle early on. He was checking his bike for what seemed like an age thinking something else was a miss. Then he disappeared and reappeared a tad later with 1 water bottle that looked just like the one I lost moments before. Did he stop? Did he catch it mid drop? I quizzed him after... wasn’t mine. The tail wind and riders reluctance to waste energy before the hills meant we’d ridden just over an hour before any fireworks were set off. As we turned left off the Nampac road and round right under the train bridge past the settlement and up that drag I'd like to tell you here (again) that I was “attempting” to create some pace up here so no-one attacked off the front (I’m not sure I was?). Just before the crest Pieter Avenant (RRL) went (I saw this happen from about half way down as the rest of the VB’s were guttering hard on the right of the tar. Pieter (one of the favourites, or at least our favourite) was followed by a bunch of the other favourites. Missing today, most notably was ALL of BestMed’s squad. Only David Labuschagne and Jacques Human (current SA Champ for 45-49, I hope they are making you a  striped jersey?) today. Team Albion however had the rugby clan. They were also on home soil so were showing us the roads. Not far after the crest Pieter sat up and the counter went with another 3 riders. I think Willie Liebenberg (RRL) was in there. Going past the SBR entrance Nic White and Marc Sallie were away. They made a significant break here. However we were all back together on the big climb up the side of SBR and on to Heidelberg. On the roly poly to Heidelberg the wind was now showing us that only brave souls will get off and stay off the front today. Most of the way back baring the last 10kms from Carnival will be into a block headwind. Guttering didn't really have much affect here as we could all hide behind a wheel. Carl Lotter (Death Proof /Ridgeway Cycles) and Willie were away now. Carl Lotter putting that new white slippery Giant Propel to the test. Never very far as the Commissaries’ turquoise A Class Merc was like a shining beacon always alerting us to where the break was at all times. Up the drag from Heidelberg Phillip Fourie (Clover) wanted to bridge, so did David (Bestmed). It wasn't till middle of that climb after everyone had tried to bridge did David put in the most savage attack to finally bridge. He took  no one with him (or Noone could follow?) and It took him at least 10mins to get over to Carl and Willie. Right... We're now over the highway. Albion come forward, I go mess with them a bit just to mess with them. Again, still riders trying to get off (no one really wants to drag this freight train to the final turn) and over  to the break on this long section “up”. Carl gets taken out by an AS rider coming in from the left on the short route at the crossroads. He's back in the peloton shortly after. Willie and David still press on. Lots of attacking still happening up front. I couldn't give a toss at this stage because our team mate is in the break so I've decided to watch the proceedings from the back (pass the Tea and Cucumber sandwiches please)... We turn left to Carnival, I remind those around me that this is NOT that race and the finish isn’t just here (we laughed). The course switched lanes at the traffic lights and David is back in. Willie was back in a km before that. Sterling effort Willie, my hero! Now we are dodging ladies convoy vehicles, cones down the Centre of the right dual carriage way. We’ve got a few km’s to go here at full chat just before we all have to turn right. 2 stupid AS riders (who we passed before Carnival I might add, AS stands for Short distance) now speed up the outside facing oncoming traffic while we took a slight breather after catching David. I “attack” through the right left right, through more lady convoy, on coming traffic and our Commasaire's car. Telling the AS riders to F#$k Off to the back as we plough through this technical section (avoiding some giant ass cones in the process). On to the road that leads to stadium road (Jubilee, I think?). I keep the pressure on (or no one wants to come around as yet. Potentially they are all still catching up (I hope that is the case?) but unsure what's happening behind me. I ease up, Pieter shoots after Nic or an Albion rider (Might have been Johan Van Rooyen?) nic comes back, Pieter and Johan are away till half way down Jubelee, this dual carriageway leads to a technical off camber left hand slip road, then a short burst and a right through a gate and onto the final stretch (100m?) to the line. At this stage it's like a messy world tour lead out where no one team can gain any control. I'm coming down fast on the inside as Pieter gets swept up. I had a big plan to breeze round the outside of that slip road when everyone is breaking down the inside like two years ago. But I found myself scared and bogged down braking on the inside of the apex over the grassy patches (never ideal in a road race). It's now FULL GAS for VB and I'm losing my confidence by the meter... Sprint has already started before the gate.... Then... Refer to results and screen grabs from the video (thanks Bron). Johan Van Rooyan (Albion) 1st 2:47:27 (congratulations Johan you sure are racking up the VB results of late), corrected position, Marc Sallie 2nd! Then according to Racetec, Steven Holm, Craig Harvey, Darren Constantinou and David Cooke (clearly no MTB race on hey David?) rounding out the 27th second. My time, (if not DSQ by Commissaire because she/he thought I was swearing at them to go to the back) should be near Carl Lotter (2.47.32 26th or 27th). We believe there was some scuffle after the race. We hope that was all sorted. VB. We race hard and fast BUT we don’t have to kill each other. Most of us have families and jobs to go to Monday morning. Let’s be kind to one another. Again, if I missed any detail and you didn’t get mentioned, please add your comment below. Any cool race anecdotes are well welcomed  - PROPER! 


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Nigel Laver #TheMastersClass#Mtbschool#JoziTrails

Dischem Ride For Sight VB

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