1. 03/2013 77
cycle tour ‘13
SweetMemories
ChasingMattDamon
In2009,OnlineEd KirstenCurtistookonthemissionoftrackingdown
actorMattDamon,whenherodetheArguswhilehewasinSAfilming
Invictus.AftersomesuperbJasonBourne-styleespionageandtracking
–andafewPienaar-esquemotivationalmantras–sheeventuallygot
herman.Thoughallshegotforhertroublewasthispicture...
Pre-Race
Don’t crash-train the week
before
Ratherhitthestartlineonfreshlegswith
notmuchtraining,thanontiredlegsaftera
weekofpanictraining.
Be Prepared
Prepareasmuchasyoucanthenightbefore:
Mixyourbottles,putoutyourgelsandbars,
pinyournumberonyourshirt,attachyour
timingchiptoyourhandlebars,pinyour
startcardtotheinsideofyourjerseypocket.
Soallyouhavetodoonracemorningiseat
breakfast,getdressed,grabyourbikeand
headoutthedoor.
Freeze your bottles the
night before
They’llstaycolderforlonger.Putanoteon
thefrontdoorsothatyoudon’tforgetthem.
Plan your trip to the start
Ifyouhavetheoption,catchthetrainor
bus;orbetterstill,staywithsomeonein
townsoyoucanridetothestart.While
thevibeisamazing,it’schaotic,soit’sbest
toleavethestressoffindingparkingoutof
theequation.
Fuel up
Takeadrinktosipandabananatomunchon
inyourstartchute.
Go to the loo before
Entering your chute
OneyearIaskedsomekindstrangertolook
aftermybikewhileIdashedtotheport-a-
loo,onlytodiscoverwhenIgotoutthatthe
groupof100+ridershadmovedforward.Cue
panic,tryingtofindtheguywhowassaddled
withmybike.
The Race
Keep calm, & start pedalling
Bewarethemasshysteriawhenyouhear
“HOOPLA!”. Afterthebottleneckofthe
timingmats,theracestartswithaclimbup
toHospitalBend.Ratherthanraceacrossthe
line,remaincalmandkeepasteadyrhythm.
Youdon’twanttoburnoutinthefirstfive
kilometres.
Plan your stops
Workouthowmuchnutritionyouhave
onyou,andwhenyouwillneedtostopto
stretchyourlegsandreplenishyourwater
bottle.Itnotonlybreaksuptherace;italso
meanstherewillbenonastysurprises.
“Hold your line!”
You’llhearthesethreewordsoverand
overduringthecourseofthe109km–for
goodreason.Chooseyourpath,andstick
toit.Swervesuddenly,anditcouldhave
direconsequencesforyouandeveryone
aroundyou.
Sip a little, but often
Constanthydrationnotonlykeepsyougoing,
italsokeepsyoucoolerforlonger.Gulptoo
muchinonego,andyoujustendupfeeling
sick.
Be waterpoint-wise.
Whencominguptoawaterpoint,position
yourselfsothatyouareonthesamesideofthe
roadasthewaterpointwhenyou’rereadyto
pulloff.Youwon’tmakeanyfriendsbycutting
acrossthehundredsofcyclistsnotstopping.
Post-Race
Don’t Stand Around
Whenyoucrossthefinishline,don’tdawdle.
Youcansavourthemomentinawhile.
Getyourmedalandmoveon,toavoid
unnecessarybottlenecks.
Drink up
Havesomethingtodrinkassoonasyoucan.
Park your bike
Ifyouopttojoininthefestivitiesatthefinish,
headtothebikepark–butbesurenottolose
yourbikesticker!Youwon’tbeallowedbackto
collectyourbikewithoutit.
Recover fast
Grabsomethingtoeatassoonasyoucan
(preferablywithin30minutes)–andhavea
massage,ifyoucanstomachthequeues.
A Decade of Wisdom
From extreme heat to gale-force winds – our Online
Editor has survived a decade of Cycle Tours. She shares
just some of what she’s learnt along the way.