sport – Page 2 – Notes from the Cape

Published March 14, 2012

A day at the races

An early group

Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it. On Sunday I wished for a wind-free day, and that is exactly what I got. However I didn’t wish for the temperature to go over 40 deg C, but it did!

By now you probably know that I cycled in the Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour on Sunday. This was my 6th tour, and I clearly have an ability to pick interesting weather. Oh, how I would love to have a race in cool and wind-free weather. But not this year! Just to give you an example of some of the recent tours that I have completed:

2012: temperature peaked at 42 deg C
2010: howling wind (but not as bad as 2009)
2009: howling wind (over 120km/h – higher that what I experienced in hurricane Irene in USA 2011)
2006: rained (and crashed but still finished)

Maybe, just maybe next year will be great weather.

Relaxing before the start

While I didn’t take any pictures on the road, here are a couple (mostly) from the start line, and all on my phone (no my SLR does not go on the race with me). I hope this gives you a small taste of the feeling of being part of the 31324 cyclists that finished. There are so many people that while the first cyclists leave at 6:15am, the last leave after 10:30am which is after the first cyclists have already finished!

My group starting to assemble at the start line

The race leaves in groups of about 500, spread out every few minutes. My group left at 9:16am, and it was already sweltering. I drank over 9l water on the route, which is about what I usually drink in an entire week.

At the start line, about 5 minutes before my group started on the 110km route

The end, now I can relax for the next year, or at least until the 2 Oceans half marathon next month.

Cape Town Travel

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Published March 8, 2012

The cycle tour is just three days away

On Sunday, I will be cycling in my 5th Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour, or just the Argus as everybody knows it as. The tour, which is 109 km long, winds itself around Cape Town. Approximately 38000 people will be riding in the race, which to my knowledge is the longest timed cycle event in the world, and probably the only cycling event to span two oceans.

It is an amazing event to be part of, the roads are closed, thousands of people arrive to support us on, and you get to cycle on the most beautiful scenery in the world. These are a few pictures taken over the past few years, some while watching, and some while participating in the event itself. I hope it gives you a feel for the event.

Start line

Main Road (before permanent road-works caused the Boyes Drive detour)

My Friend Zilani, the hand cyclist

A large bunch coming past

The Bar One Girls cheer you on and hand out free chocolates

One of the many refueling stops

There are many physios on duty to help the tired legs

A few extra hills here, thanks to the previously mentioned road works.

If you are in Cape Town, I hope you will either be on a bike, or supporting us as we come past. Good luck to all the cyclists, ride safe and I will see you on the road on Sunday.

Cape Town News

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Published January 16, 2012

On the water

I spotted these early morning paddlers while driving to work, so I grabbed my phone and took the shot. I like the way the duck appears to be watching the paddlers.

Cape Town South Africa Travel

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Published January 9, 2012

Kitesurfing in Muizenberg

On the same day that I took the windsurfing shots, I went down to the beach to watch the kite surfers. Now if you think that the windsurfers go fast, they are like a child with training wheels on a new bicycle compared to the crazy kite surfers.

If you put skydiving, water skiing, windsurfing and surfing into a giant bowl and mixed, you would get something resembling kite surfing. This is the only water-sport I know where wearing a helmet is (or at least should be) considered good form.

I don’t know how high they jump, but it looks like it can easily be over 5 meters. Sometimes you can see the beginners practise on Zandvlei (where the wind surfers usually are), and it takes a lot of practise and skill to get as good as this guy.

Buy wow, it looks like fun, maybe I will try it someday.

Cape Town

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Published January 5, 2012

Windsurfing on Zandvlei

While my blog has been a little quiet over the past few days, it is not because I have had nothing to post, but rather because I have been to busy shooting over the last few days. The glorious days in Cape Town over the Christmas period provided me with plenty of opportunity for some outdoor shooting. I will post some of the results over the next few days.

Firstly, windsurfing on Zandvlei.

When the South-Easter blows, it blows through False bay and straight across Zandvlei, which makes it a bit of a Mecca for windsurfers. In summer you are guaranteed to see a few windsurfers zipping up and down the vlei at high speeds. They surf at spectacular speeds,and of course they crash spectacularly as well.

When the nose dips like that, you know you are going to do down.

When I moved to the area I tried it out for several months, but alas my balance is just not good enough for this sport. So I have to content myself with shooting (with a camera) the windsurfers. They only come out when the wind blows, but at this time of year that is almost all the time.

Weekly top shot

Cape Town South Africa

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Published December 26, 2011

Cycling to Cape Point

After all the wonderful meals I ate yesterday, some exercise was much needed, so I took the opportunity of a relatively cool and wind-free day to go for a morning cycle.

I went from home to the entrance of the Cape Point Nature Reserve, and the roads were surprisingly quiet. This was not the case on the return cycle; by then Cape Town was awake and about a million people were headed off to the beaches along my route.

Anyway, I cycled for 56km so I am ready for tonight’s dinner out :-)

Cape Town Travel

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Published December 16, 2011

Gugulethu fun run

Here is a something unusual way to celebrate heritage day. Go for a 10km run through Gugulethu. I have driven past Gugulethu (or “Gugs” as it is locally known) many times, but I have rarely being inside, and certainly not on foot. It was a fantastic experience. Since we were basically running through the streets of a township, we had loads of wonderful supporters, screaming, shouting and blowing on their vuvuzelas to edge us on.

The run started at 7am, so as we ran through the streets, we got to watch the area wake up, with local “spaza” shops opening, taxis operating with their sound systems on full volume, fires being stocked for breakfast cooking, and entrepreneurs on every corner, finding ways to make an income.

I didn’t take my camera with me (a heavy SLR was not going to be a good idea while running 10km), but I had my trusty phone with me, which gave me a great opportunity for some street shots. My time was 1:08, which considering all the photostops was not bad at all. Over 7 min faster than my last 10km, so I am very happy.

Here are all the photos.

So if you have nothing else to do on Heritage Day next year, why not head off to Gugs and join me on the fun run?

Cape Town

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Going cycling

I missed the Argus Cycle tour this year, but watching the race has finally inspired me to get back onto my bike! Yesterday I went for a 45km cycle, as I did last weekend as well! I hope that I keep it up, because I plan to be back in the race next year.

You may have noticed me mentioning the howling South-Easter on this blog, but for the next couple of months the wind dies down completely. It is the best time to go cycling. The early mornings are wonderfully cool, and completely wind-free.

Cape Town

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Published March 14, 2011

Argus Cycle Tour photos

This year I was not riding the Argus Cycle Tour, but that did not stop me from being on the side of the road taking photos, and offering some support to the 35000 cyclists that races that 109km route around Cape Town.

Both last year and the year before had absolutely shocking weather, with the wind hitting over 120km/h at some places. Well, bad luck did not come in threes. The weather was warm with a gentle cooling breeze just managing to take the edge off the heat. Absolutely perfect weather for cycling.

To the person that stopped and chatted to me on the side of the road. No, Boyes Drive is not the second worst hill on the race, in fact it hardly counts as a hill. Smits, Chapman’s Peak and Suikerbossie are far, far worse. But I couldn’t tell you only 25km out that the worst hills were still to come.

Speeding Union Jack

Pausing on the hill

A cyclist speeding along Boyes Drive

Cyclists at the top of one of the many hills on Boyes Drive

Cape Town News

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Published January 6, 2011

Wednesday evening sailing

Yesterday it was:

1) a very hot day
2) the last week of holidays for many people
3) a Wednesday

This can only mean one thing: a bumper Wednesday evening cruise at False Bay Yacht Club. I counted over 30 yachts out on the water enjoying the wonderful weather. I was stuck in my car, but how I would have loved to be out there.

Cape Town

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