At 65 - Gordon Bloch competes in C.T. Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour

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0600, 13th March 2011,dawn not yet broken, waiting, with about another 1,000 cyclists in my starting pen, in Cape Town, South Africa, for the start of my 7th participation in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, the largest  timed cycle event in the world, 110km of mainly climbs, downhill’s, dangerous turns, and different weather on different parts of the course.  Gordon Bloch writes about his participation at the "youthful age of 65" in the latest Triathalon in Cape Town....

This is the culmination of the past months training, everyday, on the bike, mainly strength training by doing uphill work, due the terrain of the race. From the time of  the Eilat Triathlon, concentrated only on the bike, with a short break for the Ein Gedi Half Marathon.

I am riding a borrowed bike, as easier than bringing my own, and need to get used to it, as a road bike is completely different to my triathlon bike.

The start groups are seeded, which means taking part in events that count towards the start time/group that I will be allotted. Since only take part in this one event, my seeding is based on this result. I am in “L”start group, the 11th  of 64 groups, and my bib number 7504, out of 40,000, so fairly near the front. The seeding and subsequent start groups means that participants are cycling with others of the same abilities, which reduces overtaking and makes the event safer and more enjoyable for all. 

Its now 0645, my start time 0701, and we are slowly moving up to the starting line, each start group is separated by about 3 minutes. Soon we are on the start line, I look around and see all the flags of the participants flying, and yes, our blue and white flag is there amongst them.

Weather report this time is accurate, little wind, the early start does help, not too hot, fact is I drank about 1.5litre of fluid throughout the whole course, with 2 jells. At some points there is a cold mist on the course, which helps to cool me down. Mainly just hot.

15 seconds to go, the countdown for the last  6 seconds there is a countdown, and we are off. The start goes straight onto the first climb, and first dangerous downhill turn, “Hospital Bend”, of the race. We catch some of the groups that left before us, and start to sort ourselves into groups. Sometimes I am cycling alone, when  I try to get to a group in front, and sometimes we are hundreds all together. There is a strange silence, with only the sounds of the tires on the road. I decide to warm up and use gears a lot, try to relax with the thought that there is another 100km before me.

There are thousands of volunteers making sure that the route and all obstacles are well pointed out, and many thousands more spectators cheering us on. We pass through all the villages on the way, and the many water points, which consist of Coca Cola, Energade, water, toilets, massage tables, first aid, and even some with dancing girls. The first groups do not stop, all doing our best to complete the course in the shortest possible time. I suppose that the slower cyclists, or the “fun riders “do stop.

At one point, after about 50km, there is a detour, Boyes Drive, which is a killer with a steep climb, and then a dangerous descent back to meet up with the actual course. This detour is to cost me about 10 minutes extra, nothing I can do about it. This is the same for all

I saw no accidents, there usually are a few, but passed many with punctures. I usually do not take any spares with me, but this time decided not to take a chance and took a spare inner, taped to the seat post, with “frks”and gas. Fortunately did not need them.

And so we cycle on, the wind this year was about 20kph, compared to about 60kph last year, compared to about 120kph in 2009, so  its an “easy “ride. I take care to keep my line as in the middle of a group the smallest change could cause a huge pile-up. As I am strong on the hills, more so then the downhill’s, I need to keep on the right, and shout to the others not to cut me off. 

At km 80 we pass through the town of Hout Bay where most of the thousands of spectators are wearing pink t/shirts to identify with a cause, and a radio station that broadcasts and encourages us on, people are handing out sweets and other foods to us, others have water hoses to cool us down, if we want. At km 85 there is the last of the serious hills, a leg killing 2 km climb, my left leg starts to cramp up, but am determined not to stop at one of the massage stations, concerned it will cost me too much time. I stretch the leg, stand, do all what I can till the pain goes away. On the climb, an announcer shouts that the “red Angels”, men with red wings, will assist those cyclist that need a helping push. I carry on determined not to lose time, and my right leg starts to cramp. To hell with the pain, have to carry on to do a good time. At the top of the climb, am thankful that the next and last 25km are downhill, or almost level cycling. Push on, try to draft others as much as possible, and pass though the remaining towns till the final few km through Sea Point to the finish.

I cross the finish line in about 3:30, for me a PB, taking into account the 10 minute detour, so very pleased with my result. Maybe next year with a more intensive training program will be able to do better?

Results

Official time           : 3:31:28

Overall placing      : 5074 / 28,884   17.6%

Age group placing : 36 / 579         6.2%

Gender placing       : 4587 / 22551  20%

Group position       : 218 / 559     39%

Average speed       :  31.21kph