Author Archives: Saddlesaws

Hallo Dr Jekyll, you miserable sod

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Saddlesaws

We made friends with Dr Hyde during today’s stage and things were going along swimmingly (more about that later). But at about 95km Dr Jekyll made his guest appearance and shattered our best performance yet. First the good news. Emily … Continue reading →

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A case of mistaken identity.

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Saddlesaws

I had begun to feel rather despondent with the often asked, “So are you a father and daughter team”. Not that I wouldn’t be proud to ride with a daughter of mine, or, more specifically, Emily if she was. But … Continue reading →

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To bee or not to bee.

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Saddlesaws

Horrific news at the end of today’s stage. Apparently about 30 riders were attacked by swarms of bees that were probably disturbed by the helicopter. Most received multiple stings but a few riders were stung hundreds of times. The Doc … Continue reading →

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How long should a training interval be?

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Saddlesaws

Sunday started off lazily – our start time for the prolog was after lunch. Luxury! Here we are outside the Turnberry lodge in Oudtshoorn. Onto the rivet! As usual, the maxim of start off slow and get slower is often … Continue reading →

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Cat napping and kitty sneezes

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Saddlesaws

I could have sworn I had a cat in the car this morning as I headed towards Oudtshoorn. The 2012 edition of the Cape Pioneer Trek lay ahead – what promises to be another awesome event and sees me returning … Continue reading →

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Overcooking the Winter Walmer Tour

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Saddlesaws

So, what was that all about? Day 1 – George to De Rust – 80.3km, 1340m, 3h32 Day 2 – De Rust to Prince Albert – 95.4km, 1275m, 4h23 Day 3 – Prince Albert to Oudtshoorn – 108.9km, 1772m, 5h07 … Continue reading →

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Giraffes have the same number of vertebrae as you and me

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Saddlesaws

Prince Albert lies on the northern side of the Swartberg mountain range. Some basic research shows there is little of interest in the history of the town. Named after Queen Victoria’s husband or perhaps, more interestingly, a style of body … Continue reading →

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Raise a glass to Prince Albert and Charlene

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Saddlesaws

Starting out from De Rust this morning we traversed another major commerce route through the mountains. Not a pass this time, but a poort. Winding through the Swartberg mountains Meiringspoort links the Great Karoo with the Little Karoo allowing the … Continue reading →

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The girly biker refuses to wet her shoes

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Saddlesaws

It was far warmer than expected at the start of the Winter Warmer tour. George is known to be Cold And Wet, as reflected In the CAW registration plates. but happily today it was neither. Remarkably for a group of … Continue reading →

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How to clear a room.

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Saddlesaws

“Hi, my name is Derek. I have a cold.” “Glad to meet you” they say, backing away nervously. Cycling etiquette demands that you declare the objective hazards you bring into any group right from the outset. One of the sure … Continue reading →

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