Much has happened during the months of April/May, what with the mountain biking race calendar truly getting underway with races such as the Cumberland, Giant’s, Illovo Juicy Lucy, Karkloof and Greytown. There was the organising of the Mtunzini Super Classic by the Round Table and the Mtunzini Athletic Club. A report from Shane tells of exciting road cycling events and a very well supported talk given by Bridget Ringdahl encouraged us to seek climbs beyond our imaginations. So let us begin.
Comrades – At the risk of you thinking this is turning into a running newsletter, we take the opportunity to congratulate all the runners for finishing the race. Well done to you all, especially the running novices who are well known cyclists – Tanis March and Les Ayliffe. And to everyone from the Mtunzini Athletic Club who put their heads down and with determination finished, and you all did. Sorry though, that you had to sacrifice doing the Zini Super Classic in order to lose your toe-nails!

Mtunzini Super Classic – The First of the Big 5 - Robyn and Shane must be congratulated for arranging a fast flowing ride with a good lot of hills, good views of the sea, and technical sandy patches which allowed us to put our Mtunzini cycling skills into practice. The weather was terrific for cycling - reasonably cool for Zululand. The course was a winner and received much praise from the organisers of the Big 5 and the Observer.
The Maverick Newsletter congratulated Robyn for being what they thought was the first woman to set and mark a mountain bike race! Thanks must go to everyone who assisted Robyn and Shane with the marking (Suzie, Stan, Angeline, Lynn, Daryl, Frank, Debbie and Kevin and anyone else whose name has been left off, thank you). More than 550 cyclists from children through to the 50km race entered and the Round Table were able to donate R30 000 to Charity. (Attached is a list of the results).

Shane was the first overall Zini rider to come in at 2:26:27 just pipping Kevin, who came in less than a minute after him. Fred surprised himself with a 2:33:57 ride. Struan and Benjamin flew past Debbie going up a hill and left her pushing. Unfortunately Benjamin suffered cramp, but congratulations to him on his cycle and to Struan and Hilton and all the other nippers, sprogs and sub-juniors – you will soon be doing the 50k’s like your Dad’s. Frank cycled with a bent front brake disc which ensured that everyone left him and his squealing wheel as fast as they could.

Congratulations to Suzie Raymond for winning the Grand Masters in the 25km race and Jeremy Steere for coming third in the Masters in the 50km race with a very fast 2:31:41 and to everyone else who finished. The race was well supported by Mtunzini cyclists.
A cautionary warning though to those who help take down the stickers and tape in future, a scorpion made its presence felt whilst removing an orange sticker. Fortunately no great harm was done only a very sharp sting and very itchy finger.

Special Congratulations to Geraldine on her MTB event on the 25th April at Babas Lodge, Pretoria, where she cycled 70 km and was the 2nd lady overall and first in her age group. On the 2nd May she did the KZN Duathlon Championship where she was again the 2nd lady overall for competing in a 10km Run, 40km Cycle and 5km Run – time 2h30. And just recently the SA Duathlon Championships where she competed in the same disciplines and distances as above, but as a KZN representative, and finished 12th group lady overall in her age group – time 2h29 which includes the transition. Well done.

Karkloof Mountain Bike race - This race has the most superb single track, hills that we just do not see in Mtunzini and includes a floating bridge. A race not to be missed, even though there is such a huge turnout it is very well organized and a treat to cycle. Being a batch race you can find yourself leaving well into the morning though so it helps to be seeded so that you can leave early. Karkloof has a night ride on the Friday, X country on the Saturday and Intermediate and Marathon rides on the Sunday and camping available for the weekend. Frank and Debbie enjoyed being there even if it was with 3000 other cyclists!

Feedback from Shane’s Report on Road Cycling - He has had two road races in KZN of late, the McDonald’s in Richards Bay and the Tour de Durban, both 100km. The McDonalds is a circuit race of 25km which after the 4th round tends to be a bit tedious but is compensated by the fast large bunches, averaging speeds of 40km, needing plenty of concentration on the wheels in front and around.