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Despite gears not working properly and a sore knee, the Momentum Mountain Bike Challenge was a hugely enjoyable race.
G-FUNK, my bike’s mechanism, wasn’t really healthy enough for this year’s Momentum Mountain Bike Challenge, yet I managed to finish the 50km race in three hours and 27 minutes.
Getting ready to take on the 50km Momentum Mountain Bike Challenge
Unlike the gruelling 94.7 Cycle Challenge, the mountain bike race (held the day before the main event) was exciting and, for me, worthwhile, with scenic views, smooth rides and a wonderful ambiance.
Saturday, 20 November saw me – dodgy gears and all – going off road at the Waterfall Country Estate off the R55.
I'm a recreational cyclist and enjoy the sport very much. After being introduced to it a little less than 18 months ago, I've taken it to heart.
As I did in 2009, when I rode in the main Cycle Challenge – my first – I decided to wear my rugged All-Star sneakers to highlight the plight of township children who both cheer and envy me for doing the sport. A lot of them would like to take part in such activities. My race was for them.
My day started at 4.30am because I had to be at the start by at least 7am. But this wasn’t to be as I first had to sort out some logistics. My nerves got the better of me and I couldn’t eat breakfast.
I eventually started my race at 7.37am. The route was marked with yellow boards with black arrows for easy manoeuvring. It meandered around the north, offering riders the opportunity to experience Joburg’s country life - bumpy gravel roads, quaint and charming views of the northern suburbs, grassy footpaths and the pleasures that come with it.
Accelerate
I started off slowly, psyching myself up for the challenge. There were a variety of gradients and gentle slopes along the route, making the race even more exciting. I started accelerating at the first downhill, which led into a ditch flowing with undrinkable water, next to a meadow. There was mud everywhere after this point, and then some grassland. I slowed down a little, resetting my pace.
Video
Despite a malfunctioning bike and a sore knee, Lesego Madumo enjoyed the Momentum Mountain Bike Challenge tremendously.
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iPods and the like are not allowed on the route as these are considered disruptive. Humming a tune wouldn’t have been wise either, as I needed to enjoy the lush views and tranquil air. So I ride in silence.
The course was accurate and detailed, and every rider paid heed to the dictum of keeping left and passing right. As a result, very few incidents were reported. Because the route was a roundabout, we finished our first leg in the estate and rode through Leeuwkop Farm, passing the prison.
It was a lazy Saturday morning and some inmates could be seen dawdling about the yard, one or two with shovels and a hoe, tilling the land. Some were washing while others continued with their daily business, whatever that was.
I whistled and raised by hand in empathy. In their bright orange and black prison clothes, the inmates appeared chuffed to see me. They stepped closer to the fence, whistling shrilly. “Balande mafana” (go get them) I heard one call as they cheered and clapped.
Spectator
There were no spectators on the mountain bike route, so the support received from the marshals and the prisoners was inspiring. I basked in their cheerfulness.
From there, I had a steady ride through the prison farm, with its plants and irrigation system cooling the air. The sun was blistering hot, and I was thirsty.
The resplendent view of Castle Kyalami beckoned at the verge of the farm, on top of the hill just behind the racecourse. Here I got to see almost all the cyclists ahead of me, taking on a steep uphill that looked daunting.
Not all of G-Funk’s gears were working, so I pondered how I would get through this. I have always believed that once I started a race, I wouldn’t get off the bike, and this was no exception. I adjusted my gears to soft, but they still felt hard. My ride was slow, but I was patient, adjusting my speed steadily to avoid burning out.
After the hill, the slope was steep and we rode through rocks, an enjoyable section of the race. There was another ditch just down the slope, and we rode through mud and grass. Just ahead was a water point, with music blasting and some activity. I stopped to fill my water bottle, and I was ready to go.
Having gone through Leeuwkop Prison Farm, the route then wound back through Waterfall Country Estate, on a single track opposite the Jukskei River. It then went through the estate, under the N1 bridge, a few metres from the Allendale interchange in Midrand.
Gravel
From here, we rode past the Gautrain Midrand Bridge, a marvel to see.
The routes from here were grassy for about a kilometre or so, and then we got back on to the single lane gravel route. There was sprawling uncut grass, and the scenery was of an uncultivated enclosed land, rich in natural bushes.
The single track continued until past the Gautrain Midrand depot, where a dozen or so Gautrain cars were parked. It was a slow ride for me here; I was feeling a little burnt out and had run out of water. After a long slow drag, the route got steeper and I accelerated. G-Funk was fast and almost uncontrollable at high speed.
The downhill next to a quarry was about to end, so I put on the front brakes, plummeting to the ground at high speed. A panicked marshal quickly called for emergency assistance, but I was already up and on the go. There is not enough time to nurse bruises on this route - in fact, I consider them part of the package. It got harder after my tumble because my knee was swollen, so I took it slowly.
We were about five kilometres to the finish, and it was nothing but bliss; I couldn’t stop accelerating. I enjoyed the cruise, the fresh air, and the verdant atmosphere. The route was circuitous and we returned to the country estate along a paved single track.
The finish
The ear-splitting sound of music from afar beckoned the end of the race, and I let out a sigh of relief. I finished the race at exactly 11am, with a recorded time of three hours and 27 minutes. I collected my participation medal, adding to my tally of two so far for bicycle races.
The Momentum Mountain Bike Challenge is sanctioned by the City of Joburg and is organised under the auspices of independent broadcasting company, Primedia, Central Gauteng Cycling and Cycling South Africa. Proceeds from the race are poured into various charitable initiatives supported by 94.7 Highveld Stereo, a subsidiary of Primedia broadcasting.
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