What a race?!

Hi everyone

A saying is making its rounds in the cycling circles that there are only two types of cyclists; those who've survived the Coronation Double Century and those who haven't.

As of Saturday, I fall into the first grouping and I'm incredibly proud of it. To say that the race has been a tremendous challenge to me and my fellow team mates would probably be the understatement of the year. It was hot, it was tough and it was a very, very long day. Thank goodness for the treats and the great massage at the finish!

I've received a couple of pictures since Saturday. Have a look at a selection below. I'll upload as and when I receive some more.

Also click on the links below to read about the winners and the new finish called the Coronation Corridor:
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=17073
http://www.chainwheel.co.za/?p=683

Best,
Mike
The official Coronation Double Century finisher

Hi everyone

A saying goes around in the cycling circles that there are only two types of cyclists; those who've survived the Coronation Double Century and those who haven't.

As of Saturday, I fall into the first grouping and I'm incredibly proud of it. To say that the race has been a tremendous challenge to me and my fellow team mates, would probably be the understatement of the year. It was hot, it was tough and it was a very, very long day. Thank goodness for the treats and the great massages at the finish!

I've received a couple of pictures since Saturday. Have a look at a selection below. I'll upload as and when I recieve some more.

Best,

Mike

Coronation Double Century finisher

Handy info from Cycle Tour

Hi guys

Cycle Tour has sent all this info. I am beginning to feel both excited and nervous. One thing for sure is that I want to finish the challenge and grab some of that Coronation grub. I am going to be at the Coronation Celebratory dinner at Mattsens on Saturday will you? I am all for free food and drink especially after sitting on a saddle for 205km.

But first some logistics below.

ATTENTION ALL CORONATION DC RIDERS! RIDERS' BRIEF
You will receive a race pack with an Event Manual when registering. Please read the Manual carefully. Also note the following VERY IMPORTANT information:

TRAVELLING TO SWELLENDAM
- There are still road works on the N1 & N2. Allow additional travelling time.
- Ensure that your vehicle number plate is clearly visible when transporting bicycles (if not, attach a duplicate number plate to your bike rack). Failure to do so could result in a R500 traffic fine!

NEW EVENT VENUE:
The race will start in Somerset Road in front of the Show Grounds and finish in Van Eeden Street. The race village is situated at the Show Grounds.
After crossing the finish line, follow the marshals' instructions back to the Show Grounds. This section is a NEUTRAL ZONE. Please take extreme caution when crossing Voortrekker Rd (Swellendam's main road), this is a busy and dangerous crossing.

HOSPITALITY:
Coronation will be looking after you once you have finished. Attached to your medal will be vouchers that you can redeem for 2 x pancakes, a Hot Dog and refreshment. Riders can also enjoy a free 20min leg massage! Go to the Coronation Café at the Show Grounds.

OFFICIAL SUPPORT VEHICLES:
A team is allowed only one support vehicle and must register the following details at Registration: registration number, driver's name and mobile number. Support vehicles must display the numbered accreditation on their windscreen -vehicles without this accreditation will NOT be allowed over Tradouw Pass.
NB! If your driver details change, please telephone the new details through to the VOC Emergency number: 083 555 5028 (active from 05h00 on Race Day). Failure to do so could result in team disqualification. There are control points along the route and details will be checked!

TRADOUW PASS:
Only accredited Official Support vehicles will be allowed onto Tradouw Pass. NO OTHER vehicles will be allowed access. The pass will be closed from 05h00 - 09h00.

NB EVENT RULES:
No crossing the white line! Teams found doing this will be disqualified.
Team support vehicles disobeying any traffic laws will cause their team to be disqualified.
No feeding from a moving vehicle.
Feeding only allowed at the designated Feeding/Support Zones 1, 2, 3 & 5.

SPECTATORS can support their teams at the following points: Ashton - From Swellendam take the R60, direction Cape Town, to AshtonBonnievale Cellar - From Swellendam, follow the R60, 6km before Ashton, turn left onto the tar road to Bonnievale. Go through Bonnievale and meet the team at the Bonnievale Cellar.

MOTORBIKE MARSHALS:
The route will be patrolled by Think Bike Marshals - they will ensure that Event Rules are adhered to and report any misconduct.

TIMING CHIPS:
Each rider must wear a RaceTec (previously Winning Time) timing chip. NO CHIP - NO TIME - NO PRIZE MONEY!.

WEATHER FORECAST:
For Race Day: Early morning temperatures start at around 15°C - but it will soar to around 33°C at 14h00. A 41km/h Southerly wind is expected - BUT no rain!.

THE DAY AFTER!
On your way home, pop in at Van Loveren wine estate to taste some of their fabulous award-winning wines. They are situated on the R317 and will be open until 2.

Have a great race!
The Coronation Double Century Team.

An interesting twist to an already challenging race

News has reached me that this year's Coronation Double Century includes an interesting and challenging twist. As if 205km, including climbs that I hear are almost inhumane, is not enough.

Apparently the organisers of the event have decided to introduce an additional climb just ahead of the finish (I'm not sure how I feel about my own, or my team's, abilities anymore...). This climb, I hear, has been 'branded' the Coronation Corridor and represents the final challenge ahead of the finish.

People in the know therefore suggested more rest, more stretching and that my team and I take the carbo-loading seriously. I suggest you do too!

As a salvage, all cyclists can however look forward to lots of treats (pancakes, hot dogs, free wine and crisps) to replenish the bodies after hours in the saddle.

See you in Swellendam and good luck to all!

Mike

Just more than 3 weeks to go

My goodness, I cannot believe how time flies when you're training for the CDC! And now all the training seems worth the effort with that R8000 up for grabs for the winning team. Not that I'm that confident about my team's chances of scooping that prize at this stage; we are a group of novices as you may recall.

Nonetheless, we are really enjoying the training rides. Hey, if you want to join any of the remaining rides ahead of the 21st of November, have a look at the dates and details below and come and join in the all the cycling talk and build-up towards the race.

2009/10/31
Saturday
Group
Virgin Active Parking Constantia
6:30am
+-120 - 140km

2009/11/04
Wednesday
Group Spinning
Virgin Active Claremont
12:00pm

2009/11/07
Saturday
Group
Virgin Active Parking Constantia
6:30am
+-160km

2009/11/14
Saturday
Group
Virgin Active Parking Constantia
6:30am
+-100km

Build-up

I hear Coronation is entering four teams this year. And I see on the Facebook group there's an international team (the WANNABEE BETTER DC2009 INTERNATIONAL TEAM) who reckons its a force to look out for. It seems the rivalry has started. I think my team needs a pep talk...

Not for sissies

Rumour has it that there'll be no gender testing after the Coronation Double Century. Thank goodness for that, because I almost cried like a little girl this weekend on Suikerbossie - it hurt!

To enter or not to enter?

So I met this bloke Jan at the weekend. As the conversation gained momentum (we mostly spoke about the rugby) it surfaced that Jan is also a keen cyclist - mountain biking and road. When I brought up the Coronation Double Century, his eyes really started to sparkle. He told me that his company entered two teams last year and that he was pushed into the social team. However, he still managed to finish the race in less than 8 hours, despite having to help a team member, who tried to be Lance Armstrong in the first 50km's and totally tired himself out of the race, up most of the hills.
This year, Jan says, he is in the A team and they're aiming for a sub 7 (this is cycling speak for less than 7 hours).
Not too shabby, I'd say.
But the thing is, Jan and his mates are already putting no less than a hundred km's on their wheels over the weekends. And this, he tells me, has been going on for a while.
"You have to push for some distance, mate," he told me as I tried to swallow the stress down my throat.
Because I hear that entries open this week and I'm not sure if I'm capable of still pulling a rabbit out of the hat and conquer this thing.

The swine even catches up with the bike

The long weekend had some great days to offer. But despite being pestered by one or two of the seven telling symptoms of this swine flu doing its rounds, I got on my bike and now have to deal with the consequences...
I guess it's bed rest and fluids on my agenda for this week, but if anyone has some better suggestions to get me back on my bike as soon as possible, please don't hesitate to speak.

Getting serious

All the hype and excitement about the Tour de France has surely inspired me to start taking my training for the Coronation Double Century more seriously. Yes, that is the equivalent of more or less two Pick 'n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tours which I attempt to conquer. Two!

However, I need some advice. Up until now, I've focused on shorter, more regular distances, largely during weekends. This means that my training has been restricted to two days per week; weather permitting and not excluding the fact that it's just too tempting to rather spend my mornings snuggled up in bed, watching how those skinny cyclists attempt to tame the Alps on television.

And on top of that, I've not trained with any of my team members at all! I assume you all are familiar with the fact that the Coronation Double Century is a team effort and that you cannot enter on your own?

Maybe I need to organise a get-together, as I sense that my team is getting behind the curve...

Does anyone have some tips for us or tell us where we are going wrong? Should we start training together more regularly and how should we juggle shorter versus longer distances? Or does one switch to longer distances only at some point? And would spinning during the week help at all?

As I've mentioned, any thoughts and comments are welcome!

Best,
Mike

Entries for the 2009 Coronation Double Century open in August

Entries for the 2009 Coronation Double Century Cycle Challenge, which takes place in the picturesque Overberg on 21 November, open next month.

The Double Century is a team event over a distance of 205km, with twelve cyclists per team. Teams have 10 hours and 30 minutes from their official start time to complete this grueling race.

Entries for the event, which is sponsored by Coronation Fund Managers for the third consecutive year, open mid August.

“The Coronation Double Century is all about excellence, team work, performance and dedication for the long haul. These are some of the values that we at Coronation ascribe to. As such we are proud to be the title sponsor of an event that is all about team work and performance,” says Karl Leinberger, chief investment officer at Coronation Fund Managers.

To participate in the 2009 Coronation Double Century, register your team at http://www.coronationdc.co.za/. Only the first 2500 cyclists (roughly 200 teams) will be accepted. Groups can pre-book a team and will only be required to confirm their team members’ details 30 days before the event.

Online entries open mid August 2009 and will be on a first-come-first-served basis. Teams can enter in one of the following five categories: Male Racing, Female Racing, Mixed Racing, Tandem Racing or Social. No new team entries will be accepted after 23 October 2009. To enter online, you will need a valid credit card.

For event-related queries, please contact the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Events Office on (021) 685 6551 during office hours.